MISC. CHURCH NOTES Other Miscellaneous Items

Only one church was built i n Dearborn in 1943. The cost of the facility was $5,000.

Edward Cardinal Mooney announced i n June 1954 the creation of nine new parishes i n the Archdiocese, including one i n Dearborn i n the vicrnty of Oakwood and Southfleld and one i n Dearborn Townshipin the Ford Road-Outer Drive area.

He then appointed the Rev. Peter P. Borkowicz as the first pastor of the new Dearborn church and the Rev. Ar -

Attempts were made i n summer 1946 to build an uni­dentified church at Helen and Driscoll. Residents protested to the City Council i n August 1946 and subsequently won.

•

Township church effective June 18, 1954. •

CHURCH (Dhn. Press 25th Anniv. Edition 4-30-42) Dearborn, an industrial city of 70,000 persons, is

a melting pot of many races. This is possibly the reason why there are 21 religious denominations comprising some 40 organizations within the city's boundaries.

The first of these to come here was Methodism. In 1804, Methodist circuit riders preached periodi­cally in Detroit with little success. But their pas­sage left an indelible mark on early settlers in Dearborn and in 1818, the first Methodist Church, a crude log cabin, was built on the Rouge River not far from where the Ford Foundation is now. In 1828, the congregation scattered and the building was abandoned. In 1838, a frame building was erected on west Park Street and in 1892, the Ten Eyck Memorial Methodist Church on Michigan Avenue was built and dedicated.

The fourth home of the First Methodists, the present structure at Mason and Garrison, was dedi­cated in 1926. The Rev. Gordon Phillips was the pastor and the congregation numbers nearly 1,000.

The second Methodist congregation established in the city was the Mt. Olivet Community Church, Colson at Horger, in 1922. Meetings were first held in the home of Mr . And Mrs. William John­son, 598 Scott, after a group of Methodists in the community to the east sought a Methodist Church of their own.

The first building, a frame structure dedicated the same year, stood at Maple near Ford Road. The first settled clergyman was the Rev. Howard H . Wilcox, who served until 1931. The present stone structure of English-Gothic architecture was dedi­cated in 1926. The Rev. Owen M . Geer is the pastor.

At Gertrude Street and Outer Drive stands the Free Methodist Church, organized in 1938. The services were first held in a store building at 22628 Michigan Ave. With the present pastor, the Rev. K M . Parks, guiding the flock. The present frame structure was dedicated one year later.

-CATHOLIC— The earliest record of the Roman Catholic

movement in Dearborn is found in the register of St. Anne's Church of Detroit, inscribed by Fr. Gabriel Richard who arrived in Detroit in 1798. Listed among the members of his early parish were 30 families who lived on farms in the vicinity of the River Rouge.

HISTORY Sacred Heart Church, oldest of the city's Catho­

lic churches, was organized in 1836 as St. John's Church. The services were held in private homes until 1848. The first church building, a frame structure was built at Mason and Park and was dedicated that year. The first resident pastor was the Rev. James Pulsers, who served from 1852 to 1854. The present church structure of Romanesque architecture and brick construction, was dedicated in 1937, and the present pastor is the Rev. Fr. A . X . M . Sharpe. The school was organized in 1852 and taught by Sister-Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

In the east end, St. Alphonsus Church was or­ganized in 1842 with services held in parish homes. On the present site at Gould and Calhoun, the first building was erected. The present structure was dedicated in 1929. The Rev. Charles Chambelle was the first pastor. The parishioners were sad­dened recently when the Rev. John A Klich, a well-known Dearborn old timer, passed away.

Other Catholic Churches serving Dearborn communities are St. Barbara's, St. Maria's and St. Clements. The first two were organized in 1924, and the third in 1926.

— L U T H E R A N — St. Paul's American Lutheran Church, Beech

near Monroe, is the oldest Lutheran church in Dearborn. Its history dates back to 1870 when Dearborn village was but a small community sur­rounded by a large farming area.

Lutherans from this section had been attending services on Sundays in Detroit, but due to the dis­tance to be traveled and inadequate transportation, the Rev. Conrad L . Moll , pastor of the Emmanuel Church in Detroit, was asked to come to the com­munity to preach on Sunday afternoon and to or­ganize a congregation.

Services were held first in a small red school-house on the River Rouge banks opposite the first tollgate between Dearborn and Springwells. In 1871, a frame structure was built between Beech and Snow near Monroe and in November the Rev. Marcus Halboth of Wyandotte became the first resident pastor.

On July 6, 1924, the Rev. Walter J. Fritz was installed as pastor. During his ministry, a monthly parish paper was published, the envelop system was introduced, a new constitution was adopted and the Men's Club, the Cradle Roll, and the Junior

and Senior Choirs were organized. The outstanding accomplishment of the congregation during his ministry was the erection of a beautiful English Gothic Church at a cost of approximately $80,000. Ground was broken April 25, 1926, and the cor­nerstone was laid June 20. The dedication took place May 15, 1927. At this time, the congregation numbered approximately 325 confirmed members.

Nearly one year later, Thursday evening, April 19, afire of undetermined origin broke out at 8:30. It ruined the chancel and did about $16,000 worth of damage. Rededication services were held on the afternoon of Aug. 12, 1928.

Behind the church and facing Snow Avenue, a new structure was erected as a parsonage shortly after 1874. OnMay 15, 1927, a church structure of English-Gothic architecture was dedicated and the congregation numbered 325. The present pastor, Rev. W.E. Sund, was installed in 1928.

In 1881, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dearborn left the Missouri Synod and entered the fold of the Ohio Synod. Several members not in sympathy with the move left the church and for 14 years, held their services in the old Presbyterian church on Mason Street and in the old Arsenal Hall. Pastors from Detroit conducted the services.

The Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dearborn was organized in 1895 by members of this group, and a church building was erected at Military and Morley. Henry Behrens became the first pastor in 1896. The church was completed and dedicated'in March of that year. A new church building was erected and dedicated in 1928. The congregation now numbers 120 families, 250 communicant members and 360 baptized. The pre­sent pastor, Rev. H.F. Hensick, was installed in 1921.

- - P R E S B Y T E R I A N S — The First Presbyterian Church, 905 Mason, was

organized as early as 1834 and services were first held in the homes of the various members. The original building was built on the southwest corner of Park and Mason and dedicated in 1848. Rev. R. Armstrong, the first pastor, served from 1837 to 1839.

Replacing the frame building, a second structure of stone and brick was built in 1908 and razed 21 years later. The present building was dedicated in 1930. The pastor today is the Rev. John T. Newell.

In 1924, the First Baptist Church, Nowlin and Olmstead, was organized and the present church building was erected and dedicated a year later. The first settled clergyman was the Rev. Samuel

Phelps, replaced in 1925 by the present pastor, Harold C. McDonald.

— E V A N G E L I C A L — The Evangelical Church at Mason and Monroe

was established in 1859. The first church building was dedicated in 1860. A second building was built in 1871, and the present brick structure of Gothic architecture was dedicated in 1921. The first pastor was the Rev. J.P. Schmatze, who officiated until 1862. The present pastor is the Rev. D. F. Binder.

In 1866, with a small congregation, the Christ Episcopal Church, Michigan at Howard, was es­tablished. The first services were held in an old ar­senal building still standing behind the post office on Garrison Street.

The present building as first erected in 1870, consecrated in 1874, remodeled in 1924, and en­larged in 1931. It is of brick construction in Eng­lish-Gothic style. The Rev. Chauncey S. Fitch, D.D., was the first pastor and he served his con­gregation until 1874. The present pastor is the Rev. Hedley G. Stacey.

Church Dateline 1810: Methodist church built along

banks of Rouge River. This is old­est continuing Protestant Church organization i n Michigan.

1818: Methodist church built on old North Dearborn Road (also called River Road) near what is now But­ler and Greenfield. Building was a log structure. A marker commemo­rates the spot The congregation developed into the Williams S. Ford Memorial United Methodist Church on Warreir Avenue i n De­troit.

1830s: Sometime during this decade, Episcopal services began being held occasionally.

1834: Presbyterian services first held when congregation was formed.

1836: St. John's Church organized, first Roman Catholic Church i n present-day Dearborn.

1840: Baptist congregation organized. Group disbanded i n 1875 and later reorganized i n 1922.

1842: St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic parish organized.

1848: Presbyterian church built at what is today Park and Mason.

St John's Church (later Sacred Heart Church) built at what is today Park and Mason.

1852: S t John's organizes parish school. '

St. Alphonsus Church established. 1859: Believed year of first Evangeli­

cal services held i n Dearborn, thus organization of First Evangelical United Brethren Church (now Good Shepherd United Methodist Church).

1869: Episcopal parish formally formed i n Dearborn.

1870: Episcopal church built on Michigan Avenue.

Evangelical Lutheran Church (later American Lutheran) organized. Forerunner to St. Paul's Superior Lutheran Church on Beech Street at Monroe.

1871: First Congregational Church established.

1872: St. Paul United Church of Christ founded i n Detroit.

1874: St. Alphonsus Church built at Warren and Schaefer.

Messiah Adventist Church organized. 1875: St. John's Church renamed Sa­

cred Heart Church,

1879: Original First Congregational Church building put up in Spring-wells.

1881: Dissident group from Evangeli­cal Lutheran Church forms and builds Emmanuel Lutheran.

1889: Messiah Adventist Church dis­bands.

1916: Our Savior Polish National Catholic Church organized.

1920: Central Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (now Fair-lane Alliance) organized in Detroit.

1923: SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church organized i n west Detroit.

Jan. 20, 1924: St. Barbara Catholic Church organized.

First Baptist Church of Dearborn or­ganized (originally referred to as Baptist church). Congregation first met i n homes, then at original First Presbyterian Church building, fi­nally i n new building at Nowlin and Beech.

St. Mary's Romanian Catholic Church organized.

First Roumanian Baptist Church or­ganized.

1925: Sacred Heart Church moves to current site.

1926: First English Lutheran Church organized. First service held at Veteran's Hall . After three months, congregation meets regularly at Calvin Theater building.

First Baptist Church of Fordson (later Calvary Baptist Church) organized.

Roumanian Baptist Mission organized. 1927: St. Clement Catholic Church

established. 1929: St. John the Baptist Catholic

Church established. First Congregational Church moves to

Dearborn. Ss. Peter & Paul Romanian Orthodox

Church established. Martha-Mary Chapel opens in Green­

field Village. 1930: Littlefield Presbyterian Church

organized. St. Clement Ohridski Macedono B u l ­

garian Eastern Orthodox Church opens in Detroit.

1931: Dearborn Gospel Tabernacle Church, forerunner to Detroit World Outreach, organized.

1933: New Apostolic Church formed. Christian Reformed Church of Dear­

born organized.

1935: Calvary Baptist Church of West Dearborn established.

1936: First Roumanian Baptist Church closes.

Roumanian Baptist Mission closes. Neighborhood House Mission organ­

ized, moves into former Rouma­nian Baptist Mission building.

1937: Van Born Community Church organizes.

1938: League of a Thousand church opens to serve workers at Ford Rouge Plant.

Dearborn Pentacostal Church organ­ized.

1939: Silvery Lane Baptist Church established.

Trailside United Brethren Church or­ganized.

Dearborn Pentacostal Church dis­bands.

Dearborn White Cross Mission organ­ized.

Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church established i n westDetroit

1941: St. Christopher Catholic Church established.

1942: Greenfield Congregational Church organized.

Dearborn Congregational Church or­ganized.

1944: St. Bernadette Catholic Church established.

1945: Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church established.

1947: S t James U C C organized as St. James Evangelical and Reformed Church.

1948: Cherry H i l l Presbyterian Church organized.

1949; St. Sebastian Catholic Church established.

St. Bernard Seminary organized. 1950: Church of the Divine Child

created. St. Norbert Catholic Church organ­

ized. Warrendale Community Church or­

ganized. 1951: St. Suzanne Catholic Church

organized. Independent Baptist Church organ­

ized. 1952: S t Paul U C C moves to Dear­

born area, meets inHaigh School. Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox

Church moves to Dearborn.

1953: Sacred Heart Church organizes-St. Joseph Catholic Misssion on PvOtunda Drive.

Dearborn Woods Presbyterian Church organized.

1954: St. Martha Catholic Church established.

St. Anselm Church established. Cherry H i l l Baptist Church formed. Dearborn Evangelical Covenant

Church organized. 1955: St. Albert the Great Catholic

Church established. St. Thomas Aquinas Church estab­

lished. Van Born Baptist Church established. Warren Valley Baptist Church estab­

lished. v

St. Mark's Presbyterian Church organ­ized.

American Orthodox Church organ­ized.

1956: St. Linus Catholic Church es­tablished.

St. Me l Catholic Church established. Faith Baptist Church established. Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hal l on

Mornoe opens. Congregation which eventually be­

came Dearborn Christian Church held first service.

St. Paul TJCC sanctuary opened. 1957: Catholic Church of St. Sabina

established. 1958: Berean Missionary Baptist

Church established. Dearborn Christian Church formally

organizes. 1959: St Vartan's Armenian Catholic

Church established. 1961: St. Mary's Romanian Catholic

Church moves to current home at Military and Morley.

1962: Pious Society of St. Paul moves into former Thayer School.

First Church of the Nazarene organ­ized.

1963: St. Joseph Catholic Mission designated a full Catholic Church in June.

1964: St. Clement Ohridski Macedono Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church builds church i n Dearborn, moves i n in 1965.

1965: Calvary Assembly of God Church on Banner Street merges "with Metropolitan Assembly of God Church i n Ecorse to form First Assembly of God Church. Work begins on new sanctuary following year.

Central Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (now Fairlane Alliance) moves to Dearborn.

1966: Our Savior Polish National Catholic Church moves to current home i n Dearborn Heights.

1970: New Hope Free W i l l Baptist Church founded. Later renamed Bethel Free W i l l Baptist Church. First met i n Wyandotte. Moved to Dearborn Heights i n 1971.

Warren Valley Baptist Church merges with Cherry H i l l Baptist Church. Warren Valley sanctuary sold to Salvation Army.

1971: Salvation Army moves into new Dearborn Heights Citadel in former Warren Valley Baptist Church.

1973: Dearborn Bible Church organ­ized.

1975: Carpenter Avenue Baptist Church moves into former Chris­tian Reformed Church sanctuary on Village Road. Name changed to Village Baptist Church.

Shalom Ministry founded. 1977: Oxford Gospel Church dis­

bands. Good News Fellowship Church

opened. 1978: Pine Grove Memorial Assembly

of God Church created i n January. Dearborn Baptist Church organized. 1979: Wesleyan Community Church

forced to leave rented sanctuary at Notre Dame and Telegraph.

1988: St. Mark's Presbyterian Church merges with Evergreen Village Presbyterian Church to become St. Andrew's Presbyterian.

1996: Calvary Baptist Church closes i n September.

1997: Detroit World Outreach moves from its home on A n n Arbor Trail to the former Temple Baptist Church building at Telegraph and West Chicago. It then shared the building with Word of Faith Church.

1998: St. Bernadette Church closes. St. Kevin Catholic Church i n Ihkster

closes. Dayspriag Christian Mission moves to

Allen Park. Former sanctuary razed for homes.

AREA CEMETERIES Crouch Cemetery

Crouch Cemetery was actually just a family burial ground on the east side of Grindley Park between Oxford and Princeton.

The 36x70-foot plot was on lots 30 and 31 of the subdi­vision. The land was formally owned by a fmaily named Crouch. The cemetery was vacated i n 1927 when the area was eyed for development.

No descendents of the Crouch family could be found at this time. The City Council was asked to have the cemetery vacated and the bodies moved to other cemeteries i n the city. I

Evergreen Cemetery (also called Ford Cemetery)

This cemetery on Joy Road west of Greenfield was cre­ated by the Ford family. Henry Ford is buried here as is his wife and parents. The Ruddiman family is also buried here.

St. Martha Episcopal Church was built with money do­nated by Clara Ford, who liked the idea of a church nearby to care for the cemetery.

Some references say Evergreen Cemetery is the old Scotch Settlement Cemetery at Warren Avenue at Asbury Park.

Indian burial ground A n Indian burial ground supposed was once located i n

front of what is now the Ford World Headquarters.

Maplewood Cemetery This early Springwells is now part of Detroit. It existed

for about a' quarter century on the north side of Michigan Avenue jus't east of Lonyo.

The Springwells Maplewood Cemetery Corporation was formed Apr i l 4, 1860. The cemetery was created on land owned by Henry Haggerty. Baby Creek ran through part of the cemetery.

In 1892, the association sought to disband, sell the cemetery property and' have the bodies moved to another cemetery. This apparently was done within the next year. I-94 now crosses the land where the cemetery was.

Wit. Kelly Cemetery This cemetery on Cherry H i l l west of Outer Drive was

named for Fr. Patrick O'Kelly, who died i n 1858. He was a pioneer priests to serve i n this area.

His remains are buried there. While alive, Fr. Kelly gave spriitial and physical aid to the people of this area.

This cemetery is overseen by Sacred Heart Church. The first plots of the cemetery were sold by 1875. The

four acres of the cemetery were donated by the Daly family. The two mounds i n the older section of the cemetery are called Mt. Kelly andMt. Daly.

The gothic white chapel i n the cemetery is built over Fr. O 'Kehys grave. It was built by 1875.

Northview Cemetery The Northview Cemetery Association wasf romed Feb.

19, 1869. It bought 18.5 acres along what is today Outer Drive i n west Dearborn.

The articles of association were approved July 11, 1883. This allowed incorporation for the N C A for 30 years. A t which point, the association had to dissolve.

Some of the bodies buried here were moved from the B i g Sloss Cemetery and the Little Sloss Cemetery.

Few plots remain used but are already purchased.

Nowlin Cemetery This cemetery is on Van Born i n south Dearborn

Heights. It is one of the oldest cemeteries i n the area. Among the

people buried here is William A . Nowlin and his family.

Old Hill Cemetery Early cemetery on the north bank of the Rouge River. It

was two miles south of the old Chicago Turnpike near Old Dearborn River Road. Some of area's earliest residents were buried here nntil the bodies were later moved to an­other cemetery.

St Alphonsus Cemetery This cemetery was created by St. Alphonsus Church.

Situated along Schaefer Avenue, part of the original ceme­tery and some graves are now underneath the Schaefer Road bed.

This happened many years ago when Schaefer Road was extended north of Warren Avenue. The path went right through the western part of the cemetery. The church moved all graves for which identification could be found. Those graves for which no information on who was buried i n them were left i n their original sites.

St. Hedwig Cemetery & Mausoleum

23755 Military Road Dearborn Heights, M I 48127, 562-1900 The cemetery was created i n 1925. Its 70 acres are split

by the now-closed Military Street. The smaller, older sec­tion is north of Military Street. Military Street through the cemetery was closed i n fall 1973.

This cemetery has no affiliation with St. Hedwig Church i n Detroit other than both being affiliated with the Catholic Church.

The cemetery has room for approximately 200,000 burials. The land is owned by the Franciscan Fathers of St. Bonaventure Provicnce.

Scotch Settlement Cemetery This cemetery is on Warren Avenue at Asbury Park by

William S. Ford Memorial United Methodist Church. Part of the original cemetery was lost when Warren Avenue was widened years ago. Fortunately, no graves were affected.

Big Sloss Cemetery (also Pepper Road Cemetery)

B i g Sloss Cemetery was on the east side of Oakwood

Boulevard at Village Road on the old Sloss farm. It was formally abandoned Oct. 2, 1914, with the bodies

moved when the land became Ford property. The bodies were re-interred at Northview and Woodmere cemeteries.

Two additional bodies were found i n 1948 when Ford Motor was excavating for the Ford $50,000,000 experimen­tal laboratory. A t first, it was thought the bodies might have been from a recent unsolved murder. It was finally remem­bered this was at one time cemetery and that the bodies were from that.

A n 1876 county plat map shows Sloss Cemetery set back along Snow Road (Oakwood Boulevard did not yet exist) about 200 yards. One reference refers to the cemetery as being between Pepper Road and Dearborn Boulevard.

The cemetery was not shown on 1893 or 1906 county plat maps.

Little Sloss Cemetery (also Mason Street Cemetery)

This small cemetery was on the north corner of Mason and Monroe, across the street from what is now Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. It was also called the Mason Street Cemetery.

When the cemetery was closed, the bodies were moved to Northview Cemetery along Outer Drive.

