CHURCHES OF WRIGHT TOWNSHIP

LICKLEY’S CORNERS BAPTIST CHURCH

Although the Lickley’s Corners Baptist Church is a fairly new church, the congregation meets in a very old building and holds to the faith. They believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, that Jesus, Gods son, died to save sinners and rose again, and that all men need to have a personal faith in the Lord Jesus to have hope of eternal life.

The Lickley’s Corners Baptist Church was organized in February 1970, and incorporated on September 17, 1970. The membership list, on April 22, 1970, consisted of twenty-three people. The original officers were: Deacons, Mr. Voyle Smith and Mr. Vincent Smith; Trustees, Mr. George Fee, Mr. Vernon Crandall and Mr. Leroy Barrett; Treasurer, Miss Maribel Knight; Clerk, Mrs. Isabel Smith; and Sunday School Superintendent, Mr. Vincent Smith. Rev. G. Howard Hein was the first pastor of the church, and served until July 1974. Pastor John J. Poole came to the church in July 1974, and is the Pastor at this time.

The congregation held services in the Lickley’s Corners Grange, until the church building, purchased December 13, 1972 was ready for use. Walls were scraped and painted, the ceiling was painted, the furnace was repaired and converted to LP Gas, and floors and woodwork were cleaned. The congregation began holding services in the building; located at the corner of Lickley and Tamarack Roads in rural Pittsford, in late May of 1974, the building was dedicated June 10, 1974.

A recognition council was held October 23, 1973, at which time the church became a member of the Southern Michigan Association of Regular Baptist Churches. The church was received into fellowship of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches in June of 1974.

The building has an interesting history, but it is not the first church building to stand at Lickley’s Corners. Methodist had a church building on the same spot, on April 7, 1943, lightning struck the steeple of their building, and the fire was put out by the Waldron Fire Department. A second fire began later it is thought that spontaneous combustion of grass, carried by birds into the loft, caused the second fire which destroyed the building.

The congregation needed a building, and the Congregational Church of South Jefferson came to the rescue. Their building a small country church then located on Lake Pleasant Road, had been sitting idle for fifteen years. It was an old church built by men of the congregation from native timber, in 1844. A member remarked, “We raised nothing much but weeds in our fields that summer, but we had our church.” The building was dedicated on October 26, 1844. The few remaining members offered the building to the Methodist in 1943.

The building was still sound, but it had been closed for fifteen years. During that time it had been home for honeybees, goats, and rabbits!

The title was changed from the Congregational Church of South Jefferson, to the First Methodist Church of Wright Township on September 16, 1943. The building was dedicated by the Methodist July 15, 1945.

The church had to be moved from Lake Pleasant Road to Lickley’s Corners. Men and Women alike helped to rebuild the foundation wall on which the church was to rest after it was moved.

The moving itself must have been quite an event! It was accomplished by Clyde Boyd, of Quincy, Michigan on September 19, 1944. The journey of the building was delayed for several hours on Squawfield Road when it was discovered that the steeple was too tall to pass under the high-tension wires. Two men from the congregation removed the steeple so the building could continue on its way. Mrs. Kate W. Lickley tells of the reaction of the community in her “Historical Statement”. “Residents all along the way hailed ‘Hats off! The Church is passing by’.”

Work was done to restore the building, Beeswax was removed from the windows, and broken glass repaired. The Celtic cross on the steeple was designed and built by Ralph Lickley, and tops a nine-foot timber donated by John Kelly.

The building was also damaged by fire, on a Sunday morning in 1954. The fire was caused by a faulty furnace, the floor had to be replaced.

The Methodist congregation left the building the last Sunday in September 1969, when their membership was automatically transferred to the Osseo United Methodist Church.

Another group, the New Jerusalem Shelter, used the building for a short time. Then once again it stood empty until it was purchased and repaired by the Baptist.

The outside of the building has been painted recently, and a new roof has been put on, but it is still basically the same building that was built 132 years ago. Nothing has been done to change the Gospel Jesus preached, Salvation by faith. The message of hope is old, but the joy that it brings to believing hearts will always be new! The richest heritage that the church claims is the timelessness of the Gospel that is preached there.

Bibliography: Record Book, Lickley’s Corners Baptist Church “Historic Statement”, Kate W. Lickley.

Verbal information: Mrs. Kenneth Hale, Mrs. Voyle Smith and Mr. Vincent Smith

By Mrs. John Poole

PRATTVILLE COMMUNITY CHURCH

It was in the early spring of 1874 when the people of Ontario, a little settlement near Morenci, Michigan decided to give their deserted and run down Congregational Church as a gift to any society who would take it and use it for religious worship.

The people of Prattville heard of this and feeling the need of a church in Prattville immediately called a meeting in the schoolhouse to discuss the offer. Many people in the village and community attended, and decided to accept the offer.

March 28, 1874, a society was organized to be known as the Prattville First Congregational Church. Officers were elected and plans were being made to move the church. A church site of about one half acre of land was purchased from Mrs. Clarissa Clark for $75. The work began in April, consisting of moving, repairing, and redecorating the church.

The church was completed and dedicated in October to carry on God’s work in the community. This parish was served by resident and supply pastors until about 1927 when the church was closed for some time.

December 8, 1930 the society was reorganized as the Prattville Community Church Congregational and has continued by that name to the present time.

Many people through the years have given much and worked hard to keep this church a lighthouse for God.

The Ladies Aid Society has helped in home missionary work, and in the upkeep and repair of the church and parsonage. The people of the church help support many missionaries serving in foreign fields. A Vacation Bible School service is held each summer for the children in this community.

