Editor's note: As part of Historical Preservation Month, this is the 1901 report on the dedication of First Presbyterian Church in Brookings from the Brookings Register.

THE DEDICATION OF THE  FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Magnificent New Edifice of the Presbyterian Society

Consecrated with Appropriate Ceremony

Brookings Register – February 14, 1901

THE NEW EDIFICE

Is a beautiful piece of architecture from almost any point of view, yet it has a substantial appearance that appeals to the eye of the practical person.  It is large enough to meet the wants and needs of this growing congregation for many years to come.

It stands at the corner of Williams Street (now 4th Street) and Dakota Ave (now 7th Ave-nue) on the site of the old church and has a frontage of about eighty feet on both streets.  It is built of brick and stone with a large, square battlemented tower at the same corner which the steeple of the old structure occupied.  There are two other towers, though not so high, flanking the building to the right and left, making an imposing appearance on both streets.

A basement has been provided in which are located the heating furnaces, a commodious kitchen and pantry, dining room, young men’s parlor, and a cloak room.  These rooms are all light-ed by windows and are provided with electric lights.  The walls are tinted and the floor are of hard wood oiled.

The first or main floor contains the auditorium, lecture room, Christian Endeavor room, parlors, library, and four classrooms besides two large hallways with vestibules.  The main en-trance is at the northeast corner of the building, although there is a public entrance at the southwest corner and one of the east side for use of pastor and choir.

The parlors are at the right of the main entrance and are two nice, large rooms, connected by folding doors.  Each can be made a room by itself and it is proposed to use them during Sabbath school hour for the two bible classes.

Opposite the parlors are the double doors opening into the auditorium, an adequate descrip-tion of its beauty being beyond the power of our pen to describe.  Nothing like it, however, is to be found in the state and can only be seen in the large cities.  It is fashioned somewhat after the mod-ern theatre, with the seats being arranged in the form of a semi-circle in front of the altar.  The large and magnificent pipe organ occupies a corner of the great tower and the choir platform is immedi-ately in front of the organ and separated from the pulpit platform by a heavy brass rail.  The latter platform being a couple feet lower than the former.

It is seated with oak pews on an inclined or raised floor so that an unobstructed view of the altar is obtained from the seats in the rear.  The seating capacity of the pews is 300 and there is room for 100 chairs, if necessary.

Five large windows furnish light for the auditorium by day and a myriad of incandescent electric lights by night.  The windows must be seen to be appreciated.  They were made to order by the Pittsburg Plate Glass Co., and are decorated in the highest style of the art.  Of the frescoing, we can say but little.  The artist, and decorator, Mr. F.J. Grenier, of Minneapolis, informed the writer that the work could not be duplicated for $700.  It is certainly the finest piece of work we have seen in the west and reflects great credit upon the ability of Mr. Grenier.

Back of the auditorium and separated by rolling curtains, is the lecture and Christian En-deavor rooms, capable of seating at least 250 people.  Behind the lecture rooms are four small classrooms, but all of those can be used as an auxiliary to the main auditorium when desired and a good view of the pulpit and rostrum obtainable.  All of the rooms on this floor are carpeted and the walls frescoed.  Ample light is provided for both day and evening services.

The balcony floor is provided with three galleries, only two of which are thus far complet-ed.  These two have a seating capacity of not less than 250.  The one above the lecture room con-forms to the room below, it is on the circular order and is seated with comfortable pews of oak the same as the auditorium.  A small but comfortable room is provided on this floor for pastor’s study and it occupies the northeast tower just above the church parlors.

The woodwork throughout the entire building is of solid oak, oiled, and varnished.  The casings, railings, etc., are carved and made in ornamental designs to conform with the surround-ings.  The electric lighting is a feat of electrical engineering excelled nowhere.  We know something of the difficulties under which Engineer Davis labored and we can truthfully say that the skill dis-played in installing this plant cannot be excelled by anything of the kind in the state, if in the northwest.  It is so arranged that every room in the building can be brilliantly lighted and as much or as little light can be used as is desired.  The switch board is a marvel and controls every light in the building.

In conclusion, we will say that the pews in this building cost $850, the pipe organ $1,500, glass $521, furnaces $600, and the installation of the electric light plan about $500.  The architects were Kinney & Detweller, of Austin, Minn., the contractors J.B. Nelson & Co., of Mankato, Minn.  All of the work, however, was performed by local sub-contractors and is a credit to their skill.