Union Chapel Cemetery This cemetery on the far west edge of old Dearborn

Township, is on the south side of Michigan Avenue about two blocks east of Inkster Road. Its entrance is about 100 yards back from the highway.

The cemetery was created i n 1833. It is on 1.85 acres. It was originally just called the burial ground. Josiah Dort was the original land-owner. When the cemetery was cre­ated, it was owned by the Wightrnan family.

The cemetery name supposed comes from a church built nearby that was formed through the consolidation of two congregations: a Methodist Episcopal church which met either in members homes or on Michigan Avenue and a Wesleyan church which met at Hicks School. The new church, because it was a consolidation of the two congrega­tions, was called the Union Chapel.

A survey of tombstones make it apparent this was a community cemetery for families i n the area. About a dozen families comprise most of the burial locations. The most prominent names are Harrison, Hicks, Trowbridge, Cog­swell, Randall and Walker.

The most famous people buried i n the cemetery are T i ­tus Dort, who was active i n local politics for many years during the mid-1800s and was the namesake of the old Dort School at Michigan Avenue and the Rouge River; Matthew Charlesworth, early land-owner and namesake of Charles-worth Street; Henry Ruff, namesake of the main road one-half mile west of Inkster Road; and Cyrus Howard, brother of Col. Joshua Howard, the first commander of the old De­troit Arsenal at Dearborn, and early businessman and postmaster.

A n interesting note about the burial plots for the Dort family is most of them have iron tops bolted onto the tombs.

The oldest tombstone found was that of Philo Randall, son of Cyrus and Melissa Randall, who died Feb, 20, 1847, at age 16. Another tombstone, seemingly more of a memo­

rial marker, states it is i n the memory of Thomas Aldrich, who died Sept. 30, 1840, at age 72 years and 21 days. This marker includes some unintelligible characters.

While maintained on a regular basis, a few of the tomb­stones have suffered from the neglect of time and less for­mal care. Some of the tombstones are hidden by overgrowth brush. Some of those now inlaid i n the ground are being grown over.

This lesser-known cemetery apparently still has some space left for new burials, most of the burials i n the last few decades were family members of deceased already buried in the cemetery.

Wallaceville Cemetery The Wallaceville Cemetery is on the former Sylvester

Losey farm i n Section 5 of Dearborn Township on the east side of Gulley Road betwwen A n n Arbor Trail and Warren Avenue.

The cemetery is i n a rather run-down cndition with a great many of the stones on the ground and several of tehm broken. The record contains the names of 90 burieals with many more interred without markers. A t least four soldiers' graves are i n the cemetery.

The records were copied Sept. 6,1837, by Mrs. Marjoria E . (Norris) Beavis.

Woodmere Cemetery Woodmere Cemetery, 9400 Fort Street, dates back to

1867. This land was once Indian hunting ground and camping area. It then became farmland and homestead property of the French settlers.

The Woodmere Cemetery Association was organized in July 1867. Its board of directors authorized the construc­tion of its entrance Apr i l 6,1868. It was built a year later.

The cemetery's first board of directors consisted of men who figured prominently i n the history of Detroit, including John Bagley, who became later .became governor of Mich i ­gan.

Others were David Preston, Moses Field, M.S . Smith, Eber Ward, Elon Hudson, C.I. Walker, David Richardson, Lemuel Davis, Bela Hubbarfd, Daniel Scotten and Jefferson Wiley.

The cemetery was formally dedicate July 14, 1869. The number of interments, exclusive of the 2,000 removed from the old City Cemetery, was 6,451. As of January 1996, nearly 180,000 burials took place and 22,000 cremations completed.

As of June 1997, more than 2,000 burial sites remained. To satisfy the demand for above ground burials, a new sec­tion was opened i n summer 1997 i n front of the cemetery, where plans are set for a beautiful mausoleum chapel to be built.

Westwood Cemetery Westwood Cemetery was created i n 1915 as a burial

area for Jewish families of Detroit. The sign outside the cemetery, on Michigan Avenue about two blocks west of Beech Daly, reads "Westwood Cemetery, Harmoreau Cem­etery Association, Congregation Mishkan Israel Cemetery.

The choice of location for the cemetery is reasonable. It was easily accessible from Detroit straight down Michigan Avenue, the old Chicago Road. The name is derived from the informal name residents i n the area at the time referred to their community. The cemetery was about half way he-

tween the village of Dearborn and Eloise, which was con­sidered a formal community.

The cemetery is narrow with only a small frontage on Michigan Avenue. Its depth is substantial, going all of the way back to the high-ground bank of the Rouge River, about three blocks.

The first burial i n the cemetery, according to a survey of tombstones, was Isidore Lerner, who died July 26, 1915, at age 29. None of the people buried at the cemetery have any obvious direct connection to the growth of Dearborn.

The cemetery is still being used for new burials today as its has about half of its land not yet used for burial.

• In 1936, Dearborn supposedly had 12 cemeteries, of

which four were generally known. •

ASSEMBLY OF GOD Assembly of God Address: 6053 Chase Road Established: ????

A n Assembly of God church (name unknown) operated on Chase Road i n at least 1964.

Calvary Assembly of God Address: 24301 Chicago at Banner Established: 1942 or earlier

The church was originally an undenominational congre­gation. Meetings were held as early as July 1942 at Chicago and Banner. A t this tjme, i t was called Dearborn Calvary Assembly. v

Sanctuary was erected i n 1944. Pastor 1947-50 was the Rev. H.J. Held, who was one of the church founders.

The 1946 Dearborn City Directory erroneously listed Dearborn Calvary Assembly as being at 948 Monroe.

This church merged with Metropolitan Assembly of God inEcorse i n 1965. The congregation is now called First As­sembly of God. In July 1965, the city of Dearborn bought part (all?) of the land owned by Calvary Assembly of God.

~^>See First Assembly of God for more information.

Dearborn Heights Gospel Assembly Address: 24570 Ann Arbor Trail Established: 19?? Previous Name: Dearborn Heights Assembly of God

In operation i n 1995.

Detroit World Outreach Address: On West Chicago east of Telegraph Established: 1931 as Dearborn Gospel Tabernacle Other Previous Names: Dearborn Assembly of God

(1977?), Fairlane Assembly of God (1994?) Detroit World Outreach was founded i n 1931 as Dear­

born Gospel Tabernacle. The first church was on Warren Avenue. A new sanctuary was built i n 1934 at 7041 Schae­fer near Warren.

The 1936 Dearborn .City Directory listed Pentacostal As­sembly of God at 7043 Schaefer, likely the same building.

This building was used until 1977, when the church rented the former Haston School. The building at 22575 Ann Arbor Trail was built that year with the first service held Apr i l 9,1978.

This church later became Dearborn Assembly of God, and then Fairlane Assembly of God. It is now called Detroit World Outreach.

Interestingly, the church took over the former Haston School again in 1985 for its Fairlane Christian School, which it operates.

The church moved June 1, 1997, into the former Temple Baptist Church site on Plymouth Road and Telegraph. For a time, the church shared facilities with Word of Faith (no relation to Word of Faith Fellowship in SW Dearborn.)

Fair Haven Assembly of God Address: 876 N. Beech Daly Established: Pre-1967

Fair Haven Assembly of God broke ground for its sanctu­

ary i n September 1967. Its cost was $110,000.

Fairlane Assembly of God Address: 22575 Ann Arbor Trail Established: 1931 as Dearborn Gospel Tabernacle Current Name: Detroit World Outreach

Fairlane Assembly of God was founded i n 1931 as Dear­born Gospel Tabernacle. It later became Dearborn Assembly of God, and then Fairlane Assembly of God. It is now called Detroit World Outreach.

=~>See Detroit World Outreach for more information.

First Assembly of God Address: 5650 S. Telegraph Established: 1965

First Assembly of God Church is the product of a merger between Calvary Assembly of God i n Dearborn and Metro­politan Assembly of God in Ecorse. The two merged i n 1965. Calvary Assembly of God dates back to at least July 1942. See that church for more information.

• (from fall 1965 Dearborn Press) Groundbreaking ceremonies were held recently for a

Dearborn Heights congregation of the Metropolitan As ­sembly of God. The new church wi l l be ready for occupancy by Easter Sunday 1966, according to the pastor, the Rev. J.E. Carrier.

The new church wi l l be a merger between the Metropoli­tan Assembly of God i n Ecorse and the Calvary Assembly of God i n Dearborn.

The building wi l l be on Telegraph at Amherst. The Dear­born Heights site was picked because of its central location and easy reach for members of the church, according to Carrier. He could not estimate the cost of the church at this time because not all bids have been evaluated.

The congregation is presently negotiating with the cities of Dearborn and Ecorse to purchase the present church buildings. The Dearborn branch is on Chicago at Banner.

The new church wi l l be of modern architecture. Assistant pastor is Rev. John Wibley.

• A fire damaged the altar area of First Assembly of God

Church Apr i l 16, 1986. Damage was estimated at about $90,000.

Pentacostal Assembly of God Address: 7043 Schaefer Established: 19??

This church was listed in the 1936 Dearborn City Direc­tory. By 1946, Dearborn Gospel Tabernacle, a precurser to what eventually became Fairlane Assembly of God and then Detroit World Outreach occupied the biulding with the ad­dress of7041 Schaefer.

Pinegrove Memorial A. of G. Address: 3355 Willow at Pine Established: January 1978

Pinegrove Memorial Assembly of God was formed Jan. 1,1978. Its first pastor was the Rev. Paul C. Stanley.

Part of its congregation was inherited from the building's previous tenant, Oxford Gospel Church. Its pastor, the Rev.

Earl Gary, retired in January 1978. That church then dis­banded.

Polish Christian Church A/G Address: 7041 Schaefer In Operation: at least during March 1944

This church shared the facility of Dearborn Gospel Tab­ernacle in 1944.

BAPTIST CHURCHES Ambassador Baptist Address: 2660 Roulo Street Established: 19??

The church previously had been at 1700 Hubbard near the Ambassador Bridge (hence the name).

This church tried to buy the old Roulo School i n 1562, bidding $45,000 for the buUding. The city objected to the school district selling the bunding to someone else and in ­sisted it be given the chance to match any offer.

The school had been placed on the market i n November 1961. When this bid came in , the school board had already rejected several offers for the site.

The city finally bought the school for that same $45,000 July 9,1962.

The church then leased the school from the city i n Sep­tember for $100 a month. Hubbard then vetoed the lease because the city had an offer to buy the building from a Czechoslovakian group.

That deal fell through, and the agreement with the church was re-instated. Ambassador Baptist then moved in that fall and operated there for a time.

Arabic Baptist Address: somewhere in South End Established: 19??

A n Arabic Baptist church operated in at least 1975 in Dearborn's South End. The actual name of it is not known.

Auburn Street Baptist Chapel Address: 20122 W . Warren, Detroit Established: 19??

The church held its first revival meeting Nov. 14-23, 1965.

Berean Missionary Baptist Address: 6834 N . Beech Daly Established; 1958

Berean Baptist Church dedicated its sanctuary Nov. 4, 1962. The building was of brick veneer construction with a full basement A brick parsonage was built next door.

The congregation was organized i n 1958. It was affili­ated with the American Baptist Association.

Bethel Baptist Church of Dearborn Address: 27355 Ann Arbor Trail Established: Pre-1955

Bethel Baptist Church was originally i n an old white frame church on Lenore Street, In 1955, church members realized tins church was too small for its growing congre­gation, so it began work on finding a new home.

Land was bought at A n n Arbor Trail and Inkster. Work then began on the basement. This was completed i n 1956. Services were held in that basement area for two years.

In 1958, work then began on the rest of the facility. The first service i n its completed sanctuary were held on the last Sunday of "November 1959.

The facility was not formally dedicated until Nov. 22,

1964.

Bethel Free Will Baptist Address: 4621 Pelham Established: 1970

This church was originally called New Hope Free W i l l Baptist Church, but a similarly named church (New Hope Missionary Baptist) already existed i n north Dearborn Heights.

The congregation was formed i n 1970 and first met i n Wyandotte. It bought its current building i n 1971. The building was previously occupied by First Free W i l l Baptist.

The church then changed its name to Bethel Free W i l l Baptist. It was still in operation i n 1995.

Bible Baptist Church Address: 2702 Salina Established: ???

This church was i n operation i n spring 1964.

Calvary Baptist Address: 5501 Chase at Ford Road Established: Oct. 31, 1926 as First Baptist Church of

Fordson Closed: September 1996

The church was initially called Baptist Church when it first opened, then First Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Fordson.

It had 36 members initially and met i n Mil ler School. Services were then held i n the Recreation Hall at Schaefer and Michigan Avenue.

The church re-organized March 23, 1927. A white frame building at 5800 Williamson at Alber was built and dedicated i n 1928. The building and lot cost was $11,000.

When Dearborn and Fordson merged i n 1929, Dearborn already had a First Baptist Church which opened before the one in Fordson, so the latter changed its named to William­son Avenue Baptist Church after the street it was on.

A parsonage was built at 6136 Williamson in 1940. The site of the final home of the church on the south­

west corner of Ford Road and Chase was purchased i n 1944. It was at this time the church changed its name to .Calvary Baptist.

In 1948, services were held at Wil l iam Ford School be­cause the congregation had outgrown its former sanctuary.

Ground was broken for the 478-seat sanctuary Dec. 12, 1948. The cornerstone was laid Apr i l 3, 1949. The cost was $167,000. It was dedicated May 7,1950.

The educational unit was erected i n 1959. The church merged with the Neighborhood Baptist

Church in southeast Dearborn i n the late 1960s. Membership started to decline at this time. In 1966, it

had 719. Three years later i n 1969, membership dropped to 555.

The church closed i n 1996 due to dwmdling emollment. —> See First Baptist Church of Fordson and William­

son Avenue Baptist Church for more information.

Calvary Baptist of West Dearborn Address: met in Dearborn HS auditorium and Ma­

sonic Temple. Established: 1935

Also called Calvary Church.

Canaan Baptist Address: south side Van Born, Taylor Established:

In operation 1997.

Cherry Hill Baptist Address: 1045 N. (pulley Established: 1954 \

The first meeting of what would become Cherry H i l l Baptist Church was held i n November 1953. Interested members met with representatives of the Detroit Associa­tion of American Baptist Churches.

The first public meeting of Cherry H i l l Baptist Church was held Feb. 21, 1954, at Bryant Junior High School. It was one of the first churches i n the Detroit area organized under the then relatively new program called Churches for New Frontiers. Helping to organize the church was were First Baptist Church of Dearborn, Calvary Baptist and Norwayne Baptist Church. Plans called for a new building to be erected on the west side of Gulley Road.

In 1955, the 100-seat, small white Martha-Mary chapel Henry Ford built at Willow Run before World War H was moved to the church's current site at Wilson and Gulley. The first service was held Easter Sunday, Apr i l 10,1955.

The Ford chapel was one of six Martha-Mary chapels built by Henry and Clara Ford i n honor of their mothers (Martha Ford and Mary Bryant).

This chapel was built at Camp Legion i n Willow Run originally for use by the summer farming project there, which was for the sons of World War I veterans. This school later became a trade school.

In 1944, the chapel was converted into an occupational rehabilitation center for World War II veterans and used as a classroom and church.

The first Martha-Mary chapel was built in 1929 in Greenfield Village. The second was at Willow Run. Four more were then built at South Sudbury, Mass.; Macon, Mich. ; Richmond H i l l , Ga.; and Camp Legion i n Dear­born.

The one originally at Macon was eventually moved to Trenton for use by a church there. The one i n Dearborn was moved to Brighton. As of 1978, the ones i n Georgia and Massachusetts were still i n use i n their original sites.

In 1961, work began on a new chapel. Ground-breaking was held Nov. 12,1961, on acquired land next to the origi­nal church. The new chapel was built i n 1962 at a cost of $160,000. The first service was held Jan. 20, 1963. The chapel was then used for special services, like for weddings.

In 1978, Cherry H i l l Baptist wanted to expand, but its only available land was where the old chapel sat. It offered the chapel to anyone will ing to pay to have it moved. Sev­eral churches indicated interest, but the price of moving was too high.

The city of Dearborn Heights considered the chapel with the idea of relocating it to the southwest side of the Can-

field Center, but city officials decided the budget did not allow for such an extravagance.

Even Greenfield Village was not interested. Finally, the chapel was to be razed i n spring 1978. A t the last minute, a congregation i n Belleville took possession of the chapel and had it moved to that city.

Community Baptist Church of Garden City Address: 28237 Warren Avenue, Garden City Established: (pre-1977)

This church has operated at least since 1977. It contin­ued to be i n operation i n 1998.

Dearborn Baptist Church Address: 5620 Monroe Established: 197?

A reference to this church was found i n the Dearborn Heights Leader i n October 1974. This apparently has no affiliation with the later Dearborn Baptist Church.

Dearborn Baptist Church Address: 24030 Notre Dame Established: 1978 Current name: First Filipino Baptist Church Name change: ????

The church was organized July 23,1978. Its first service was i n the Ten Eyck Center with 35 people attending.

This was a Southern Baptist-affiliated church.

Dearborn Baptist Temple Address: 5350 Merrick Former Address: 4470 Pardee Date Moved: ???? Established: 19??

In operation at least 1961-69. (At 4470 Pardee i n 1969.)

Evangel Baptist Address: Telegraph at Penn Established: 19??

In operation i n 1936. Pastor then was Rev. Ernest Green.

Faith Baptist Address: 26305 Ford Road Established: 1956

The church first met i n a store front on Warren Avenue at Drexel. After a year, it moved to Brainard School. Three years after that, i t built its sanctuary on Ford Road near Beech Daly. Ground was broken for the sanctuary June 28, 1964.

Its only pastor, founding minister the Rev. Donald Gregory, turned the first shovelful of dirt. '

It is a member of the Independent Baptist Fellowship, based i n Ft. Worth, Texas.

First Baptist Church of Dearborn Address: 1865 Nowlin at Beech

Established: Jan. 20,1924 The Detroit Baptist Missionary Society completed nego­

tiations to buy the land the church is now on Christmas 1923.

Services first held i n homes, then i n the Presbyterian Church. Pastor i n 1927: the Rev. Herman D . Sorg.

First Baptist bruit a $1.5 mill ion expansion i n 1963-64. Ground breaking was M a y 12, 1963. It included a new sanctuary and a fellowship hall. This was to be the fifth building serving as First Baptist's sanctuary.

The last service i n its old sanctuary was held Apr i l 12, 1964. Services were then held i n the Fellowship Hal l for a few weeks while construction on the new sanctuary was completed. The old sanctuary was then remodeled for other uses.

•

(From Dearborn Sistorical Museum files) According to Silas"1 Farmer's History, a Baptist Society

was organized i n Dearbomville, as it was then called, on Dec. 16, 1840, as a branch of the First Baptist Church of Detroit.

On July 3, 1842, it was organized as an independent church. There were no regular ministers for many years. The services were held for a time i n the old Presbyterian Church on Mason Street and conducted by rninisters from Detroit.

In 1853, a lot west of the old Johnson House at the cor­ner of Michigan and Monroe, where the Wagner House is today, was purchased. The society never erected a building on this site.

The membership was never large. Finally, they held a meeting Apr i l 14, 1875, at which the members voted them­selves letters, and the society disbanded. No attempt was made to reorganize until 1922, when Dr. Gleiss came to Dearborn and helped to organize a society, after which M r . Leonard and M r . Rowland of the Detroit Baptist Union held services. The Oddfellow Ha l l was procured for these meetings. This arrangement lasted until May 1923.

In October 1923, the Rev. Phelps, sent by the Detroit Baptist Union, held services i n the home of M r . C. Smith, and prayer meetings i n members' homes. Twelve members were at his first meeting.

In January 1924, the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Mason and Garrison became the regular meeting place for which they paid a small rent. The meetings were held on Sunday afternoons.

The Detroit Baptist Union purchased a lot i n 1924 at the corner of Nowlin and Olmstead. The members built a church costing $35,000. M r . E . E . Straub, president of Net­ting Supply Company, donated the fighting fixtures. M r . Home gave the plans for the church, and a donation of $750. Mrs. J.R. Green, through the Women's Union, gave $130.

The first service i n the new church was held Nov. 30, 1924, i n the basement which was heated by five stoves. Meetings continued to be held there until the church was finished.

