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Continued
Erie
Conference Rev. Newton H. Swanson
was appointed its first minister. Here was a case where a minister was
appointed to an area without congregation, church or parsonage. Truly a
“start from scratch.” But Newton
Swanson was equal to the occasion, as we shall see
Rev. Newton Swanson, pastor of
this church-to-be, was born in Jamestown, New York, and attended
Chicago Training School, North western University and the Garrett
Biblical Institute. He served churches in the state of Indiana for
eight years, coming to Pennsylvania in 1940, and coming to Hickory from
Brookville.
When
the Swansons arrived
in Hickory to take charge of their new appointment they lived in the
home of Mr. and Mrs. M. V. DeForeest
until the 21st December. These first two and a half months were spent
in calling; seeking, finding and preparing rooms for services; ordering
folding chairs, hymn books and other necessary supplies; working with
committees to plan services, secure Sunday School teachers, and the
many other numerous tasks that needed to be done when you start from
scratch.
The
first church service was held September 13, 1953, in a building on
Sharon-Mercer Road and the first sessions of Sunday School and
the
evening
MYF were held on October 4th. Charter Membership Sunday was
held on October 18th and under the leadership of the District
Superintendent, Dr. Bruce L.
Middaugh, the church was duly organized. There
were 84 charter members. During the winter months a W.S.C.S. and a
Men’s Group were organized. Sunday School classes were conducted in
four different buildings.
Three
and two-thirds acres of land had been purchased for a church site on
Route 18 about one-fourth of a mile north of the traffic light at the
intersection of Routes 18 and 62. The ground-breaking ceremony was held
at 2 P.M. on Palm Sunday April 3rd, 1955, with
about 200 persons in attendance. Dr.
Bruce L. Middaugh, District Superintendent, officiated and
turned the first shovelful of earth. Other clergymen and lay leaders
took part in the ceremony.
The excavation crew moved into the site on Monday
the 4th [April 4, 1955] and actual work on the church building was
started. The Consecration of
Hickory Methodist Church took place on Palm Sunday, March 25, 1956, when
the first service was held in the Sanctuary of the new edifice. Dr.
Bruce Middaugh delivered an inspiring sermon, his appropriate topic
being “The Triumphant Entry.” The church was filled to capacity for
the impressive service and heard the newly organized choir under the
direction of Harold Faulkner sing for the
first time. Their anthems for the occasion were “The Palms” by Faure,
and “God So Loved the World,” by John Stainer.
It was fitting that
the church be consecrated on Palm Sunday, as the ground was broken for the
church on Palm Sunday in 1955.
During the
afternoon many members and friends of the church attended “open house”
and toured the building.
Prior to the day of
Consecration, worship services were held in the Fellowship Hall in the
church basement, which would later serve as a fine recreation room.
The basement
contains class rooms in addition to the Fellowship Hall, and facilities
for preparing lunches in a small kitchen. A modern kitchen is equipped on
the first floor and adjoins the social room.
During the open
house, refreshments were served from a table attractively centered with
colorful spring flowers. Presiding at the table were Mrs.
Gene Smith, Mrs. Donald Hunter, Mrs. Howard Javens, Mrs. Gilbert Anderson,
Mrs. Charles Williams, and Mrs. M. L. Bright.
Aids were Mrs. Madge Stevenson, Mrs. Gus Ulrich,
Mrs. Roy Bobb, Mrs. Jess Wright, and Mrs.
Charles King.
Rev,
and Mrs. Newton Swanson were in the receiving line to extend
hospitality to all guests and accompany them through the building.
About two weeks
after Consecration Sunday, Dr. Virgil E. Turner,
a member of the National Board of Missions of the Methodist Church, came
to Hickory to help plan and direct a $40,000 building fund campaign for
the new Hickory church.
The church Crusade
Committee included Joseph R. Bentley, Chairman;
Charles H. King, Martin L. Bright, Wallace Heiges,
and Charles Sikora.
The Crusade was
conducted by seventy “selected visitors.” April 15, 16 and 17 were
designated as “Church Loyalty Days.” When the final report was made at
the end of the Crusade, the pledges received assured the success of the
campaign. They had achieved their goal of $40,000 to be paid over a period
of 100 weeks.
When completed the
church building will be “U” shape—when consecrated only one wing,
the educational unit, had been constructed.
It is a brick structure and the estimated cost of the building alone will
be about $100,000. The auditorium will seat 320, with room for an over
flow of 100.
The
first Trustees were: Chairman, Charles E. Williams;
Wallace Heiges, Russell Shanon, Thomas Woodall and Edwin
Frye. Newton
Swanson rejected a good appointment in Erie Conference to accept
the challenge of establishing a church at Hickory at a much lower salary.
He came to his new charge filled with enthusiasm and determination. He
participated in every phase of activity from the hour the first shovelful
of earth was turned at the ground-breaking ceremony until he stood before
his congregation at the consecration service in the newly constructed
building.
Much
of the labor in the construction work was donated by the men of the
congregation. “Newt” Swanson never
hesitated to don overalls and take part in all of the really “tough”
jobs. He worked untiringly both spiritually and physically with his fellow
members, taking part in good-natured jokes and conversations. The men say
he is a “down to earth pastor and can talk a man’s language.” He is
called “Uncle Newt” by the young people for whom he is advisor and
teacher. The
church’s fifth anniversary was observed by special services on October
18, 19, 1958. Dr. A. B. R. Colley, District
Superintendent, de livered the anniversary sermon and Rev. M. E.
Lindstrom, pastor at First Church, Sharon, brought greetings.
On
this occasion the Hickory Methodists could point with pride to their
accomplishments over the first five years. From the 84 charter members the
church membership had grown to over 500 and the Sunday School attendance
average to 200. The value of the church property had increased from the
original cost of $102,000 to its present valuation of $140,000. Future
plans call for the present sanctuary to become a Fellowship Hall,
construction of a new large sanctuary south of the present structure, and
the addition of Sunday School class rooms, church office, and parlors.
(Source: 150 Years
of Methodism, The Story of the First Methodist Church, Sharon, PA,
compiled by Roscoe C. Wilson, 1959, Pages
261-265)
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