Evening times-Republican., 1911-06-05
EARlN lNsMEThnp44T CHURCH OF
&sAMptroN7To GIVE WAY FOR
.9usaNEss BLOCK.
EaHTEp. FORTY NEAResA0o
WHEN .RARIsHsNVAs SMALL
Many apromfnsnt Iowa Pastors oeeu-
nisd Its Pulpit-in Recent Years
Building Had Been Remodeled and
coux>rtsd Into Opera House-lum- 4
< harsin Good Condition.
Special TO rimes-Republican.

Special to .Times-Republlcan.
Hampton. June 5.-With the dis
naantlfng Of the Olympic opera house
that is now going on, there passes out
Of existence one OF the, Oldest buildings
In the city, and one that has well play
ed its part In the advancement and up
building of the community, where for
over twenty-five years 1t stood as the
texnplesof worship fora strong religious
society, and the influences foc sood
that have gone out from its four walls
can mot be measured.
mthe year 1856 a Methodist -Episco-
pal class was organized here, at that
time ibeing part OF theiMaysvine cir
rc11it. THE Hampton circuit was, organ
ICED in che year 1859 and included
Hnmpton. Chaplin and Shobe's Grove.
At that time the local class numbered
th.rty-tfve members. in 1871 Hampton
was made a station by itself. During
this time services were held in a build
ing that stood near the site Of the
present Ed91pire hlock.
What is now tther Iowa Central rail-
road was built into the town July 4,
1870. The sneeis,. OF the growing orsan-
azation Of MethodiStS demanded that
house OF worship be provided; the new
railroad furnished the means of trans
portation for the lumber and material,
iand the time .was ripe for the work to
be commenced "A subscription paper
was circulated and the sum of $4,000
was pledged. The services Of con-
tractor. of Iowa Falls-one Mr.. Seeley
were secured and under his direction
theswprk was rushed to completion in
the fall Of the same year. The struc-
turesvasf Of frame construction, 36x60
feet, and up to a few days ago haS
been presez~eed substantially as it was
built foFty-pne years ago. The total
cost Of the church was about $4,000.
the latter half Of the expense having
been raised from time to time after it
Ras- erected.
Wsji-kno~ntPastors Serve.
r. During the pa.storate Of Rev. j. W.
Clinton. aEooan wassadded at the east
side Of, the building for use by the Ep-
worth League and Tor. other religious
services.
Pastors w1D have served the church
are l. 81 Cooley, 1857 SO: F. M. Robin
son, 1ss9-71: Nv. L. Thorp, 1s71-72; j.
W. Mitchall 1s73-Gs; ]. q. Taylor,
1886; F. x. MILLER. 1876-7s: Charles
Cressy, 1s79-S1: F. M. Mclean. 1851
50: F. M. Coleman, 1888 -sS; J. w. Gin
ton. 1861; F. w. Luce. 1891 80. It
was during the pastorate Of Rev. Mr.
Luce that the old building was moved
Off thA site and the present handsome
brick and stonestrimmed structure was
WI haUa since
served are the late Elder H. w. Troy,
J. c. .Magee. sF...M:A Coleman, e. T. Cru
well. and Dewitt Clinton, the present
pastor.
Lease On Ground Expires.
The old church building was moved
to its present location to make room
for the new structure and was used
by the church until the new one was
finished. 1t was then fitted up by its
purchaser. Mr.. A. M. Bailey, as an
opera house and was operated by him
as such for about five years. Ten years
ago the Olympic Opera House Com
pany was organized and it purchased
the building, making extensive i'm
provements to the interior and fitted 1t
up in nice shape as an opera house.
BY reason Of inability to renew the
lease to the ground upon which it
stood. the building was offered for sale
recently and was purcha sed by E. A.
Mallory, who has since had force OF
men at work taking 1t down and the
lumber will be used in demonstration
of some buildings that hetwill erect at
his farm. The lumber is ins a fine state
of preservation and is Of a better quail
ity than could be purchased at the
present day.