The ministers who have served this last organization of the Baptist are:

1922-23: Mr. Leonard/Mr. Rowland 1923- Jan. 1925 Rev. Phelps 1925- June 1926 Rev. Gary 1926- Nov. 1927 Rev. H. Sorg 1927- June 1929 Rev. Clarence Justice 1929-??? Rev. H.C. McDonald

(From Jan. 25,1924, Dbn. Pressp.l) The Baptists of Dearborn met Sunday, Jan. 20, i n the

Presbyterian church and organized the First Baptist Church of Dearborn. Thirty-five people presented letters from other Baptist churches, The following is a partial list of the offi­cers of the new organization elected last Sunday: Pastor, Rev. S.W. Phelps; clerk, Mrs. J.L. Boyle, deacons, L . G . Satterlee, W . A . Ketchum; trustees, F. C. Royal, J.R. Green; treasurer, Roy Hanaford; director of music, Miss Mae Brumsted.

The new organisation expects to erect a church building on their lot on Nowlin road i n the spring.

The Baptists hold their services at 2 p.m. sharp Sunday i n the Presbyterian Church.

First Baptist Church of Fordson Address: 5667 Argyle Ave. Established: 1926 Later Names: Williamson Avenue Baptist Church, the

Calvary Baptist Church Name Changed: 1929 (to Williamson Avenue)

When the church first opened, it was simply called the Baptist Church. It first held services at the Fraternal Hal l on Schaefer just south of Michigan Avenue.

In May 1927, i t started to be called First Baptist Church. The newspaper then fisted i t as meeting at the Recreation Hal l , which was across the street from the old fire station.

When the cities of Dearborn and Fordson merged in 1929, this church changed its name to Williamson Avenue Baptist Church since Dearborn already had a First Baptist Church. Pastor i n 1929 was the Rev. E . Bond Griffith.

Some references i n early newspapers erroneously fisted the church as being at Williams at Alber. Since First Bap­tist Church of Fordson was at Williamson at Alber, one block north of Ford Road, it is likely the location was a repeated misprint.

==> See Williamson Avenue Baptist Church and Cal­vary Baptist Church for more information.

First Filipino Baptist Address: 24030 Notre Dame at Telegraph Established: in operation at least in 1995. Later Name: Philippine International Baptist Church Name Changed: ????

The building was previously used by Dearborn Baptist Church.

First Free Will Baptist Address: 4621 Pelham at Annapolis Established: 1966 (or earlier)

It is not known what happened to this congregation. By 1970, it was no longer using its south Dearborn Heights sanctuary as Bethel Free W i l l Baptist was using the site.

First Roumanian Baptist Address: Established: 1924 Closed: 1936

This church operated i n east Dearborn 1924-36. It closed due to lack of financial support. It is uncertain

-whether this was the same as the Roumanian Baptist M i s ­sion also listed as operating i n east Dearborn during this time. The mission also closed about 1936.

Gilead Baptist Church Address: Established: ???

The congregation used Edison School for services i n February 1954.

Independent Baptist Church Met at: Whitmore-Bolles Established: 1951

The Independent Baptist Church was organized Apri l 15, 1951, by the Rev. Paul Adams. Initial services were held at Whitmore-Bolles School. No further reference to the church could be found^after about three months.

Linden Baptist Church Address: Manor at Tireman Established: 1951 or earlier

Linden Baptist Church was holding services at least by January 1951 i n Thayer School. In summer 1951, it held a series of tent meetings at Manor and Tireman.

Linden Baptist Church dedicated its new sanctuary at Manor and Tireman Jan. 27, 1957.

Little Zion Primitive Baptist Address: 7114 Barrie Established:

In operationin 1995. In 1936, building was used by Emmanuel Pilgrim Hol i ­

ness Church.

Mt, Calvary Baptist Address: 4411 Detroit Established:

Church previously used by Gloria Christ! Lutheran.

Mt Vernon Baptist Address: 8305 Lenore Established:

Church was i n operation at least 1968-77. In 1977, the church was at 8828 Wormer in Redford.

Neighborhood Baptist Address: 2756 Salina Established: 1953 or earlier

In operation at least 1953-December 1965. The sanctuary at 2756 Salina was dedicated Nov. 25,

1956. The church ministered to the transient workers at the Ford Rouge Plant.

This church eventually merged into Calvary Baptist Church.

New Hope Baptist Address: 24105 Hass Street Established: 19??

New Hope Missionary Baptist Church had a sanctuary at 5684 Highview, also referred to as Hass at Mayburn, in September 1945. It was still i n operation i n 1998.

New Hope Free Will Baptist Address: 4621 Pelham Established: 1970

New Hope Free W i l l Baptist Church organized i n 1970 and first met in Wyandotte. In 1971, it bought the church building on Pelham. This building had previously been used by another Free W i l l Baptist congregation.

The church soon changed its name to Bethel Free W i l l Baptist because a similarly named Baptist church was al­ready i n existence i n Dearborn Heights.

==> See Bethel Free Will Baptist for more information.

Philippine International Baptist Address: 24030 Notre Dame Established:

'Previous Name: First Filipino Baptist Church Name Changed: ????

In operation i n 1995.

Roumanian Baptist Mission Address: 2703 Mulkey Established: 1926 Closed: about 1936

It is uncertain whether this was the same as the First Roumanian Baptist Church, which operated i n east Dear­born 1924-36.

The mission opened i n 1926. Its building was a small frame church at 2703 Mulkey. It was built the same year the mission opened. After the mission closed i n the mid-1930s, the building was bought by the Neighborhood House Mission, which formed i n 1936.

Silvery Lane Baptist Address: 24949 Hass Street" Established; 1939.

Silvery Lane Church was founded i n 1939 by Baptists from Wayne and Garden City, who were doing visitation work. They saw the need for a Sunday school i n north Dearborn Heights. The first classes were held i n a private home.

Ground was broken i n 1940 for a cement block building. In 1941, a frame addition was put on. In summer 1962, these buildings were removed for the construction of a new Sanctuary. During the building, services were held at High-view School. The new building was dedicated Apr i l 7, 1963.

Trinity Baptist Address: 6034 Beech Daly . Established: 19??

The church was i n operation i n 1971.

Van Born Baptist Address: 25866 Van Born Established: 1955 Church Dedication: June 30,1962

Church is on the northwest corner of Van Born and Beech Daly.

Village Baptist Address: 2630 Village Road Established: (pre-1975) Previous Name: Carpenter Avenue Baptist Church

Before moving into its current sanctuary on Village Road i n 1975, Village Baptist Church was i n Detroit and was called Carpenter Avenue Baptist Church. Its current building previously was occupied by Christian Reformed Church of Dearborn.

A dedication service for its current sanctuary was held Apr i l 6,1975.

Warren Valley Baptist Address: 26700 Warren Ave. Established: Oct. 3^1955 Merged with: Cherry Hill Baptist in 1970 Building's Current Use: Salvation Army Citadel Affiliated with: American Baptist Convention

The first services of Warren Valley Baptist were held Oct. 3, 1955, at Wallaceville School. The church was spon­sored by First Baptist Church of Dearborn and the Detroit Association of American Baptist Churches.

The church's cornerstone was laid Easter Sunday, Apr i l 20, 1957. Services were temporarily held at Wallaceville School until the bvniding was completed. This was the first of three units planned for the complex.

In 1966, the Dearborn Heights Leader referred to this church as First Baptist Church.

The church examined possible merger i n 1969 and 1970 with 18 area Baptist churches. It found the best match was that with Cherry H i l l Baptist Church, which it did i n 1970.

Building now used as Salvation Army Dearborn Heights Citadel.

Westwood Baptist Address: Norfolk at John Daly in Inkster Established: 19??

This church asked the Dearborn City Council to buy land the city owned on either the northwest or southwest corner of Carlysle and Westwood for a new church and a parsonage. The city eventually turned down this request.

Williamson Avenue Baptist Address: 5667 Argyle Ave. Established: 1926 Previous Name: First Baptist Church of Fordson Name Changed: 1929 Later Name: Calvary Baptist Church Name Changed: 19?? In Operation: 1926-96

Church was previously First Baptist Church of Fordson, but it changed its name when the cities of Fordson and Dearborn merged i n 1929. Since Dearborn already had a FirstBaptist Church, this church changed its name.

This church later changed its name to Calvary Baptist. ==> See First Baptist Church of Fordson and Calvary

Baptist for more information.

Schaefer was no longer used i n 1928,-because the congre­gation was too big for it. Unti l a new sanctuary was con­structed, services were held i n the school auditorium.

The cornerstone for the new church was laid Aug. 19,1928. It was to be finished by Christmas 1928. The cost was $280,000.

The parish was founded by the Redemptortist priests in 1852. The first church was built that same year. The Re-demptorists stayed until 1861.

St Anne's Address: 23310 Joy Road, Redford Established:

This church is one of the few churches that still cele­brates its Mass i n the old Latin right.

In operation atleasj 1995-98.

St Anselm Address: 17650 Outer Drive (originally 5960 Anselm) Established: June 1954 First Building: May 8,1955 Church Dedication: Dec. 4,1955

St. Anselm Parish was created out of sections previously part of Sacred Heart, Divine Child and Our Lady of Grace parishes.

First services was held July 11, 1954, at Clara B . Ford School by Fr. Arthur M . Reckinger, the first Sacred Heart parish member to enter the priesthood and St. Anselm's first pastor.

The rectory was built first, then the school for grades 1-4, later expanded to eighth-grade.

The first service i n the new 800-seat sanctuary was held May 8, 1955. The sanctuary was at Martha and Midway before the streets were eventually closed off. The church was formally dedicatedDec. 4,1955.

North Martha Street by the school was later renamed Anselm Street until it was finally closed.

The convent was built i n 1960. A f i r e severely damaged the church Jan. 19, 1969. The

forward section was a complete loss. The fire caused $200,000 damage.

• (From Dearborn Press, Angitst 1965) On June 25, 1954, Fr. Arthur Reckinger, who had been

for 10 years a professor at Mercy College, was given the assignment of founding a parish i n north Dearborn Heights.

The church was to be constructed on a site at Outer Drive, two blocks north of Ford Road. He sent a letter to all Catholics i n the boundaries of his parish to tell them about the formation of St. Anselm Parish.

The parish's first Mass was celebrated i n the Clara Ford School with an attendance of 580 people. The church now serves over a thousand families i n the same area.

It wasn't until May 1955 that they finally moved into their own building. B y September, the school was ready for occupancy and a new convent for the sisters plus a new addition to the original building soon after.

Edward Cardinal Mooney dedicated the building on Dec. 6, 1955.

A source of pride to the people of St. Anselm is the fact it is the only tuition-free school i n entire Archdiocese.

St. Anselm's Shrine, the first in the Dearborn area, is a statue of St. Anselm chiseled from a solid block of white

Italian marble. On May 31, 1959, Fr. Reckinger celebrated his 25th

anniversary of ordination Mass at the parish church which he built. He is also a well-known author of religious litera­ture, which includes the four pamphlets "In Sickness and In Health," "For Richer or Poorer," "For Better or Worse" and "Our Teen Age World."

St. Bernadette Address: 2600 Saulino Court Established: 1944 by Fr. Hector Saulino

Fr. Hector J. Saulino founded the parish. •

Afire daruaged the altar area of the church July 1, 1953. •

(from Dearborn Guide, Oct 3,1968, page 10) Edward Cardinal Mooney appointed Fr. Hector J.

Saulino Sept. 26, 1943, to found the new parish of St. Ber-.nadette.

B y 1950, Fr. Saulino had built a church, school, hall, rectory and convent. He later erected a shrine on the corner of D i x in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette. In 1959, Fr. Saulino was appointed pastor of St. Denis Parish i n Royal Oak. Fr. Anthony Bologna came. In No­vember 1965, Fr. Bologna was promoted to pastor of St. Gabriel Parish.

Next, Fr. Albert U . Lombardi took over. Next was Fr. • Jacob J. Samonie, who arrived i n June 1968.

• (From fall 1965 Dearborn Press) St. Bernadette Parish was formed i n 1943 as a mission

church. Its founding pastor was Father Hector J. Saulino, now pastor of St. Dennis Parish i n Royal Oak.

Masses were first said i n Salina School auditorium. Confessions were heard at St. Mary's Chapel at 2640 Holly Street.

The first edition of a regular parish publication was printed i n January 1944.

Today, St. Bernadette has grown to include a set of buildings, with its current pastor, Fr. Anthony Bolonga. The parish includes a convent, capable of housing 10 nuns, a combination church and school building, and another building which houses a rectory and parish hall.

On the church grounds is a shrine of the Lourdes scene where St. Bernadette is said to have talked with the blessed mother.

•

The Shrine of the Blessed Mother at St. Bernadette Church was dedicated Aug. 14,1960.

The shrine was steeple-shaped, made of wood with white marble statue of the Blessed Mother standing on a pedestal. It was built large enough for offerings of plants and flowers. Kneelers were placed there for those who wanted to pray. Facing the statue of the Blessed Mother was a statue of St. Bernadette. This statue was also of white marble.

The cost of the shrine was $7,000. It was a modern in ­terpretation of the vision of the Virgin the shepherd girl saw at Lourdes i n the 1800s.

The shrine was removed i n 1979 due to repeated vandal­ism.

The church was founded i n 1945 by Fr. Hector J. Saulino. The first services were held at Salina School.

The campus consisted of a school, which also housed the sanctuary/chapel, a rectory, a parish hall/gym, a convent

ROMAN CATHOLIC (Missing Parish) Location: east side of Telegraph north of Princeton Established: Never was

Anyone who looks at the locations of Roman Catholic churches in west Dearborn may notice a large gap in the southwest section of the city.

On a line from Sacred Heart Church at Michigan and Military, the next church southwest is St. John the Baptist at approximately V a n Born and Beech Daly, about four miles southwest.

To the southeast of this line are St. Albert the Great at Annapolis and Parker, St. Sebastian at Dartmouth and Merrick (Pelham-Dartmouth area) and St Joseph on Ro­tunda Drive east of Southfield.

To the northwest of this line are St. Anselm at Outer Drive and Ford Road, Divine Child at Silvery Lane and Wilson, and St. Norbert at Cherry H i l l and Jnkster Road.

Shouldn't there be another church within this area? Apparently, the Archdiocese of Detroit did have plans

for someday starting another parish here, breaking off an­other section of the large Sacred Heart parish.

It had purchased land many years ago on the east side of Telegraph north of Princeton.

The new parish was never started. The land was even­tually sold. That property is now the site of Dearborn Free Methodist Church.

Our Lady of Grace Address: 23700 Joy Road Established: 1945

In 1959, parish had 1,500 families in it.

St Albert the Great Address: 4672 Parker at Annapolis Established: June 1955 First Service in Church: July 17,1955

The first service for St. Albert the Great was held July 17, 1955, i n the Pardee School multi-purpose room by founder Fr. Leo J. DePlaunty.

• (From Dearborn Press, August 1965) St Albert the Great Parish, Annapolis at Tulane in

Dearborn Heights, was founded i n June 1955 with the first pastor, Fr. Leo J. DePlaunty.

A t that time, the head of the Detroit Archdiocese was Edward Cardinal Mooney. According to Fr. Leo Kulinski, assistant pastor at St. Albert's, it was Cardinal Mooney's policy to allow the pastor of a newly founded parish to submit three church name preferences. Then the bishop approved one of the three for the new church.

"It is the archdiocese policy not to duplicate names of churches, i f possible," saidFr. Kulinski.

He added that the present bishop of the Archdiocese, Archbishop John Dearden has replaced preference lists with arbitrary decisions by the archdiocese office in naming new parishes.

Fr. DePlauty retired from St Albert's i n 1961, due to failing health, and became chaplain of Holy Cross Hospital. However, hew as released of all duties as his health became worse and died in Apr i l 1964.

The church's present pastor, Msgr. John A . Weier, joined the parish i n June 1961.

The Dearborn Heights church has a membership of 1,300 families, and includes a church and school covering grades 1-8. A convent houses the Marist Sisters, who teach at St Albert's school.

(From Dearborn Vicariate January 1997) St Albert the Great parish was established by Edward

Cardinal Mooney June 24, 1955, at the corner of Annapolis and Parker i n Dearborn Heights. Fr. Leo DePlaunty was appointed the first pastor. For almost a year, Sunday Mass was celebrated i n the nearby Pardee School. When the church was built, the parishioners were excited about the two classrooms incorporated into the church building.

Fr. DePlaunty asked the Marist Sisters from Ireland to come and teach the children. Five sisters arrived i n Sep­tember 1956 when they were warmly welcomed. A couple of years later, students had their own school building. The gym would take another 10 years to be built. Msgr. John Weier became the second pastor of St Albert's i n June 1961. His leadership continued to January 1978 when Fr. Ar t Fauser was named pastor. Under his guidance, with the approaching 25th anniversary, the church was renovated and the sacristy was updated.

Of course, a parish is much more than buildings. The people are very active, especially i n these organizations: Rosary Altar Society, Ushers, PTG, Women's Support Group, Boosters, 3rd Order of Mary. Its choir has always been considered one of the best in the area. A Marriage Preparation Program was started under the direction of Deacon Bob Rowland with the support of Fr. Anthony Bo­logna, pastor 1984-88. This program has been attended by more than 250 couples from all over the Archdiocese. Fr. Larry Kaiser came in 1988 and continues as pastor today.

In 1994, Fr. Greg Salata was the first alumnus of St. A l ­bert's School to be ordained a priest. He studied for the Diocese of Memphis, Term., and is currently assigned to St. Louis Parish i n Memphis.

In 1995, St. Albert's celebrated 40 years i n a big way. Adam Cardinal Maida celebrated the anniversary Mass June 24. The parish was also blessed to have its second alumnus, J.J. Mech, ordained to the priesthood that same day. He is assigned to Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish i n Grosse Pointe.

In 1996-97, the school has 232 students as well as a latchkey, preschool and day care program.

St, Alphonsus Address: 13540 Gould Established: 1852

Oldest Catholic parish i n east Dearborn and second old­est i n the city.

In November 1926, due to its deteriorating condition and the growing membership, the old St. Alphonsus sanc­tuary was converted into a parish hall and services were said in the school auditorium.

A new sanctuary was built a few years later one block north next to the old St Alphonsus Cemetery.

•

The red brick sanctuary on the corner of Warren and

and the shrine. The sanctuary was the final part of the con­struction plan, but the parish started to decline before the church could be built

• St. Bernadette Church bought a plot of land north of D i x

rurming east of Akron Aug. 29,1946. The acreage was 359 feet on D i x and 440 feet deep. It was adjacent to the Dear­born Athletic Field.

Records showed that a lane ran obliquely through the property, but was not i n use and had not been i n many years. Fr. Saulino asked the Dearborn City Council to offi­cially vacate the street so the archdiocese could exercise its option to buy the land.

•

The church was originally called S t Bernadette M i s ­sion. It was at 2700 Salina.

v • (fromDbn. Guide PJO, 9-21-72) St. Bernadette Church was the first one in the archdio­

cese to use the service of altar girls. They were first used in September 1972.

St Christopher Address; Asbury Park, Detroit Established: 1941

In early 1941, the Archdiocese of Detroit decided the city's far lower west side needed another parish. Arch­bishop Edward Mooney appointed the Rev. Louis C. Zurek pastor of the new parish.

Fr. Zurek was given two choices of names for the new parish - St. Christopher and St. Barbara (St Barbara Par­ish i n Dearborn was a Polish Catholic church at this time).

Fr. Zurek chose S t Christopher. The name is from the Greek for Christ-bearer.

Two Masses were celebrated on the Sunday following Fr. Zurek's appointment as pastor. In that area, about 350 Catholic families resided i n the area. In 1986, more than 1,600 Catholic families lived i n the boundaries of St. Christopher—Paul, Greenfield, Joy Road and Southfield.

In September 1941, 41 lots of land and a home on the block bounded by Tireman, Diversey, Woodmont and As­bury Park was purchased for the church for $16,000. In January 1942, the city sold the alleys on the block to the church. Six months later, the first building was completed.

In 1945, the remaining 10 lots on the block were pur­chased so the church grounds would consist of an entire city block.

In 1949, the school building was completed and the streets in the area were paved.

Fr. Zurek died i n March 1955. Fr. Christopher Leahy, for whom the Leahy halls are named, was appointed pastor the following month. Fr. Leahy continued as pastor for more than a quarter century.

St Clement Address: 5275 Kenilworth Established: 1927

The church was organized i n 1927 by Fr. Vincent J. Toole when the Archdiocese decided the rapidly growing population of Fordson required that a new church be organ­ized to serve the increasing number of English-speaking Catholics there.

