Watertown Historical Society

A 1912 post card of St. Paul's and the rectory.

A 1886? Photo of St. Paul's and the rectory. Notice there is no Bell tower and steeple. Also, check out the roads?

In 1845 Episcopal Priest Melancthon Hoyt began holding services in Watertown. He traveled on foot from Fox Lake. In 1847 he organized a small group of English and Welsh settlers as the congregation of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Buildings

In 1849, desiring a permanent meeting place, the parish constructed a simple wood building located on Market Street, between 2^nd and 3^rd Streets. In less than a decade the original building proved too small for the growing parish, and efforts were started to raise money for a new church building. In 1859 construction began on the new building. James Douglas, a prominent Milwaukee architect, was chosen as the designer. The current church was built in the neo-gothic style, and differs in design only minutely from the chapel at Nashotah House Seminary. It was consecrated in October 1860. Final cost for the church building was a little more than $3,800. The unique plaster vaulted ceiling, which contributes to exquisite acoustics, is one of a small number in Wisconsin. About forty years after the churches completion more ornate stain glass windows were installed. These windows were created to match the neo-gothic style of the church.

Over the years various improvements were made to the churches buildings. The bell tower was donated by Daniel Jones in 1890. The rectory was built in the 1880’s and has served predominantly as the priest’s residence. The chapel was donated by the Cady family in 1886 and had been used as a chapel, kitchen , parish hall, and stage. In 1931 the women’s group, who did the cooking for parish events at the time, went “on strike”. They would cook no more until a proper hall was constructed. Within one month of the “strike” a new hall was under construction. Funds from the late George Hawkins were used to construct the current hall. The official name of the parish hall is: The Alice Hawkins Memorial Guild Hall.

Music

St. Paul’s has a long musical tradition. The parish had the second formally organized vested choir in the state. The original church was built without an organ. In 1865 one was installed in the front of the church, and it was improved upon in the 1920’s. Right after a major overhaul of the organ in 1965 a fire in the church destroyed most of it. Peters and Weiland, organ builders from Milwaukee, built a new instrument. It was a Felgamacher with a German neo-baroque voicing. After the fire in 2005 an Albourn- Galinti organ was installed in the back of the church.

The Parish is host to an annual Advent Musicale, this forty year tradition has been host to many prominent music groups. The event is free to all, originally sponsored by the Scheaffer family, it is now made possible by a bequest from the late Drs. Eugene and Ruth Schuh.

Recent History

After a decade of decreasing membership there was a major fire in 2005. The fire was taken by the parish as an opportunity for renewal and growth. St. Paul’s has hired a full time priest, increased participation and membership, and renewed its obligation to serve its community. The fire, started by lightning striking the bell tower, ignited a whole new spirit in the congregation. For 160 years St. Paul’s has strived to be a living presence in Watertown, and will continue its ministry for years to come.

Some of our past rectors


Melancthon Hoyt 1847-1853             J. B. Finn 1886-1889             Fredrick Jewel 1889-1894


Myron A. Johnson 1894-1896             Henry S. Foster 1896-1900             Thomas Elgin 1900-1904


John Barret 1904-1907


William Berger 1924-1929             Don Gury 1930-1937             Harry Pallett 1937-1944


Wm. Chamberlain 1945-1947             Fred Himmerich 1965-1995