Whitehall Methodist Episcopal/United Methodist Church
HISTORY OF WHITEHALL METHODIST CHURCH
(From the church’s 1975 centennial celebration)
Methodism in Trempealeau County began around 1859, with ministers from the La Crosse area and Black River Falls Mission holding occasional services in homes or public buildings. Whitehall is one of the first communities to have a permanent organization. The first known minister was Rev. Thomas Crouch, who held services in Independence and Arcadia also.
In June 1874 Rev. J. E. Webster became the resident pastor here. A lot was secured from D. W. Wade on the corner of Main and Ervin streets, presently the residence of Alan Getts family. Under Rev. Webster’s efforts $1,000.00 in money and work was pledged, and the Church was completed in 1875. He also served Blair. In 1885 Arcadia and Whitehall were united. Two years later Arcadia became a separate charge from Independence and Whitehall, and Blair was added.
In 1890, under the guidance of Rev. E. T. Briggs, a parsonage was purchased from Mrs. D. W. Wade, which is the present home of Clarence K. Johnson at 2012 Main St. The Aid Society was highly instrumental in this purchase.
In 1895, desiring a more central location, the church building was moved to its present site. In 1898 major remodeling was completed. For five years, 1923, to 1928, a Union Church was conducted, of which we have little knowledge. In 1927 the parsonage was sold, and for approximately thirty five years Independence supplied the parsonage.
Reference to the Ladies Aid Society is first made in 1890, although it appears to have been organized earlier with Mrs. Wade as President. It is presently known as the United Methodist Women, and from the beginning has made great contributions to the Church, both financially and in maintenance and improvement of the Church property.
In 1948 the kitchen was completely remodeled, and modern plumbing was installed. In 1949 the members financed the decorating of the interior, and in 1950 the Ladies presented the carpeting. A seventy-fifth year anniversary was held, on December 17, 1959.
Almost every year thereafter, improvements were made, or equipment added such as new pews, dishes, tables, room dividers, and carpeting. The entrance was enclosed and the basement paneled with the men doing much of that work.
Support has been given to the Youth, Methodist Camps, and Missions. In 1960 Arcadia E.U.B. supplied a parsonage and Rev. Lyndon Viel, making this again a three point charge. In 1965 Ruwal Freese became our Pastor and Whitehall built a new parsonage, which is nearly paid for. In 1967 Montana E.U.B. became part of this charge, while Independence and Whitehall elected to hold services together. On the fourth Sunday of each month we worship in Independence, otherwise in Whitehall. Thus we had locally preceded the official merger of the Methodist Episcopal and the Evangelical United Brethren denominations into the United Methodist Church. Records indicate fifty pastors have served our church, of which ten are still living.
This summer the inside, outside and roof have been painted in honor of our Centennial. We still need people with Bibles and a desire to work. There will be many changes, and with God’s help we can still make history as we go into the second one hundred years.
(From the church’s 1975 centennial celebration)
Methodism in Trempealeau County began around 1859, with ministers from the La Crosse area and Black River Falls Mission holding occasional services in homes or public buildings. Whitehall is one of the first communities to have a permanent organization. The first known minister was Rev. Thomas Crouch, who held services in Independence and Arcadia also.
In June 1874 Rev. J. E. Webster became the resident pastor here. A lot was secured from D. W. Wade on the corner of Main and Ervin streets, presently the residence of Alan Getts family. Under Rev. Webster’s efforts $1,000.00 in money and work was pledged, and the Church was completed in 1875. He also served Blair. In 1885 Arcadia and Whitehall were united. Two years later Arcadia became a separate charge from Independence and Whitehall, and Blair was added.
In 1890, under the guidance of Rev. E. T. Briggs, a parsonage was purchased from Mrs. D. W. Wade, which is the present home of Clarence K. Johnson at 2012 Main St. The Aid Society was highly instrumental in this purchase.
In 1895, desiring a more central location, the church building was moved to its present site. In 1898 major remodeling was completed. For five years, 1923, to 1928, a Union Church was conducted, of which we have little knowledge. In 1927 the parsonage was sold, and for approximately thirty five years Independence supplied the parsonage.
Reference to the Ladies Aid Society is first made in 1890, although it appears to have been organized earlier with Mrs. Wade as President. It is presently known as the United Methodist Women, and from the beginning has made great contributions to the Church, both financially and in maintenance and improvement of the Church property.
In 1948 the kitchen was completely remodeled, and modern plumbing was installed. In 1949 the members financed the decorating of the interior, and in 1950 the Ladies presented the carpeting. A seventy-fifth year anniversary was held, on December 17, 1959.
Almost every year thereafter, improvements were made, or equipment added such as new pews, dishes, tables, room dividers, and carpeting. The entrance was enclosed and the basement paneled with the men doing much of that work.
Support has been given to the Youth, Methodist Camps, and Missions. In 1960 Arcadia E.U.B. supplied a parsonage and Rev. Lyndon Viel, making this again a three point charge. In 1965 Ruwal Freese became our Pastor and Whitehall built a new parsonage, which is nearly paid for. In 1967 Montana E.U.B. became part of this charge, while Independence and Whitehall elected to hold services together. On the fourth Sunday of each month we worship in Independence, otherwise in Whitehall. Thus we had locally preceded the official merger of the Methodist Episcopal and the Evangelical United Brethren denominations into the United Methodist Church. Records indicate fifty pastors have served our church, of which ten are still living.
This summer the inside, outside and roof have been painted in honor of our Centennial. We still need people with Bibles and a desire to work. There will be many changes, and with God’s help we can still make history as we go into the second one hundred years.
Church Pastors
T. E. Webster
T. B. Richardson Jeff G. Haigh E.J. Backall William H. Chynoweth William Galloway Edwin Tench William Cook A.M. Lumpkin G.D. Brown F.W. Straw E.T. Briggs G.F. Cowling John Leimkuhler F.E. Lewis J.T. Bryan W.E. Doughty Harry Philpott Morris R. Hackman H.A. Snyder 18 L.N. Woolley Charles G. Goman Arthur Chalfant George E. Boyer D.A. Levin E.D. Upson E.D. Lehman W.E. Clough E.P. Stone |
1874
1875 Oct. 1878—Dec. 1878 1878 1879 188 1883 1885 1886 1887 1888 1890 1891 1892 1894 1895 1897 1898 1899 1899-September 1900 1900 1905 1908 1911 1913 1915 1918 1919 1921 |
(1923-28 Union Church with Presbyterians)
Adelbert Young F.A. Gruenwald George R. Keepin D. H. Johnston A. M. Ivey Floyd Fahlgren George H. Marshall N. V. Brink Harold Huff A. R. Klein Virgil Nulton John Wilcox Arthur Gausmann Fletcher Bennett C. W. Langdon Frederick J. Smith Marshall Kammerud Lyndon Viel Louis Klatsbach Ruwal Freese Gary Clark Frederik Schulz Lowell Reykdal Warren Russell Richard Kraemer Thomas Lambrecht Dennis Overlien Mary Davies Rice Tom Elliott |
February 1924 January 1926 1928 1931 1935-July 1939 1939 1940 1942 March 1945 1946 1947 1948 1950 1952 1955 1957-March 1958 1958 1960-June 1963 1964 1965-June 1969 June 1969 June 1972 1975-June 1978 June 1978-June 1980 June 1980 July 1982 July 1987 July 1994 ? -Present |