Old North 1900 to Present

1917: Boy Scout troop established (with meetings on Old North property since).

1921: February 22 the Methodist Episcopal Church purchased the Old North Chapel property. Repairs and modifications were made.

1923-4: Total Church membership 123. A Community Hall was constructed, adjoining Old North Chapel to the rear, occupying the site of the present courtyard area. This hall served as headquarters for a community Men’s Club, comprised of both church members and their neighbors and friends.

1927: Property Deed, Book 156, page 241. Charles W. Daniels & Mary L. Daniels, his wife – warrant to Mrs. C. G. Olmstead, W. P. Krach, Myrtle Fauquher, Louis F. Yokel, W. C. Fauquher, E. E. Feltman, John Wilkins and Clyde Hesmer, Trustees of Old North Methodist Episcopal Church. A detailed description of the property is included. Recorded November 30, 1927.

1928: A parsonage was erected south of Old North Chapel. After the 1927 acquisition the total property size became about 4 acres.

1929, March 29, the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society celebrated sixty years of service with a tea at 2:30 P.M. at Old North Community Hall.

1934: A three-day CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION was held including a rededication. Membership at Old North was 150. Rev. Russell A. Huffman, pastor. Departments included Ladies Aid, a Missionary Society, and a newly organized Epworth League. There were over 100 members in the primary Sunday school department.

1935: Mrs. Ada B. Van Dusen was honored with a handsome bronze plaque bearing her likeness placed on the wall of the Old North Chapel. She had organized and piloted the Moving Van Sunday School Class since its inception many years before. This honor was bestowed on her 76th birthday. This large plaque, made by George H. Honig, sculptor, is on the south wall of Old North Chapel. It reads: “In honor of our leader and counselor, Ada B. Van Dusen, for loving service and inspiration given the Moving Van class. Romans 8-28. 1935.”
Note: For many years the choir occupied the back seats of the Chapel. They entered through the north door of the two doors.

1937: Old North Chapel and Community Hall housed over 120 refugees during the disastrous January, February 1937 flood. Over 7,000 meals were served over a period of 23 days. The Red Cross used the Church as a base of operations for the area.

1939, May 10, was the uniting day for Methodist E. Churches South and North, plus the Methodist Protestant Church, adopting the name of “The United Methodist Church”.

1940: Old North Chapel extensively remodeled. The original hand made laths and hair and sand plaster were removed from the building. This exposed the vaulted ceiling with its giant, hand-hewn oak beams. For $1,200 the building was redecorated. The laths and plaster from the ceiling became memorial acquisition targets for members and tourists. Interior decorator Charlie Bosler, friend of the Herman family (dairy farmers). Charlie, an uncle by marriage to Viola Herrell, was in charge of ripping out the ceilings so the dovetailed beams showed to best advantage. New lighting fixtures were obtained with an attempt to have lanterns similar to the originals. The 1832 weatherboarding, beams and foundation are still in use. The altar and chancel were finished in ivory and gold.

1943: A burning of the mortgage ceremony took place on Easter Sunday.

1946: Rededication of the Community Hall of Old North Methodist church was observed October 2. Rev. Dr. Clarence Shake, superintendent, gave the address. Rev. John D. Wolf, pastor, presided. Ernest Feltman represented the board of trustees.
Indeterminate date: “Gift of Chapel Bible in memory of Bud (Walter L. Hasty)”. This Bible is still in use today.

1947: A new Wicks pipe organ from Highland, Illinois, built expressly for the Old North Chapel was dedicated April 12. This was presented by Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Yokel in memory of Mrs. Ada M. VanDusen as a gift from her friends. Rev. John D. Wolf, pastor, officiated. An amplification system with loud speakers in the Community Hall was installed. Cost of this and other improvements were $17,000. Included were a coal bin-fed stoker and two classrooms in the basement of the Chapel.

1947: Boy Scout cabin constructed.
Community Hall activities during this era included:
1- Monday – dance classes weekly, led by Mrs. William (Maggie) Zopf.
2- Tuesday – roller skating for children, Vernon Pyle, Orris Herrell and Anthony Feltman in charge.
3- Wednesday – Men’s club meeting, Mr. William Zopf, president, Vincent Strunk, secretary - treasurer. Also family night suppers, choir rehearsals, Miss Jeanne Kendall, director, and various church meetings.
4- Thursday - Boy Scout troop meeting, under Lester Hinkel.
5- Friday - Basketball for juniors, seniors and adult, Rev. John D. Wolf directing.
6- Saturday – Stringtown Activity Club, catering to youths in the area. A jukebox and soft drink bar, and some times live bands. Under supervision of the Kenneth Oskins & John Marshall families.

1948: A new sound movie projector with a microphone attachment was presented at a meeting in the Community Hall. Primary donor was Mrs. John L. Igleheart in memory of Levi Igleheart, a pioneer friend of the church.
Date indeterminate: The private home, constructed in 1930 by Dr. Clarence Baker but later occupied by the Priest family was sold to Old North for $17,000. This home was then modified to become the church’s present offices. Prior to that time the offices were in the basement of Old North Chapel, with an entrance on the south side.

