FOREST MILLS
CHURCH HOLDS FINAL WORSHIP SERVICE JUNE 23, 2024
Forest Mills United Methodist Church, a small country
church which served the rural community in the meandering
Yellow River Valley in Allamakee County, has been a house
of worship since the end of the late 1890’s.The
final church service was held on June 23, 2024 after the
remaining congregation members had to make the decision,
like many other closed rural churches, that they could no
longer financially keep the church open due to a
declining membership. The final service included current
and former members sharing their memories about their
beloved church. The District United Methodist Church made
it official on July 18, 2024.
Forest Mills Church, located about 12 miles northeast of
Postville, Iowa in Franklin Township, Alllamakee County,
had its beginnings in December of 1894 when the Board of
Trustees: J.H. Hendrickson, C.W. Bender, Abe Evans, Henry
Werhan, and L.H. McGee met and formed the United Brethren
Church. It was decided that the church building would be
30’ x 44’ with a bell tower to house a large
bell. Work began in the Spring of 1895 and the church was
completed. All bills were paid by 1904 with a total cost
of $1,060. The church bell, which has rung since 1909,
was funded through donations. The 36” Blymer Bell
cost $75 when it was purchased from the Cincinnati, Ohio
Iron Works. Except for a few times when it needed
repairs, the bell has welcomed worshippers each week.
The first pastor was Rev. A. E. Hursh, who also served
the Bethel Church in Post Township in Alllamakee
County.This was according to the 1913 “PAST AND
PRESENT HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, IOWA” by Ellery
M. Hancock, in the section on churches. The February
20,1985 Postville Herald newspaper listed Rev. J.I.
Dickensheets as the first pastor. Since the Forest Mills
Church had three different denominations in their almost
130 years of history, it is believed Rev. Hursh was the
first minister when it was the United Brethen Church and
Rev. Dickensheets when it became the Evangelical United
Brethren Church (year unknown for the name change). A
very young Forest Mills school teacher, Curtis H.
Webster, added a second occupation by becoming a minister
in September of 1939 and became the minister of the
Forest Mills Evangelical United Brethren Church. Rev.
Webster would be the transitional minister in1968 when
the church became known as the Forest Mills Methodist
Church. At the same time he would also serve the Castalia
Methodist Church. The Methodists evolved into the United
Methodist Church. Rev. Curtis Webster would continue to
serve until his untimely death on August 18,1983 when he
was killed in a motorcycle accident on Highway 76 near
Rossville, Iowa in Allamakee County. Verdon Swenson, who
began as a lay leader, assumed the duties of pastor until
1992; The pulpit would then be filled (sometimes with
Theology students from the University of Dubuque,
Dubuque, Iowa) as they completed their studies; Jerry
Hammond 1992; Ken Seney 1992-93; Dean Shelly 1993-1994;
Carl Giese 1994-96. Rev. Steve Campbell would serve
1996-2005; Pastor Dick Iles 2005-2014 and Rev. Kimberly
Gates 2014 – 2024. Rev. Gates will continue to serve
in her duties in the sister United Methodist Churches in
Waukon and Monona.
The Church structure remains the same from when it was
built although it has been remodeled a few times over the
years. The first remodel was done to the basement in the
1920’s. The basement was used for the weekly Adult
Bible Studies, confirmation classes, Sunday School
classes, and each summer the two weeks of Bible School.
The basement also had a remodeling to include a kitchen
and dining area. An addition was built on the front of
the church in 1969.
The Forest Mills Church was known for large celebrations
for both of its 100th and 125th anniversaries. It was a
typical church in a rural community. Like many churches,
there was always a need for money to meet the basic
necessities and pay for replacements, repairs, and
improvements to the church property. The Forest Mills
Ladies Aid Society met those needs by having box socials,
potlucks, soup suppers, church dinners and suppers, ice
cream socials, Fall bazaars, etc. to raise money. The men
helped by donating meat from the farm livestock,
vegetables from their gardens, and even pitching in by
clearing the tables and washing dishes, so the next group
of people with tickets waiting in the church pews
upstairs in the sanctuary could eat the delicious meals,
which of course included homemade pies. The ladies knew
how to cook for crowds. These special occasions as well
as Christmas and Easter always filled the pews.
The church bell will ring no more. The memories of past
services, pastors, and congregation will fade away but
within the heart of the Forest Mills Church will linger
the congregations who gathered for the Sunday services,
funerals, weddings, and other celebrations. The Forest
Mills Church, like other closed churches, is a reminder
of the presence of God today, in ages past, and for the
ages that are to be.
Sources:
1. Postville Herald, July 10, 2024, article by
Sharon Drahn
2. Past and Present History of Allamakee County, Iowa by
Ellery M. Hancock, 1913
3. IAGenWeb-Allamakee County, obituary Rev.Curtis H.
Webster
Contributor: Connie Ellis, volunteer transcriber
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