First Shovel — Assisting Pastor R.L. Creel, right, with ceremonial ground breaking for his new Calvary church Tuesday morning were Rev. Dan Rude, left, formerly of Decorah and now of Minnesota, who will be the contractor, and Rev. Thomas Mattson of Lansing-New Albin United Methodist churches.

Calvary Church Breaks Ground

The traditional first symbolic shovel of dirt was turned over at the two acre site of the future home of Calvary church north of Waukon Tuesday morning. Ground breaking ceremony consisted of an opening prayer by the Rev. Thomas Mattson of the United Methodist churches in Lansing and New Albin, and a prayer of thanksgiving by Calvary’s pastor, the Rev. R.L. Creel, with concluding benediction.

The congregation of Calvary experienced its new birth in October, 1979, with the approval of all state and federal documents. This was a month after Pastor Creel moved to Waukon, specifically for the purpose of starting an independent Bible church. Now, a year and a half later the first building is near reality.

This first structure will house both Sunday school facilities, and a temporary auditorium. Special consideration is to be given for both parking and ramp area to serve the handicapped. The building will measure 32 by 100 feet with the main shell consisting of light brown, decorative, split-face, masonry block. Acting as contractor on the project will be the Rev. Dan Rude, recently a resident of Decorah, now pastoring in Lincoln, MN.

The new home of Calvary Chapel is located just north of Waukon, immediately west of the Ralph Sweeney home.

~Waukon, IA newspaper clipping, hand-dated 1979
~contributed by Errin Wilker

This church is believed to be the current Cavalry Baptist Church, on Green Valley Road, Waukon

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