Pilgrim Congregational Church (Now LOV-TV), Lewiston
Lewiston, Nez Perce County
- Grants: 2025 – Brickwork restoration and support
Location: 1004 10th Ave, Lewiston, ID 83501
The construction of Pilgrim Congregational Church, Pastored by Rev. Samuel B. Chase, began in 1906, and was completed sometime during 1907 or 1908. Premiere Lewiston-area contractor Fred A. Dole was responsible for this handsome sandstone structure, and he was also the contractor for several buildings in Lewiston, including the original Lewis Hall in 1907 on the Lewis-Clark State College campus (founded in 1893). He also built a nearby Baptist church and two residences that are still standing today. The church is in the Normal Hill District of Lewiston, where the College is located. The church is built from a combination of sandstone from the Swallow Rock quarry and pressed brick. It is stated that one of the early pastors was Walter Parr, for whom Walt Disney was named.
At the time of assessment by IHT Technical Experts, the stone and brick masonry at the first-floor level just to the left of the main entry under the belfry was found to be failing. The masonry wall is adjacent to a scupper and gutter downspout that was poorly maintained for an unknown amount of time but has since been repaired. Built in 1908, this building is an extremely early example of a masonry curtain wall system, which used new materials to build thinner walls than traditionally allowable, with structural wood studs and diagonal wood sheathing behind it.
Some of the blockwork beside the main entrance has deteriorated, with the sandstone and bricks fallen away and exposing the wood framing to weather. IHT’s 2025 Heritage Grant will go towards addressing the structural and cosmetic issues stemming caused by this deterioration.
