Churches
Menlo Methodist Church History
HISTORY
In March of 1869, a Methodist Society was organized at what then was known as "Guthrie" on the new railroad extended from Dexter to that point the same year. Guthrie was one of the appointments on the Dexter circuit along with Stuart, Earlham, Ualanahn and Pilot Grove. Services were first held in homes and store buildings.
The next year the Methodists helped the Presbyterians to build the first church here north and east of the railroad depot. The building was used by both Methodists and Presbyterians for services and by the community for a day school.
In 1882, the Methodists built their own church on the present location costing $3,425.51 during the pastorate of the Reverend George Wright. Two trustees, J. C. Hitchcock and C. E. Genung, were the building committee. Other trustees were Edmund Genung, R. McCune, and J. S. Quint. Bishop Simpson dedicated the building on June 21, 1882 and the last services were held in it May 25, 1913.
After the removal of the old building construction on the present structure was begun in the fall of 1913 and completed for dedication on May 24, 1914 when Rev. Mark Stahl was minister and Rev. E. W. McDade was district superintendent. The new building designed by architect B. L. Morrow cost over forty thousand dollars. Trustees at the time were Charles Wells, Charles Thurman, F. L. P. Hitchcock, William McCune, John Stevenson, L. R. Hitchcock, M. R. Grant, R. F. Groomes, and Frank Main. It is remembered that special guests on the day of dedication were Governor Clarke and Dr. Iliff of Denver in whose memory the Methodist Seminary there was built.
An extensive building improvement program was begun in recent years with the remodeling of the church kitchen and basement rooms. On January 18, 1948 a new electric organ and chimes were dedicated to the memory of R. F. Groomes and his wife by their sons, Edmund and Franklin. During the pastorate of Rev. Robert Parris, the nave and chancel were remodeled to conform with modern trends in church architecture. It was complete for services on February 6, 1955.
On May 31, 1959, Groundbreaking Ceremonies were held to begin construction of the new church school building. The district superintendent, Dr. Allan K. Williams, delivered the sermon. Construction continued through the winter, the weather seemingly adjusting self to our schedule so that the building was enclosed and work on the interior could go on during the severe months. Mr. Horst Lobe of Wetherell and Harrison, Des Moines, was the architect. Mr. Raymond Hoffman and Mr. Jim Donnelly the mason and tender. Mr. Jake Schwartzkopf was head carpenter assisted by Mr. Kenneth Kingery and Mr. Burton Paullin. Mr. Wayne O'Brien was heating, plumbing and electrical contractor. Materials were supplied by Red's Cash Lumber of Stuart. Draperies were the gift of the local W. S. C. S. The date stone was the gift of Leo Evans of the Guthrie Center Monument Works. The building committee was Dale Holmes, Hugh Harlan, Donald Stemm, Glenn Stevenson, Edmund Groomes, Earl Kading, Herb Cunningham, Mrs. George Moffitt, Mrs. Maude Wildman and the minister, Howard DeVore. The building cost was $29,000, with over seven hundred hours of labor donated by the members of the church. Indebtedness is $14,500.
Transcribed by Volunteer, August, 2023 from a brochure, Consecration of the New Church School Building and Pastor's Study, April 3, 1960.