The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-05-12
CHURCH
(Contlnued trom Page onel

ence. He was born in Vermont in
1854 but became active In church
work In New York state. He went
from there with his wife and an
other couple as missionaries to
/ Canada. To make the trip the
wives rode on horseback and the
men travelled on foot. II was a
long and tedious journey but they
reached their destination and per-
formed their work with good sue.
cess as he did his work in Michi-
gan. When he had no money he
would stop at place and work at
common labor.
The next man to come to this
settlement was John Baughman.
young, handsome. sleek. polished
and educated. And so they came
from year to year meeting with
the people in their homes until the
brick school near the Woodruff
School site was built in 1929. Then
they met on Sunday In the school
building and In summer when the
school house would not hold all
OF the people they met outside In
the lovely oak grove that surround
ed the building. In 1881 church
was begun on what is now 10
River st. and the building that was
finally finished in 1885 still stands
and has been used for business put-
poses. In March OF 1S43, in a sea
son OF revival when the church
was densely packed the floor seem
ed to give way and panic ensued
Women and children were pulled
out of the windows and one woman
was hurt and many had their gar
ments torn and were badly fright
ened. A general impression was
that the walls had spread, so that
the house was not safe when the
crash was heard. Many thought
the roof was coming down. But
spirit of the people was resilient
and they returned the following
night and until the time allotted
for these services had elapsed,
meeting in the Presbyterian
Church by invitation and later in
the loft OF a store house owned by
Mark Norris.
The records state the walls had
grown too straight for the congre-
cation" and this church which had
cost about $500 to build was desert
ed for a fine. new. white church
with green shutters built with n
graduated tower on the style of
New England churches. 1t stood
on the site Of the present church.
DR.. Thomas Town advanced the
money and furnished the lot but
was later reimbursed for his gen.
erosity. The Society had novel
way of raising money by the sale
Of slips or pews. One year the
sale OF slips" amounted to over
$1,000 and one record states that
the sale Of pews must cover pas
tors salary. sections services, in
surance. wood. gas, taxes and int
crest. AS time went on this build
ing with a seating capacity OF 500
also grew too straight for the
congregation" and the present
Gothic structure was guilt at a cost
Of $4,000. The architect was Mr..
Kramer OF Akron. O., of the firm
Of Weary and Kramer They had
built several Gothic type churches
throughout Ohio, and members of
the building committee visited in
Ohio and inspected some OF these
edihces. Glanfeld and sons, Kala-
mazoo, were the builders and the
job Of putting in the furnaces was
let to Robbins and Edwards.
Members OF the building commit
tee were Rev. James Venning. An
ell Williams. William H. Deubel,
William B. Clark. Z. NJ. Comstock.
E. c. Warner, W. NJ. Osborn. and
Lewis Warner. This church stands
as a monument to their effort and
to that OF the members who contri-
buted the money OF which $4,000
had been raised before the dedica-
ton and the remainder was over
subscribed on that memorable dedi-
cation Sunday.
In the cyclone OF 1893 the church
escaped damage and the people re-
NAMED inside until streets were
cleared of wires.
The church has developed many
lines OF work throughout the years
and has more than a thousand
members. Many groups function
within the church which includes
work among the children and young
people, including many students.
Miss Muriel McKercher Is the ef.
flcient and loved secretary OF stu
dent work and Miss Mary Power
in charge of music in the church
has now three choirs which she
trains from week to week and her
unusual talent in music and her
gift OF leadership has endeared her
TO the people of the church.
The present pastor. Rev. Walter
B. Heyler, came to the church in
June OF 1888 and has maintained
the high standard Of the church.
He organized "Everybody's Col
lege" a very successful innovation
In the work OF the church. Rev.
and Mrs. Heyler will be in the re-
ceiving line Friday evening. DR..
and Mrs. William Harrison, the Dis.
trict superintendent, and his wife
will be special guests at this re-
ception and banquet, as will Miss
Caroline Bowen. former assistant
pastor and parish visitor.
The following is quoted from an
old Ypsilanti newspaper item OF
March 81, 1880: The Methodist
Episcopal Church, whose grand
record in pushing and planting the
gospel, ever keeping up with the
outskirts OF emigration's tide west
ward. has won the deserved title OF
MThn l,hnrch IN Inrnnhan i.M