A Short History

Victor O. Schwarz

March 11, 1999

Introduction: Several earlier histories of this Church exist which contain discrepancies and contradictions which have been resolved in the full version of the history prepared by this author by comparing other sources. This new abbreviated history is based on the conclusions previously reached and they are now presented without explanation or argument. To put it in the words of Luke: "I have carefully studied all these matters from their beginning, and I thought it would be good to write an orderly account for you." Those who wish to study the matter more deeply are referred to the fuller version to see why certain conclusions were reached in evaluating conflicting accounts.

The idea of starting a new congregation of the Christian Church in Marysville apparently originated on the campus of Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa, where Edna Blazier was attending college. In conversations with L. W. Myers who was in ministerial training there, it was determined that Marysville was a mission field that could use help. After returning to Marysville Edna wrote Mr. Myers on several occasions seeking advise on the enterprise.

During the summer of 1902, Mrs. Edna Blazier (who had now married Alexander Schmidt) began seeking out prospects. Mr. & Mrs. H. W. Wendele were also interested in the same enterprise and began gathering interested persons. Meetings of interested persons were held in August or September and a decision was made to organize a Sunday School. The first Sunday School with 18 present was held in the "old stone school house" (Normal School) where now stands the Marysville Elementary School. On October 12, John Bain began preaching each Sunday morning and evening at the same place and Communion was spread by Mrs. Wendele.

In December a "Protracted Meeting" was held to organize a Church. Brother Myers had come from Des Moines to help and later became the preacher. Mrs. Clara Hazelrigg was the preacher for the Meeting and Miss Graves was the singer. The Meeting commenced the evening of Dec. 9^th in the Normal Building. The next Sunday, Dec. 14^th the Marysville Christian Church was formally organized. The list of Charter Members that survives and is passed down contains 17 names and is as follows: Mrs. & Mrs. John Bain, Mrs. Ella Oakley, Mrs. Sylvia Dexter, Alvia Bain, Dan Ford, J. J. McKenzie, Mr. & Mrs. E. S. (Edwin) Thompson, Mrs. Eusebia Thompson, Mrs. Myrtle Sanderson, Mrs. Alice Whan, Mrs. Alex (Edna) Schmidt, Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Cummings, Mr. & Mrs. H. W. Wendele.

The Meeting continued, with a short Christmas recess, and closed on Dec. 28^th. With the Protracted Meeting over and the Charter Membership in place it was time to call a permanent pastor to lead the new congregation. Leo W. Myers who had come to assist in the meeting was now chosen for this task about the first of January, 1903. At first he shared half time with the Church at Beattie. His salary at Marysville was $520 a year and he furnished his own home (rented rooms upstairs at 305 N. Eleventh St.). After a month the Marysville Church called him full time.

In April a decision was made to build a building. A lot was purchased on Carolina St. between 8^th and 9^th St. and by June work had begun. Many of the members pitched in to help; even the women spent 2 afternoons nailing on lathe for the plaster. Dedication of the new building was held on August 30, 1903, with Rev. W. S. Lowe preaching the dedication sermon. A report in the News is worth quoting in full from August 7, 1903: "This new Church is a handsome structure and is a credit to the little band of Christian people who compose this congregation as well as a credit to the city. The people of this Church have asked for no outside help whatever in raising funds to build this Church, and they have completed a good building in a remarkable short period."

Leo Myers ended his service to the Church here in November of 1903. After a short pastorate by Ward, John Bain became the next Minister. During these early years the Ladies Aid Society was organized, as well as Junior and Senior Christian Endeavor. Frequent revival meetings were also held.

During 1908 and 1909 an addition was constructed on the south end of the original building to accommodate the growing Sunday School. In 1911, the house on the corner to the east was purchased, presumably to be used as a Parsonage.

One of the more ambitious projects undertaken by the Church was the construction of a Community Athletic Hall in 1912. Lots were purchased across the alley to the south and facing Center Street where a large brick building was constructed. That building, which later became the Isis Theatre, is now the west half of the Astro Theater. On the first floor was a large gymnasium, which was used for basketball and roller-skating. In the basement was a nice swimming pool (which exists to this day, though not useful for swimming). On the balcony level was a walking track running the perimeter of the building. The building was used for various Church activities for a time but was later given up for financial reasons. It was sold to Alexander Schmidt in 1920.

The first Ladies Aid Society was organized early in 1903 and apparently sometime later became the Social Workers. At an unknown time a Missionary Society was organized under the auspices of the Christian Women's Board of Missions. In 1924 this latter group reorganized under the leading of the United Christian Missionary Society. The two ladies groups continued for many years: one to study and promote missions and the other to raise money and have fellowship.

In 1923 the present Parsonage was built next to the alley facing 9^th St. at a cost of $4,500. The dedication was Jan. 27, 1924. The old house on the northeast corner was moved to 404 Jenkins and rented out. In the mid 1920's the first Deaconesses were elected and began serving on the Church Board.

In the late 1920's there was much talk of building a new building for the Church, but plans were shelved when hard times hit. Instead a number of improvements were made to the existing building. During the 1930's the Church struggled under hard times, reduced income and a burdensome note left from the construction of the Parsonage earlier - a note that was not paid off until 1941.

