Subject: KFY: Fw: Church HISTORY; Sturgis, Union Co, KY - 50 years Date: Sat, 20 Mar 1999 11:09:53 +0100 From: "MDT (Maria)" To: "KyFootsteps" Sturgis General Baptist Church was organized on Sunday afternoon Mar. 6, 1949 by O. B. Clark, assisted by Revs. Charles Polly, C. W. Duffer, W. W. Oakley and deacon M. B. McDonald. Fourteen members went into the orginization. They were James Watson, Elsie Watson, Docia Powell, Jeanetta Mackey, Bessie Yates, A. J. McKendree, Lorene Straker, Sam Straker, Rose Earl Neible, Mary Powell, Hattie Hollard Wright, Ona Brantley, Bell Smithers and Ruby Kanipe. Sturgis General Baptist Church is a church which grew on faith and its present building is jut about the only visible segment remaining of a community in Union County that vanished with progress. The Church originally was located in the now vanished town of Curlew, a community located in the area once occupied by the Ohio River belt line of the Pittsburg Midway Coal Company's Dekoven Mines No. 6 and No. 9. At one time, some 30 buildings that comprised Curlew were sprawled on the bottom land area. The present church in Sturgis is composed in part of the rafters, joists and timbers of the church that existed in Curlew. The church first met in the Old Bell building in Sturgis across the street from the Illinois Central Railroad Depot. It was while meeting there in its founding days that the members decided to create a Home Church from the abandonded structure at Curlew. Rev. O. B. Clark held a revival meeting in the Bell building among the members of the new congregation and out of that spiritual revival came the determination to build a new church. In 1949 Mr, & Mrs. Clifton Lane of Sturgis donated a lot and one dollar toward a new church on a lot measuring 55 feet by 75 feet at Ninth and Johnson Street. The Old General Baptist at Curlew donated the structural timbering and flooring. When the members were finished, a 40 foot by 60 foot concrete block and stucco house of God occupied the vacant lot. Labor workers created Sunday School rooms in the full basement, each room heated with individual gas heaters. Upstairs the sanctuary was reached by five steps from the foyer. It had six frosted windows and the walls were painted pale green. The pews were of sofl blond pecan coloration facing a pulpit flanked by the American Flag and the Christian Flag on each side. Rev. O. B. Clark preached once a month for a short time, then Rev. Charles Polly was elected pastor and served for more than three years. In August 1949 the construction began and in November the bulding was near complete enough for services to be held. In Sept. 1951 Rev. Williams Chambliss was elected pastor and the church went to full time. The pastors have been Revs. Charles Polly of Dixon; William Chambliss of Sturgis; Earl Rinehart of MO; Berlan Harper of MO; B. A. Mercer of Slaughters; Archie Carnal of Manitou; Robert Phillip of Marion; C. B. Jones of Clay; Johnny Royalty of Evansville; Jim Nicholosn of Sturgis; Larry Goldsberry of Henderson; David Winders of Marion; David Townsent of Slaughters; J. W. Davis of Marion; and Nicky Winders of Marion. The Deacons have been A. J. McKendree, Elton Heidrich, W. D. McKendree, Earl McKendree, Ronnie Butler and Doug Smith. The trusteees have been James Watson, Sam Travis, Bill Duncan, Alfred Potts, Lawrence Powell, W. D. McKendree, Elsie Watson, Earl McKendree, Walter Peavler, Eddie Martin, David Simpson, Elton Heidrich, Ronnie Quertermouse and Doug Smith. The Clerks have been Lorene Stacker, Jeanetta Mackey, Juanice Hedgepath, and Martha Heidrich. The Treasureres have been Elsie Watson, Sam Travis and Donna Hedgepath. In December 1984 they started the new addition of six Sunday School room and two rest rooms. Aug. 1985 a steeple was erected. Mar. 1986, 6 new windows and new front doors. 1989, parking lot was blacktopped. Oct. 1989 a new baptistry. Feb. 1990 new carpet and new pews. Feb. 1991 remodeled the basement. Only two charter members remain. They are Mrs. Elise Watson and Mrs. Docia Powell. Services are Sunda School at 9:45; Morning Worship at 11: nigth services at 6; Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting at 7pm. This appears in The Sturgis News, Wed. Mar. 3, 1999 edition on pages 1 & 2. Sturgis News, P. O. Box 218, Sturgis, KY 42459. Subscription rates - Union and surronding counties -9.54; Elsewhere in KY 13.78; out of state - 16.00. ======================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. Commercial entities must ask for and receive permission from submittor before downloading.