26 Jan detailed exterior visual survey of purcell and elmslie’s 1913-14 prairie style community house, first congregational church, located in eau claire, wisc.
January 26, 2026
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, Travel, Uncategorized
exterior photographic survey of purcell and elmslie’s prairie style community house, first congregational church (1913-14), located at 310 broadway, eau claire, wisconsin.
this parish house demonstrates why purcell and elmslie of minneapolis were regarded as leading architects in the region. its broad gable gives the impression that it almost floats above the ground, echoing the prairie style designs for which they are known for.
the architects emphasized the building’s wide, flat profile by adding a strip of casement windows and supporting the broad overhang with large wooden brackets decorated with sullivanesque panels. these details intentionally mirror those found at bradley house in madison , where george elmslie, while working for louis sullivan, created the drawings in 1909.
however, unlike bradley house, this building features a triangular stained-glass window in the gable end, with muntins rising up and ending in ornate wooden tracery, making a striking contrast to its low profile.
the community house was donated in memory of cordelia ingram, the late wife of orrin ingram—a prominent lumber baron who co-founded the empire lumber company. like other families whose wealth came from pine, the ingrams made their home in randall park, one of eau claire’s oldest neighborhoods. this area was laid out in 1856 by adin randall, a local booster whose statue now stands in the park opposite the community house.
next to it stands the first congregational church, constructed in 1921, featuring graceful gothic revival architecture. its cross-gabled roof, arched windows, and square bell tower complement its limestone walls, which visually connect with the community house nearby.