Two exciting events hit the Church in 1940 and 1941 while Hildebrand was pastor. In the summer of 1940 a bank robber who took refuge in the Church building was shot and apprehended by law personnel. The next winter a Sunday School class became overcome by fumes or lack of oxygen from a space heater. Fortunately noone was seriously injured by the former or seriously sickened by the latter.

In early 1947 the Social Workers began discussing a change to become the "Women's Council". In the spring the decision was made and it was written, "The Social Workers are no more." The new organization was intended to include every woman in the Church and for convenience was divided into three Circles, one to meet in the evening. This new organization also supplanted the former Missionary Society. In 1952 they started the fall Harvest Sale which turned into the annual soup supper in November.

Discussion began again in the 1940's on building a new Church building and a building fund was established. However, before it could be built the congregation saw a pressing need for more Sunday School room. A 24 ft. by 44 ft. cement block building was constructed in 1951 next to the alley west of the Parsonage with 4 small rooms and one large room. Much of the work was done by volunteers.

In the spring of 1954 a decision was made to construct a new Church building and work was soon begun to remove the old frame building by members of the congregation. Ground was broken in June and the cornerstone was laid on August 22^nd. The first service in the new building was held on February 20, 1955, and the Dedication Service was April 24, 1955. This building is 36 by 96, made of native limestone, with a full basement. The estimated cost of the building was $75,000. The debt was cleared up by the end of 1958 and a mortgage burning was held in January, 1959.

In 1968, the Women's Council first used the name CWF in the minutes in September and the following February the new Christian Women's Fellowship constitution was accepted. The CWF has continued to the present time with its good work in assisting the Church financially as well as providing volunteer labor for many activities that are carried on in and by the Church. The CWF continued to be divided in Circles to fit the needs of the time.

Almost immediately after completing the new church building preliminary plans were being made to construct an educational wing. This was not done until 1981-1982, but a building fund was created and the lots to the west were purchased in 1959 to complete the ownership to the entire north half of the block. These lots which were then cleared of buildings were made into a parking lot. Amenities were also added to the new building such as a new rose window on the west wall of the sanctuary in 1961, colored glass windows in 1962, and new cathedral type chandeliers in 1965.

Finally, in 1981 on May 31^st, the congregation voted by 70.1% to build. The first vote was to build a shell for $100,000 and complete later as money came available. Groundbreaking was held October 4, 1981. The new Sunday School Annex was completed and the dedication took place on July 11, 1982. The debt was paid in full by December, 1983, with the mortgage burning on April 1, 1984. The total price was $122,000. The old cement block building next to the alley had been torn down earlier that year to make room for the new building.

In 1982 the church took a historic step when the congregation was polled on the question of women serving as Elders and Deacons with a 2/3 favorable vote. The first women to serve as Deacons were Mary Miller, Marilyn Miller, Betty Withey and Jessie Blackburn. In 1985 Jessie Blackburn and Mary Miller were elected Elders.

Over the years a number of persons from the congregation have gone into specialized Church vocations. Merle Tarvin entered the preaching ministry in the early days of the congregation. Kent Bates served as a missionary in India and a college professor in Manhattan. Others in the preaching ministry were Victor Schwarz, Kenneth Habig, and Dennis McKee. Tom Saville was a licensed lay minister from the congregation. Young women who were preacher's wives were Virginia Schwarz Bigger, Barbara Tarvin Rider Madison, Sarah Hover Daetwiler Newton, Marion Bates Sutherlin, Rosa Keck Barnes and Hazel Keck Kelly.

Through the years the church has been blessed by being remembered in the wills of a number of members who have gone on to their reward, but by far the largest and most far reaching has been the gift of Bill and Eloise Stockard. Both served the church in a number of ways during their lives, but after their death a perpetual trust of sizeable amount was set up in 1997 that will continue to help the church in its ministry as long as this church shall continue.

L. W. Myers, 1902-1903

Daniel Cole, 1903

John Bain, 1904-1907

J. S. Spears, 1907-1910

J. H. Crutcher, 1910-1912

O. D. Thomas, 1912-1914

C. C. Spencer, 1914-1916

W. Bailer, 1919-1921

H. A. Wingard, 1921-1923

R. M. Salts, 1923-1925

Ernest Malloy, 1925-1927

T. H. Johnson, 1927-1935

Clayton Hildebrand, 1935-1941

Lowell Renberger, 1941-1944

John Newton, 1944-1947

Clifford Hauxwell, 1948-1952

Ralph Hamon, 1953-1959

Jerry Housh, 1959-1963

Lynn Firkins, 1963-1966

George Taylor, 1967-1971

Gary Rolph, 1972

Drexel von Forell, 1974-1978

Lavern Leigh, 1979-1985

Emerson Gillett, 1986-1994

Victor Schwarz, 1994-1995

Robert Brown, 1995-1996

Ross Kirk, 1996-1997

Ben Johnson, 1998-1999

Jerry Zanker, 1999-