The target site was Michigan Avenue and Maple. The first organizational meeting was held Aug. 24, 1927, at

Schaefer's Hal l on the northeast corner of Schaefer and Michigan Avenue. Services were held at Schaefer Hal l for the next several months.

A temporary rectory was opened on Bingham Street The church was not immediately named. However, by

Nov. 11, 1927, the church was called S t Clement. Also that month, the congregation started meeting at Schaefer Ha l l while money was raised to build a sanctuary.

Three sites were considered, including Michigan at Maple and the final site.

The church was formally organized i n March 1928. The first Mass i n the new church was held June 24, 1928. A t the two Sunday services that day, 2,196 people attended.

The first church structure was a brick building 135x65 feet. It was eventually to be used as the gymnasium for the planned parish school. It sat 800. Next planned to be built was the school shortly after the first church was completed.

A fire severely damaged the sanctuary Nov. 21, 1961. .Damage was estimated at $80,000. The fire damaged the vestry right behind the main altar. One of the priests ran into the fire to save the Blessed Sacrament (sacred host) from its resting place i n the tabernacle of the main altar.

The church was rebuilt with Masses held i n the parish hall temporarily. The first Mass in the rebuilt church was conducted on Palm Sunday 1962.

A new sanctuary was built i n 1969 with the old church used as a gymnasium. It was dedicated Oct. 23, 1969. Some of the stained-glass windows i n the new sanctuary previ­ously hung at St. Joseph's Retreat.

• The longest-serving pastor at St. Clement was Fr. Fran­

cis J. Oakley, who served as church leader 1929 to his death i n 1959.

St. Dunstan Address: 1646 Belton, Garden City Established:

St John the Baptist Address: 26123 McDonald Established: 1929

The parish was organized i n 1929. A building fund was started i n May 1953 with a target

of $125,000 for a new sanctuary. The original church was at 26104 Eton. The new sanctuary was built i n 1954. In 1959, the parish numbered 1,100.

St Joseph Address: 16101 Rotunda Drive Established: 1953 as mission of Sacred Heart; parish

officialiy created June 1963 The 1946 Dearborn City Directory listed the Sacred

Heart Chapel as being at 3315 Greenfield. This was a predecessor to the mission that was formally founded a few years later.

St Joseph was founded i n spring 1953 as a mission of Sacred Heart Church to serve the residents i n the growing Springwells Park area.

Before the church building was completed, services were held i n a restaurant in the shopping center at Greenfield and Rotunda Drive. Msgr. Leo DeBarry was responsible for the temporary chapel i n the restaurant Fr. Gerard Brennan was eventually assigned as the permanent priest for S t Jo­seph.

Ground was broken for the church Oct. 13, 1952. Plans called for a rectory to be built after the church. Also to be built were a social hall, a convent and a school. A large playground was to be created behind the church. Most of this never materialized.

In June 1963, the archdiocese reclassified St. Joseph as a parish with Fr. Brennan as its first pastor.

St. Linus Address: 25500 Hass at Evangeline Established: 1956

(From June 16, 1966, DRLeader Page One) The 10th anniversary wi l l be observed June 18. St. Linus Parish was founded June 22, 1956. the Rev.

Fr. Maurice Veryser was appointed pastor. A temporary rectory was completed that same year.

B y October 1957, Jthe church structure was completed and the first Mass offered i n it on Oct. 27. Ground was bro­ken for a school. A n assistant, the Rev. Fr. Harold Depp, was named i n 1958.

St. Linus School opened i n September 1959. The con­vent to house the teaching sisters was completed one year later.

The Rev. Fr. Paul R Bonnes, pastor, came to St Linus i n 1961. The Rev. Fr. George Rozman was named to assist bim J replacing Fr. Depp.

The present assistant, the Rev. Fr. Leo Sabourin, re­placed Fr. Rozman as assistant i n 1962. That year also marked an addition to the school and the dedication of the parish to the Blessed Sacrament.

Construction on a convent addition, a permanent rectory and the final school addition were completed during the next three years.

•

Ground was broken for the St. Linus convent May 18, 1960.

•

(From October 1997Dearborn Vicariate) On June 22, 1956, Fr. Maurice Veryser visited the site

of what was to be St. Linus Parish. He saw a large, open field overgrown with weeds and wildfiowers. Below the weeds and flowers flowed water, for the water table was high, and when spring rains came, the area could have been described as a swamp.

Hass and Gulley roads were graded but unpaved. Homes existed on those two streets, but there was little else. You could see from Telegraph to Beech Daly and from Warren to Ford Road. There certain was room for growth.

Two days later on June 24, the first Mass was offered at Haston Junior High School (now Fairlane Christian Acad­emy). That day, 120 parishioners attended the 7 a.m. Mass, and 420 attended the 8:15 a.m. Mass. The collection was $369. Fr. Veryser announced that a building committee would be formed to investigate what could be done with the swampy field to make it into a home for the parish.

The next years saw a rapid growth. The first rectory was built on Hass, and work began on designing and planning the church. On Oct. 27, 1957, the church was dedicated. The church was a multi-purpose building with an activities room behind the sanctuary with folding doors that could be opened for an overflow crowd.

With the coming of the spring of 1958, ground was bro­ken for the first wing of the new school and was ready for the first classes in September of that year. St. Linus had grown along with the buildings and the neighborhood. Fr.

Harold Depp was assigned as an associate to help Fr. Ve­ryser that same year.

In 1960, the first part of the convent was opened for the Bernardine Sisters who were to staff the school.

1961 was a year of change for the parish. Fr. Veryser moved to another assignment i n Warren. Fr. Paul Hermes was appointed pastor and Fr. Depp was replaced by Fr. George Rozman as associate pastor.

In 1962, because of the continued rapid growth, another section of the school was built. Fr. Leo Sabourin came as the associate pastor replacing Fr. Rozman. In 1963, an addition was buHt onto the convent The current rectory was built i n 1964, and the final two-story addition to the school was added i n 1965.

St. Luke's Address: 8017 Ohio, Detroit Established: November 1927

St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church was founded i n 1927 to serve the growing Catholic population i n Detroit north of the east side of Dearborn. The increase i n number of resi­dents was due to the Ford Rouge Plant, which attracted workers from all over.

Bishop Michael J. Gallagher asked Fr. Francis I McQuillen to spearhead the founding of the new parish. He served as the church's first pastor.

The initial Mass was celebrated Nov. 11,1927, i n a pri­vate home on Wisconsin Avenue with 22 people attending.

The congregation grew fast. More than 375 people at­tended the Christmas Eve service held i n a store on Tire­man Avenue. By the end of its first year, S t Luke had about 800 parishioners attending one of two Sunday services i n the store-front church.

Work soon began on a parish elementary school. In 1929, three Sisters of Charity from M t St. Joseph, Ohio, arrived to staff the school.

B y 1931, a second classroom was added to the school building. The parish used the lower level of the school for worship space. A parish hall at Wisconsin and Belton was also constructed at this time.

In 1936, a permanent church was built. Unti l the sanc­tuary was finished, services were moved to the parish hall, because the school needed the space on the lower level for classrooms.

Two connected homes on Ohio Street served as the rec­tory and convent. A new rectory was built on the northwest corner of Ohio and Tireman i n the 1950s. The former rec­tory was then converted into additional convent space.

The current sanctuary was built i n 1958 and 1959. It was dedicated Dec. 7, 1959. The old church was then con­verted into a combination gymnasium-hall. The old parish hall was razed around 1961-62.

The once-thriving parish began to decline i n the 1970s. Families moved away i n large numbers during those years. In 1971, the school was merged with Epiphany with that church's school building used for the school. The St Luke school building was then leased for the next few years. It was sold i n 1978.

By 1981, St. Luke, which at one time had a membership of about 1,800 families, was down to fewere than 200 regis­tered iamilies. The convent bufidings were sold to a private owner in November 1981.

The church's turnaround began i n 1984 with the open­ing of a Montessori center for children ages 2.5-5. The fol-

lowing year, the church bought the store building on Tire-man it once used for services many years before and turned it into a new parish hall.

Cardinal Edmund Szoka started closing churches in Detroit i n the late 1980s. St. Luke was one of the churches on the endangered list. Parishioners rallied and showed the cardinal St. Luke was worth keeping open.

When Szoka announced the second round of closings in 1989, St. Luke was spared. Instead, a three-church merger would occur i n the area, combining St. Luke, Epiphany and St. Brigid.

Epiphany had already decided to close and approached St. Luke about merging. The St. Luke church council cre­ated a plan on how the merger would happen. This and the church's involvement in the community were what helped convince the cardinal keep St. Luke open.

Under the consolidation plan, services were held at St. Luke, but the combined school was maintained at St. Brigid. The St. Brigid sanctuary was sold to Unity Cathe­dral, a Baptist congregation.

St. Luke then repurchased its school building back i n 1995 from Detroit Urban Lutheran School, which had bought a larger building for its students. The classes were then moved back to St. Luke. The St. Brigid School build­ing was sold to Unity Cathedral.

St. Mel Address: 7506 N . Inkster Road Established: 1956

St. M e l Church was formed i n summer 1956 by Fr. John Furlong. Masses were first said at Garden City High School. Fr. JohnF. Furlong retired Jan. 1, 1976. He served St. M e l Churchfor nearly 20 years.

•

Church's address i n 1977 was 27237 Kennedy. •

(From Dearborn Vicariate, April 1997) Except for a few isolated houses, the land to the east of

Inkster Road between Warren Avenue and Edward Hines Parkway, consisted of unbroken fields prior to the forming of St. Mel 's Parish.

On the present site was a small white frame house that served as a temporary rectory until the present one was built.

Population shifted from Detroit into the suburbs of Gar­den City, Dearborn Heights and Nankin Township (now Westland). As the population mushroomed, the need for a new parish to serve the spiritual needs became apparent.

fn response to this need, Fr. John F. Furlong was as­signed from St. Frances Cabrini to form St. M e l Parish.

The registered members of the parish at that time con­sisted of 370 families.

The first organization at St. Mel ' s was its Men's Club, started on July 9, 1956, with a meeting at St. Raphael's Hal l in response to Fr. Furlong's request. The second or­ganization, the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, met on July 10,1956, at S t Raphael's Hall .

The first Mass was held at Garden City High School, in July 1956. They had to take the portable altar home with them each Sunday.

Religious instruction for the public school children of the parish began at St. Raphael's School Oct. 6,1956.

On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 1956, the parishioners broke ground for St. Mel ' s new church and social hall. The rectory was completed i n Janu­

ary 1957. Catechism classes at this time covered all grades from

the first through the eighth at Douglas School and Harrison School in Garden City. Seventh and eighth grades were i n the rectory basement

Folding chairs were set up and parishioners marched on improvised plywood walkways to enter the church on July 7,1956.

The crowning day of glory was May 26, 1958, when Edward Cardinal Mooney dedicated St MeVs Church.

The eight-classroom school was completed i n 1961. The convent was also completed that year. A t the time of the construction of the school, 1,219 students received religious instruction.

The first full-day session i n the new school was con­ducted Sept. 5,1962.

The first meeting of the Home & School Association (now known as the School Advisory Committee) was held May 16, 1962 prior to the opening of the school. The first chairman of the group welcomed the Felician Sisters to S t Mel ' s Parish.

St Norbert Address: 27355 Woodsfield, Inkster Established: 1950

St. Norbert Church was founded i n 1950 by Fr. Isidore Bohr. The church was built i n 1952, opening late i n the year.

Ss. Peter and Paul Address: Westwood north of Warren Avenue Established: 1923

In 1923, Bishop Michael James Gallagher requested the pastor of Assumption Catholic Church on Lovett Street in Detroit begin ministering to the Catholic residents of what was then north Dearborn Township. The first Mass said in the area was celebrated Dec. 24,. 1923.

A letter was written Sept. 5, 1924, to start the process of estabfishing a Catholic church i n the area. The area had 40 Catholic families at the time. A church building was erected on Westwood.

The first permanent priest was Fr. Raphael Chrzaszcz i n 1925. He died an untimely death and was replaced by the Rev. John Hewlett.

In 1927, a new wooden church was built and the school established (1925?). The Rev. Vincent Borkowicz took over the parish in that year and served until 1936. " Subsequent pastors were Fr. Peter Rypel (1936-38), Fr. Francis Gramza (1938-68), Fr. Francis Maliszewski (1968-81), Fr. Richard Stiber (1981-84), Fr. Sigmund Kowalczyk (1984-93), Fr. Francis Reiss (1993-present).

St Suzanne Address: xxxxx West Chicago Established: 1951

Little information is available on this church.

St. Thomas Aquinas Address: 5780 Evergreen, Detroit Established: June 24,1955 Church Built: 1955-57

The church was organized June 24, 1955, by Fr. Merwin Lenk, for whom the church's Msgr. Lehk Hall is named. Fr. Lenk was a professor of philosophy at S t John's Semi-

nary -when he was asked by the Cardinal of Detroit to or­ganize a parish i n the area of Ford Road and Evergreen.

Fr. Lenk was given the opportunity to name the parish he would found. Fr. Lenk chose St. Thomas Aquinas, after the famous theologian.

The first Mass was celebrated June 26, 1955, i n the old Knights of Columbus hall on Warren Avenue. That build­ing later became Joe's Heating and Cooling.

Ground was broken for the new church building Nov. 6, 1955. The first Mass was celebrated in the new sanctuary in September 1957. The first sessions of school were also of­fered at this time.

Grades 1 and 2 met i n the back of the church. The school kept adding grades as the students progressed. The first eighth-graders to graduate were i n 1964 with the eight grade added i n fall 1963.

Fr. Lenk served as'-pastor until 1970. Fr. Thomas Suth­erland, who handled the administrative duties for the last part of Fr. Lenk's tenure - Fr. Lenk had developed bone cancer — became pastor i n September 1970. Fr. Leo Sabourin took over for Fr. Thomas i n September 1981.

DIVINE CHILD The Church of the Divine Child Address: 25011 Hollander Established: June 1950 First Mass: July 2,1950 in Haigh School auditorium. First Building: Construction began in April 1951,

completed in November 1951. Church Dedication: Dec. 3, 1950, by Edward Cardi­

nal Mooney The original property for the church was on the north

side of Hollander at Silvery Lane. It was traded for 19 acres south of Hollander.

The first pastor was Fr. Herbert F. Weier, later Msgr. Weier. v

The congregation originally met in Haigh School until its first church was built.

Ground-breaking for its current sanctuary was held in early September 1962, with the cornerstone laid Sept. 23, 1962. When the current 1,400-seat sanctuary opened June 23, 1963, the former chapel was turned into the Fellowship Hall and then became the school gym.

• (From June 9, 1950, Dbn. Independent P. 1)

Rev. Herbert F. Weier was named pastor of a Catholic parish to be established i n the northwest section of Dear­born. He wi l l commence his duties June 15 i n the area, where a recent survey showed 1,200 Catholic families are now living. ' ,

The Archdiocese of Detroit owns a 5.75-acre site at Hollander avenue and Silvery Lane on which it plans to build a new church and school.

The new church, which has not yet been named, wi l l be the eighth Catholic church i n Dearborn. Fr. Weier was as­signed to St. Boniface Church i n Detroit the past five years.

•

(From Dearborn Vicariate August 1996) The founder of the Church of the Divine Child was the

Rev. Msgr. Herbert F . Weier. He was appointed to start the parish June 15, 1950. In August 1950, the Dearborn City Council unanimously voted to trade 20 acres of undevel­oped land for approximately six acres of developed prop­erty. This guaranteed'Divine Child the land for future buildings and growth, and the city had land for its parks. A shrewd by wise move by Msgr. Weier.

On Sept. 20, 1950, Maurice Decker was appointed as first associate pastor. Two Masses were offered i n the high school auditorium at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. with approxi­mately 130 people i n attendance. Within a month, 600 people were attending D C . Daily Mass was said in the basement chapel of the first rectory on Silvery Lane. On Nov. 18, 1951, the first Mass (7:30 a.m.) was held in the D C gym. Parish families numbered 330.

Construction began for the grade school i n December 1952. In September 1953, the school opened with 297 stu­dents in grades 1-4, with an additional grade added each year. The elementary school now contains 39 rooms, 26 of which are homerooms. A staff of 45 teachers are employed, 10 of whom are Bernardine Sisters. Enrollment is 834.

A raffle i n October 1953 enabled the parish to start building a convent It was completed i n one year. On Oct. 1, 1954 eight sisters moved i n March 1957 saw many more

additions to their home. Today, the convent is home to 13 of the 18 sisters on the D C staff. Many improvements have been added to make it a beautiful home for their beloved Bernardine Sisters.

Divine Child High School was built in 1958. A one-story building with 10 homerooms, it opened i n 1959 with 84 students. The first graduating class of 69 students was in June 1962. The high school had an enrollment of 894 for 1996-97. The building now consists of 40 rooms, 28 home­rooms and a staff of 65 highly qualified teachers. The June 1996 graduating class had 211 students i n it.

In June 1962, construction for the new church began. The cornerstone was laid i n September 1962. The new sanctuary was dedicated i n June 1963. Contemporary throughout, the altar, shrines mosaics and marble appoint­ments were designed and imported directly from Italy.

In January 1976, Fr. Herman Kucyk was named pastor of Divine Child Parish. In 1994, a spacious Gathering Room was erected which surrounds the front eastern expo­sure of the church.

The parish roster numbers 3,800 families i n 1996. Mass is celebrated twice daily i n church and daily at the convent chapel. Divine Child has one Saturday evening liturgy and five Sunday Masses. Then, as now, D C continues to grow spiritually, educationally and socially as one 'TJfvine" Par­ish family.

SACRED HEART CHURCH Sacred Heart Address: 22430 Michigan Avenue at Military Established: 1836 by Irish settlers Original Name: St. John Name Changed: 1875

Sacred Heart Chinch was founded i n 1836 as S t John Church by Irish settlers. Between 1865 and 1925, the sanctuary was at Mason and Park. The name Sacred Heart was adopted i n 1875.

The cornerstone for the current sanctuary was laid June 22,1929.

When Fr. A . X . M v Sharpe became pastor i n 1916, the congregation numbered 73. In 1949, when he celebrated his golden jubilee, the congregation was more than 3,000. That same year, a section of the parish was split off to become St. Sebastian Parish.

• (from Dearborn Guide June 29,1949, p7) As early as 1836, a few Catholics came to Dearborn.

The first Mass was celebrated here at the home of Mrs. Ryan by the Rev. Fr. O'Kavanagh.

Catholic families set about raising a fund for the erec­tion of a chapel or church i n 1840, which was fmally erected by 1847. It was known as S t John's at that time.

The parish of St. John's secured its first resident pastor in 1852, when Fr. James Pulsers was sent to Dearborn. Fr. Pulsers was interested i n the education of children, and thus, added a schoolroom to the church.

B y 1862, a new era dawned for the Catholic congrega­tion of Dearborn, for St. Joint's became affiliated with the Catholic parish of Ypsilanti under the pastorate of Fr. Van Paemel.

Foreseeing the future development of the parish, Fr. Van Paemel added to the church property by purchasing a lot adjacent to the site on which the church stood.

In 1874, Fr. Matthew H . Schaeken was named pastor. On his arrival, Fr. Schaeken found the church property in a neglected state. The parish, however, soon took on new life with many improvements. One of Fr. Schaeken's first changes was to move the church bunding, and when the parishioners appeared for Mass, they were surprised to find that the church had been transported from the alley to the hil l on Mason Street.

A t its new location, the church underwent a complete overhauling, so that nothing remained of the old structure except the frame and the steeple.

On the completion of these improvements, Bishop Borgess of Detroit dedicated the church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus i n January 1875.

With the death of Fr. Marker i n late 1915, the early history of the parish closes. The country was growing.

On Jan. 3, 1916, Bishop Foley appointed Fr. A . X . M . Sharpe pastor of Sacred Heart. Fr. Sharpe foresaw the growth of Dearborn and kept his parish growing with i t

Sacred Heart Church, built i n 1916, from an architec­tural standpoint is a remarkable example of Romanesque. It retains the best features of the classic form while adapting it to modern needs and tastes.

