Sunday, July 7, 2024
First Presbyterian Celebrates 200 Years, Part III
The above postcard, provided by George Young, shows the third and current location of First Presbyterian Church, on West Broadway.
Editor’s note: Today, July 7, First Presbyterian Church celebrates 200 years since its founding. A special service at 10 a.m. will feature a variety of activities, including a reunion choir and ringing of the 175-year-old bell, and later followed by a group picture and meal in the fellowship hall. There will also be tours, a slideshow and games and crafts for all age groups. The following is the third of a four-part series on the church’s local history. This article was culled from church history documents dating back to the late 1800s.
After building two houses of worship and assisting with the founding of the German Presbyterian Church and Vine Street Methodist Church (105 N. Vine St.), the congregants at First Presbyterian Church gathered in 1884 to discuss a possible third building at 124 W. Broadway.
“At first, the decision to move was met with opposition from some of the congregation who felt it was too far out in the country and away from where most members lived,” the church history document said.
But, the new building was constructed in just nine months and was dedicated in 1885 at a service featuring at least 800 people attending the church Sabbath School, since other Sabbath schools in the city were dismissed. Father Kent, the church’s first full-time minister, also attended.
The vacated second church building at Jackson and Harrison streets became a hardware store for a time, then Farmers National Bank built a facility on the lot, and now PNC Bank occupies the property.
At the new church building on W. Broadway, the congregation originally faced Jackson Street. Those entering from Broadway came into the rear of the sanctuary through the east front door. The area of the present chancel between the two Broadway doors was a large open Sunday School room for boys. Girls at that time were not allowed to go to Sunday School. The stained glass window above the west Broadway door indicates it was the original entrance for the Sunday School room. The office was in the same location as today. The large stained glass window, now only visible from Broadway on the outside, was then also visible within. The floor was level and the pulpit on the north side.
In the 1890s, the church decided to do away with “family pews,” opting for a democratic seating arrangement. “When the current church building was constructed, members of the congregation made donations to purchase the church pews,” the church history document said. “The people got into their heads that they owned a certain pew. When they came to church and someone was sitting in their pew, they would make the people move. The minister had to explain from the pulpit several different times that ‘no one owns these pews.’”
A 30-piece church boys band played throughout the community from 1903 to 1906. In this same time period, the congregation discussed the need for a Sunday School addition. A vigorous debate featured discussions of the merits of the project and available funds. A large gift from Mahala Apple, widow of Daniel Apple, enabled the church to expand the Sunday School area. The wing, which included 20 classrooms on the main floor, was completed in 1909. A 1909 Moeller pipe organ was also installed.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the church reached one of the highest membership peaks in its history with 664 members. During this era, the pews were turned around to face Broadway and the floor was raked (slanted) to allow a better view of the minister and choir. The pastor during this period was the beloved Dr. Louis Richmond, who was later elected Pastor Emeritus. The next pastor, Rev. Roscoe Wolvington, recalled that “Louie” would “come to his office every morning, give him a cigarette, and bring him up to date on the things he should know in his beloved congregation,” the history said. Dr. Richmond was the father of Mary Richmond Thurston, who married Norman Thurston, editor of The Shelbyville News.
The 1930s also brought about a Depression-era play shop. The “Broadway Players” offered a form of entertainment during difficult times. The productions were staged in the Apple Sunday School auditorium which had a stage and plenty of theater-style seating. Marian McFadden, Lela Rimstidt McKeand, Graham Lemmon and Mrs. Garnet Perry all played key roles in this endeavor.
This period of church history was rounded out by the service of Dr. Charles Bowler, who was called to be pastor in 1934. During his ministry, the entire outside of the church as well as the steeple were repaired and the original stained glass windows were sent for restoration. The Bowler family remained in Shelbyville almost 15 years, and Dr. Bowler is remembered for his good sermons and excellent book reviews at various clubs and civic functions in the city.
NOTEBOOK:
NATIONAL NEWS: The latest data shows that the connections between the United Kingdom and the United States are, at least in the air, tighter than ever. This month there are 4,674 one-way flights projected to connect the U.S. and U.K., meaning that on average, every 9.5 minutes a plane departs the United Kingdom for America, an all-time high. Those numbers are not only up 1.5 percent over pre-pandemic highs, but up 21 percent compared to a decade ago. (Skift/Numlock)
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This Day in Shelby County History
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: A Shelbyville man was arrested for allegedly stealing a backhoe and taking it for a joyride around a Henry County park. Before his arrest, he crashed a family reunion at the park and had dinner.
2004: The Grover Museum played “When Knighthood Was in Flower,” a 1922 silent film based on the Charles Major novel. The movie had been one of the most expensive to make at the time, costing $1.5 million.
1994: A female Shelby County jail inmate was moved to a padded cell after a series of incidents. She had first threatened another inmate. When jail officers attempted to move her to another cell block, she resisted. The woman was placed in a segregation cell, where she kicked the door glass with her bare foot, shattering it. Officers then handcuffed her and sprayed Mace to subdue her before placing her in a padded cell.
