HOWARD AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH *************************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Transcribed by Kathy Odom Submitted by Scott Fitzgerald - scottfitzgerald@tyler.net East Texas Genealogical Society, 1st Vice-President 19 April 2007 *************************************************************************** Originally published in The Tracings, Volume 5, No. 2, Fall 1986, Pages 39-43 by the Anderson County Genealogical Society, copyright assigned to the East Texas Genealogical Society. "A Goal of Giving from Every Family" HOWARD AVENUE METHODIST CHURCH (Now Grace Methodist Church) Howard Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, South was built on the corner of Howard Avenue and Gilbert Street in 1898. The Reverend Alex Methvin was the pastor in charge, and supervised the building of this church. On February 10, 1913 Howard Avenue Church burned. Sunday School and Church services were then held in a store building on Green Street east of Rusk School. In 1916, during the ministry of the reverend L. B. Saxton, the present building was erected on the corner of N. Queen and W. Kolstad Streets. "If You Can be Proud of Your Gift, You've Given Enough" A History of Grace Methodist Church By: Joe Owens [Note: This history has been worked up using the records which we have, and the information that has been given by some of the members who have lived here a long time and have been closely associated with grace Church through the years. It is quiet possible that there are some errors and some omissions but if such is the case, I assure you Mr. Reader, it was not intentional.] According to Mrs. Jessie Wood Nance in "Our Growing Church," a history of First Methodist Church, "Methodism in this section made its first appearance at Fort Houston, located two miles west of Palestine. The Fort was established in 1836 for protection against the Indians. There were no records, but the story has come down that a missionary visited the Fort and, finding no church, organized one. He left but the group carried on. It is also told that there were eight members; that four kept guard while the others worshiped." The first record of a church is given by Thrall: "In 1840 John Wilson, a supply on the Crockett Mission, organized a class where the city of Palestine now stands, in the house of Roland Box." When the county of Anderson was created and Palestine selected as the county seat, the Society moved to the new town. That was in 1846. In December 1847 Henderson D. Palmer was appointed to the first Palestine Circuit. The records of Kickapoo Circuit, Palestine District, East Texas Conference from 1857-1894 were loaned to the Junior Historical Society of Palestine High School. They are available to interested people. Some of the early churches in the Palestine District were: Fain's Chapel, Salem, Tennessee Colony, Beaver, Fincastle, Concord, Foster's Chapel, Woods School House, Pleasant Hill, Bishop's Chapel and Price's School House. Later in 1897-98 some of the churches on the Palestine Circuit were Gibson Community, on the old Palestine Neches Road, Tucker and harmon Heath's near Holmes Chapel. The records show that Reverend Alex Methvin preached at each of these places. Grace Methodist Church originated on Austin Street, later named Kolstad Street in 1897. Preaching and Sunday School were held in a three-room residence one block west of Esplanade and on the north side of Austin Street. There was also a brush arbor. The organ sat on the porch. Reverend Frick held a meeting under the brush arbor. Many accepted Christ as their Savior and organized themselves into what first became Methvin's Chapel and later Grace Methodist Church. Mr. F. W. Kitcher was superintendent of the Austin Street Sunday School, and later at the Howard Avenue Church, until his death in 1905. Mr. George Dietz and his wife Sarah, taught a Sunday School class at the Austin Street Church. There were about ten families who attended. Some of the charter members were: Mr. Mack Brashier, Mr. R. P. Wardlaw, Mr. T. A. Gossett, a Mr. McMillan and wife, Mrs. Liza Cuson, Mr. F. W. Kitcher, Mrs. H. C. Hart, Mr. George Dietz and wife, Sarah, and Mrs. Leslie Wells. [Mrs. H. C. Hart was the only charter member living when Mr. Owens wrote this history]. In 1898 Howard Avenue Church was built on the corner of Gilbert and Howard Avenue. Reverend Alex Methvin, who came in November 1897, supervised the structure and was the first preacher. Many local carpenters helped build it. Mr. J. F. Cuson gave the paint for the inside. Records show that close to ninety members joined during Reverend Methvin's ministry. In 1901 a Sunday School Annex was built. Sunday School superintendets who served at Howard Avenue Church were: Messrs. F. W. Kitcher, C. W. Palmer, J. H. Nash, Jack Campbell, G. B. Cuson and T. J. Evans. Mrs. Jack Campbell taught a Sunday School class of 125 young men and women. They had plays and picnics. Mr. Sam Rollins would haul large groups to Cartmell Lake. There was Prayer Meeting on Wednesday night and Women's Missionary Society met once a month. Mr. "Dad" Love helped obtain an organ and also obtained the church bell. Some of the Sunday School teachers: Mrs. Ada Cuson Sellers, who taught a class of girls, ages nine to twelve years, Mrs. Gertrude Kersh Wilson, Mrs. Lura Green, Mrs. G. B. Cuson, Miss Harriet Wagnon, who taught primary, Mr. Mack Brashier and wife and a Mrs. Rucker. Mr. Fred Kitcher organized