This 116-year-old Wisconsin Rapids church will be demolished in February. Here’s why.

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This 116-year-old Wisconsin Rapids church will be demolished in February. Here’s why.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Crews are scheduled to start demolishing the 116-year-old former Immanuel Lutheran Church building on Eighth Street North in February.

According to

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, the church was constructed in 1909 as Immanuel’s second building after it outgrew its first, built in 1883.

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, Ronald Rasmussen, superintendent of Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools, told a Daily Tribune reporter demolition is tentatively scheduled to start Feb. 12, and he hopes the building will be fully demolished by March 14.

Why did WRPS purchase the property?

The church building stands at the corner of Eighth and Prospect streets, across from Howe Elementary School. The school district purchased Immanuel Lutheran Church’s former building on Eighth Street North after the WRPS Board of Education voted in February 2024 to move forward to purchase the property with the intent to raze the church and upgrade the parking lot for Howe Elementary School staff and parents. According to property records, the district purchased the property for $1 Oct. 31, after Immanuel Lutheran Church moved to its property near Home Depot in August.

What’s happened at the property so far?

Crews have been working through asbestos abatement at the property for the last month. Rasmussen said Robinson Brothers began staging for asbestos abatement Dec. 30 and started the abatement process Dec. 31. The staging process included setting up containment areas, decontamination showers and ventilation. Crews started asbestos abatement in the basement and have been working up through the sanctuary and the upper portions of the property on scaffolding.

What’s next?

Once demolition is complete, WRPS will work through plans for a parking lot and student drop-off area. Rasmussen said WRPS is working with Quest Engineering on design proposals.

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This article originally appeared on Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune:

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