Seward seaport record., 1953-07-24
Mefhodisfs To Burn Their Mortgage Next Sunday

N4ClilOClo Ol IIlC oCWdl morial Methodist Church have the great satisfaction of burning the mortgage on their church building next Sunday morning, July 26.
 This is the third and largest building the church has occu- pied in the 48 years of its ex- istence as congregation. Oddly, the first building was moved this week to be remodeled as a home. It was owned and oc- cupied by the James Construc- tion Company as shop, imme- diately across from the fire sta tion on Fourth Avenue.
 The first Methodist service was held in Seward in an empty saloon on Fourth Avenue in August 1905, according to rec ords of the Church. Service was held by Rev. John Parsons, DID,, Superintendent of Alaska Mis- sions. In his report to the Second Annual session of the Alaska Mission held at Ketchikan, he states:
 G. I went to the Westward as far as Seward, new town on Resurrection Bay. It is 900 miles from Juneau, as the steam CT goes. It is the terminus of the Alaska Central Railroad, which is to traverse the central part of Alaska. I secured the use of a vacant saloon building and preached to the people. There was no minister nearer than Valdez"
 A minister was appointed to the Seward charge. Rev. Louis H. Pedersen arrived on the steamer Portland on the night of July 31, 1905. He purchased a 20 by 30 foot tent which was erected on the lot given by John Ballaine for that purpose, and now owned by James Construc- tion Company. In November of that year the tent was sold and proceeds used to erect the small frame building which is now to be used as a house in another part of town.
 A letter from Rev. Pedersen's daughter several years later, states that lumber for this first building was obtained by the minister by tearing down an old bunkhouse on the waterfront and using the lumber. In a few months a leanto was added for a reading room.
 MT. Pedersen stayed with the Seward congregation until 1913. His daughter speaks of the first parsonage. It was "shanty'', she says, and in her own words, "The shanty was our living room and bedroom combined. I vivid ly recall that in winter my folks kept broom beside the bunk at night. First thing in the morn ing was to sweep the snow off the floor after first having care fully shaken the blankets before getting up'
 Between 1905 and the present pastor, Rev Charles Malin, Jr., the church has been served by 16 ministers. The story of the building of the second church and purchase of the present building is a long and interesting one, paralleling the history of the town.
 The present building was built as an Army chapel at Fort Ray mond on the edge of town. It was moved to the Fourth Av- enue site in 1946. It is the mort gage on this building that has now been paid off. In addition, several thousand dollars have been expended on the building and on the parsonage. Methodist work has grown to include the Jesse Lee Home, Seward Sana- torium and Seward General Hos pital. The congregation now is looking forward to a college in this vicinity.
 Rev. Wyburn Skidmore, now serving the church in Ketchikan, will take part in the ceremonies Sunday. It was under his leader ship that the building was pur- chased and moved into town.
 Dr. Peter Gordon Gould, sup- erintendent of Alaska Missions of the Methodist Church of America, will also take part in the services with the present minister, Rev. Malin.