Please Don't Quote Me By Caralee Aschenbrenner Part IV A farm in (hilly) Freedom township sold for $45 an acre ... Rock Creek Township closed Kincaid Rd. (a link between Stone Bridge and Dimon Roads???) Oil was discovered on the Alonzo Jones farm eight miles west of Lanark. Stocks in the amount of $6,000 were being sold at $2.00 each ... The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad would run in an airline from Elgin across Carroll County to the Mississippi. A charter had been obtained ... The Chicago fire took place in October, 1871. Editors reminded folks that goods might not be received as quickly as before. Be patient ... The National Bank was capitalized. Founders were all well-to-do local businessmen/farmers ... John Wolf sold the Cherry Grove grist mill to B.P. Shirk. The lime kiln was west of it.

Each occasion caused tongues to wag or heads to be shaken in disbelief. So many things were occurring that it was difficult to keep up. Just alone the new $20,000 Methodist Church was enough to watch. Tsk-tsk-tsk!.

Like all the other churches in town (or elsewhere) there was enough to think about without worrying what others opinion was. Increasing their memberships was vital to viability. Aiding one another in their individual needs was basic. A long line of ministers served as guides in all programs. One of them was half-way a celebrity. Here for about six years at the turn-of-the nineteenth/twentieth century was Rev. Bernard A. Dickens, nephew of the world famous author, Charles Dickens. Did editors ever interview him about his uncle? Intermittently comment of it? Files are missing. The current pastor, Lanark Methodist is Rev. Kathryn Ling, a fine example of the profession. Thanks to her for mentioning the 150th observation of the church's history.

Nearly every church in town, in county, in state, etc. has had struggles, made sacrifices to persevere through the years. Some previously mentioned did not last beyond their early years. They weren't failures. Circumstances just weren't right for them to persist but it's been interesting to see how their energies were directed ... How their presence is mostly unknown today. It's humbling!!!

Of course, now that this series is complete, we've discovered another source of information. Sometime in future we'll make a list of dates and anecdotes for Lanark readers in case they're in a debate!!! (With pictures.)

Church files have provided more information than there's room to print. Several remodelings, renovations, etc. besides the tragic fires were undertaken through the years.

Those projects were important at the time of their planning ... The fund raising, the ups and downs, even sociability in the doing, forwarded the programs. Of course there were the positive aspects which connected the members such as in 1889 when the first pipe organ was purchased. The current organ was installed in 1931, restored in 1955. Its value as a musical instrument is exceeded only by the enriching qualities it provides the listener. Music is just one way the church celebrates its hundred fiftieth anniversary with concerts and programs time-to-time. Watch for those notices in the media.

The physical face of the venerable church has been changed through the years ... Single to double steps, back to single, then double ... Whatever. The two towers were first changed architecturally following the 1901 fire. An ambitious remodeling project in 1958 swept the congregation out of the building completely. They met for several months at the Masonic Temple, now the Heritage Center. More space altogether was necessary by 1965 when the Sherman Brenneman residence, 410 E. Franklin was purchased for a roomier parsonage, the "old" one becoming the "Annex," classrooms.

The distinctive wooden beams in the sanctuary were installed in 1972 and by 1978 a campaign was begun to build a modern, efficient Annex to serve a multitude of needs.

PDQ Me has merely called attention to some of the major projects through the hundred fifty years of the church's interesting, active existence, its interaction with the community and other denominations. The human story is the most rewarding, interlaced as it is with each and everything and everyone. In the Methodists' case even before Lanark was on the map. Small town news was history in the making, each occasion, perhaps, about to be a turning point ... Three hundred were vaccinated for smallpox by Dr. Wales alone ... All persons with an income of over $1,000 annually report to the assessor, Adam Nase, at the Lanark Hotel for taxes ... The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad is now the Chicago and Pacific Railroad ... Long's Nursery east of town was sold to William and Reuben Hixon, $8,000 ... Fire destroys Howlett's newspaper. A new style font will be used. R.L. Gilbert is expanding his milk delivery business. The milk is from his six best cows and will be delivered between 6:00 and 7:00 in the A.M. on weekdays, an hour later on Sundays. Stratner pails will be used. Nothing is unwholesome. A fossett and spout will be used instead of a dipper.

And life goes on.

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