“Church to Observe 70th anniversary” from the October 23, 1936 Door County Advocate
CHURCH TO OBSERVE 70TH ANNIVERSARY
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Big Public Supper at 5:00 Tonight
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PROGRAM WILL START AT 7:30
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Meeting With District Superintendent to Be Held Saturday Evening
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At least four former local pastors will be on the program for the celebration this evening of the building of the first Methodist Episcopal church in Sturgeon Bay. In addition, according to reports from the Rev. T. H. Runyon, there will be many letters from other former pastors and members to be read to the audience. Those coming include the Rev. E. J. Symons, now retired and living in Waupun; Rev. J. T. Bowden, Beaver Dam; Rev. O. C. Dittes, Sheboygan Falls; and Dr. W. J . Patton, Berlin, Wis., retired.
Rev. L. E. Shanks, Hermansville, Michigan, and Rev. J. S. Davis, retired and living at Milwaukee, were the only other former pastors still expected yesterday. Definite word had not yet been received from them. Rev. A. E. Tink of Wautoma, is on a trip to Canada so cannot be here.
The program will be open to the public in the church auditorium at 7:30 p.m., following a supper to which all are invited. Serving in the church parlor will be from 5 to 7 p.m.
The supper menu will consist of chicken, southern style creamed tuna fish with mushrooms, biscuits, mashed potatoes, baked squash, buttered beets, cranberry jelly, pickles, rolls, brown bread, apple and pumpkin pie, coffee. Proceeds will be applied on the church debt.
Methodist Church Celebrates Anniversary
The first Methodist church here begins tonight a three-day celebration in observance of the 70th anniversary of Its first building, shown in the inset. The old church, a marked contrast to the present beautiful stone structure, was located on the site now occupied by the Sturgeon Bay Implement company. After being abandoned for church purposes, it became known as Marquette hall.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church Built Here in 1866.
Building started in 1866
The Methodist church building, the erection of which is being celebrated, was the first in this city. In January, 1866, two lots at the corner of Court and Cottage streets were donated to the congregation by Henry Schuyler, Sr., and the building was started immediately. Although ready for use by fall, it was not until September 3, 1868, that it was dedicated.
Had Tower 100 Feet High
This first church was an imposing structure built somewhat along the lines of Independence hall, although being of frame construction, and had a tower 100 feet high that later had to be cut down about 35 feet. Rev. George Pinney, first resident pastor here, was in charge at the time the church was started, and Rev. H. H. Jones was In charge of the parish at the time of completion.
In those days, pastors usually were assigned only a year to churches, so 26 served here up to the time of the Rev. G. C. Carmichael during whose pastorate, Oct. 1896 to Oct. 1903, the present beautiful native limestone church was built at the corner of St. John and Church streets.
When the congregation moved, the first church became the Marquette hall, a popular place for community gatherings, and it stood until only eight years ago when it was torn down to make way for the Sturgeon Bay Implement building.
During the pastorate of Dr. W. J. Patton, 1922 to 1924, the present church underwent many changes. The basement was excavated larger for the installation of toilets, and a steam heating plant was put in the parsonage to serve also all of the church except the auditorium which had its own furnace.
Improvements in 1929-30
During the pastorate of Rev. Bowden 1929-30, the upstairs rooms of the church were finished off for use by the beginners' and primary departments of the Sunday school, and a smaller heating plant was put in the parsonage, the exchange being made by A.J. Wiest at no additional cost. Two hot air furnaces were installed in the church. Altogether the cost of these improvements amounted to $5,179, and at a rededication service pledges were received to cover a large part of the expense.
Rev. Dittes, during his pastorate, was outstanding for his making an exhaustive religious survey of the city that has been of value to all denominations; and of prime importance in the present pastorate of Rev. Runyon is the organization of the Seventy club, a body of 73 men who are taking the lead in liquidating the church debt. The club has directly contributed $442 to reduce the debt which now stands at $4,365, a reduction of $667 during the past two years.
First Pastor in 1863
Three years before the first church was built, the local congregation had its first pastor. The denomination had had its start, however, with the coming here of A. G. Warren and was enlarged when Paul Nelson came In 1859. A Kewaunee man, Elder William Stevens, came here to conduct services in the C. M. Whiteside residence during the winter of 1863. In the meantime, Gibraltar Mission had been organized by the Rev. R. M. Beach in October, 1862, so as a result of Elder Stevens' work, the Sturgeon Bay circuit was formed in 1863, with the Gibraltar, Fish Creek, Egg Harbor, Baileys Harbor, and the Chambers Island parishes joining together. The Rev. B. M. Fulmer succeeded Rev. Beach in October 1863.