Fr. Sharpe, who is now celebrating his 50th anniversary of priesthood, can be proud of the growth and development

of Sacred Heart. •

(from Dearborn Guide P9-A, Jtdy 1, 1976) A bronze marker dedication ceremony at the site or

Dearborn's historic St. John's Catholic Church, the present Sacred Heart Parish, wi l l take place at 9 a.m. July 4, at the corner of Mason and Park streets i n west Dearborn. Done i n bar relief, the marker wi l l be attached to a budding owned by Dr. Dickieson.

Mare (Daly) Carney, a teacher of religion at Sacred Heart, wi l l deliver the historic message at the marker cere­mony and parishioners wil l then march to Sacred heart parish at Michigan and Military.

City officials and Dearborn Bicentennial Commissioners have been invited as well as the public to the marker dedi­cation.

The historic walk which took place i n 1918 wi l l be re-enacted with some of the original marchers leading the parade. Among them are John Wagner, Elizabeth Smith and the former Elizabeth Crowley. Each marcher wil l be sponsored at a fee of $17.76 each to raise money for the marker.

A 10 a.m. church worship service wi l l commemorate the history of the parish.

Historians call Sacred Heart the oldest non-French church i n metropolitan Detroit. The Rev. Fr. Alphonse X. Sharpe was the church's first pastor i n 1918.

The original church was founded by 32 Irish families who had come to Dearbornville to build the arsenal.

The original St. John's Church dates back to 1836. In 1875, the named was changed to Sacred Heart. A parochial school and convent were built first and then, i n 1928, the present Gothic church sanctuary was added.

Old-fashioned cars and parishioners dressed i n bi ­centennial costumes wi l l add color to the historic event.

• (from Dearborn Press P10-C, July 18,1968) In no church i n Dearborn of the 1918s was the congre­

gation more heroically dedicated to meeting the needs of the spiritual growth of the area than was the Catholic par­ish of Sacred Heart.

In 1916, under the leadership of its new pastor, the Rev. A . X . M Sharpe, 73 families undertook the building of the huge, beautiful church that stands presently on Michigan Avenue and Military.

Imbued with a deep belief i n the potential growth of their community and an equal belief i n the potential growth of their own faith, this small group of families began build­ing to provide not only for themselves, but for those to come i n the future generations.

At the time the Dearborn Press established itself, the total annual income of the Sacred Heart parish was $700.

The parish had bought the present church site in 1917, and during the next year, the erection of the school was begun.

On Oct. 17, 1918, six J H M sisters and their small charges marched triumphantly to the new school from the old church on Park Street.

Four rooms on the top floor of the new building were used as classrooms. The remainder of the floor was used as living apartments for the sisters.

The second floor was the church and was used in that capacity until the present church was erected i n 1929. The first floor was to serve as a social hall.

The history of Sacred Heart began i n 1836 when a few Catholics found their way to Dearborn, where a few years previously, the United States Arsenal had been built.

Occasionally, a priest was sent from Detroit to attend to the spiritual wants of the little flock. Various homes were used as chapels until the parish built its first church i n 1848.

Construction on the building began i n 1843 on a lot do­nated by Captain Joshua Howard. Subsequently, however, it was discovered that the lot was encumbered with a mort­gage and the framework for the church was moved to a lot purchased from Matthews Coyne.

Lack of funds hindered its completion until 1848. The parish was known asj St. James (ED NOTE: It was St. John's Parish) and secured its first resident pastor i n 1852.

In 1974, the church moved across the alley and under­went a complete overhauling so that nothing remained of the old structure except the frame and steeple. On comple­tion of these improvements, the church dedicated itself to the Sacred Heart.

Today, the parish now ministers to the need of over 800 families.

ST. ALPHONSUS CHURCH St, Alphonsus Address: 13540 Gould Established: 1852

St. Alphonsus Church is the oldest Catholic parish i n east Dearborn and the second oldest i n the city. It was or­ganized i n 1852, six years after what became the parish school first offered classes.

The first Catholic services held in east Dearborn were said i n a local home i n 1842 by a Redemptorist priest who traveled at various intervals from Detroit.

In 1851, the Esper family donated four acres on the northeast corner of Warren Avenue and Schaefer for a church, school and pastor's house.

In 1852, the Rev. Albert Schaeffer, C.S.S.R, rector of the Redemptorist Fathers and at that time i n charge of St. Mary's Church i n Detroit, entrusted establishing a new church i n this area to Fr. Ernest Glaunach. Fr. Glaunach died Oct. 19, 1852. Fr. DeDyche continued the work after his death.

The Redemptorists only stayed until 1854, when the Rev. F . X . Roth officiated at the church for the next two years. The Redemptorists returned i n 1858 and stayed until 1883. The Capuchin Fathers then came and remained until 1897.

The cornerstone of the first sanctuary was laid Oct. 10, 1852, on the corner of Gould and Calhoun. A second rec­tory was dedicated i n 1875.

When Sisters of St. Agnes first came to teach i n 1880, they lived on the second floor of the school on the south side of Warren Avenue tmtil the first convent was built in 1890. The current convent was built i n 1924. The current rectory was built i n 1929.

In November 1926, due to its deteriorating condition and the growing membership, the old St. Alphonsus sanc­tuary was converted into a parish hall and services were said i n the high school's Fr. K l i c h Auditorium.

The original cemetery of the parish was on the north side of Warren Avenue where Schaefer Road now crosses. When Schaefer Road was extended north past Warren Avenue before the turn -of the century, the church moved all graves that could be identified to the current church ceme­tery site one block north. Those graves that could not be identified were left undisturbed. Schaefer Road was then placed over these burial plots and continues to do so today.

In 1925, when the center section of the high school building was completed, services were moved from the old red brick sanctuary on the corner of Warren and Schaefer to the auditorium i n the new section of the building, since it provided more space for the Masses. Services continued to be held here until the new sanctuary was completed i n 1929.

The cornerstone for the new church was laid Aug. 19, 1928. It was to be finished by Christmas 1928 but was not completed until after the new year. The cost was $280,000. The site of the new church was next to the new cemetery.

The former sanctuary was razed i n 1954 to make room for the new Activities Bufiding.

The Fairlane Funeral Home next to the campus, previously the Dalton Funeral Home, was originally the family home of the Esper Family.

(from Dearborn Press, summer 1960s) St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 7455 Calhoun at Schae­

fer, takes pride i n its namesake saint, who was a brilliant attorney, a bishop of the church and later a doctor of the church.

Born to an ancient and noble family i n Naples, Alphon­sus, who was given every educational advantage, made such great progress that he successfully earned the doctor of civil and common law at age 16 and was admitted to the bar at age 18 as a practicing barrister.

For eight years, he held his successful law practice while continuing to lead a most exemplary life. After losing a law suit because of a serious oversight on his part, Alphonsus reached the turning point and made a decision that changed

'his life. He decided to devote his entire life to his fellow man

and to the service of God. In 1726, he was ordained and went immediately into the service of the poor, among the neglected peasants and laborers.

A t the insistence of the pope, Alphonsus accepted a po­sition as Bishop of Santa Agate dei Goti when hew as 66 and for 13 years he devoted all his energy to reforming his diocese. During this time, he shunned all of the pomp that usually attends a bishop and lived a simple, religious life, eating and sleeping as little as possible.

At 80, enfeebled and crippled with rheumatism, he re­signed his post as head of the dioceseand withdrew to the monastery at Nocera where he died at age 91.

During his lifetime, hew as the author of "Visits to the Blessed Sacraments and Moral Theology," i n which he laid out a course i n morality. In 1871, Pope Pius L X proclaimed Alphonsus a saint and doctor of the church.

The history of St. Alphonsus Parish starts back i n the 1840s, when the original German immigrant families set­tled i n what is now Dearborn.

There are many familiar names among those settlers: Esper, Theisen, Horger, Blesser, Schaefer, Reuter, Ternes, Neckel, Schlaff, Assenmacher, Rademacher and Kaiser.

Since these Catholic settlers were such a small group and were unable to build a church, they used to attend Maass at St. Mary's Church i n Detroit. Mass was first cele­brated i n this area on May 30, 1852, i n the Esper home. The who offered Mass was the Rev. Ernest Glaunach, C.S.S.R. {Redemptorist Father), a native of Austria.

The Esper family transformed their living room into a chapel for the-Catholics i n Greenfield, or Springwells, as this area was called after 1880. The first Catholic school had been established on the Esper's land i n 1846 near the present intersection of Warren and Bingham.

In 1852, on Oct. 19, the first church was dedicated by Bishop Peter LeFevre. For the most part, the Redemptorists Fathers remained i n charge until 1861. The Rev. Julius Maciejewski, who became the first resident pastor of S t Alphonsus i n July 1958, built the first rectory, a small frame building with five rooms. From 1861 to 1872, the Rev. Charles Chambille, a native of the Rhineland, was placed i n charge.

According to the records of Fr. Chambille, the total in­come of St. Alphonsus Parish i n 1867 was $417.89. There were 72 families i n the parish. Fr. Chambille was followed

by the Rev. George Godez (pastor 1873-83), Under the di­rection of Fr. Godez, a new church was completed i n 1875. This church seated about 250 people and was quite ade­quate for the needs of the parish at that time.

After the death of Fr. Godez, the Capuchin fathers con­ducted services until June 10, 1897, when Bishop John Foley appointed the Rev. A . Buechsenman as rector of St. Alphonsus Parish.

In 1904, a new rectory was built on Warren Avenue. The parish cemetery was located on the church property west of the old church until 1876, when the grounds were laid out at the north end of the church property. A new brick school building was erected i n 1862 on West Warren near Calhoun.

In 1920, Msgr. John Mies, born i n Wongrowitz, Ger­many, succeeded Fr. Buechsenman. It was during this time that the first unit of jfhe present school was built (1921). The Rev. John Kl i ch , a native Detroiter, was appointed pastor i n 1923. The following year, the convent was built. The school was completed i n 1926. The cornerstone for the present gothic church was laid i n August 1928.

A t the same time, plans were made for the erection of a new rectory.

Mass was first celebrated in the new church Easter Sun­day, March 31, 1929. It was during this time that the name of Dearborn replaced the name of Fordson (1925-29). With the establishment of the Ford Rouge Plant on the Rouge River, the transformation of St. Alphonsus from a German-speaking, rural parish into an urban and cosmopolitan church began. In 1940, there were 5,000 Catholic people i n the parish and 1,300 families.

The beloved'Fr. K l i c h died i n 1942 and was replaced by Fr. Will iam Schulte. B y 1952, the parish had grown to ap­proximately 3,000 families. A t the death of Msgr. Schulte, Bisohp Zaleski was appointed pastor (1956). The bishop was at St. Alphonsus until the end of 1964, when he was transferred to the Lansing diocese. The present pastor is Msgr. Bernard Kearns. The assistant priests are Frs. Rich­ard Ciesnewski, James Trent and James Fullmer. The par­ish at present has between 3,500 and 4,000 Catholic fami­lies.

ST. BARBARA St, Barbara Church Address: 5260 Schaefer Established: 1924

, A group of Polish. Catholics started meeting April-June 1924 i n Schaefer Hall . The first service was said Apr i l 20, 1924. They bought three acres between Kenny and Keni l -worth i n June 1924 for a new church.

The parish was then named St Barbara. Plans then were to erect a church on Chase Road where the site was pur­chased. A t this time, services were also held at a site i n Warrendale.

B y August, the site for the church was changed to Schaefer and Colson. X rectory and 16 lots were purchased i n August 1924. Ground was broken for the church Aug. 7, 1924. The cornerstone was laid Oct. 19,1924. The site was dedicated that day as well.

The parish was organized by Fr. Joseph A . Wilemski, who was previously pastor of St. Stephen's Church in De­troit. He initially commuted between the two congregations.

The first resident pastor was Fr. Raphael S. Chrzaszcz, who was named i n summer 1924.

The current sanctuary was dedicated Aug. 8, 1956. It cost $650,000 and seats 1,000.

(from Dec. 19, 1974, Dbn. Guide, p8-a) It was exactly 50 years ago that a group of about 40

Catholic families of Polish descent, realizing the necessity of a church and school i n their own little community, for­mulated a committee of dedicated men to initiate prelimi­nary plans for the erection of a new parish. They visited the Most Rev. Bishop Michael Gallagher, presented their plans and received permission to organize St. Barbara's Parish i n Dearborn .

The work of estabhshing the new parish was given a big helping hand by Fr. J. Wilemski, the pastor of neighboring St Stephen's Parish. He celebrated the first Mass i n what was known as the Schaefer Hal l , Michigan at Schaefer, Apr i l 20, 1924. Rev. Raphael Chrzaszcz became pastor shortly afterward. He built the church and school and the combination building was dedicated by Bishop Gallagher Nov. 30,1924.

After the death of Fr. Chrzaszcz i n Apr i l of the follow­ing year, Rev. Stanislaus Chmielewski was appointed pas­tor. He remained i n the parish only a short time and was succeeded by Fr. Vincent Anuszkiewicz. Fr. Anuszkiewicz came to the parish in September 1925, and a week: later, opened the parish school. About 80 children were enroKed. They were taught by three lay teachers until the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth of Bellevue, Pa., agreed to take charge of the school.

From the very beginning, a fine spirit of social life seemed to be evident among the parishioners. A l l kinds of programs and social affairs were arranged for the benefit of the parish. A need for a parish hall was evident. A business budding on Ford Road was purchased, moved to the parish grounds and remodeled. A basement and ground floor served the parish for all activities until 1969.

In its first five years, the parish grew quite rapidly. The church and school became entirely too small to accommo­date the increased number of parishioners. Eight additional

classrooms were built, two of these were added to the church, three were turned into a home for the sisters and the remaining three became classrooms. A t the same time, a rectory was built. Up to this time, the pastor lived i n a private home quite far from the church and school.

In July 1941, Fr. Edward Szumal was appointed pastor. The parish grew rapidly and much time was dedicated to organizational work. I September 1943, Fr. Szumal was appointed rector of the Pohsh Seminary at Orchard Lake, and was succeeded by Fr. Joseph Tompor. During Fr. Tom-por's 22-year pastorate, the parish expanded tremendously, numbering well over 2,000 families.

The parish faculties expanded proportionally. In 1949, the present convent was built and with great joy, the sisters moved into their new home, large enough to house at least 16 sisters. The dream of the pastor and the people during these years was the building of a permanent church. This dream became a reality i n 1955 when the new church was blessed and dedicated.

In 1956, the old church was turned into classrooms and the school facilities expanded. The need for a new rectory was satisfied in 1963 with the erection of the present budding.

Fr. Tompor became i l l and was hospitalized i n October 1965. On March 9, 1966, Fr. Thaddeus Wypijewski was appointed administrator. Upon the resignation of Fr. Tom­por i n August 1966, Fr. Wypijewski was appointed pastor.

To satisfy an urgent need for an activities building and remodeling of the school building and to obtain the neces­sary funds, a memorial fund drive was initiated i n M a y 1967. The old hall was demolished i n Apr i l 1968 to prepare the grounds for the new building. Despite a long trade un­ion strike, the school was remodeled and ready for the 1968 school year. The activities budding was completed i n 1969. A garage for the convent and the paving of the lots adjacent were constructed i n 1970. Another dream was realized i n 1971 with the purchase and installation of a new organ, which so beautifully supplies the music for all Hturgical services.

ST. BERNADETTE St Bernadette Church Address: 2600 Saulino Court Established: 1944 by Fr. Hector J. Saulino

(from Dearborn Guide, Oct 3, J968, page 10) Edward Cardinal Mooney appointed Fr. Hector J.

Saldino Sept. 26, 1943, to found the new parish of St. Ber­nadette.

B y 1950, Fr. Saulino had built a church, school, hall, rectory and convent. He later erected a shrine on the corner of D i x i n honor of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette. In 1959, Fr. Saulino was appointed pastor of St. Denis Par­ish i n Royal Oak. Fr. "Anthony Bologna came. In November 1965, Fr. Bologna was promoted to pastor of St. Gabriel Parish.

Next, Fr. Albert U . Lombardi took over. Next was Fr. l a -cob J. Samonie, who arrived in June 1968.

• (From July 14,1960, Dearborn Guide, P 8) B y E D W I N A S C H A E F F E R <ePray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." This prayer uttered by Saint Bernadette before a vision of

"Our Lady of Lourdes" many years ago, today is transferred to tourists and residents at the shrine of St. Bernadette, Dix near Vernor.

Here in the south end factory section of town, St Ber-nadette's Roman Catholic parish grew from mission status with some 67 .members to parish status with some 400 members.

Sixteen years ago, Fr. Hector Saulino said his first Mass for S t Bernadette parishioners i n an assembly room i n Sa-lina School. Fr. Saulino commuted to the school from his downtown home. Catechism classes opened with 70 students and closed that year with 270.

When Baja's Bar was closed i n 1945 for being too close to the school, Fr. Saulino and his little congregation moved in. The church was i n front of the old bar, and a back room became Father's rectory.

Throughout the years, the people saved what little money they had to purchase the land across the street and build a parish they could be proud of. In 1950, the school and con­vent went up. Two years later, a gym and rectory.

The short street i n front of the buildings was named Saulino Court through the congregation's petitions to the mayor and common council.

But this was not the end. The European and Mexican element especially felt a

strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and they wanted a shrine i n her honor. They saved pictures of shrines and wrote for suggestions and prices.

Last June, construction began and due to lack of funds, it just now nears completion.

The formal dedication of the shrine is Aug. 14. A t this time, Fr. Saulino, who is now with St. Dennis i n Royal Oak, wil l return to address the people. Fr. Saulino left last Octo­ber.

In his place is Fr. Anthony Bologna, who runs his little church quite alone this summer, except for the help of lay organizations. As the only priest at the parish, Fr. Bologna has four Masses on Sunday. He says the first two, and a visiting priest says the last two. Without a housekeeper,

Father even does his own cooking and house cleaning. The little brick convent where five nuns reside i n the

winter is empty as is the five-room school where some 250 children attend.

But Father carries on the task of saving souls with the help of his senior Christian mother's club, Sodality of Our Lady Club, junior Christian mother's, men's club, ushers club, Holy Name Society, boy scouts and teen club.

Before spending three months at St. Clement's i n Dear-bom, Father was one of five priests at S t David's Parish i n Detroit.

His friends, as well as those of Fr. Saulino, w i l l be at the shrine dedication Aug. 14.

The dedication wi l l be made by Fr. Clement Kern, the new dean.

Mayor Orville Hubbard and other city officials have also been invited.

At the close of the dedication benediction of the Blessed Sacrament wi l l take place on the grounds at the altar before the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes.

From 1-7 p.m., the ladies of the parish w i l l serve a roast beef dinner. Their special home-style has a reputation of being especially tasty, Father said.

Beneath the rustic grotto itself, the imported statues from Italy seem symbolic of the people who built this shrine - a struggling people, many new to American ways, who find strength and respite before the soothing Mother of their God.

In the open air, Rosary and novena prayers are said every Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. through July, August and September.

In the evenings after work, men and women come and plant the shrubbery, the grass and put the finishing touches on the shrine. The evergreens, .which surround the grotto, were donated from a farm i n Argyle, Mich . Arrangements were made through the church usher, Joseph Pavelich on Carlysle.

The circle drive up to the shrine was donated by a man of Jewish faith and a personal friend of Fr. Saulino, E d Levy. He also laid the parking lot and the sister's drive.

• (From fall 1965 Dearborn Press) St. Bernadette Parish was formed in 1943 as a mission

church. Its founding pastor was Father Hector J. Saulino, now pastor of S t Dennis Parish i n Royal Oak. " Masses were first said i n Salina School auditorium. Confessions were heard at S t Mary's Chapel at 2640 Holly Street.

The first edition of a regular parish publication was printed i n January 1944.

Today, St. Bernadette has grown to include a set of buildings, with its current pastor, Fr. Anthony Bolonga. The parish includes a convent, capable of housing 10 nuns, a combination church and school building, and another building which houses a rectory and parish hall.

On the church grounds is a shrine of the Lourdes scene where St Bernadette is said to have talked with the blessed mother.

•

The Shrine of the Blessed Mother at St. Bernadette Church was dedicated Aug. 14,1960.

The shrine was steeple-shaped, made of wood with white

marble statue of the Blessed Mother standing on a pedestal. It was built large enough for offerings of plants and flowers. Kneelers were placed there for those who wanted to pray. Facing the statue of the Blessed Mother was a statue of St. Bernadette. This statue was also of white marble.

The cost of the shrine was $7,000. It was a modern inter­pretation of the vision of the Virg in the shepherd girl saw at Lourdes i n the 1800s.

