PCA - History

History of the Portage Center for the Arts

NEED DIRECTIONS TO THE PCA?

301 E. Cook St.

P.O. Box 866

Portage, WI 53901

Phone: 608.742.5655

Fax: 608.742.0246

The Portage Center for the Arts or...

as it is often still known as...
The Zona Gale Center

PCA, Inc.

Portage Cener for the Arts, Inc. was established in 1986, an outgrowth of PACT (Portage Area Community Theatre). October 31, 1987 was the grand opening of the Zona Gale Center.

In an effort to distinguish ourselves from Zona Gale's home (the Museum at the Portage), in 2003 we changed our name to Portage Center for the Arts, the name our 501(c)3 Non-profit organization has carried all along.

We still honor our Portage daughter with our Zona Gale Theatre.

The Building

Old Photo

First Presbyterian Church

According to the Portage Presbyterian website, in 1854, a committee, along with Rev. William Wynkoop McNair made plans for a "new" church. This brick edifice on the northeast corner of Adams and Cook streets cost $13,000.00, was built in 1855, and was dedicated in February, 1856.

According to Portage: A Sesquicentennial History by Michael J. Goc, the steeple was toppled by a storm in 1871. (p. 39)

In May 1892, fire damaged the interior. The congregation sold the damaged building to the Baptists, who rennovated, and according to Portage: A Sesquicentennial History, (p. 154) enlarged the church buidling. Fire struck again in 1893, this time gutting the interior, and repairs were completed that year. The Baptist congregation used the church until the 1938.

Another intersting note from Portage: A Sesquicentennial History, (p. 154): In 1904, the Baptist congregation begin to build a parsonage and while excavating the basement, unearthed part of the old Catholic cemetary, including the coffin of pioneer Pierre Pauquette.

First Presbyterian Church

In 1938, the building was sold to the Assembly of God.

(The Assembly of God - 1974.)

In 1986, Portage Center for the Arts, Inc. was established and purchased the building, renovating it for use as an Arts Center.

(the PCA building - 1992)

(PCA building - 2006)

In 2007, a Triptych was added to the Adams Street wall.