A railroad was built, and the
first train road through the Plain Dealing area on May 1, 1888. Lots
were offered in July and a town was created. Methodist settlers soon
decided to form a church in the new town. On June 9, 1888, they selected
the site (now occupied by the Plain Dealing High School) for the new church.
Mr. S.J. Ziegler donated land to the church and the church was completed
by October 3. Benches were brought over from the old Red Land church.
The first services was on a Wednesday night, October 10, 1888, by a Presbyterian
minister (Rev. McCarty). Methodist pastor Rev. E.B. Foust held services
the following Sunday.
The first parsonage on 207 North
Calhoun Street was acquired in 1894 under the leadership of Rev. H.J. Boltz.
It was bought from Thomas Lyles for $100.
Rev. G.D. Purcell was appointed
to the church in 1900 to help them build a new church. The old church
was disassembled and used in constructing a new church. A lot for
the new church had been donated by J.O. Love.
A new parsonage was built at
410 North Calhoun (lot bought in 1906 for $35) after Rev. T.J. Embree was
appointed in 1911.
By the 1920s, the congregation
needed a larger church. The old one was sold to a group of black
Methodists for $450 and moved. Fundraising for the new brick church
began on November 22, 1922, when $9,000 in pledges were raised. After
years of raising money to pay off the debt, the church was dedicated on
February 10, 1935 at a service led by Bishop Hoyt Dobbs.
During Rev. Reuel H. Allens
pastorate (1954-58), the old brick sanctuary was torn down and the current
sanctuary was completed in 1957. A new parsonage was built on West
Palmetto Street.
Source: 100 Years in His Service: 1888-1988, Norma Stewart
Winegeart |