The shrine was removed i n 1979 due to repeated vandal­ism.

The church was founded i n 1945 by Fr. Hector J. Saulino. The first services were held at Salina School.

The campus consisted of a school, which also housed the sanctuary/chapel, a rectory, a parish hall/gym, a convent and the slrrine. The sanctuary was the final part of the con­struction plan, hut the parish started to decline before the church could be built. J

St. Bernadette Church bought a plot of land north of Dix running east of Akron Aug. 29, 1946. The acreage was 359 feet on D i x and 440 feet deep. It was adjacent to the Dear­born Athletic Field.

Records showed that a lane ran obliquely through the property but was not in use and had not been i n many years. Fr. Saulino asked the Dearborn City Council to officially vacate the street so the archdiocese could exercise its option to buy the land.

•

The church was originally called St. Bernadette Mission. It was at 2700 Salina.

• A fire damaged the altar area of the church July 1,1953.

•

Ground was broken for St. Bernadette Church and School June 25,1950.

•

(fromDbn. GuidePJ0, 9-21-72) St. Bernadette Church was the first one in the archdio­

cese to use.the service of altar girls. They were first used i n September 1972.

•

In I960, a shrine to the Holy Mother was built and dedi­cated at St. Bernadette Church.

The focal point of the shrine was two statues: one of the Blessed Mother and one of St. Bernadette, who saw a vision of the Blessed Mother at Lourdes, France, i n 1858. Around the statues were a railing and kneelers for those who wanted to pray.

The shrine was on the southwestern part of the property on Saulino Court (then called Roberts Street) facing D i x Avenue.

One of the reasons for the shrine was because of St. Ber-nadette's experience with tire Blessed Mother. The shrine was dedicated to that vision.

To go with the construction of the shrine i n 1960, the city changed the name of Roberts Street to Saulino Court, i n honor of Fr. Hector Saulino, the founding pastor of St. Ber­nadette.

The shrine graced the corner of Saulino Court and D i x until 1979.

Vandals already had damaged the statue of St. Berna­dette, so it was removed and measures taken to better secure the area.

Vandals again struck, this time causing enough addi­tional damage to force the church to abandon the shrine

project. The shrine was dismantled and razed. Since the land

was no longer needed, it was sold. The statue of the Blessed Mother was moved to the front

of the church chapel (the former parish hall). <Tt stayed there until just a couple of years ago," said Fr.

Robert Cini , pastor of St. Bernadette. "Then it was vandal­ized. I woke up one morning and found it laying on the ground."

The damage was so severe, the statue was not easily re­paired. It now sits in the rectory garage. Its future is uncer­tain, especially with the parish scheduled to close sometime this summer.

ST. LINUS St Linus Address: 25500 Hass at Evangeline Established: 1956

(From June 16,1966, DH Leader Page One) The 10th anniversary wi l l be observed June 18. St. Linus Parish was founded June 22, 1956. the Rev. Fr.

Maurice Veryser was appointed pastor. A temporary rectory was completed that same year.

B y October 1957, the church structure was completed and the first Mass offered i n it on Oct. 27. Ground was bro­ken for a school. A n assistant, the Rev. Fr. Harold Depp, was named i n 1958. <,

St. Linus School opened i n September 1959. The convent to house the teaching sisters was completed one year later.

The Rev. Fr. Paul R. Hermes, pastor, came to St. Linus in 1961. The Rev. Fr. George Rozman was named to assist him, replacing Fr. Depp.

The present assistant, the Rev. Fr. Leo Sabourin, re­placed Fr. Rozman as assistant i n 1962. That year also marked an addition to the school and the dedication of the parish to the Blessed Sacrament.

Construction on a convent addition, a permanent rectory and the final school addition were completed during the next three years.

• The first services were held i n Haston School until the

sanctuary was completed i n October 1957. The first church was intended to be only temporary. The

plans of the campus had a larger sanctuary built on the southeast corner of the land at Hass and Gulley.

The former sanctuary would then be turned into a full-sized gym for the school. To date, this final part of the con­struction plans remain dormant.

•

Ground was broken for the St. Linus convent May 18, 1960. It was completed i n October. The sisters previously lived at the convent at St. Robert Bellarmine, commuting each day.

(From October 1997Dearborn Vicariate) On June 22, 1956, Fr. Maurice Veryser visited the site of

what was to be St. Linus Parish. He saw a large, open field overgrown with weeds and wildflowers. Below the weeds and flowers flowed water, for the water table was high, and when spring rains came, the area could have been described as a swamp.

Hass and Gulley roads were graded but unpaved. Homes existed on those two streets, but there was little else. You could see from Telegraph to Beech Daly and from Warren to Ford Road. There certain was room for growth.

Two days later on June 24, the first Mass was offered at Haston Junior High School (now Fairlane Christian Acad­emy). That day, 120 parishioners attended the 7 a.m. Mass, and 420 attended the 8:15 a.m. Mass. The collection was $369. Fr. Veryser announced that a building committee would be formed to investigate what could be done with the swampy field to make it into a home for the parish.

The next years saw a rapid growth. The first rectory was built on Hass and work began on designing and planning the church. On Oct. 27, 1957, the church was dedicated.

The church was a multi-purpose building with an activities room behind the sanctuary with folding doors that could be opened for an overflow crowd.

With the coming of the spring of 1958, ground was bro­ken for the first wing of the new school and was ready for the first classes i n September of that year. St. Linus had grown along with the buildings and the neighborhood. Fr. Harold Depp was assigned as an associate to help Fr. Very­ser that same year.

In 1960, the first part of the convent was opened for the Bernardine Sisters who were to staff the school.

1961 was a year of change for the parish. Fr. Veryser moved to another assignment i n Warren. Fr. Paul Hermes was appointed pastor and Fr. Depp was replaced by Fr. George Rozman as associate pastor.

In 1962, because of the continued rapid growth, another section of the school was built. Fr. Leo Sabourin came as the associate pastor replacing Fr. Rozman. In 1963, an addition was built onto the convent. The current rectory was built i n 1964, and the final two-story addition to the school was added i n 1965.

ST. LUKE'S St Luke's Address: 8017 Ohio, Detroit Established: November 1927

St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church was founded in 1927 to serve the growing Cadiolic population i n Detroit north of the east side of Dearborn. The increase i n number of resi­dents was due to the Ford Rouge Plant, which attracted workers from all over.

Bishop Michael J. Gallagher asked Fr. Francis J. McQuillen to spearhead the founding of the new parish. He served as the church's first pastor.

The initial Mass was celebrated Nov. 11, 1927, in a pri­vate home on Wisconsin Avenue with 22 people attending.

The congregation grew fast. More than 375 people at­tended the Christmas Eve service held i n a store on Tireman Avenue. B y the end of its first year, St. Luke had about 800 parishioners attending one of two Sunday services in the store-front church.

Work soon began on a parish elementary school. In 1929, three Sisters of Charity from Mt. S t Joseph, Ohio, arrived to staff the school.

B y 1931, a second classroom was added to the school budding. The parish used the lower level of the school for worship space, A parish hall at Wisconsin and Belton was also constructed at this time.

In 1936, a permanent church was built. Until the sanctu­ary was finished, services were moved to the parish hall, because the school needed the space on the lower level for classrooms.

Two connected homes on Ohio Street served as the rec­tory and convent. A new rectory was built on the northwest corner of Ohio and Tireman i n the 1950s. The former rec­tory was then converted into additional convent space.

The current sanctuary was built i n 1958 and 1959. It was dedicated Dec. 7, 1959. The old church was then converted into a combination gymnasium-hall. The old parish hall was razed around 1961-62.

The once-thriving parish began to decline in the 1970s. Families moved away i n large numbers during those years. In 1971, the school was merged with Epiphany with that church's school building used for the school. The St. Luke school building was then leased for the next few years. It was sold in 1978.

B y 1981, St. Luke, which at one tune had a membership of about 1,800 families, was down to fewere than 200 regis­tered families. The convent buildings were sold to a private owner i n November 1981.

The church's turnaround began i n 1984 with the opening of a Mbntessori center for children ages 2.5-5. The follow­ing year, the church bought the store budding on Tireman it once used for services many years before and turned it into a new parish hall.

Cardinal Edmund Szoka started closing churches in De­troit in the late 1980s. St. Luke was one of the churches on the endangered list. Parishioners rallied and showed the cardinal St. Luke was worth keeping open.

When Szoka announced the second round of closings in 1989, St. Luke was spared. Instead, a three-church merger would occur i n the area, combining St. Luke, Epiphany and St Brigid.

Epiphany had already decided to close and approached St. Luke about merging. The St. Luke church council cre­ated a plan on how the merger would happen. This and the church's involvement i n the community were what helped convince the cardinal keep St. Luke open.

Under the consolidation plan, services were held at St. Luke, but the combined school was maintained at St. Brigid. The St Brigid sanctuary was sold to Unity Cathedral, a Baptist congregation.

St. Luke then repurchased its school building back i n 1995 from Detroit Urban Lutheran School, which had bought a larger building for its students. The classes were then moved back to St. Luke. The St. Brigid School building was sold to Unity Catiiedral.

ST. MARTHA St Martha Catholic Address: 18200 Oakwood Blvd . Established: 1954 First Service: July 11,1954, in Snow School First Building: June 1955

l a late June 1954, Fr. Robert Zindler, newly ordained priest, was assigned as the first assistant at St. Martha's. He stayed there until 1960. He was followed by Fr. Robert Schlaff.

The first Mass was held July 11, 1954, at Snow School. Two services were provided that day.

The cornerstone for the $100,000 sanctuary was laid March 13, 1955. A cnurch and school construction fund was begun on that day. Plans called for the church to be completed by June 1. The school would initially have four rooms to serve grades 1-4, ready for use that fall. A n addi­tional four classrooms would then be added'at a later date.

The first service i n the new sanctuary was said July 17, 1955. The parish was organized July 14, 1954 with 186 families. It had 530 families when the sanctuary opened.

Services were initially said i n Snow School until Oct. 3. Starting Oct. 10, 1954, the congregation used the Edison Institute until July 10,1955.

Sunday, July 17, 1956, marked the opening of St. Mar­tha's Church and the First Communion of 60 children. These children were prepared by nuns from St. Barbara's Parish.

The convent was built i n 1959. •

(From Dearborn Press, August 1965) In Apr i l 1954, the Archdiocese of Detroit purchased 9.8

acres from the Ford Motor Co. for $40,000 as a future site for a new church. The land was marshy and heavily wooded. Three lots on the corner of Venice and Oakwood Boulevard were also purchased for $3,300 as the site for a future rectory.

Archbishop Edward Mooney appointed Fr. Peter P. Borkowicz June 25, 1954, to organize the new Catholic parish i n the vicinity of Southfield and Oakwood and build a church and school. ,

March 13, 1955, the cornerstone of the church and school was laid that morning following the last Mass. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Walter Hardy, dean of the Western Deanery, officiated.

In the latter part of June 1955, Fr. Robert Zindler, newly ordained priest, was assigned as the first assistant at St. Martha's. He stayed there until 1960. Rev. Robert Schlaff who is there now followed Fr. Zindler.

Sunday, July 17, 1956, marked the opening of St. Mar­tha's Church and the First Communion of 60 children. These children were prepared by the nuns of St. Barbara's Parish.

In fall 1960, the church cornmittee decided on a new venture of assuring a permanent yearly income to the parish by introducing 'Tithing' ' Sacrificial Offertory Contribution.

Under the leadership of M r . "Jigs" Lenzi, a voluntary fund-raising expert, and the campaign committee, the men of the parish were asked to help i n this "Fair Share Drive." After five weeks of sermons on the subject of tithing and zealous training of the workers, the campaign opened Sun­

day, Nov. 6,1960. Every wage earner was asked to pledge the sum of $3 or

more every Sunday. The response of the parishioners was terrific and is still going strong.

The best proof of the people's response is the present addition to the school of six classrooms, kitchen, lay teach­ers conference room, storage room, library and principal's office, the cost of which wi l l be approximately $180,000, without a fund-raising campaign.

In January 1964, the parish paid off its last indebtedness of $5,000 to the archdiocese. For the construction of the addition to the school, the parish borrowed $150,000. The difference wi l l be paid from the Sunday Sacrificial Offer­tory donations. A t the end of this year, the parish indebted-

,.ness to the archdiocese wi l l amount to approximately $150,000, which amount, providing good economic condi­tions prevail, wi l l be paid off i n three years.

ST. SABINA CHURCH Catholic Church of St Sabina Address; 25605 Ann Arbor Trail Established: June 21,1957 Named for: Santa Sabina Church in Rome

The Church of St. Sabina was established June 21, 1957, by Cardinal Edward Mooney. Its founding pastor, Fr. Joseph Howard, named the church for an early Christian martyr woman, Sabina.

Members came from the surrounding parishes of Our Lady of Grace, St. Linus, St. Mel ' s , St. Robert BeUarmine and St. JohnBosco.

Masses were held, at Parkway School on A n n Arbor Trail at Parkway untU the first sanctuary was completed. The first Mass was held June 23,1957.

The church and rectory were birilt i n fall and winter 1957. Its first Mass in its new sanctuary was celebrated June 23, 1958, which enabled its first class of communi­cants to receive Holy Communion there.

Construction on the parish school began i n November 1959. "When the school opened i n September 1960 for grades 1-6, 325 students were registered. Teaching were the Sisters of St. Dominic.

Fr. Howard served as pastor until June 1967, when he was named pastor at Guardian Angels Parish i n East De­troit. Fr. Frank Lukasiewicz, popularly referred to as Fr. Luke, was appointed pastor June 21, 1967, by John Cardi­nal Dearden/

Fr. Luke died June 4, 1972, shortly before his planned retirement. Fr. Jerome Aloysius Szelc was then chosen as pastor by Dearden. He was officially installed Oct. 1,1972.

The original sanctuary was a temporary building. A new church was built with groundbreaking May 30, 1980. The permanent church was officially dedicated Feb. 5, 1983, less than three months before the congregation's 25th anni­versary.

Fr. Jerome died Nov. 8, 1990. A gazebo was constructed at the church i n his memory. The gazebo was dedicated Nov. 8,1992.

Fr. Joseph L . Romano was appointed pastor Feb. 15, 1991, and was fomally installed Feb. 17.

• (From Dearborn Vicariate Feb. 1997) Edward Cardinal Mooney established St. Sabina (an

early Christian martyr) parish June 21, 1957, and named Fr. Joseph Howard as founding pastor. Construction of the church and rectory began i n a few months. The first Mass was celebrated on June 1, 1958. St. Sabina school opened its doors to 325 students i n September 1960. In those early 60s, parish life flourished with new groups and activities supporting church and school.

Fr. Howard was replaced by Fr. Frank Lukasiewicz, af­fectionately known as Fr. Luke, i n June 1967. Under his leadership, St. Sabina parish celebrated their 10th armiver-sary with a dinner dance at SS. Constantine and Helen Hall on Nov. 18, 1967. Fr. Luke's challenge was to implement the recommendations of Vatican Council II and the Arch­diocese of Detroit Synod '69.

After Fr. Luke was born into eternal life on June 4, 1972, Fr. Jerome Szelc was appointed pastor of St. Sabina Parish by John Cardinal Dearden and officially installed at

Mass on Oct. 1, 1972, by the Dearborn area vicar, Fr. G.F. Brennen. Fr. Jerome introduced new liturgical formats for baptism, marriage and funerals. It was through his inspira­tion that Rainbow Festivals began.

Since his early days at St. Sabina, Fr. Jerome envisioned a new church building. His dream became a reality with a ground-breaking ceremony on Pentecost Sunday, May 30, 1980. The semi-circle arrangement of pews makes the altar and sanctuary the focal point from every corner. It was of­ficially dedicated and blessed by Archbishop Edmund C. Szoka on Saturday, Feb. 5, 1983. A few months later, on Sunday, Apr i l 17, a Mass of Thanksgiving for the silver anniversary was celebrated by the regional bishop, Most Rev. Walter Schoenherr.

Fr. Jerome entered eternal life on Nov. 8, 1990. Contri­butions were used to construct a gazebo on the grounds as a lasting memorial.

F r . Joseph Romano was appointed pastor of St. Sabina's Parish by Archbishop Adam Maida, effective Feb. 5,1991. Under Fr. Romano's continued direction, dedication, serv­ice and love, St. Sabrna's membership grows, the school thrives with a very active parents' club, a warmly welcom­ing church office was constructed, the kitchen and hall were expanded, Parish Council Guidelines and Mission Statement were adopted, an adoration chapel opened, a computerized parish accounting system is set i n place and a new outdoor shrine Marian statue stands.

ST. SEBASTIAN St Sebastian Address: 3965 Merrick Established: June 1949 by Fr. Edmund B. Demmer First Building: Small temporary school donated by

another parish on 10 acres of weeds and under­brush. Work started on the new church in spring 1950.

Church Dedication: Dec. 3, 1950, by Edward Cardi­nal Mooney

(from Dearborn Press, August 1965) St. Sebastian Parish, 3 850 Merrick i n Dearborn Heights,

was rounded i n June 1949. It's first pastor was Fr. Edmond Dommer, who held thip post until November 1954, when he died.

He was replaced by the church's present pastor, Fr. F X . VanHout, on Dec. 15,1954.

The parish's original building is presently being used as a credit union, and cornerstone ceremonies for the present sanctuary were held i n 1950.

A school containing a capacity of 24 classrooms was started with 10, and is presently utilizing 19.

About 900 children are expected to be enrolled i n St. Sebastian's School this fall.

A convent houses 15 nuns, with a capacity of 24. The 15 are Franciscan sisters of St. Joseph.

Although the church is located i n Dearborn Heights, the pastor lives jiist across the street i n Dearborn on the north­west corner of Merrick: at Dartmouth.

The congregation includes residents of Dearborn, Dear­born Heights and Taylor Township.

•

St. Sebastian Parish was formed June 14, 1949, when Edward Cardinal Mooney appointed Fr. Edmund S. Dem­mer to organize a parish i n southwest Dearborn to serve 1,200 Catholic families l iving i n the area.

When the parish was formed, 1,200 families transferred from neighboring parishes. B y the time work began on the church, the parish had grown to 1,400 families. The parish was formed from sections of Sacred Heart, Mary Magde-line, St. Alfred and S t John the Baptist parishes.

The organizational meeting for was held July 27, 1949. The territory for the new parish was carved out of the much larger Sacred Heart boundaries.

The first Mass was said Aug. 28, 1949, in the portable two-classroom bunding moved to the site from Detroit.

Fr. Demmer was allowed to choose the name of the new church. He chose St. Sebastian as its namesake and patron saint.

The Rev. Donald E . Bartone was appointed assistant pastor. He arrived Oct. 6,1949.

The ground-breaking for the sanctuary was held in March 1950. It opened Aug. 27, 1950. It was formally dedicated Dec. 3,1950. It seats 800.

The building used for the first services was then changed into a social hall for the church and an audito­rium. When the school opened, it was used also as a gym­nasium. The building is now used as an office of the Catholic Schools Credit Union.

• (From Dearborn Guide, Oct. 19, 1949, pi)

Four months ago, Edward Cardinal Mooney directed the Rev. Edmund S. Dommer to establish a new Catholic par­ish i n Dearborn to be dedicated to S t Sebastian.

The site of the new church was 10 acres of weed-grown fields populated only by field mice, but today, a new house of worship and a rectory stand at Merrick and Dartmouth as a dramatic testimonial to the wi l l of Catholic parishion­ers i n southwest Dearborn.

First services were held i n the new church early i n Oc­tober and a week later 300 people attended the rectory open house.

But before Cardinal Mooney's dhective and the open house is the story of an unquenchable determination by residents of the area to build with their own hands the church they wi l l call their own.

The enthusiasm manifested itself early following the first announcement. Rev. Dommer was welcomed by letter from officers of circles of St. Mary and Sacred Heart. Then, the first organizational meeting of the parish attracted 200 people to the home of M r . and Mrs. John Nelson of Polk Street on July 27.

A building committee was formed with Joseph Lynch as chairman and soon a stroke of luck fell.

A portable school classroom was offered i f the parish­ioners would have it moved, a proposal that was accepted with alacrity. The building was moved overnight.

Volunteering extended to the hard labor of digging for a foundation and clearing the land. Fr. Dommer joined the parishioners with pick and shovel.

The efforts were not without their light moments, at least they are humorous i n retrospect.