and was president of, the Senior League. Mrs. Ada Cuson Sellers was superintendent of the Junior League. Others that helped with the League were Mrs. J. T. West and a Mrs. King. Miss Pearl Face succeeded Mr. Fred Kitcher as president of the Senior League. Grace Methodist Missionary Society was organized about 1898 and only did local work. At that time Mesdames I. Miller, Biggs, Kitcher, Cuson, Rucker, Fowler, Shoemaker, Brashier, House, Wardlaw, Gossett and Session were some of the members. Dues were only ten cents per month. Centenary Church [First Methodist Church] and Grace Society were together at this time and Mrs. Earnest Douthitt was president. They decided to have separate Socieites. Mrs. Lura Mann was the first president after revision. About 1902, during the District Conference at Alto, the Society was re-organized and became connectional. Since that time the women have been very faithful in their work. In 1927 they spent more than $1,000 on local work. During a revival meeting at Howard Avenue Church, Evangelist Abe Mulkey preaching, the church would not hold the crowd, so they moved down town over Bailey's Furniture Store. On February 10, 1913, during Reverend T. R. Morehead's ministry, Howard Avenue Church burned. Sunday School and Church services were then held in Mr. Billy Hurbrough's store building on Green Street, east of Rusk School. Reverend T. R. Morehead erected a tent on Kolstad Street in the block adjoining where the parsonage is located. The succeeding pastor, Reverend I. W. Campbell, held services in the Texas Theatre while the Tabernacle was being built in 1914, at a spot north of the parsonage about where Skelton Hall, our Educational Building, is located. Rev. I. W. Campbell and family lived in the parsonage, known as the Burkhead property, and was located where the present Sanctuary now is. The parsonage was moved to where Skelton Hall now stands. The Tabernacle had a stage for the choir and it also had a pulpit and a piano. In 1916, during Reverend L. B. Saxon's ministry, the Tabernacle was torn down and the present Sanctuary was built. Services were held in an old building near the Water Works office. Mr. Will Pheifer was contractor. Skelton Hall was built in 1947, during Reverend W. W. Armstrong's ministry, and was finished inside during Reverend H. E. Floyd's ministry. Mrs. Hazel Holley helped obtain our Hammond organ and the H. J. Owens family gave the chimes during Rev. W. W. Armstrong's ministry. A list of pastors who have served at our Church are given in chronological order as nearly as records and reports have established. Pastors were previously changed in November instead of June, as is our present policy, hence, two pastors may be listed for the same year. November 1897 to November 1899--------Rev. Alex Methvin November 1899 to November 1900--------Rev. J. D. Dorsey November 1900 to November 1903--------Rev. H. J. Hayes November 1903 to November 1906--------Rev. Gus Garrison November 1906 to November 1907--------Rev. H. A. King November 1907 to November 1909--------Rev. T. R. Morehead November 1909 to November 1910--------Rev. H. H. Davis November 1910 to November 1912--------Rev. W.F. Smith November 1912 to November 1913--------Rev. T. R. Morehead November 1913 to November 1915--------Rev. I. W. Campbell November 1915 to November 1918--------Rev. L. B. Saxton November 1918 to November 1920--------Rev. C. W. Hughes November 1920 to November 1921--------Rev. O. W. Hooper November 1921 to November 1923--------Rev. Terry Wilson November 1923 to November 1924--------Rev. C. A. Lehmberg November 1924 to November 1925--------Rev. F. E. Few November 1925 to November 1926--------Rev. F. E. Luker November 1926 to November 1928--------Rev. J. E. Buttrill November 1928 to November 1930--------Rev. A. E. Rider November 1930 to November 1931--------Rev. J. T. Moore November 1931 to November 1932--------Rev. I. T. Andrews November 1932 to November 1934--------Rev. J. W. Goodwin November 1934 to November 1936--------Rev. J. H. Malone November 1936 to November 1937--------Rev. S. P. Wright November 1937 to November 1940--------Rev. J. C. Cooper November 1940 to November 1942--------Rev. Ray Loden May 1942 to June 1948--------Rev. W. W. Armstrong June 1948 to June 1951--------Rev. H. E. Floyd June 1951 to --------Rev. Mondrick Gorzycki Pastors since 1953 include these: June 1953 to October 1953-------------Rev. John N. Renfro October 1953 to March 1955------------Rev. Phil E. Trammel March 1955 to June 1957---------------Rev. B. R. Shelton June 1957 to June 1958----------------Rev. Howard F. Nielson June 1958 to June 1962----------------Rev. J. E. McGaughy June 1962 to June 1967----------------Rev. Derwin F. Walker June 1967 to June 1969----------------Rev. C. M. Lamb June 1969 to January 1974-------------Rev. William J. Hodge January 1974 to June 1977-------------Rev. H. C. Millikan June 1977 to January 1981-------------Rev. James R. Knight January 1981 to present---------------Rev. Ben D. Reily Some of the preachers that Grace Church has sent out are: Rev. Will Thresto Rev. Don Box Rev. Clayton Johnson Rev. Charles Woodard Rev. Elton Elrod Jack McCants-Ministerial student Persons who helped with this history are: Mr. G. B. Cuson Mrs. Ada Cuson Sellers Mrs. L. B. Saxton Mrs. L. A. Amason Mr. Robert Garner Mr. Link Emmons Mr. E. G. Tomkins Mr. D. R. Tomkins Mrs. Flora Collier Mrs. Rush Smith GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Kolstad at Queen Palestine, Texas