Ty hid oa RR he RS SE RA € Pool § 19400 ALYSIUPIWN LO LR RA SE yar if 2373 i Pp The Dallas Post Trucksville U. M. c Arisa ANESLo/iiiduy J YN | | Olivo vi ud | Hes Wednesday, October 5, 1994 = Vg S%jieU YH1L £9 4 XR Heda: bug id. Aad pbuh xd b&b} i ra hater dell headache, i fn ik 48 ROE) Lang NK p Wot The Dallas Post * Trucksville USC. Anniversary EEL EE a Wednesday, October 5, 199: 11 From modest beginnings, a strong church grew Although the appearance of the Trucksville United Meth- odist Church, the “white church on the hill,” has changed several times during the past 150 years, its friendly country church atmosphere hasn't. The original Methodist class founded by Jacob Rice grew very quickly as the Back Mountain was settled and became part of the Wyoming Circuit. The Rev. George Peck, an influential Methodist church figure and author of five books on Methodism and local his- tory, was appointed to the cir- cuit in 1818. Fall camp meetings on Rice's land, which would eventually become the site of the church buildings, began in Septem- ber, 1825, and were so suc- cessful that nearly 250 atten- dees, many of whom had come on foot or horseback, asked to join the church at the first meeting. Trucksville Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Luzerne County filed its charter in 1844 and built the first church on land donated by Jacob Rice. The 30x 40-foot white build- ing with four columns and two doors in front had a horse shed with a hitching rail along one side and a white picket fence along the road. Hand-hewn wooden pews, the pulpit and a large wood- burning stove dominated the interior. In 1906, the cellar was ex- cavated and foundations re- built to accommodate a cen- tral heating plant and rooms for church organizations to meet. A new front entrance and belfry were also added to the building, which was extended and its interior completely refurbished. A fire January 3, 1910 de- stroyed the building. Until the new church was built, the con- gregation met inthe Trucksville Grade School on Oak St., now the site of Trucksville Manor. Mrs. W. L. Conyngham and her sons, John N. and William H., offered to donate a new Continued on page 3 Remodeled with a new belfry and expanded basement, the church, rededicated in J89-1907: was destroyed by a fire January 3, 1910. We're proud to salute the first 150 "White Trucksville ears of the urch on the Hill" United Methodist Churc at Ca Zk, Richard H. Disque Disque Funeral Home, Inc. 672 Memorial Highway Dallas, PA 18612 Richard H. Disque II, Funeral Director 675-3255 Sesquicentennial events The Trucksville United Methodist Church, celebrat- ing its 150th anniversary, has hosted a number of commemo- rative events leading up to Sesquicentennial Week, Octo- ber 9-16. e Heritage Sunday, April 24. The Sesquicentennial Book, “A History of Trucksville United Methodist Church 1844-1994” by Louise Schooley Hazeltine was dedicated at the 11 a.m. worship service. The guest pastor was the Rev. Wesley R. Crompton, whose father was pastor at Trucksville from 1931-36. His grandfather had preached at the dedication of the new building in 1911. e Confirmation Sunday, May 22 (Pentecost) The confirmation class was received into the membership of the church at the worship service, at which Rev. Wesley Crompton, Rev. Bruce Cleasby and Rev. Donald Anderson, three ministers ordained at Trucksville, were also honored. e Recognition of former pastors Eight former pastors joined the Trucksville congregation during the summer and early fall: Rev. Bruce Cleasby, July 17; Rev. Donald A. Anderson, July 24; Rev. Robert E. Ger- mond, September 11; Rev. John R. Topolewski. Septem- ber 18, Rev. Thomas A. Clemow, September 25; Rev. Charles F. Gommer, Jr., Octo- ber 2 and Rev. H. James Shil- labeer and Rev. Arthur B. Mayo, October 9. Rev. Shillabeer and Rev. Mayo will assist Rev. Charles Naugle at the 11 a.m. worship service. A reception to honor “Old- Timers” of the church, those who have been members for at least 50 years, will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Evening Vespers will include the choir of St. Stephen's Epis- copal Church, to commemo- rate Trucksville’s long-time close relationship with St. Stephen's, whose choir and organists participated in the dedication servicesin 1911 for the new building, in 1932 for the new organ donated by the Conyngham family and in 1988 for the organ rededication. e October 11 The United Methodist Women will gather to celebrate its ministries though the church’s history. e October 12-13 A historical display featur- ing the Trucksville United Methodist Church Pictorial The Back Special guests who visited Trucksville United Methodist Church on Heritage Sunday, April 24, were, front row: Senator Charles Lemmond, Margaret Johnson, Gretchen Heaney, Margaret Rice Goodwin, Nadine Rice Bennett and Louise Schooley Hazeltine; back row: John N. Conyngham, district superintendent Rev. James Baker, Wyoming Historical and Geological Society director Mary Ruth Kelly, Gary Crompton and Jill Crompton. Album Quilt willbe open to the public in the fellowship hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6- 8 p.m. : A pictorial history of the church, the quilt features blocks depicting special his- torical events, hand-crafted by many willing hands from the church and the community. e October 14 The Sesquicentennial Din- ‘ner Celebration will be ehld at the Pittston Convention Cen- ter with music provided by the Orpheus Choral Society. The reception will begin at 5:30 p.-m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. e October 15 A delightful event from the church’s past, the “Tom Thumb Wedding” will be pre- sented by the children of the church. The public is invited to the play and the reception to follow. e October 16 The Sesquicentennial Wor- ship Celebration will be held atthe 11 a.m. worship service, including a special message by Bishop William Boyd Grove, who will also assist Rev. Naugle in the serving of Holy Com- munion, and music by the Chancel and Children’s choirs. Material for this article was provided by Barbara Glowatch is proud to congratulate another Back Mountain institution Happy Birthday Trucksville United Methodist Churc ows wt osm wr LF TTI RT TI IRC TI TT TT WTI ER TIT LI TW TT HE TT WR VE TC TO WE WL TY WL Ph he wl wm he et sa ———
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers