Wesley UMC - History - Wesley Temple

1891-present

The idea of having a community center of some sort on the property that became the Temple Building was not new to the members of the church of the mid twenties, when Dr. Roberts helped to formulate the plans. It was in the thinking of Dr. Samuel Dick in 1907 when three houses were purchased for $7,000. His idea was to use these houses as a community and health center, but his congregation wasn't ready for the idea.

Dr. Frank Roberts and Mr. Colburn of Colburn & Forsell, architects, made up preliminary plans and gave estimates of the cost--$1,258,443.00, not including interior decorating. The Minneapolis Journal carried pictures of the planned building that was to house a hotel, community center, parish house, offices, gymnasium, children's clinic, clubrooms, and an entertainment hall.

In 1927, a contract agreement was ready for signing with John C. Kuck and Company of Madison, Wisconsin, in which the J. C. Kuck Company was to float a three-million dollar bond issue with a first mortgage lien on the Temple property. However, this was to never occur. In a meeting with the Bishop, the Bishop expressed that some men don't think the project is feasible. J. C. Kuck filed suit to withdraw from the contract.

After many delays and continued negotiations with J. C. Kuck, it was finally agreed that the John C. Kuck Company would underwrite $2 million worth of bonds, and the project was scaled back. Plans were made to build the first of thee sections to the building. Ground breaking ceremonies were held in June 1928 during an 8-month period after Dr. Roberts left and before Dr. Mecklenburg came to Wesley. The cornerstone was laid on November 4, 1928.

actual_temple_picture.jpg (26547 bytes) The finished building housed offices, an entertainment hall, bowling alley, and WTCN Radio. It was connected to Wesley Church by a mini-skyway.

Plans for expansion of the Temple included tearing down the present Wesley Church, but again the plans were halted, this time a result of the Great Depression. No additions were ever build, but the use of the Temple thrived as a community center until the 1960s. In 1960, the building completed refurbishing of the lobby and installation of new elevators. The building enjoyed 97 percent occupancy and its future looked bright.

Then came the construction of the freeways and with families moving from the area, the concept of the Temple Building as a community center was no longer practical. The building was sold to private investors on January 3, 1969. Then in 1987 the building was torn down to make way for the new Minneapolis Convention Center.

The dreams of the early planners were not completely lost, however. The income from the sale of the building went into an Investment Fund—the Wesley Endowment—and the interest from that fund is used for today's church work.

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Biography Sources: History of Wesley Church, The First 125 Years, Wesley United Methodist Church, 1977.
and the Wesley Archives