1984: Pat Spurling and her neighbors were standing outside her home, 310 E. Washington St., talking, when ducks starting falling from a nearby tree. A conservation officer was called to the scene. Shelbyville Police Capt. Mark Sullivan said the birds appeared to be woodland ducks. “As far as I know, those are the only kind of ducks that nest in trees like this,” he said. “But this is the first time I’ve seen something like this in town.”
1974: Jeff Powell, 17, Germantown, who was employed at Certain-teed, suffered a severe rear skull fracture when he slipped and fell on rocks at the St. Paul falls in Flat Rock River. He apparently slipped while preparing to dive off a rock into a pool, and was brought to the bank by two fellow swimmers, The Shelbyville News reported.
1964: Carl Irvin Mohr, Fountaintown, was awarded the Hoosier Farmer Award at the Future Farmers of America gathering at Purdue University. Mohr was a 1964 Triton Central High School graduate.
Bill Aulby and Larry Tharp received trophies as the outstanding auxiliary policemen of the months for April and May.
1954: Attendance at Porter Pool had reached 24,000 for the summer during the Fourth of July weekend, manager Louis Kuhn reported. The daily record for the year was 950 swimmers.
With no bugler on hand for Boy Scout camp at Camp Flat Rock, Dean Harper, water front director at the camp, brought his saxophone to accompany flag ceremonies.
1944: The Fourth of July weekend had been quiet in Shelbyville, The Republican reported, with the only local celebration being a children’s party sponsored by the Elks Club. Most farmers were busy with the wheat harvest, the paper said.
1934: The state’s recent ban of hard liquor sales by the drink caused much discussion locally. “If any hard liquor is sold by the drink in any local place,” Sheriff Elisha Crosby said, “it isn’t - and won’t be - done while I’m around. They might sell it as soon as I have gone out the door - but how can I know, unless somebody reports it?” Police Chief Charles Goebel said no hard liquor was sold by the glass in Shelbyville. However, he added, he would need sufficient proof of sale if a report was made.
1924: The Shelbyville Masonic lodge purchased two lots on South Harrison Street for construction of a temple within a year. The lots, located between Taylor and South streets, had been owned by Edward B. Johnson, Gertrude Johnson and Charles Sullivan. Funds for the purchase were from the will of the late John Messick.
1914: An attempt was made to rob the “poor box,” located on the north wall of the St. Joseph Catholic Church. The box had been pried from its place with a crow bar, but the thief had been unable to open it. When church officials opened the box prior to restoring it, there was only 10 cents inside, “which would probably have made the robber ashamed of himself,” The Republican said.
OBITUARIES
James R. “Jim” Pherigo, 82, of Shelbyville, passed away Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis. He was born December 26, 1941, in Shelbyville, the son of Robert and Virginia (Hey) Pherigo. On October 17, 1964, he married his wife of 59 years, Pamela Link, and she survives. In addition to Pam, Jim is survived by his daughter, Angela Pherigo of Morristown; sister, Sandra Piercy and husband, Gaylon, of Shelbyville; four nephews, Robert Piercy, Derick Piercy, Larry Link and Tim Link; niece, Katherine Sparks; and his cat, Johnny. Jim was preceded in death by his parents.
In 1959, Jim graduated from Shelbyville High School. He was an active member of the Evangelical United Church of Christ. Jim worked for Vectren Gas for 35 years, retiring in 2005. He served in the National Guard for six years.
A Gathering of Friends and Family will be from 4 to 5 p.m., Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Evangelical United Church of Christ, 2630 South Miller Street in Shelbyville. A Memorial service will follow, with Pastor Chuck Jordan officiating. Committal will be at a later date in Asbury Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St., in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, 136 E. Washington St., Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Jim’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Agnes L. Meltzer, 94, of Shelbyville passed away Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Morristown Manor. Agnes was born May 23, 1930, at home on the farm in Ripley County to Loretta (Schafer) and Edward Kieffer.
She graduated from New Marion High School in Ripley County. She then moved to Shelbyville in 1949 to find work. She married Emil Meltzer in 1951. He preceded her in death in March 2008.
Agnes spent her life raising her five children. She helped raise a big garden and preserved the vegetables. She enjoyed raising chickens, ducks, and turkeys, which also helped feed her family. She enjoyed growing flowers and feeding hummingbirds. Agnes also helped to raise her grandchildren. In retirement years, she spent some time traveling with the St. Joe Social Club and volunteered with meals at the St. Joe Church. She was a member of St. Joe Church all her adult life, and a member of St. Anne’s Altar Society.
Agnes is survived by her daughter, Karen Tronstad; sons, William (Bill) (wife, Susie), Dale and Keith; her grandchildren, Amanda Perry, Becca Miller, Daniel Tronstad, and Carrie Foster; 6 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her son, Steven, her sisters, Helen, Florence, and Elizabeth, and her brothers, Bob, and Edward.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Recital of the Rosary will follow the visitation at 12:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 125 E. Broadway St., with Father Paul Landwerlen officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Agnes’ family. Memorial contributions may be given to the Cancer Association of Shelby County, 31 Public Square, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.