1950 Deed granted for property to expand the facilities. See copy.

1952: Dedication ceremonies for the new $85,000 church building held January 4. On March 29, 1952 groundbreaking rites were held, Rev. Van Ness Chappell, pastor. Seating capacity was 450.

1954: The NEW SANCTUARY with its distinctive tall cross-bearing red brick pylon was CONSECRATED in June, the Rev. George W. Dinwiddie, pastor, officiating.
The lovely sanctuary Rose Window was a gift from the O. E. Allison family. The Rev. Oscar Allison was the Circuit rider minister to Old North in 1902. With the construction of a new Sanctuary, fellowship hall and Sunday school facilities regular Church services were transferred, though “second services” have been continued in the Chapel. Many weddings have been held in the Old North Chapel.

1955: Cub Scout troop organized with Ervin Britton as Cub master.

1956: New parsonage completed and put to use. The old parsonage that was situated in front of the south end of the new sanctuary, now an eyesore, was demolished.

1959: Old North’s 125th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION starting in February with Bishop Raines presiding for the dedication of a new outdoor bulletin board and 10 Sunday School rooms in the newly remodeled Community Hall. The renovation was performed under the leadership of the Methodist Men. Total cost was less than $5,000. The anniversary celebration culminated in the Summer Festival in July. Church membership stood at 530.

1962: Plaque on NE wall of Old North Chapel “This Chapel Remodeled with a bequest of Eulalia Hayden in memory of her mother Melinda Van Dusen Hayden 1961.”

1967: Installation and dedication (December 10) of 10 lovely stained glass sanctuary windows, gift in Memory of Mrs. Clyde (Bessie) Hesmer by her daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Dorris Nunn. These colorful windows tell a story, which is, described elsewhere. They were valued at $10,000. The Hesmer family’s association with Old North dates back to the 1850’s.

1968-9: Old North Preschool started with Carol Stremming, director and teacher, Jeanne Gerst, teacher, Guyneth Dunville, full time nurse. There were 28 students the first year.

1969: The Community Hall that had been previously revamped into an Educational Building was removed and the present three-story building was completed. The Court Yard now covers the area where the old structure was located.

1971: The congregation began using the new Educational Building (December). In honor of Mel Burgess the courtyard azaleas were planted and redecoration of the lounge. Presented by Elmina Burgess.
Indeterminate date: Sanctuary lamps presented by Ion and Charles Bender.

1977: To honor Gladys (sister of Elwood Yokel) and R. Andrew Nicks the Sanctuary grand piano was installed. Presented by Gladys Nicks.

1978: To honor John B. and Ida M. Wessic Sanctuary and Chapel Paraments and Sunday School Cabinets. Presented by Guyneth Dunville.

1982: In honor of Mr. Dorris Nunn stained glass courtyard doors presented by Mr. Nunn’s Bequest and Memorial Gifts.

1984: September – the Bicentennial of Methodism in America.

1985: First Afro-American minister Rev. Charles L. Hutchinson installed.

1987: In November in honor of Bess Cantley a sunset maple tree was planted south of the Sanctuary. Gift of LaDon and John Bushnell, Gloria and Tom Speer.

1990: To honor Marjorie Y. Copeland and Irvin D. Pace Sanctuary lectern and Holy Bible. Presented by Ann Fleming, Sara Reynolds, and Helen Pace.

1991: In Memory of Gayle Antes kitchen remodeling. Presented by Earl H. Antes.

1999: Completion of renovation, remodeling and redecoration of the sanctuary with installation of a new stairway. Also there was extensive enlargement of the parking areas and alteration of the exterior grounds, including a new lighted bulletin board. A special thanks to Betty Buck, interior designer for the 1999 renovation, and to Dan Temme who served as project manager and architect.
In the same year “In recognition of Gilmore and Lucille Schenk whose bequest to the Old North Endowment Fund made this narthex possible.” Plaque is on the west wall of the narthex. Glass windows between sanctuary and narthex, from left to right:
1- “To remember the lives of Mary I. Yokel, L. Elwood Yokel, and Marjorie Y. Copeland”
2- “ To remember the lives of Orris and Viola Herrell”
3- “To remember the lives of Leola Bauman and Winifred and Ernest Feltman”
4- “To remember the lives of Thelma and Burt Brown”

1999: Old North “Last Supper” Latch-hook Rug, hanging in Fellowship Hall. Presented by Earl H. Antes.

1999-2002: Revolving nametag cabinet, memorial book desk, welcome center, and other woodworking projects. Built by Robert Watson.

2000: West Side Fall Nut Festival booth. Built by many dedicated men of the church.
Note: There are many, many gifts in the Church complex that have been given anonymously over the years. These are unknown to many of us, but well known to God.

Old North United Methodist Church | 4201 Stringtown Road | Evansville, IN 47711
phone: (812) 423-2483 | email: mail@oldnorthumc.org

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History 1900 to Present