| This information on the 75th anniversary of the town of Palmer was sent to me by Lee Himan. It was published as a supplement to the local newspapers in 1975. |
Palmers First Church
The Methodist Episcopal |
| An early part of the Palmer
history was erased when the
Methodist congregation disbanded in 1966 due to its dwindled
membership. In 1967 St. Paul
Lutheran Church acquired the old
church building which became
known as St. Paul Lutheran
Church Hall and it served the
congregation for needed Sunday
School rooms until their new
church was built.
|
First Church |
| This first church building
erected in Palmer was built in
1901 to serve the Methodist
Episcopal congregation whose
first services were held in the
Coon and Harrison building in
1900. The Rev. George C. Forte,
then pastor at Manson, preached
twice on two Sunday afternoons.
Later, according to history, Rev.
C. .W. Flint of Pocahontas came to
preach, first in the driveway of
the Wheeler Lumber Company
shed, and next at the F. S. White
residence. Services were also
held in the Kelso building, and in
Wendall's building and the
Wendall Hall where a Sunday
school was organized in the
winter of 1900 and 1901. Services
in the summer of 1901 were held
according to the weather, either
in the Hanson grove or at the hall.
|
Church Dedication |
| The church building, erected at
a cost of a little over $1,500, was
dedicated March 20. 1902. The
structure was 28 x 36 feet in size
with an alcove for choir and 10 x
20 pulpit. A coal stove furnished
heat and light was furnished by
gas lamps. |
| Rev. H. J. Calkins of Fort
Dodge, the first pastor, preached
in the forenoon and evening on
alternate Sundays for a conference year. His place was supplied
after September, 1901, by Rev. A.
A. Marcy of Pomeroy who
preached every Sunday afternoon. A number of other pastors
succeeded Rev. March. Among
First Sunday School superintendents was A. B. Olson. |
Epworth League, Ladies Aid |
| The Epworth League, which
was an active body, organized in
the fall of 1901 and held a service
on each Sunday evening.
The Ladies Aid Society came
into being before the church
organization and the members
put forth much effort to have a
church erected. It is said that the
congregation also had a very fine
choir. |
