Volume 009-3 - November 1955 (3 pages)

Nevada City Baptist Church August 27, 1853, the First Baptist Church of Nevada was established by members of the denomination who were desirous of worshipping God in their own Church. The “Pacific Banner,” early day California Baptist paper, reports that Reverend O. C. Wheeler, pioneer Baptist worker in California, and Reverend Myron Newell were present, with the latter becoming the first minister. Eighteen charter members comprised the congregation. Newell, in poor health, remained but seven months. He was succeeded by Reverend J. M. Winn, who served only three months. The first services were held in the Congregational Church on the corner of Main and Church streets. Winn is also reported to have preached to his congregation from the stage of the famed Jenny Lind Theater. The year 1854 brought to the Nevada City church the first of two ministers to serve during the first decade who later became distinguished for their abilities and service in other important California centers. Rev. O. B. Stone began his ministry in early 1854 and entered immediately upon a_ building program. By October 15 of that year the church was able to dedicate the building. It was 32 by 50 feet and was said to be the finest building in any mining town in California. Dr. Sandford Fleming, in God’s Gold, quotes a reporter of the San Francisco Daily Herald as saying it was “the handsomest structure in the interior.” The gain was not without its severe problems, however. The pastor reported considerable opposition, due largely to the wide variations within the church’s membership. Some were _ dismissed, charged with having attempted to destroy the church. The fire of July, 1856, included this building in its destruction, adding to the discouragement of the hard-working church members. Stone, however, wrote that the brethren were not discouraged but would soon erect another building. This was done, although the membership was small and fund-raising extremely difficult. Under the succeeding minister, Reverend Benjamin Brierly, another frame building was dedicated in 1860. Zeno Philosopher Davis, Nevada City gunsmith, who built the first section of what is now the National Hotel, gave the land on the southeast corner of Pine and Spring streets to the Baptist Church and subscribed the first $50 toward the building fund. (Davis had earlier bought the land from Hamlet Davis, first mayor of Nevada City, who built Nevada City’s “Dramatic Hall.”) The building erected remained to outlive the church organization. In 1880, Thompson and West reported the church membership to be twenty-nine, certainly not enough to maintain a church building and program. At this writing, the old church building still stands at the corner of Pine and Spring Streets, having been sold to private interests and converted into an apartment house. In the fire of 1863 the building miraculously escaped injury and was able to offer its facilities to other congregations of the community that had sustained losses. By 1895, the year the property was sold, the congregation as a unit, had ceased to exist or function. In September, 1947, the Reverend John MacDonald arrived in Nevada City, on appointment of the California Northern Baptist Convention, to establish a church. He found several persons who offered their support and services. The church established, although a new entity, was a member church of the same Convention as was the original First Baptist Church. In recent months, the congregation has purchased the Church Apartments on Main Street, the building constructed as the Congregational Church in 1857. The old brick building, built to withstand fire, which it did in 1863, when most of the town was destroyed, is undergoing reconstruction work at a steady rate. Rev. MacDonald, who has not left since his arrival in 1947, reports that the group expects to be moved in within the new few months. Membership dues in the Nevada County Historical Society are $1.00 per year, payable on January 1 of each year. Send dues or application for membership to Sven Skaar, Star Route, Nevada City, California. Bulletins are sent to members of the Nevada County Historical Society at no extra cost, published as frequently as manuscripts are available. Certain back issues are in stock, and may be procured on request, at a nominal cost. Nevada County Historical Society November, 1955 Vol. 9, No. 3 Nevada City First Methodist Church Compiled by RAY MURCHIE The townsite was covered with large oak and pine trees under which local preachers held services during the summer of 1849. The spot where this preaching was done was at what is now Broad and Pine streets. Prayer meetings were held on Main and Washington, above the junction. . In the summer of 1850, Mr. Stamps, who was Alcalde, under the Mexican law, and a man by the name of Lamden, who had been a minister, were chiefly instrumental in building a shake house on half of the lot later occupied by the Congregational Church. This house was used for a church and was built with posts set in the ground, the side hill its natural slope, and without shutters to the doors or windows. About August 20, 1850, Rev. C. A. Leaman, just across the plains from Missouri, met Rev. Isaac Owen in Sacrament and was sent by him to take charge of the work in Nevada City until he could go up and organize a society. The aforementioned house was found as described, having been built by subscription to accommodate the various denominations, Cumberland Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist. About this time also Rev. R. R. Dunlap arrived, who had been a member of the Missouri conference of the M. E. Church, South, and he immediately joined the Methodist Church. About the last of September or the first of October, Rev. Isaac Owen came from Sacramento.On Sunday morning at ten o’clock a love feast was held and at eleven he preached to a large congregation, after which he recorded the names of those desiring to join the M. E. Church. R. R. Dunlap and C, A. Leaman gave their names as local preachers and then and there was organized the first society of the M. E. Church in Nevada City, California. At this meeting the Lord’s Supper was administrated by Rev. I. Owen and Rev. Dr. Boring of the M. E. Church South . An attempt had been made on Saturday to organize a Quarterly Conference without success. At this quarterly meeting C. A. Leaman resigned his charge of the work. Rev. R. R. Dunlap and others filled the appointments until Rev. Horn of North Carolina was appointed by the Superintendent, Rev. I. Owen, which was soon after the date of the meeting. State of the Society for 1850-51 Local preachers—R. R. Dunlap, C. A. Leaman, Rev. Lathrop, David D. Fordice, and Rev. Price. Exhorters—Bros. Broadhurst, Simeon Roushey, and Wolf. Recording Steward—J. R. Crandall. Class Leader—O. D. Stone. Members—There were about twenty, only a few names being remembered. In addition to the above, the following: Bro. Dudley, supposed to have been lost