On June 25, 1950 a service was held to dedicate a new classroom to our church known as the Willing Workers Class Room. This was made possible by money given by Mrs. Effie Tuttle, teacher of this class for many years. Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Abling gave generous gifts in memory of Mrs. Abling’s parents. Mrs. Abling remembers this church from her childhood days. Members are indebted to God and many true Christian people.

March 9, 1952 about five o’clock Sunday morning, a fire alarm sounded. The church was on fire. In spite of all efforts with the help of three fire trucks the church and all its contents were burned to the ground.

The Adventist Congregation offered the use of their church for services, and Sunday school and church were held there the day of the fire. After that the services were held at the schoolhouse. Eight days later a business meeting was called and a unanimous desire of the congregation was expressed to immediately rebuild on the same site. Plans were drawn up and March 25, the men began to clear away the rubble for a new church.

Work progressed and September 14, 1952, the first service was held in the new church basement. The first wedding held in the new church was that of Ernest Towers and Ruth Johnson, October 25, 1952.

June 21, 1953, the congregation moved upstairs for its regular service, but there was still work to be done to make God’s house a church to be proud of. The first funeral in the new church was for Mrs. Anna Laser, September 25, 1953.

It was not until March 7, 1954, just two years after the old church burned that the dedication of the new church was held, dedicating the entire building as a place of worship and service to our Lord. About 350 attended this service.

Many pastors have labored with the church and carry on God’s word. Many children have grown to adulthood and are serving the Lord in many ways.

The first missionary from the church was Reverend Floyd Fisk, serving five and one half years in India. Mary Lou Lett Wistrand is active in Mexico at the present time. Reverend Donald Durling serving in Laos, and the Reverend Marion Town, pastor of the Wheatland Church.

Time has passed and times have changed, and they found their present building overloaded. No place for social gatherings, not enough class rooms, and not enough parking area.

Again they began to pray and work and plan to build on to the present building. With God’s help they purchased the house and lot south of the church. This provided ample space to expand the church and a larger parking area.

In April 1972 the foundation was laid and the new addition was started. This was completed and the church continues to keep and teach God’s word.

This is the second time God has taken nothing and made something: the first time when the building was given to the community 100-years ago deserted and needing much repair. The second time a pile of smoldering ashes. With the help of God and faithful Christians the church was rebuilt and is a place to be proud of, and a credit to the community.

By Leota Hershberger

WRIGHT CHURCH OF CHRIST

AND LATER

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST

In June 1860, the Reverends William Jewel and Zephaniah Shepard, Spring Hill, Ohio organized the Wright Church of Christ, at the pink schoolhouse in District 4, They were commonly known as Disciples and numbering 15 members.

Meetings were held in schoolhouses for fourteen years, James Vandervort, New Antioch, Ohio was elected Elder in October 1863. Samuel Vandervort, who was his son, Leonidas Hubbard, Isaiah McNitt and Horace Weaver became Elders later. Euclid Hubbard and William W. Coman were elected deacons. Elders performed the ministerial work and occasionally a minister would visit. There were no funds for a full time minister.

In 1874, Mrs. Eliza Doughty gave one acre of ground to the congregation, located at the corner of Hartley and Tuttle Road. A church building 30 by 46 feet and seating 300 people was built. The building cost $1,360, the furniture cost $150, and the church bell cost $200. The money was raised by subscription and everything was paid for before the dedication. It was known as the Wright Church of Christ, and was dedicated in October, by Reverend F.M. Green of Kent, Ohio.

During the winter of 1898 – 1899, protracted meetings were held at the M.E. Church and the U.B. Church in the village of Waldron. As a result new additions were made to the Wright Church of Christ.

In September 1900, an organizational meeting was called and the lower room of the Weaver Building in Waldron was rented and fitted for prayer services, occasional preaching and observance of communion every Lord’s day. This group, under the guidance of Leonidas Hubbard of the Wright Church, elected the following officers: John Avis and John Winans, elders; A.B. Woolace and Dr. J.M. Barnes, deacons; E.T. Abbaduska, secretary and Dr. J.M. Barnes treasurer; R.H. Smith, Fenton Coman and Freeman Skinner, trustees. On January 27, 1901, the By-Laws and Constitution were adopted, subscribed to and signed by thirty-four members.

During the winter of 1900 – 1901, the membership decided to build a new church building at 107 West Street, Waldron. This new structure was dedicated September 15, 1901 by L.L. Carpenter, of Wabash, Indiana. The mortgage was fully paid by December 26, 1903.

The old Wright Church of Christ Building was moved in sections and reassembled on the south and east sides of the new church for sheds to protect the horses while their masters were at worship. The bell from the old building was taken to Vestaburg, Michigan to serve a church being organized by Dr. Melvin C. Hubbard.

The present addition to the south side of the building built in 1920 provided four new classrooms and extra room in the basement. The minister at this time was Elmer C. Johnston. High School Baccalaureate services were held in the new church building for a number of years through 1946, Several years an old pump organ was used along with a piano for music. The first Electric Organ was purchased in 1949.

In 1955, during the ministry of Kenneth Ferguson, the church was redecorated. New drapes, new floors and pews were installed. At a later date the sanctuary and parsonage were carpeted. The Ladies Aid helped financially with these projects. A communion table in memory of Lily Foglesong and a new communion set in memory of Alice Brandeberry were donated by their respective families.

In 1965, restrooms and a nursery were added; George Lee did a lot of the work and furnished a lot of the material. In 1969 a new ceiling was installed in the sanctuary. A new electric organ was purchased in 1970, a public address system was installed in 1974 and a spinet piano was purchased in 1975.

By Doris Rufenacht, Clerk

Information furnished by the Waldron District Library

Taken from the book – 150 years in the Hills and Dales Vol. II, 1976