New Congregational Church Creating Much Interest

 NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CREATING MUCH INTEREST—WILL BE CREDIT TO BILLION DOLLAR CITY

The Lusk Standard, August 8, 1919

On Saturday last, Rev. R.R. Shoemaker, pastor of the Congregational church of this city, showed the plans and explained in detail to a Standard representative, the Community church which is to be built in Lusk.

While the dimensions of the structure are large in figures, the aims and contemplated benefits to the community are on yet broader lines, an carried to a fulfillment will mark the Community church of Lusk as an advancement over all institutions of worship in Wyoming. For it will be more than a house of worship, and will embrace within its scope of usefulness features calculated to bring mankind together on the common plane of “Do unto others,” etc.

The floor plans are for a building 76x112 feet dimensions, and the elevations as seen in the drawings show two very beautiful fronts, in a semi-gothic style of architecture. The edifice will stand at the northwest corner of Pine and fourth streets, on the beautiful slope of ground which ascends to the reservoir butte, and a more harmonious site for the architecture could not have been chosen.

Dr. Wm. N. Bowman, one of Denver’s first architects, was on the ground two weeks ago, looking over the location and the plans have been drawn with an idea of conformity to the surroundings. The material to be used in construction will be brick, the entire exterior to be in pressed work, and when completed will be perhaps the finest church edifice in the state.

The main feature in which the Community church will differ from other church buildings lies in the fact that a basement will extend under the entire building, and the uses to which this basement will be put constitute the differing features of the aims and purposes pf the institution, and which permit the use of the word “Community” in connection.

In the basement, first there will be a ladies’ parlor, and a girls’ club room. These will be at all times at the disposal of gathering of ladies who desire a place of meeting to transact business either of a religious or other nature, or where social functions may be held.

The girls’ club room will be for much the same purposes, but yet will be conducted separated and apart from the ladies’ parlor, and where the “younger set” may be privileged to carry out ideas of their own in the way of mental, moral and physical advancements and enjoyable pastime.

Next will come a men’s and boys’ club room. While the same apartments will be used, both for the men and the boys, yet as with the ladies and the girls, there will be opportunities for the older and younger sets to hold their meeting separately and apart.  Connected with these rooms will be a smoking room, and an office and reading room, where there will be writing material, printed matter of travel information, etc., where the stranger in the city may spend a restful and profitable hour if desired.

Besides these features,  the boys club room will be so arranged that it may be turned into a spacious banquet hall with very little trouble or delay, and in connection therewith there is to be a large modern kitchen, with spacious range, running water and all the dishes necessary to spread a banquet.  

And the uses of the Community kitchen are to be many fold, In the first place, when a church society desires to give an entertainment supper the kitchen with its up-to-date equipment will do away with the necessity of a number of households going to the trouble of packing dishes to and from the church, and the accompanying breakage and trouble which must occur. Again, the use of the kitchen will not be restricted to church functions alone, but other societies, clubs or private parties will be made to feel their welcome to its use, and still further, it is the intention to let the club rooms and the kitchen be known to farmers and ranch people who may be spending a few hours in town. They will be made to feel at home in the premises, will learn there is a place where they may rest for a few hours, wash up the children, and if they feel so inclined, the range will be at hand where they will be able to make for themselves a cup of tea or coffee, and find a table and comfortable seats in which to enjoy their noon time lunch.

On the floor above besides the main room, where services will be held, there is to be a gymnasium and additional auditorium, when necessary, 44x55 feet in dimensions, and which it is proposed to fill with every device and apparatus necessary for the equipment of an up-to-date gymnasium.

At the rear of the main room of worship there will be a gallery for the accommodation of a larger than the usual congregations, and the plans of the church are for a large pipe organ. This instrument, Rev. Shoemaker informs the Standard, has been guaranteed by one citizen of Lusk, who says the instrument will be forthcoming so soon as the church is in readiness for its installment.

It will be seen that the aims of the Community church are broad and far reaching. It is the belief by its promoters that a house of worship conducted on these lines will call the attention and awaken many to the teachings of Christ who would not in other way be, and that such a place of meeting will have the tendency to considerable unite the friendly feeling toward each other of a growing community like Lusk.

The building of a church edifice of this scope and capacity is a considerable undertaking from a financial standpoint, and before undertaking it Rev. Shoemaker has secured the co-operation of the Congregational church Building Corporation Society, who have pledged their financial aid. It is estimated the structure will cost in the neighborhood of $50,000. Thirty thousand dollars of this amount has already been assured, the Congregational Building Society advancing $10,000 of this amount.

In this respect, on Friday and Saturday of last week Rev. Frank L. Moore, one of the secretaries of the society visited Lusk with the idea of ascertaining the feasibility of building such a place of worship here, and the number whom it might reach as beneficiaries. After going into an investigation of the past, present and probable future resources of the city, Rev. Moore became enthusiastic over the project for the Community church, expressing himself as very much impressed with activities here, and as thoroughly in favor of putting the $10,000 into the church edifice.

Rev. Mr. Shoemaker, who has but recently completed the arrangements for a similar church, and which is now building at Montrose, Colorado, says there will be no delay in the starting a final completion of the Community church of Lusk, and the Standard’s best wishes go with so worthy an undertaking.

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