Work was done far into the night with the aid of drop-cord fights. But the lights occasionally sputtered out as the volunteers accidentally kicked, out the wires. Once, the amateur painters used exterior paint on the inside and inte­rior paint on the outside.

Nonetheless, the chapel took shape and only 14 days af­ter the battered old classroom had arrived, the first Mass was celebrated i n the new chapel. The C Y O had donated hairs for pews and the all-important bell was a gift of St. Mary's hospital. Numerous others donated needed equip­ment.

For the first Mass, there were only 200 seats, not nearly enough to accommodate the overflow crowd. Those outside knelt in the dirt where they had cleared weeds only two weeks before.

Symbolic of the birth of the new church, a baby, Ray­mond Patrick Raspbury, was christened that day.

The building is up, but the parish work continues. Plans are being formed for a school for the 1,000 school-age chil­dren i n the area who must now attend distant schools.

Church societies are being formed. They are the Altar Society with Mrs. George Thayer as president, the Holy Name Society headed by Lee Seehaver, the Ushers Club under Will iam Forbes, and the Young Ladies Sodality with Mary Jane Gacheon as president.

(From Dearborn Press June 17, 1959, P14) St Sebastian Church is celebrating a milestone in its

history this weekend. The church was founded i n June 1949. This year marks both the 10th anniversary of that

date and of the first Mass, which was* celebrated Aug. 27, 1949, in a portable schoolhouse which is now a recreation hall.

The new church was dedicated the following year. The first Mass was held exactly ayear from the date of the Mass in the temporary building.

Work continued through 1953 with a breezeway added to join the existing rectory, the school completed and the 14 nuns moved from a house on Hipp, where they had been quartered, into the parish convent.

At present, the original budding is being used for chil­dren's activities. A regulation field provides hours of foot­ball, baseball, soccer and field sports.

The school, with its enrollment of 811, is staffed by 14 Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph and three lay-teachers. The parish is comprised of 1,440 families.

Since its founding, "'St. Sebastian has seen three parishes grow up around it: St^ Martha, St. Cyri l of Jerusalem and St. Albert the Great.

Early i n the church history, the founding pastor, Rev. Fr. Edmund Dommer, died. Since then, Rev. Fr. Francis L . VanHout has been i n charge and celebrated his own silver jubilee July 15, 1956.

Active participation i n parish organizations is one of the outstanding attributes of the congregation. The St. Anne Altar Society, Holy Name Society and Ushers Club were founded in 1949, St. Vincent de Paul Society in 1950, and Dads'Club i n 1957.

In conjunction with the 10-year anniversary of the par­ish, a festival is being held on the church grounds at Mer­rick and Dartmouth, this weekend, June 19-21. A n Old Timers reunion wi l l take place on Sunday so that all former parishioners may gather to become re-acquainted.

• In 1965, the school has 24 classrooms. It started with

10. Also that year, the facilities included a convent with a capacity of 24. The nuns i n 1965 were Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph.

In 1981, Wally Lis , athletic director of the school for 25 years, was honored for his many years of service to the church and school.

The sports field by the school/church was eventually named i n his honor.

•

(From May/June 1998 Dearborn Vicariate) Plans for St. Sebastian Church were laid i n Mrs. Pat

Nelson's backyard i n July 1949 by its founding pastor, Fr. Edmund Dommer.

The first Mass was offered Aug. 29,1949 at 6 a.m. to an overflowing crowd by Fr. Dommer i n what is now the Downriver Federal Credit Union building. Seating capacity was only 192 with more than that standing.

This Mass was followed by three more. The original structure was a former classroom hauled across the city from Forest and Mt. Elliott i n Detroit Two vestibules and a sacristy were added. Masses were increased from four to six with the arrival of assistant pastor Fr. Donald Bartone. Fr. Joaclnm Hoffman of the Marianhill Fathers also assisted.

The present rectory, adjoining building and garage were completed i n 1949.

With 1,600 families under his wing, Fr. Dommer laid plans for a larger church as well as a school and a convent. The present church, which was to be temporary and planned as a future gym, opened its doors on Aug. 27,

1950, by the late Edward Cardinal Mooney. The school also opened with the first eighth-graders graduating i n 1955. The convent housed 11 nuns of the Franciscans of St. Jo­seph was located on Hipp.

The parish area comprised the present St. Sebastian parish as well as that of S t Albert the Great, St. Martha and a portion of St. Cyri l of Jerusalem i n Taylor. Parish­ioners were also instrumental i n estabfishing those parishes i n succeeding years.

Fr. Dommer passed away in 1954. Fr . Francis L . Van Hout became the second pastor. He set out to pay off the parish debt, the parking lot was paved, the church added on the boiler room, a larger sacristy and altar boys room, and additional classrooms were again added on to the school. The convent was also extended to house additional sisters. The parish credit union was started i n 1958 i n the original church building.

With Fr. Van Hout's retirement, Fr. Wil l iam Brennan became our third pastor. Dormant property came to life under his direction. There is now a church meeting room, a new organ and an enlarged sanctuary and baptistery. A new stage was built in the school hall.

A fall social and picnics were revived as well as bingo on Tuesday evenings. After a lapse of 12 years, its first spring festival was held i n 1972.

Since 1972, we have had the help of the priests from the Society of St. Paul and the Oblates of St. Francis as well as a few associate pastors. Fr. John Cusmanno, our present associate, has been at S t Sebastian since 1989.

Because of their help, we are able to celebrate three Masses daily, and we have six hturgies on the weekend. Tuesday evenings, there are devotions to our Mother of Perpetual Help. On Thursday, immediately after our 8 a.m., Mass until after the 6:30 p.m. Mass, there is adoration be­fore the Blessed Sacrament

There have been many changes at S t Sebastian over the years. One of the main changes was the renovation of our church in 1985. When built, it was to be the parish gym. Fr. Wm. B . Brennan, our pastor since 1970, not only helped with the design, but also built the altar, pulpit, can­dlesticks and chairs.

The next big change came just two years ago with the renovation of the school to incorporate a new activity building. A t the same time, part of the convent was con­verted into classrooms for our kindergarten and pre-school as well as offices for the religious education program.

The activity building was a dream of many. It was fi­nally a reality on Apr i l 26, 1997, when we had the official dedication of the Fr. Wm. Brennan Activity Building.

We just held our 27th annual spring festival, which is always held on the third weekend of May. God blessed us with beautiful weather for the entire weekend. Fun was had by all who attended.

St. Sebastian is a community of great faith and devotion. We have grown to a registered membership of 2,200 fami­lies. Our school, pre-school through 8th grade, no has 457 students.

On Aug. 29, 1999, we wi l l celebrate our 50th anniver­sary of the founding of St. Sebastian's Parish.

OTHER CATHOLIC Biserca Roman-Greek Catholic Address: Holly at Lowrey Established: in existence 1930

Shown on city map 1930. Congregation continued at least through summer 1931.

Congregation of Marianhill Missionaries Address: 23715 Ann Arbor Trail Established: 1882

The name of the missionaries came from the original seminary i n South Africa i n 1882. It was a combination of Mary, St. A m i and the fact the seminary was on top of a hill .

The house superior i n 1995 was the Rev. Tony Gathen.

Our Lady of the Perpetual Help Ukrainian Church Address: 26667 Joy Road Established:

In 1971, the church was at 26606 A n n Arbor Trail. It later relocated to 26667 Joy Road.

Our Savior Polish National Catholic Church Address: 610 N. Beech Daly Established: 1916

Our Savior Polish National Catholic Church was at 5286 Chopin Ave. in Detroit since 1916. Because of growing membership, a building fund for a new site was started i n 1946.

The church bought three acres on Beech Daly i n 1965 for $150,000. The blessing of the new site was held Nov. 20, 1966. It was originally listed to be at 850 N . Beech Daly.

Groimd was not broken until 1969. Because of various strikes, the building was not completed until 1971. The three bells from the old church were installed in the new sanctuary.

The total cost of the project was $300,000.

Sacred Heart of Jesus National Catholic Church Address: 18720 Sawyer, Detroit Established: 19?? Closed: summer 1999

Sacred Heart of Jesus National Catholic Church closed in fall 1999 after about 75 years of service to the community.

St, Bernard Seminary Address: 23715 Ann Arbor Trail Established: 1949 Closed: 1969

At St. Bernard, young men are trained to become mis­sionary priests i n South Africa. This is the work of the Con­gregation of Mariannhill Missionaries, which operate the seminary.

The society gets its name from a famous monastery founded i n 1882 at Natal, near South Africa..

The seminary building was built i n 1948 and opened i n 1949. It boarded students i n high school and college studies. It was also in charge of Our Lady of Grace parish.

St. Bernard Seminary created the St. Bernard League i n October 1960 as a support group for the seminary.

The seminary was closed i n 1969 due to its small enroll­ment. The few remaining students were transferred to the mission seminary inPerrysburg, Ohio.

St, John's Greek Catholic Address: 26667 Joy Road Established: 19??

This church was the previous tenant of the facility now used by Our Lady of Perpetual Help Ukrainian Catholic Church.

St. John's was i n operation at least i n 1966.

St, Mary's Romanian Address: 823 S. Military Original Site; 2640 Holly Established: December 1924

(from Dearborn Guide, P11-A 10-7-76) St. Mary's Romanian Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite)

at the corner of Military and Morley wi l l observe its 50th anniversary celebration of the parish on Sunday, Oct. 10, with a full day of prayer with praise for the founders and the leaders.

His excellency Thomas J. Gumbleton, auxiliary bishop of Detroit wi l l deliver the solemn divine Hturgy at the 10 a.m. service along with special guest Msgr. Octavian Barlea, apostolic visitor for the Catholic Romanians of America as chief celebrant. Several other Romanian Catholic priests are expected to also be present.

Formerly the home of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, which moved across the street i n 1955 « w r o n g y e a r » , the parish became the home of St. Mary's Church in 1961, when a Romanian bishop dedicated the parish.

Known as the Church of the Byzantine Rite i n Romania, the historic congregation was suppressed by the communist regime in 1948. Many of the original six bishops, 2,000 priests and two million faithful parishioners were impris­oned, forced to labor on the Black Sea and gave their lives.

A l l that has remained free of the martyred church, are 17 small parishes in America and St. Mary's of Dearborn is one of them.

* This church was originally St. Maria's Roumanian Greek

Orthodox Church. The Rev. Alex Pap of St. John the Baptist Church of Detroit organized the church in a home on Mulkey Street i n 1924. The church had an initial following of Romanians i n the area.

It then built a worship site at 2640 Holly i n southeast Dearborn. From at least Apr i l 1931-1938, the address was listed as 2638 Holly. In the 1949 Dearborn City Directory, the church was listed as St. Mary's Greek Catholic Church at 2640 Holly.

St. Mary's Romanian Catholic Church now is i n the former Emmanuel Lutheran Church, which built a new

sanctuary across the street. The Archdiocese of Detroit purchased the building in

1959 for the Romanian-American Catholics in the Dearborn area. The dedication was held May 28, 1961, by Bishop Vaslie Cristea, apostolic visitant for the Romanian Catholics in the Diaspora. The dedication was delayed until the build­ing could be remodeled. It was the only Catholic church of the Byzantine rite i n Dearborn at the time.

As a small parish i n 1961, the congregation numbered 100. Today, it has 40 members.

The first pastor was the Rev. Julius Aron. He retired i n 1993 and died i n 1994. The present pastor is the Rev. Mirco Clinet, who was appointed Oct. 1,1995.

St. Mary's remained under the jurisdiction of the Arch­diocese of Detroit until 1983. A t that time, a second Roma­nian Catholic diocese i n the U.S. was formed i n Canton, Ohio. St Mary's Parish is one of 15 parishes i n the diocese spread over six states.''Since the area is so large, St. Mary's participates i n many Archdiocese of Detroit services.

The Romanian Byzantine Rite Catholic Church is under the same authority as the Roman Catholic Church. Its rites differ only and specifically in that the Romanian Catholic Church has the Divine Liturgy (Mass) i n Romanian and English, rather than just English or English and Latin.

St Mary's Romanian Greek Catholic Address: ???? Established: 19??

In 1932, a Greek Catholic Church was listed as being one of two Greek churches on Holly Street. It is uncertain whether this is that church.

St. Mary's Romanian Greek Catholic Church purchased one acre from the city i n 1952 south of Lapeer and east of Holly.

The original agreed to price as $1. The land was valued at $3,000. Both parties finally agreed to $500 as the selling price. The church took possession of the land i n June 1952.

St Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Address: 6340 Chase Road Established: 19?? ,

The new sanctuary and rectory for St. Michael's was dedicated Nov. 6,1966.

St. Vartan's Armenian Catholic Address: Greenfield, south of Joy Road Established: 1959

St. Vartan was founded i n the late 1950s. Work began on the mrUding i n 1958. It opened i n 1959.

This building is on Greenfield, south of Joy Road. It is the only Armenian Catholic Church between Toronto and California.

The denomination has about 150,000 worldwide in 1992. A l l of North America is one diocese.

St. Vartan closed in late 1995. In March 1998, the Ar ­menian Catholic Church decided to reactivate the church. The sanctuary was used for a few years. The Greenfield site is maintained as a rectory and office, but services are now held i n a church in Southfield.

Pious Society of St Paul Address: 7050 Pinehurst Opened: 1962

Operates AlbaHouseBook Store. The Society of S t Paul bought the former Thayer School

building i n 1962. Its plan was to remodel the building for use as a residence and a ttaining ground for priests.

The school board O K ' d the purchase at its meeting Dec. 11, 1961, as the Society of St. Paul was the highest of the three bidders.

The city of Dearborn then asked the school board to re­consider the sale and to sell the land to the city for use as residential property. The city wanted to match the society's offer. It would then raze the bunding subdivide the three-acre into 2£ 52-foot residential lots.

CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ-Dearborn Township Address: Established: Sept. 11,1955

Original name of Dearborn Valley Church of Christ. It is now known as Farkside Church of Christ.

==> See Parlzside Church of Christ for more info.

Dearborn Church of Christ Address: 7350 Chase Road at Gould Established: Aug. 4,1929 Closed: June 1997

Until it closed, Dearborn Church of Christ was the third oldest Church of Christ congregation in continuous opera­tion i n the Detroit area.

In 1929, members of the Hamilton Avenue Church of Christ i n Highland Park proposed a new congregation be formed i n the Grand River-Outer Drive neighborhood of northwest Detroit. Neighbors there objected, because this was a residential neighborhood. The church was eventually denied permission to build there.

During this, members of the Hamilton Avenue church were also working on starting a congregation on Chase Road near Oakman School inDearborn.

The first Sunday meeting Aug. 4,1929, found 91 people assembled i n Oakman School.

In November 1930, the congregation bought two lots at 7350 Chase, kitty-corner from the school. A portable build­ing owned by Hamilton Avenue was erected on these lots i n 1932. The congregation also continued to use classrooms in Oakman School.

In the early 1930s, 40 families from Dearborn Church of Christ went to help start Strathmoor Church of Christ in Detroit.

The basement of the present church was built i n 1937. The first service was held there Aug. 4, 1937. The audito­rium above the lower level was completed i n 1941. A home for the preacher was bought in 1946 at 7450 Chase Road.

Until its counterpart closed, the church was referred to as East Dearborn Church of Christ because of West Dear­born Church of Christ on other side of town.

In 1950, one of the longest family dynasties at the church began when L . Arnold Watson was named pastor. His son, Lawrence Watson, was one of the church elders when the church closed.

The church membership dwindled from about 250 i n the mid-1970s to about 75 i n 1997. The church elders de­cided Jan. 1,1997, to close the church at the end of June.

The church building was sold to Mount Moriah Church of God Holiness, which was to move from its quarters i n Southfield.

Dearborn Valley Church of Christ

Original Name: Church of Christ-Dearborn Township. Current Name: Parkside Church of Christ

==> See Parkside Church of Christ for more info.

Northwest Church of Christ Address: 5151 Oakman, Detroit Established:

In operation i n 1960.

Parkside Church of Christ Address: 17200 Outer Drive Established: Sept. 11, 1955, as Church of Christ-

Dearborn Township. Members then chose Dear­born Valley Church of Christ as official name.

Name Changed: (sometime between 1971 and 1973) The church was founded i n 1955 as Dearborn Valley

Church of Christ with first service held Sept. 11, 1955, at Clara B . Ford School. A permanent home was built at 17200 Outer Drive, three blocks north of Ford Road, over­looking the Rouge. It was completed Sept. 14,1958.

In the early 1970s, Parkside merged with West Dear­born Church of Christ with the joined congregation using Parkside facilities.

South Dearborn Church of Christ Address: 9935 Tuxedo Established: 19??

Listed i n 1949 Dearborn City Directory.

Van Born Church of Christ Address: Beech Daly north of Van Bom Established:

In operation i n 1966. Church was on the east side of Beech Daly north of Van Born.

West Dearborn Church of Christ Address: 21110 Outer Drive at Williams Established: Jan. 16,1944

Services were first held for West Dearborn Church of Christ Jan. 16, 1944, at Whitmore-Bolles School. Ground was broken for the sanctuary Apr i l 17, 1949, at 21110 Outer Drive at Williams.

The first service i n its new sanctuary were held Jan. 8, 1950. Temporarily, some functions were still held at Whit­more-Bolles for a short time after this. The building was dedicated Jun 11, 1950. This building seated 250.

Its first pastor was the Rev. Paul Watson. This church merged with Parkside Church of Christ i n

the early 1970s. Its sanctuary was sold to Dearborn Bible Church i n 1973.

Address: 17200 Outer Drive, north of Ford Road Established: Sept. 11,1955

Church of Christ Scientist First Church of Christ Scientist Address: 22000 Morley at Monroe Established: May 13,1917

Dearborn Christian Scientist dedicated a $5,000 meeting hall and reading room at Morley and Monroe October 1920. It had a capacity of 120. Members previously met i n the American State Bank building at Monroe and Michigan (now Dearborn Music).

• The church's address i n 1926 was 350 Morley. It was

then called Christian Science Society.

In September 194$ the church started building its sanc­tuary, which was attached to what later became the educa­tional wing of the building. This wing previously was used for services and educational purposes. The wing had been used for four years before the sanctuary was built.

The first services were held i n the new wing Dec. 4, 1949. It had a capacity of 205 people. The west wing was built i n 1944 with first services held there i n January 1945.

• The first Christian Science reading room i n Dearborn

was i n the Masonic Temple at Monroe and Garrison. In 1932, it moved to the second floor of the National

Bank Building. A few years later, it relocated to the ground floor of the same building. (22193 Michigan). It was there for 17 years.

The Bank of Dearborn remodeled, forcing the reading room to move to 5547 Schaefer near Ford Road It was at this location from 1955 to 1961. A new site at 22119 Michigan Ave. Was then obtained.

The reading room is maintained by the First Church of Christ, Scientist.

•

(From Dearborn Historical Museum files history) On May 13, 1917, a few people interested in Christian

Science met at one of their homes and decided to bold Christian Science services. In August 1917, the Dearborn Theater was rented for Sunday morning and Wednesday evening services.

In January 1920, a more suitable location was found i n the American State Bank building. In July 1920, a lot was purchased on Morley Avenue, upon which a frame church building was immediately started. It would seat about 60.

In November 1923, a Christian Science Society was or­ganized, consisting of 17 members. A reading room was provided for i n the rear of the church building where the Bible, all of the writings of Maty Baker Eddy, and Christian Science literature could be read or purchased. Besides the Sunday morning and Wednesday evening services, the Sun­day School was started for the children.

In 1928, needing a better place for holding services, the auditorium of the Dearborn Masonic Temple was leased for services. A room was rented i n the same building for a reading room. Services were held there for almost five years.

In May 1929, the tide First Church of Christ, Scientist was granted to the society by die mother church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston.

In 1933, the little church building on Morley Avenue was

enlarged, and members returned there for their services. With a new church edifice i n view, another lot was pur­

chased at the corner of Morley and Monroe. •

(From Dearborn Press, Page 14, June 17,1959) Formal dedicatory rites for the First Church of Christ,

Scientist, church edifice at 22000 Morley, were held during three services Sunday, June 14.

Dating back to May 13,1917, when the first students of Christian Science met in Dearborn, the group has grown steadily.

The founders met at the home of one of the readers at Nowlin and Monroe. The following Sunday, another atten­dant joined them and served as pianist. Gradually, the num­ber grew.

