At left, you can see the church as it was originally constructed.  Notice the unusual steeple!  This picture was taken from a copy of the Putnam County Sentinel dated Friday, May June 28, 1946.  The congregation was celebrating its 100th year of life at that time.

     For many years, the top portion of the steeple was absent.  It was damaged during a storm and then removed, leaving the cubical portion.

     The cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1867 and the building was completed in 1869.

 

 

 

 

This picture was taken in 2009--140 years later.  The top portion of the steeple was added for the 100th anniversary of the church building in 1969, replacing the section which had been damaged previously.  Notice the white block located halfway above the center window and the steeple.  This  shows the original date of construction. 

     A two-story addition for classroom space and handicap access was added in 1987.  Later, the front entrance was modified to provide a safer entrance to the building--no more icy or rain-slicked outdoor steps. 

     During the devastating August 2007 flood, this new area was the only portion of the building that was damaged.  The original part of the structure and the classroom addition remained dry.  The pictures below show it standing tall during that stressful time.

  

      The congregation celebrated its 150th year of life in 1996 with historic re-enactments, a cookbook compilation--and lots of just plain fun.  We are also looking forward to celebrating its next milestone--the 150th anniversary of the building--in 2019! 

 

August 2007 Flood views--looking at the west side (entrance) from across the railroad tracks, as well as the north side (along Third Street) of the church.