“Members of First Congregational Church, 403 S. Jefferson, return to their restored sanctuary at 11 a.m. Sunday.
For many it will be their first opportunity to worship in the church proper since it was ravaged by fire on June 3, 1973.
The historic church was almost destroyed by fire on the evening of June 3, 1973. Water and smoke severely damaged adjacent areas.
The church stood roofless during the summer, fall and winter months, subject to drying sun, wind, rain sleet and snow.
One of the structures on the county’s listing of historic buildings, First Congregational was constructed in the 1860s in a refined Italian Villa style.
Walls have been replastered.
Damaged windows have been restored.
Brightly colored ceiling panels repeat the colors of the windows.”
--The Saginaw News, October 12, 1974.
At first glance, First Congregational Church on Saginaw’s South Jefferson Avenue seems almost timeless - remarkably unchanged since its dedication on June 14, 1868. However, careful study reveals a building with numerous additions and alterations. Each change records the story of the fluctuating needs of the congregation and shifting design trends; however, all are brought together in a cohesive and harmonious composition that respects the original building’s design and scale. The structure seems so complete and intact that is hard to believe the main portion was gutted by fire in 1973. A fire so devasting that the building was, at first, pronounced unsalvageable. However, through the dedication of the congregation, it was reborn. While the restoration appears seamless, there are numerous clues throughout the building – both on the interior and exterior that testify to the devastation of the blaze and the building’s rebirth.
One of these clues is the sanctuary’s ceiling. Designed and executed by Saginaw-born and then Saginaw-based, artist Russell Thayer, it is at least the fourth decorative paint scheme designed to grace the church’s sanctuary. While it pays homage to the original scale and complexity of the ceiling that was destroyed when the roof collapsed during the blaze--it had been painted in 1929--Thayer’s work clearly reflects the age in which his work was executed.
When the planning started, it was announced that the destroyed ceiling would be recreated. However, as the congregation started to envision their restored church, they settled on a new design. This creation would honor the tradition of a richly decorated sanctuary but would be a new work of art--in the same spirit that the destroyed 1929 ceiling had replaced an earlier late-nineteenth-century design. When it was announced, the news reported:
“The rich earthen hues used for the ceiling will be retained but new designs of greater religious significance will replace the old designs. The old ceiling was of dark brown with gold and red hues and some blue.” (The Saginaw News, September 10, 1973).
And just as new building techniques had been used in the reconstruction – steel roof framing replaced the wooden structure destroyed in the fire - Thayer used modern technology in his ceiling design. Rather than being painted and stenciled on the plaster, it was created from panels of silk-screened fabric.
Although Thayer’s 1974 design was decidedly new, much the description of the 1929 ceiling still applies to his design:
“Especially beautiful is the ceiling of deep shades of red and gold...” (The Saginaw Daily News, March 30, 1929).
Russell Thayer:
Although Russell Thayer lives in Franklin, Michigan, today, he was born in Saginaw. He was an associate professor of art at Delta College from 1966 – 1999. Deeply committed to arts in Saginaw, at one time he was also director of the Saginaw Art Museum. A fuller picture of his accomplishments, exhibitions and awards can be found on this site:
These links will take you to sites to devoted to Russell Thayer’s work:
The Recipe: Blackberry Cordial
We wanted to pay homage to Russell Thayer’s work. While we did not locate a recipe directly related to him, we selected one from a cookbook he illustrated for the Saginaw Art Museum.
Blackberry Cordial
Mash and strain the berries through a sieve. To one gallon of juice put one pound of sugar. Boil and add one tablespoon of allspice, one tablespoon of cloves . Cook till thick. When nearly cold add one quart of whiskey or brandy. Bottle and seal.*
Mrs. Leonard Turnbull, From: Masterpieces from the Saginaw Art Museum
This week’s recipe is quite similar to Mrs. Amasa Rust’s Blackberry Cordial, a recipe we featured last year. This link will take you to the post exploring her recipe. Mrs. Turnbull’s version will be sweeter and without the cinnamon will seem a little simpler and more modern. Actually, it is much in the same spirt as the “new” ceiling at First Congregational Church -firmly rooted in the past but clearly of the present.
CTK NOTES:
We confess, we took a break and did not prepare Mrs. Leonard Turnbull’s Blackberry Cordial. It is so similar to the earlier recipe, that we were able to use the prep photographs taken while preparing Amasa Rust’s Blackberry Cordial.
*We are uncertain of the shelf life of this beverage and would recommend refrigeration.
Note: Lunch Learn on October 22 will feature the story of the 1973 Fire and the restoration of First Congregational Church. The Lecture will be followed by an opportunity to tour the church.
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