2. Congregation Histories : Wisconsin

Menomonie

Unitarian Society of Menomonie, Wisconsin

In the summer of 1887, Menomonie citizens invited Unitarian minister J. H. Crooker, of Madison, Wisconsin to speak in the city. Menomonie was at that time known as the “queen of the Pineries”—its economy was dependent upon lumbering and the brick-making industry. Rev. Crooker was engaged to take charge of the liberal religious movement in the city beginning the first of April 1888.

At an organizational meeting held in April 1888, the Unitarian Society of Menomonie was organized “for religious, charitable and educational purposes.” Articles of incorporation affiliated the new society with the Unitarian or Independent Fellowship of America. The Bond of Union was signed by about 30 people, who expressed the desire for “a religious organization which shall make integrity of life its first aim, and leave thought free” and welcomed to membership “all of whatever theological opinion who wish to unite with us in the promotion of truth, righteousness, reverence and charity among men.”

The early Unitarian Society of Menomonie met each Sunday in the auditorium of the Mabel Tainter Memorial Building, which had been donated to the city for certain public uses and the Unitarian Society as a permanent church home by Capt. and Mrs. Andrew Tainter. Capt. Tainter was a “lumber baron” of the Knapp, Stout & Co. lumbering firm. Prof. Maxson’s sermon, “The Work of the Liberal Church,” is believed to have provided the Tainters with the inspiration for the building.

Prof. Maxson died suddenly in late 1891. Rev. H. Stevens of Alton, IL, arrived in August 1892, but remained only six months. In 1893, the Society hosted a conference of the Unitarian and Independent Churches of Wisconsin and Minnesota at the Memorial Building. One speaker, Rev. C. F. Miles of Superior, WI, accepted a call to become pastor of the Menomonie. He remained 23 years. 1905 records indicate some 250 persons connected with the Society. Over the years, a Young Men’s Club was organized, also a Ladies’ Circle, a Girl’s Guild, the first kindergarten in the city (1901), and a dancing club for young people.

After Rev. Niles’ resignation in 1916, the Rev. Walter Smith joined the Society. A 1918 report indicated a membership of 144. After Rev. Smith’s departure, services were suspended for a time, but resumed with the arrival of A. E. Von Stilli in 1921. He departed in 1924. With aging membership, dwindling financial resources, and without a minister, members of the Society voted to dissolve the incorporation.

In Sept. 1982, four families, having been associated with UU churches and fellowships prior to their residence in Menomonie, gathered to discuss reorganizing the Unitarian Society of Menomonie. Monthly meetings began immediately; Rev. Emil Gudmunson of the Prairie Star District met once with the group to advise them. Family RE meetings began in January 1983. On April 10, 1983, a service and charter signing was held at the Leisure Services Center. Prof. Tim Hirsch of the Eau Claire UU Fellowship, biographer of Capt. Tainter, spoke of the early Unitarian presence in Menomonie; 15 members signed the Bond of Union.

In September 1983, the Society began holding twice-monthly children and adults’ meetings in member’s homes. That December, arrangements were made to rent the new Friends (Quaker) Meeting House one Sunday morning each month. One monthly service continued to be held in members’ homes until September 1984, when twice monthly, morning services began at the meeting house, with concurrent children’s RE classes are lay led. Current membership (March 1986) stands at 18, with 12 children in RE classes.