First Reformed Church of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Records, 1850-1975.

The First Reformed Church of Milwaukee was organized in the fall of 1847 and began holding services in an “upper room” over a store on what is now Plankinton Avenue. The first church building was erected in 1849, and this log structure was located on Tenth Street near Galena.

In August 1850, the Reverend Mr. H. G. Klyn was called to be the first pastor. The group was incorporated as the Dutch Reformed Church of Milwaukee in 1851, and it was not until 1904 that the name “First Reformed Church” was adopted. Subsequent pastors included Siene Bolks in 1855, John Vander Molen in 1861, Adrian Zwemer in 1870, R. Duiker in 1874, and William Moerdyk in 1878, who served two ministries with John Broek’s ten-year pastorate in between.

The year 1893 saw the beginning of the Christian Endeavor Society and the Women’s Missionary Society. In 1904, a new church building was dedicated, and the change to the English language was in progress. During the pastorate of Henry Veldman, which began in 1901, a new building was constructed and dedicated in 1904. Henry Bruins became pastor in 1907 and, in 1915, women were given the right to vote at congregational meetings. Henry Ter Keurst became the next pastor in 1918, and a new pipe organ was installed and dedicated in 1925. Other pastors included Winfield Burrgraaff in 1928 and Richard Oudersluys in 1932, both of whom subsequently became professors at Western Seminary. It was during the pastorate of Maurice Marcus in the 1940s that it became apparent that a move would be necessary and a new sanctuary was constructed on the northwest side of Milwaukee and dedicated in 1949.