It was in the Fall of 1836 when a pastor named Samuel Pillsbury was sent to the Root River Mission (Racine) as the first Methodist preacher regularly stationed here, who lived on the east side of Main St. near 7th street.
In 1842 the first church structure was built on College Ave. In 1857 an addition was added to the building. In 1870 they authorized purchase of a new site for a Gothic structure at 8th & Main, which was dedicated in July 1871.