Nevada City Baptist Church August 27, 1853, the First Baptist Church of Nevada was established by members of the denomination who were desirous of worshipping God in their own Church. The “Pacific Banner,” early day California Baptist paper, reports that Reverend O. C. Wheeler, pioneer Baptist worker in California, and Reverend Myron Newell were present, with the latter becoming the first minister. Eighteen charter members comprised the congregation. Newell, in poor health, remained but seven months. He was succeeded by Reverend J. M. Winn, who served only three months. The first services were held in the Congregational Church on the corner of Main and Church streets. Winn is also reported to have preached to his congregation from the stage of the famed Jenny Lind Theater. The year 1854 brought to the Nevada City church the first of two ministers to serve during the first decade who later became distinguished for their abilities and service in other important California centers. Rev. O. B. Stone began his ministry in early 1854 and entered immediately upon a_ building program. By October 15 of that year the church was able to dedicate the building. It was 32 by 50 feet and was said to be the finest building in any mining town in California. Dr. Sandford Fleming, in God’s Gold, quotes a reporter of the San Francisco Daily Herald as saying it was “the handsomest structure in the interior.” The gain was not without its severe problems, however. The pastor reported considerable opposition, due largely to the wide variations within the church’s membership. Some were _ dismissed, charged with having attempted to destroy the church. The fire of July, 1856, included this building in its destruction, adding to the discouragement of the hard-working church members. Stone, however, wrote that the brethren were not discouraged but would soon erect another building. This was done, although the membership was small and fund-raising extremely difficult. Under the succeeding minister, Reverend Benjamin Brierly, another frame building was dedicated in 1860. Zeno Philosopher Davis, Nevada City gunsmith, who built the first section of what is now the National Hotel, gave the land on the southeast corner of Pine and Spring streets to the Baptist Church and subscribed the first $50 toward the building fund. (Davis had earlier bought the land from Hamlet Davis, first mayor of Nevada City, who built Nevada City’s “Dramatic Hall.”) The building erected remained to outlive the church organization. In 1880, Thompson and West reported the church membership to be twenty-nine, certainly not enough to maintain a church building and program. At this writing, the old church building still stands at the corner of Pine and Spring Streets, having been sold to private interests and converted into an apartment house. In the fire of 1863 the building miraculously escaped injury and was able to offer its facilities to other congregations of the community that had sustained losses. By 1895, the year the property was sold, the congregation as a unit, had ceased to exist or function. In September, 1947, the Reverend John MacDonald arrived in Nevada City, on appointment of the California Northern Baptist Convention, to establish a church. He found several persons who offered their support and services. The church established, although a new entity, was a member church of the same Convention as was the original First Baptist Church. In recent months, the congregation has purchased the Church Apartments on Main Street, the building constructed as the Congregational Church in 1857. The old brick building, built to withstand fire, which it did in 1863, when

most of the town was destroyed, is undergoing reconstruction work at a steady rate. Rev. MacDonald, who has not left since his arrival in 1947, reports that the group expects to be moved in within the new few months. Membership dues in the Nevada County Historical Society are $1.00 per year, payable on January 1 of each year. Send dues or application for membership to Sven Skaar, Star Route, Nevada City, California. Bulletins are sent to members of the Nevada County Historical Society at no extra cost, published as frequently as manuscripts are available. Certain back issues are in stock, and may be procured on request, at a nominal cost. Nevada County Historical Society November, 1955 Vol. 9, No. 3 Nevada City First Methodist Church Compiled by RAY MURCHIE The townsite was covered with large oak and pine trees under which local preachers held services during the summer of 1849. The spot where this preaching was done was at what is now Broad and Pine streets. Prayer meetings were held on Main and Washington, above the junction. . In the summer of 1850, Mr. Stamps, who was Alcalde, under the Mexican law, and a man by the name of Lamden, who had been a minister, were chiefly instrumental in building a shake house on half of the lot later occupied by the Congregational Church. This house was used for a church and was built with posts set in the ground, the side hill its natural slope, and without shutters to the doors or windows. About August 20, 1850, Rev. C. A. Leaman, just across the plains from Missouri, met Rev. Isaac Owen in Sacrament and was sent by him to take charge of the work in Nevada City until he could go up and organize a society. The aforementioned house was found as described, having been built by subscription to accommodate the various denominations, Cumberland Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist. About this time also Rev. R. R. Dunlap arrived, who had been a member of the Missouri conference of the M. E. Church, South, and he immediately joined the Methodist Church. About the last of September or the first of October, Rev. Isaac Owen came from Sacramento.On Sunday morning at ten o’clock a love feast was held and at eleven he preached to a large congregation, after which he recorded the names of those desiring to join the M. E. Church. R. R. Dunlap and C, A. Leaman gave their names as local preachers and then and there was organized the first society of the M. E. Church in Nevada City, California. At this meeting the Lord’s Supper was administrated by Rev. I. Owen and Rev. Dr. Boring of the M. E. Church South . An attempt had been made on Saturday to organize a Quarterly Conference without success. At this quarterly meeting C. A. Leaman resigned his charge of the work. Rev. R. R. Dunlap and others filled the appointments until Rev. Horn of North Carolina was appointed by the Superintendent, Rev. I. Owen, which was soon after the date of the meeting. State of the Society for 1850-51 Local preachers—R. R. Dunlap, C. A. Leaman, Rev. Lathrop, David D. Fordice, and Rev. Price. Exhorters—Bros. Broadhurst, Simeon Roushey, and Wolf. Recording Steward—J. R. Crandall. Class Leader—O. D. Stone. Members—There were about twenty, only a few names being remembered. In addition to the above, the following: Bro. Dudley, supposed to have been lost