Church for $74,900

There may be a local exception to one of the 10 Commandments "Thou shall not steal."

By any standard, the $74,900 asking price for the First United Presbyterian Church is a steal for a congregation wanting a larger place to call home that comes as a great piece of Du Quoin's history.

The Achilles Heel to the sale of the church that dissolved last March was the maintenance agreement on an Otis elevator in the church, but according to Beth Miller-Porter, agent for Shamrock Real Estate, which is now listing the church, that costly agreement is no longer an issue. Beth said the church can be grandfathered in as ADA compliant, as well.

It was even a better steal last December when the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois offered it to the City of Du Quoin for only $18,000 for use as a public library or a museum.

No deal. The city is well on its way to recovering from three years of huge capital project outlays and didn't want to tackle another project. "I'm trying to get out of the real estate business," said Mayor Guy Alongi at the time.

Before that there was some thought to the Faith Assembly Church buying it for $10,000 but those talks were short-lived.

But, with the elevator issue gone, it's a prime piece of real estate for a church or a not-for-profit. Built in 1929 as the successor to an earlier wooden Presbyterian church it's red granite facade, rounded pews in the sanctuary and Italian wrought iron gates are stunning. "We are told it's at least a million dollar rebuild if a church had to build it," said Miller.

Interesting fact: One wrought iron gate was donated by the L.S. Smith family, a leftover from the construction of the Du Quoin State Bank. The Italian gate is originally from the August Busch estate in St. Louis.

"The building, the roof, the inside are all in very nice order," said Beth.

There is a basement fellowship hall and kitchen, as well.

Miller said the Du Quoin church is one of six closing in the district. Obviously, the goal is that it be a church, but there are other civic or fraternal possibilities.

Interested? Call Beth Miller, Liz Wilson, Bill Kimmel, Duncan Britton or Brandon Mohr at Shamrock Real Estate for more information at 542-8842 in Du Quoin or 357-5333 in Pinckneyville.