The first quarterly conference was held in July 1863. Presiding Elder M. Himebough had charge. Besides the pastor, Rev. Beach, leaders and committeemen present were Russell Baker, of Egg Harbor, Isaac Jermain, J W. Turner and Perry Graham.
List of Pastors
The complete list of pastors of the local church to date follows:
R.M. Beach, 1862–63.
B.M. Fulmer, 1863–64.
George Pinney, 1864–67.
H.H. Jones, 1867–68.
Jessie Cole, 1868–70.
A. C. Squlres, 1870 –71.
C.B. Roberts, 1871–72.
William J. Richards, 1873.
I.P. Roberts, 1872–73.
A.G. Wilson, 1875.
J.F. Decker, 1876–77.
E.T. Alling, 1876–77.
Mrs. E.L. Alling, 1877–78.
E.B.L. Elder, 1878–79.
W.C. Waldron, 1879–80.
* David Louis (Asst.)
William Robotham, 1880–81.
Eugene Yeager, 1881.
H. Yarwood, 1882.
J.F. Tubbs, 1882–83.
George Lloyd, 1888–84.
James Young, 1884.
C.H. Betts, 1884–87.
W.A. Alleyn (Asst.) 1887.
Thomas James, 1887–88.
A.A. Wood, 1888–89.
D.C. Savage, 1889–90.
F.Binder, 1890–91.
C.P. Cheeseman, 1891–92.
J.S. Neff, 1892–95.
D.C. Savage, 1895–96.
G.C. Carmichael, 1896–1903.
J.S. Davis, 1903–06.
Daniel Woodward, 1906–08.
James Churm, 1908–09.
J.T. Leek, 1909–11.
J.L. Slzer, 1911–13.
L.E. Shanks, 1913–15.
Edgar J. Symons, 1915–20.
John S. Ellis, 1920–22.
Walter J. Patton, 1922–24.
J.T. Bowden, 1924–30.
O.C. Dlttes, 1930–32.
A.E. Tink, 1932–34.
T.H. Runyon, 1934 to date.
*Lived here in retirement and acted as assistant for a number of years beginning in 1880.
The complete program for the anniversary celebration, as announced by Rev. Runyon, is as follows:
THE PROGRAM
FRIDAY, OCT. 23
4:00-5:00—Visitation and Fellowship, in church auditorium.
5:00-7:00—Seventieth anniversary dinner.
7:30 p.m.—Anniversary service in the church auditorium.
Piano prelude.
Introit by the choir.
Invocation.
Rev. E. J. Symons, Waupun.
Congregational hymn.
Greetings from pastors of other local churches.
Anthem by the choir.
Historical Highlights of Past Seventy Years, by Miss Ella Mae Washburn, chairman of the Historical committee.
A Memorial Tribute.
Congregational hymn, “O God Our Help in Ages Past”
Messages from former pastors.
Rev. Symons: “Some Things Essential Toward the Assurance of an Effective Church”
Letters of greeting from former pastors unable to be present.
“What this Church has Meant to Me,” by the person living and present who has been a member for the longest time.
Rev. J. T. Bowden, (Beaver Dam): “Pastor, Church, and Community Relationships.”
Special musical number.
Rev. O. C. Dittes, (Sheboygan Falls): “In the Next Seventy Years Whither the Church?”
Announcements.
Hymn, “Blest Be the Tie that Binds.”
Benediction.
SATURDAY, OCT. 24
6:00 p.m.—Cost supper for the congregation membership and constituency of the church followed by an informal meeting in the auditorium in which the progress of the 70 club will be reported, and we will get acquainted with our new district superintendent and talk over together needs and tasks of our church.
SUNDAY, OCT. 25
10:45 a.m.—An inspiring service of worship in which Dr. Ira J. Schlagenhauf, the new district superintendent, will preach the sermon will be a fitting climax to our celebration.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
[author not stated
“O God Our Help in Ages Past”: https://books.google.com/books?id=MY0_AQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&pg=PA33
“Blest Be the Tie that Binds”: https://books.google.com/books?id=MY0_AQAAMAAJ&newbks=1&pg=PA277 ]
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