Interesting Historical Facts

Parishioners wishing to join our church in the early years were examined by a
committee regarding their Christian experience and their beliefs.

The Home Missionary Society often split the cost of a preacher with the
congregation, if it could not afford a minister on its own.

The Rev. Charles Evans, who accepted the call to serve our church in 1882,
asked the congregation, “Do not fail to pray for me. Show your sympathy by
a regular attendance”.

On January 16, 1885, fourteen (14) members of our congregation were
granted letters of dismissal to form a separate church in Watervliet.

Already in 1886, the congregation was experiencing problems with some
parishioners doing a lot, while others chose to take a less active role. For
example, Brother Ball remarked that it was too much to expect the same 1
or 2 members to keep the church clean for nothing year after year.

Ministers in the early years were usually only granted a one-year contract.
Every year the congregation had to decide whether it could afford to hire the
minister for the coming year again. Many times, the ministers had to look for
new positions.

The envelope collection system was started in our church in 1892.

Already in 1893, this church was open to social concerns, as the “Rev. Dade
was to have preached, but a reformed drunkard and gambler wished to give
a temperance lecture and occupied the pulpit”.

In October 1893, this church had 14 male and 21 female members.

Already in 1894, this church engaged in pulpit exchanges: a church in
Chicago, and a church in Hartford.

In the one year since October 1893, this church added 3 male and 12 female
members.

In 1894, the pastor’s salary was $225.00.

In 1895, four (4) members were dropped from membership “after the pastor’
s conversation with them”.

In 1895, the Rev. Child tended his resignation, but it was not accepted.
(They did let him leave in the end.)

The first mention of Marjory Furman being the church’s organist dates back
to 1909.

The congregation decided at its December 1910 annual meeting that “Any
member who shall not attend or contribute to the support of the church for
three years shall be dismissed”.

The pastor’s report for the year 1910 stated that he did the following: “102
sermons, 12 funerals, 52 children’s meetings, 44 prayer meetings, 800 visits”.

Cora and Marjory Furman were received into membership on confession of
faith in January 1914. Marie joined 6 months later.

Our membership in 1914 was 35. Two years later, it was 64.

In 1979, our average Sunday School attendance consisted of 25-31 children.

At some time, our church used “Decision Day” cards, on which parishioners
were asked to mark any of the following statements:
_____ I am now a member of ___________________________________
church
_____ I am a Christian but have not yet joined the church
_____ I wish to unite with the church
_____ I now decide that with God’s help I will try to lead a Christian life

This church asked Rev. Evans in 1886, if he would take less than his agreed-
upon salary, as the church owed him $75.00 at that time. He agreed to
forgive $10.00 but stated that he expected the balance in full. One month
later, the church did not renew his contract. (They probably did not have the
money to keep him.) However, Rev. Evans stayed for one more year, but
then offered his resignation and the church accepted it.

In 1895, after our church building was completed, we shared occupancy with
the Methodists. Our congregation worshipped in the morning and the
Methodists in the afternoon.

Our church was the first building erected anywhere in the wilderness between
Coloma and Paw Paw.

For the first six years after its founding and until the completion of the
church building in 1859, the parishioners held services in the Dickerville
school house.

Our church had 7 name changes over the years:
1853 – The _________?__________ Church
1859 – The Union Church
Date unknown – The First Congregational Church of Watervliet
1878 – The First Congregational Church of Coloma
1922 – The First Community Church
1937 – The First Congregational Church of Coloma
1964 – The First Congregational United Church of Christ (U.C.C.)

During the Civil War a company of infantry men stayed overnight in our
church.

During the Civil War, the Union Army recruited soldiers within the church.

Whenever our congregation ran short of funds, the members decided to put
on some kind of entertainment or “frolic” and charge for same.

In the years 1876-84, our church used several itinerant preachers but they
were not permitted to serve communion.

In 1886, our congregation permitted the Baptists to hold services in our
church.

Evening services were discussed but vetoed in 1923.

Already in 1924, our parishioners asked how “to make our church of greater
service to the community”. Answer: “By having good music”.

In 1925 the church gained 32 new members for a total of 151 members.

In the 20’s the men of the church used to prepare and serve the supper
prior to the annual meeting.

In 1931 Rev. Balfour held 35 funerals.

On October 11, 1942, the congregation voted to turn the old iron bell from
the ship Montezuma into the salvage company to help win the war: however,
this was not carried out. (Content of bells’ metal may not have been
appropriate for bullets.)

On November 5, 1945, fire damaged the building; estimated loss $2,600.00

On October 11, 1942, the congregation voted to support Raju Singh of India
with “resources of faith and financial assistance necessary to assure his
health and welfare” while he was a guest of Norm and Mary Erickson, who
were teaching him innovative agriculture practices.

On October 16, 1983, the church received $45,627.40 from the Emil and
Ruth Hanselmann estate. On November 13, 1983, the trustees voted that an
amount of $10,000.00 from the bequest be invested separately and that
$1,000.00 of the interest on this money may be used yearly as a scholarship
for one of our congregation’s High School seniors who meet the established
criteria.

In November 1950, The Furman sisters donated $1,000.00 to the church in
recognition of their parents’ dedication to our church. The money was to be
used to purchase 18th century mahogany furniture for the Furman Room.
The recently refinished furniture is still in the Furman Room today.

In 1980, Glenn Randall of the Search Committee stated that “if a lady was
available and good, she could be considered” as a minister.

Rev. Paige Birdwell’s first sermon to our congregation (as a ministerial
candidate) took place on May 4, 1980.

In his report for the year 1939, the Rev. Utterback stated that “we have a
great tendency to live within ourselves” and chided the congregation for only
giving the “paltry sum” of $62.00 toward missions.

The Maroon children’s choir (for children under High School age) and the
church’s Pioneer Club (for boys under High School age) numbered over 30
children each in 1939.

In 1939 the Rev. Utterback exhorted our church to meet “the needs of this
community” more adequately.

The forerunners of our Women’s Fellowship were called the Ladies’ Social
Union and, in the earliest days, the Ladies Aid Society.

The bell hanging currently in the steeple was purchased by the Becht family.

The old bell from the Montezuma was officially retired from service on
November 20, 1962.

In 1949, prior to building the Fellowship House addition to our church, the
members of the congregation were asked to support the building project by
purchasing one or more cubic feet of the new space at the cost of $1.00
each.
Our original church building had stained glass windows in the sanctuary, but
they were replaced in 1928 with the current colonial-type windows.

Until 1919 our church did not have a basement.

The Rev. W.H. Fuller (minister from 1912-1919) also conducted the church
choir for much of the time.

In 1953, the church entered a float in the Glad-Peach parade as part of its
centennial celebration. The float took 2nd place.

The first spinet piano for the Furman room was purchased by the Women’s
Fellowship.

In 2003, the church entered a float in the Glad-Peach parade as part of its
sesquicentennial celebration featuring an exact 1/8 scale model of the church
prior to the Furman Room addition. The replica, built over the course of more
than 500 hours, was constructed by Kay Erickson, chair, Don Johnson, Ray
Morlock, Butch Mason, Doug Slade, and Maurice McCoy. The interior was
decorated by Ilse Erickson. After the parade, the replica was presented to the
North Berrien Historical Museum in Coloma for further preservation.