A reader sent us this picture, taken June 1, of the old Dorchester Methodist Church building.
As some of our readers know, the first Dorchester Methodist Church building was moved into town during the 1880s from Pleasant Hill.
But by 1904, a more modern and larger house of worship was constructed on the same site in east Dorchester. That was the big white church that stood at the corner of Seventh and Lincoln Ave. for more than 90 years -- and now rests in a corn field southwest of Crete near the Farmland Foods plant.
A bit of trivia: The 1904 church was built without a basement. But in 1928, a basement was added to the church at the thanks to donated labor and about $2500 in donations.
In the late 1990s, after the Dorchester UMC congregation decided to construct a new building, the 1904 church was taken to its current location -- likely its final resting place -- to make room for the the new brick church.
At the time, it was rumored that the 1904 church would be part of a new museum featuring several buildings from the early 1900s, but the museum's organizer ran out of funding, according to reports.
It is sad to see but the upgraded model is nice.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I was not a member, our mom sent us to Vacation Bible School at the Methodist church and I have a lot of fond memories there. It is sad to see it wasting away in the middle of a field
ReplyDeleteI miss seeing that beautiful old structure with its stained glass windows and bell tower. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if it is true that grants or state funding was given with understanding that the UMC would be set on foundation and renovated? If it is true, that money should be refunded and somoene should look into it. I would have rather seen it destroyed than letting it sit and rot like this.
ReplyDeletecep - I would sincerely doubt that any state funding or grants were obtained.
ReplyDeletePhysically moving a building completely destroys its historical context. The state or any private groups would never fund anything like that.
oh that breaks my heart that photograph
ReplyDeleteever hear of photoshop ............................thats all that picture is .......................computer genrated .................................... next thing we'll see is 45 silos next to the co-op eleveator...................
ReplyDeleteThis church was the center of my high school life in the 80s. My first job was working as the janitor (I sucked at it and was very rightly fired), my girlfriend lived a block over, I was involved in the Methodist church youth at the district and state level... I know new and modern things can be great, but it's so sad to see such a beautiful building be allowed to die.
ReplyDelete