Fire Destroys Douds Church 1952

HANEY, STEELE, MCCARTY, FULLER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/19/2006 at 16:03:00

Mt. Pleasant News
Mt. Pleasant, Henry, Iowa
October 9, 1952

FIRE DESTROYS DOUDS CHURCH

Fire last Saturday destroyed the 60-year-old Douds community church building. The large frame structure was located a block west of the Douds business street. For the past three years it had served as a meeting place for the Baptist congregation.

Roscoe Haney discovered the blaze at 2 a.m. but by the time the Douds firemen arrived nothing could be removed from the building. They prevented spread of flames to the Harry Steele and Robert McCarty homes across the narrow street. They also saved the coal shed in the churchyard. A large old tree in front of the Steel house caught fire, although there was no wind.

Built by public subscription in 1892, the church was used by the Methodist congregation until 1947. Because of flood damage to the building that year, the Methodists then united with the Methodist congregation in Leando, across the Des Moines river.

Three years ago the Baptists repaired the community church and began holding meetings there. The Rev. Glen Fuller is the pastor.

It is believe the defective wiring may have caused the blaze. There had been no fire in the stoves since prayer meeting Thursday night. The pastor's wife had cleaned the church Friday afternoon.

The trustees of the Methodist church carried $1,800 in insurance on the building.----Bonaparte Record.