Protestants from Wittenberg, Germany settled in the Town of Franklin in the late 1840s and formed the first Free Congregation in Wisconsin, a continuation of the free-thinking congregations which existed in opposition to the state church in Germany.

In 1851, the Franklin group acquired an acre of land for a cemetery and built a colonial-style meeting house on the plot’s southeast corner. Although Free Congregations spread to other areas of the state, membership in this particular German cultural group never exceeded thirty-five or so, and most of the members had died or moved away by 1905 when the meetings were terminated.

A Historic American Building Survey team of architects urged the building’s preservation by descendants of the original members. The 24 by 36 foot structure, built of hand-hewn logs still contained the original pews, lectern and stove, and was decorated with portraits of Benjamin Franklin, Alexander von Humboldt and Thomas Paine. The Painesville Memorial Chapel Association was formed to preserve the building and a basement was dug and cement stairs built at the entrance. On July 19, 1942 , the son of the original speaker, Christian Schroeter was present for the building’s rededication.