100th
Birthday Celebration
Of
Ward Methodist
Church
July 5, 1981
By Elizabeth M.
Boyd
This is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice
and be glad in it.
I have been asked to give a little history on this 100th birthday of our church. I have been unable to find
but little on the early church, as some of the records have been lost. We do know a little red school house, built in 1862
and just down the road a bit was used for 12 years as a meeting place for the Methodist Society. Here some of the families
that had settled on the mountain felt the need for a place to worship and decided to build a church. Some of the names on
record were Hill, Boyd, Segur, Kniffen, Cease, and Bruce. There probably were others. I’ve often wondered if a circuit
rider brought them the message or one of their own people.
The church was built in 1881, but not dedicated until two years later, in 1883. The lumber used to build the church
is believed to have been sawed at Chase’s Lumber Mill on the river. Rev. J.D. Regua was appointed the first pastor of
the new church. He was also pastor of the Canton Methodist Church. Bertha (Griswold) Teeter
is believed to have been the organist for the early church at a very young age. She received encouragement and advice from
Eugene Segur who loved music.
Records show Epworth League was started in 1898 with 50 members. At this time it is believed that the clock on the
wall was purchased for $2.75.
Revivals were held at the church during the early years with a very large attendance as I’ve seen pictures of
the crowd filling the porch and lawn as far as the road.
A Temperance Society was also started on July 9, 1906 with James A. Boyd as president. Meetings were held until August
1909. It was interesting to note where members voted to withdraw 13 cents from the treasury to add to $1.37 in order to give
Rev. Delmont, who was their minister at that time a $1.50.
In 1929, during the time Rev. John W. Faust was minister here “Old Home Day” had its beginning. At first
this was a two day affair with games, bag race, ball games between Ward and North Union, also Liberty.
Music and visiting Saturday afternoon and a few times a square dance was enjoyed by the young people at the Ward Grange
nearby, but much against the wishes of the Church fathers. Old timers came from far and near. It was during this time I came
here as a new bride just 50 years ago. Gertrude Hill was our Sunday School teacher.
Many will remember the old Pump Organ that was used for our Sunday Morning service, with special music and a guest
speaker. It might be our District Superintendent or a former minister. After a picnic lunch out under the apple trees, the
old organ would be carried out for more music and singing. Bertha Teeters daughter, Lois, would render a solo and the four
Segur brothers Ernest, Ivan, Amel and Tory, who sang beautifully would entertain and all who were there would join in the
singing. Time doesn’t permit me to mention all those young people of our church who sang and played for our programs.
There were as many as three hundred and over attending these “Old Home Days.”
This finally became a one day affair and then in 1966 was discontinued as most of the old timers were gone. In 1935
the government took over much of the mountain land for parks and forestry purposes so that now this once thriving community
had dwindled to but a few of the old families.
Services were held the year around in the church until the year 1939 when it was decided to discontinue services through
the winter months. These were the depression years and just before World War II. Sunday School was also discontinued during
the early forties and services were held in the evenings. Those of us who lived nearer town attended the Canton Church during the winter.
Then in 1960 more young families were attending church and we felt the need of a Sunday School and with the encouragement
of Rev. Richard Tillapough, who was our minister at that time, a church school was started with five classes and has continued.
Elizabeth Boyd was Superintendent from 1960 until 1987.
As I said earlier, the last “Old Home Day” was held July 31st, 1966 with 51 attending. On this
day the large bell outside was given to the church from the McWilliams family from Alba. It was later dedicated in memory
of their grand-son Robert McWilliams. Bobby was the son of Robert and Jean Machmer McWilliams and grand-son of Mabel Machmer,
who lost his life in Vietnam.
We now have the first Communion Cup and Pitcher used in the early church. This was probably packed away and forgotten
about after the new set was used.
The Oil painting of Christ in the front of the church was painted by a Mrs. Hall and presented to the church in memory
of Levi S. Kniffen in 1953.
