Pioneer Gothic Church - Dwight, IL
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Pioneer Gothic Church - Dwight, IL
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Constructed in 1857 by a Presbyterian congregation, the historic Pioneer Gothic Church in Dwight, Illinois, is one of "only a handful" of extant 19th-century Carpenter Gothic churches in Illinois.
A wooden framed Carpenter Gothic Church was a very rare building style in the early years of Illinois since wood was scarce on the prairie and there were frequent fires. Nevertheless, this church survived four significant fires in Dwight between 1869 and 1891.
Gothic Revival is usually associated with masonry buildings. Still, Dwight's Pioneer Gothic Church style is Carpenter Gothic, using board and batten siding, more often seen on barns, to emphasize the vertical nature of the building. Chamfered corners on the tower and the window pediments further reinforce this characteristic.
Dwight’s Pioneer Gothic Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In 2007, the American Institute of Architects celebrated its 150th anniversary by naming the church to its "150 great places in Illinois" list. In 2018, the AIA again selected it as one of the "Illinois 200 Great Places" to celebrate the state's Bicentennial anniversary.
Copyright 2022 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
August 5th, 2022
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