The Pulpit Bible in use now was given to the church by Nettie Stear, who was raised here on the mountain, as a memorial
to the following families who were faithful workers of the early church, Hezekiah and Polly Wilcox, Perry and Mary Brooks,
The Teeter family, Peter and Agnes Boyd family, the Breese family, Kniffen family, Segur family, Hill family and the Smith
family.
The Candle Sticks and Cross were given in memory of Bobby McWilliams and the baptismal bowl and stand in memory of
E. Marshall Boyd from his family. My little grand-daughter Rebecca Jo Kilmer, daughter of Richard and Barbara Boyd Kilmer
was baptized the day of the dedication of the bowl, November 25, 1979. The day before on November 24, 1979 my grand-son Kenneth
Boyd, son of William and Alene Boyd was married to Dawn Puterbaugh in the church.
The song board was given by Mason and Carol Machmer and family in memory of their parents, Mr. Fred Machmer and Mr.
Wilbut Higby.
In 1955, Hymn books were given in memory of several local families. On
December 26, 1976, a memorial service was held dedicating the Alter Scraf and Book Mark by Mrs. Richard Earley in memory of
Harold Machmer. The Communion Cloth and Scarf was given in memory of Robert Machmer by his wife Mrs. Robert (Ethel) Machmer.
The Element Cloth was given in memory of Earl Hill by his wife Mrs. Gertrude Hill. The Choir Robe and Stole was given in memory
of Jean McWilliams by Mr. & Mrs. Richard Kelley and family and Mr. & Mrs. Davis Shedden and family. The Guest Book
Stand was a gift given by Arthur Hill. The Kitchen Cabinets are in memory of Emerson Hufford from his family and Nelle Shoemaker
from Arthur Shoemaker. The Folding Chairs are in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Flinn from their family. The additional hymnals
are in memory of Helen, Arthur, and Florence Hill, given by the family of Arthur Hill.
The first wedding in our church was 60 years after the church was built. It was Leah Machmer to John Osipovitch, July
27, 1941. The second one was my oldest son William M. Boyd to Alene Morgan, September 13, 1953. There have been several beautiful
weddings since these, both in our church family and those not members, but wanting to be married in the pretty white church
on the mountain.
There have been 22 ministers from the time the church was built until the present time. Those ministers who have been
here since I came were: Rev. J.W. Faust, Rev. Albert Trickett, Rev. Leonard A. Guiles, Rev. Lewis A. Bachman, Rev. Paul Fatteruso,
Rev. Richard Tillapaugh, Rev. Donald Rathjen, Rev. Robert Jones, Rev. Donald Winstead, Rev. C. David Jones, Pastor Larry Thoren,
Pastor Dale Stewart, and our minister at present, Rev. Jasper Smith.
During his 6 years with us our church family has grown. Here in the sanctuary many improvements have been added. The
ceiling has been lowered, new paneling on the wall and also new carpeting. Instead of having two “pot bellied”
heating stoves, we have only one and an oil burning stove. The addition of a 24 by 24 foot room on the back of our church
is a dream come true. It serves as a kitchen, dining room, and class room. This was made possible by a number of monitary
contributions and memorials left to the church. A building fund was started several years ago and money raised by bake sales,
rummage sales, a luncheon for hunters, ice cream social and coffee and cookie sales. Many, many hours of work was donated
by the men and women of the church. All have worked together in love and harmony and I’m sure with God’s blessing
this little church on top of the mountain will remain a beacon of light to shine out to others. We are humbly grateful that
on many Sunday mornings we have two and three sets of four generations attending in the Machmer family, also the Boyd family.
Eight new members have joined the church in the past two weeks and we now have a membership of 55.
There are so many more things to tell about our church, but time and space will not permit it.
We thank God for all those who had the faith and desire to build this church. We cherish the memories of those who
are gone and for myself I would like to say “thank-you” God for the young husband who brought me to this church
so many years ago.