By August 1918, both Sunday services and Wednesday evening meetings were held i n the old Dearborn Theater building. Later, the group moved to the American State Bank budding.

The need for a church of their own became more appar­ent. In July, they purchased a lot at Morley near Howe. The first church was erected and ready for occupancy on Sept. 10. Within four years, an extension was added to house a reading room.

On Nov. 19, 1928, the group was recognized by the Mother Church, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, i n Boston, as a Christian Science Society,

Still expanding, the Society leased the Masonic Temple for services, Sunday School and the reading room. It was granted the title First Church of Christ, Scientist, Dearborn, on May 24,1929.

The first of the three lots on which the present church stands was purchased i n 1932. B y 1942, plans were under­way for construction of one unit of a two-unit building. A second lot on Morley adjacent to the corner was purchased and the third was given to the church.

Construction of the Sunday School unit was begun in October 1944. Ground was broken for the main edifice i n 1947. The first services were held there in December 1949. The goal now became to retire the financial obhgation of the final unit as no Christian Science Church can be dedicated until it is free of debt.

To better serve the community and congregation needs, two sessions of Sunday School were begun in 1951. In spring 1955, two Sunday morning services were instituted.

In September, the Reading Room was moved from the Michigan Avenue location where it had been for 22 years to its present location at 5547 Schaefer.

•

The reason the First Church of Christ, Scientist, building at 22000 Morley was not dedicated unttt June 14, 1959, was because church doctrine states that no Christian Scientist building may be dedicated until it is fully paid for.

The first Christian Scientist service was held May 13, 1917, i n the home of one of the readers at Monroe and Nowlin.

B y August 1918, services were held i n the old Dearborn Theater building (Calvin?). Church officials purchased a lot on Morley near Howe and built its first home. The first service was held Sept. 10,1919.

The Mother Church, First Church of Christ, Scientist, in

Boston, reorganized the local congregation into a Christian Science Society.

The building soon became too small, so services were held i n the leased Dearborn Masonic Temple. The society was granted the title First Church of Christ, Scientist, Dear­born, by the Mother Church May 24,1929.

The first of three lots of the present church was pur­chased i n 1932. In the meantime, the existing church was remodeled to handle the demands of the congregation.

The reading room was moved i n 1942 to the National Bank building on Michigan Avenue.

The second lot was purchased i n August 1942. The third lot was given tot he church. A Sunday school unit was built on the site October 1944-January 1945. The first service was held i n this unit Jan. 14,1945.

Ground was broken for the main bufiding i n 1948. The first service was heldshere Dec. 4, 1949. The reading room then moved to a site oh Schaefer i n September 1958. It later was relocated to a storefront on Michigan Avenue between Monroe and Mason.

EPISCOPAL Christ Episcopal Church Address: 120 N. Military at Cherry Hill Established: 1866 First Building: Current site of Jacobson's

Christ Episcopal's first service as an. organized church was held Dec. 29,1866,

•

The original site of Christ Episcopal Church was on Michigan Avenue where Jacobson's is now. A plaque sits on a pillar i n front of the store. The cornerstone for the current Christ Episcopal Church was laid Sept. 19, 1948.

The church was founded by the Rev. W . N . Myster, a traveling missionary who held services i n the homes of M r . McFadden and M r . Haigh.

In 1944, Clara Bryant donated land for the church's current building.

• (from Dearborn Guide, P9, May 19,1960) This evening wi l l be a memorable one for members of

Christ Episcopal Church, a date they've marked on their calendars for several weeks.

At 8 p.m., the Rt. Rev. Richard S. Emrich, bishop of Michigan, w i l l conduct the solemn rite of consecration at the church, 120 N . Military.

The ceremony wi l l consist of Bishop Emrich knocking on the church door with a crosier. He wi l l be met by clergy members of Christ Church, the Rev. Edward R . A . Green, rector; the Rev. loe D . Mi l l s , and the Rev. Fred Nicholson, and wardens Jim Gillespie and Richard Zitzmann, plus members of the vestry.

A reception in the undercroft w i l l follow the service. The mortgage wi l l be burned and a movie wi l l show the church's history. There wi l l also be an historical exhibit of the church since its beginning, including many treasures of the parish such as communion vessels, linens and new eucharistic vestments.

George Bentley is chairman of the evening. He is being assisted by Col. Carl Aslderdyce, Howard Varian, Rex Waddell, Irving Fey, Mrs. Robert Shoens, Mrs. John Far-quharson and Mrs. Edward Cushman.

Actually, the formation of Christ Church began i n 1850 when first services were held by traveling missionaries in the tiny farming village of Dearbornville. The parish was officially organized i n 1866. The very first vestry consisted of Michael McFadden, Richard Haigh, Richard Somers, Henry Ford (an uncle of the auto magnate), Capt. J.H. Smy-ser, George W. Haigh, Dr. E.S. Snow, John Cosbey, John Probert and JohnM. Farland.

Eventually, a lot was secured on Michigan Avenue (then known as Plank Road) on what is now vacant prop­erty next to the Detroit Edison Company offices. The first Christ Church building was completed i n 1871.

Expansion continued during the various terms of rec­tors. However, when the Rev. Hedley G. Stacey became* rector in 1925 (he served i n this capacity for 26 years), it was evident the congregation was fast outgrowing its first small church. Then the depression and World War I inter­fered, forcing a delay i n the building program.

A red-letter day was i n May 1948, when Mrs. Henry

CHURCHES Ford turned the first sod for the new church on Military. She and M r . Ford donated the land. First services were held there Apr i l 10, 1949.

Rev. Stacey retired i n 1951 and was succeeded by Rev. Green.

In 1952, Christ Church established a mission, St. A n ­drew's Church i n Livonia. Another mission, St. David's in Garden City, was instigated i n 1955.

Another undertaking of the church was Stacey Hal l , a parish house named i n honor of former Rector Stacey. It was completed i n 1955.

In 1958, Christ Church began a capital improvements program which to date has resulted i n the purchase of a clergy residence at 135 Tannahill and re-surfacing and en­largement of the church parking lot.

•

(from Dearborn Press, PlO-CJidy 18,1968) In 1918, Christ Church was self-supporting for the first

time since the days of its beginnings at the old Arsenal. The parish income for the second time i n over 50 years ex­ceeded a thousand dollars.

Beginnings of the church had been made about 1864. It was served i n its initial years by missionary ministers. A room i n the fort served as a chapel when it was officially organized in 1866.

The first church building was erected on Michigan Ave­nue and Howard and consecrated in 1876.

With abandonment of the fort, however, the church soon began to struggle for its existence, and for a period followed when the church was without a minister, indeed, being about to contribute only $200 a year toward his salary i n 1911, the church could hardly afford one.

Missionary assistance, especially from St. Peter's church i n Detroit contributed more than half of the church's total budget i n these years, and the church was hardly able to eke out an existence. In 1910, the number of families i n the church was given as 70, the number of souls, 160.

In 1917, Dearborn began to grow as Detroit spilled over its boundaries into the surrounding area. The mass produc­tion of automobiles i n which one of Christ Church's own, Henry Ford, played so important a role, was making car ownership possible for many.

It was becoming practical to live i n Dearborn and work i n Detroit. The first part of the Ford empire to be located i n Dearborn, the tractor plant, had just been started near Michigan and Elm. In 1918, was to come the beginning of the Rouge Industrial complex.

M r . and Mrs. Ford themselves moved back to Dearborn i n 1915 and into their mansion Fair Lane. Both of them, especially Mrs. Ford, attended services and took part in church activities.

In 1918, the church had no rectory, and i n 1919, the Rev. Philip Schenk used the intenrrban to come to Dear­born from his home i n A n n Arbor; i n the village, he walked and rode a bicycle.

With the arrival of Schenk, there began a period of growth, steady, rather than spectacular. Improvement i n the physical facilities received considerable attention at this time because they had been neglected for many years.

In October 1919, because there was no money to hire the work done, several of the parishioners put i n a cement floor in the dark little hole where the furnace stood. The group included Roy Bryant, Wilson Jackson, E d Moore and Harry Snow.

The church continued to grow slowly i n spite of the f i ­nancial setbacks of the Depression until a spurt caused by the building of the present church took place. Mrs. Henry Ford turned the first sod for the new church at Military and Cherry H i l l onMay 3,1948.

Since Christ Church's announced i n the initial issue of the Dearborn Press, the congregation has increased ten fold with the church now serving 860 families.

Episcopal Church of Good Shepherd Address: 4138 Williams at Colgate Established: March 1954 Closed:????

The congregation used Mayfair School for services until a sanctuary could be built.

Groundbreaking was Sept. 15, 1957, for a $50,000 chapel-classroom at 4130 Williams. It could accommodate 120. The classroom space could hold 25 children. First services in the sanctuary were held May 18, 1958.

A new sanctuary was bmlt i n 1966. Ground-breaking was July 24, 1966, on the same site as the former church, but with a slightly different address (4130 then, 4138 now).

St Bartholomew's Episcopal Mission Address: Kendal at Colson Established: 1926

The mission's first service was held Sept. 12, 1926, at Schaefer Hall at Schaefer and Michigan Avenue. The Rev. Hedley Stacey was first pastor.

The church bought the lot and cottage at Kendal and Colson i n Apr i l 1927. Its last service at Schaefer Hal l was May 14,1927. Its first service i n its new building was May 21,1927.

The altar i n the new building was donated by St. Matthias Church inDetroit June 27,1927.

The church continued operation at least through No­vember 1927. Its minister at this time was Ralph W. Guy.

St David's Episcopal Address: 27500 Marquette, Garden City Established: 1955

This church was started as a mission of Christ Episco­pal Church of Dearborn i n 1955.

Ground was broken for the sanctuary on Marquette west of Inkster Road on a four-acre site June 23,1957.

St, Elizabeth Episcopal Address: Beech Daly at West Chicago Established: 1956

This church was started as a mission of St. Martha Episcopal Church i n 1956.

The mission was initiated Jan. 9, 1956. The first service of the mission was held at what was called Arthur Vanden-

burgHigh School, 24901 Cathedral, Nov. 25,1956.

St Martha's Episcopal Address: 15801 Joy Road near Greenfield Established: 1954

The parish was founded i n the kindergarten room of Ruddiman School Feb. 15, 1948, as St. Bartholomew's. It was a parochial mission of St. Matthia's Church of Detroit. The Michigan Episcopal diocese wanted to start a congre­gation i n what was then an up-and-coming part of Detroit.

The first service was organized by William I. Johnson, who was later ordained to theDiaconate.

A store building at 19331 Joy Road was rented later that year for services. The first service there was conducted by the Rev. Robert C. Holmes Oct. 31, 1948. The congregation moved 15 months later to a former army chapel at Joy Road and Stahelin made available by St. Andrew's Methodist Church.

The mission prospered and, i n 1951, was given Dioce­san status. The mission had outgrown its present building, and a new facility was needed. Members of the congrega­tion asked Clara Bryant Ford i f she would sell the land sur­rounding the family cemetery on Joy Road west of Green­field. A t the time, a small guard house with a guard on duty 24 hours a day was at the cemetery.

Mrs. Ford reportedly liked the idea of having a church with an active congregation and buddings and surrounding yard similar to the rural parishes of England around the cemetery instead of the guard and guard house.

She donated 8.5 acres adjacent to the Ford family ceme­tery and $1 million to the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan in June 1950 for the construction of the church buildings. Later donations of land increased the property to its current size of nearly 22 acres.

The donation was based on one condition: the name of the church had to be changed to St. Martha's. Martha was Clara Ford's mother's name. The Fords had already built six Martha and Mary churches throughout the country.

Ground was broken for the sanctuary June 22, 1952. The cornerstone was officially laid Oct. 5, 1952. The first service i n the new sanctuary was held Oct. 18, 1953. The church was formally consecrated May 26,1954.

In September 1954, the church began legal proceedings to seek parish status. This was granted i n January 1955 and St. Martha's was admitted to the union with the Diocese of Michigan.

S t Martha's formally initiated St. Elizabeth's Mission Jan. 9, 1956, which would eventually be at Beech Daly and West Chicago. St. Elizabeth would not become a parish for two decades.

This mission initially met i n what was called Arthur Vandenburg High School, 24901 Cathedral. The first serv­ice was held Nov. 25,1956.

During its nearly 40-year history, St. Martha's has had only three rectors: the Rev. Walter Fry (1952-69), for whom the church library is named; the Rev. Edwin A. Griswold (1970-84); and the Rev. Stephen Bartlett (1985-94).

As of 1996, the rectory was used as the Diocesan School of Theology. The sexton's house was rented several times, but was at this time back under church control. The lower level of the church was used by Martha's Closet, a resale shop whose profits provided a significant part of the church's budget.

Agape Community Church also leased the sanctuary on Sunday afternoon for services of its own.

The campus consists of three buildings, all of modified English-parish style; the church proper with attached par­ish house, the rectory and the sexton's resident and garage.

The main part of the church seats about 400 - 258 i n the nave, 50 i n Bartholomew's Chapel, 28 i n the baptistery and 27 i n the chancel, intended for the choir.

v

LUTHERAN CHURCHES Church changes

In 1930, the OMo, Iowa and Buffalo Synods merged and became the American Lutheran Church Synod.

In 1960, the Texas Synod joined and the synod reorgan­ized to become The American Lutheran Church Synod (big T on "the").

• The 107th annual convention of the Michigan Synod of

the United Lutheran Church i n America was held May 15, 1961, at Hope Lutheran Church.

The membership voted to merge the United Lutheran Church i n America with the American Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Augustina (?) Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Finnish (Suomi) Evangelical Lutheran Church into one.

The new church was known as the Lutheran Church of America.

The actual organization took place June 28-July 1,1961, atCoboHall.

Atonement Lutheran Address: 6981 Mead Established: 1925 Church Dedicated: Jan. 7, 1934

Church was founded by the Rev. Paul Boeder, who came to area to assemble a Lutheran congregation. First services were held i n a bungalow next to site of current sanctuary.

Church was founded as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Atonement. The sanctuary was called the Bungalow Church. ' .

Ground was broken for the current sanctuary Aug. 20, 1933. Building was expected to be completed by Nov. 15, 1933, but was delayed slightly. The building was dedicated Jan 7,1934. Cost was $15,000.

The church had gone from a mission with a few members to a congregation of 250 i n eight years.

Auqsbura Lutheran Church Address; 24801 W. Chicago west of Telegraph, Redford

Township Established: 19??

In operation i n 1964.

Berea Lutheran Church Address: Dearborn Township Established: 19??

In existence i n 1945 somewhere i n Dearborn Township.

Cherry Hill Lutheran Address: 24544 Cherry Hill Established: 1947

Cherry H i l l Lutheran is the original name of Guardian Lutheran Church. See that church for more information.

Christus Victor Lutheran Address: 25535 Ford Road Original Name: Ford Road Lutheran Church Name Changed: April 1963, became effective June 1,1963 Original Location: 24921 Ford Road at Silvery Lane Established: January 1947 by Rev. V.J. Luetzow. First Building: Ground broken in October 1947. First service

in the new building was in July 1948. Moved: 1963

The Rev. V . J. Luetzow started with a Sunday school and the first service in the chapel of his home's basement on

Kingsbury Street in January 1946. Ground was broken for the church at Silvery Lane and Ford Road i n October 1947. The new building was dedicated July 11,1948.

• Christus Victor Lutheran Church was founded i n January

1947 as Ford Road American Lutheran Church by the Rev. Victor J. Luetzow. The church was initiated by Rev. Sund of St. Paul's Lutheran Church as a mission church.

The first service was held i n Luetzow's home at 1754 Kingsbury. Luetzow started with a Sunday school and chapel i n his basement.

When ground was broken for the first church building i n October 1947 at Ford Road and Silvery Lane, the church was up to two worship services and a Sunday school session per week. The sanctuary was dedicated July 11,1948.

A new sanctuary was built at 25535 Ford Road i n 1963-64. Ground breaking was i n June 1963. As part of this move to a new church, the church's name was changed to Christus Victor Lutheran Church. The name is derived from a Latin term which expresses the triumphant aspect of Christ's atonement.

Christus Victor vacated its sanctuary i n October 1963 so the new tenants, Dearborn First Church of the Nazarene could move in. Christus Victor then held services at Clark School in Dearborn until its new sanctuary was completed.

The building later was used by Detroit Impact, which moved back to Detroit in 1995.

It finally occupied its new sanctuary Sept. 20, 1964, after nine years of planning and one year of construction. Cost was $350,000. It seats 430.

Divinity Lutheran Church Location: Springwells at Senator, Detroit Established: in operation in 1925

Church operated at least i n 1925.

English Lutheran Mission Location: Met at Schaefer Hall First Service: Oct. 25, 1925

In December 1925, the Springwells Independent referred to the church as Springwells Lutheran Mission. In 1931, an English Lutheran Church was fisted as being at 36 E . Lap-ham.

Evergreen Lutheran Address: 8680 Evergreen at Joy Road 'Established: 1945

Evergreen Lutheran opened in 1945. During its first 40 years, it had only three pastors. The church's first service was i n Dixon School. The current church was built shortly after that.

A church school serving children i n grades K-8 opened i n 1956. It has since closed.

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Location: Lots 271 and 279 of Sweet's Ford Dearborn Sub­

division Established: In operation at least October 1946

This church was i n operation at least in October 1946.

First English Lutheran Church of Dearborn Location: 23300 Oxford at Queen Established: June 1926

Closed:1969 Affiliation: United English Lutheran Church of America

First English Lutheran Church of Dearborn was founded when dissention arose at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. E m ­manuel's pastor, George Ristow, resigned to create a new congregation and took several members with him.

The small group did not organize until Apr i l 15, 1926, when they created the First English Lutheran Church of Dearborn.

Among the charter members were M r . and Mrs. Will iam Fisher, M r . and Mrs. Louis Roth Jr., M r . and Mrs. Herman Blankertz, M r . and Mrs. Fred Meng, M r . and Mrs. John Ziegler and Ernest Wendlend.

For about a year, services were held in the Veteran's Hal l on Monroe and then i n the Calvin Theatre building.

In 1928, they built their own church at 23700 Oxford. The plans were drawn by Morton H . Ingall Construction. The cost of the building was $10,000.

^ •

(from Thursday, Juhe 2, 1927 Press FT) The First English Lutheran Church of Dearborn will

celebrate its first arrniversary Sunday, June 5, with a morn­ing service delivered by Rev. George J. Ristow, in the Calvin theater and an afternoon service at the high school audit­orium.

The English Lutheran Church of Dearborn was organized a year ago after a great deal of forethought and discussion on the part of the originators. The necessity for such a place of worship had long been realized by the charter members, and on the last Sunday i n Apr i l , 1926, at 3 p.m. this newly or­ganized congregation met in the Veteran's hah for their first divine service. A few months later the use of the new Calvin theater was granted for the purpose and services have since been held there.-'

Though small i n number, the members of the congrega­tion have been most faithful and the litrle church is prosper­ing at a remarkable rate.

The church dedicated its sanctuary at Oxford and Queen Nov. 23, 1930.

The church had 30 members i n 1959. The sanctuary sat 50.

First English Lutheran Church, 23300 Oxford, disbanded sometime i n early 1969. The church and land was sold to the city May 1, 1969 for $9,000. The city planned to raze the building so it could be put to residential use.

Before demolition, the city put up a sign at the church saying everything i n the church was free for the taking. The stripping of the building by people turned into a problem. Local residents complained this invited the dangerous play­ing i n the building by children.

Ford Road American Lutheran Address: 24921 Ford Road at Silvery Lane Established: January 1947 by Rev. V.J. Luetzow, First ser­

vice January 1947 in the home of Rev. V.J. Luetzow Now: Christus Victor Lutheran Church. Name Changed: April 1963, became effective June 1, 1963 Later Uses of Sanctuary: Dearborn First Church of the

Nazarene, then Detroit Impact, which moved to Detroit in 1995. (See Christus Victor for more information.)

Gloria Christi Lutheran Address: 4411 Detroit at Lehigh Established: ???

The church was i n operation at least 1981-86, In 1961, the bufiding was used by Brethren in Christ

Church.

Good Hope Evangelical Lutheran Address: 6661 Oakman at Littlefield Established: Dec. 5, 1889

The congregation was founded Dec. 5, 1889. Early on, the church was called Good Hope National L u ­

theran Church. A sanctuary was built at Post and South Streets i n south­

west Detroit in 1900. The sanctuary was opened i n 1934. At some point around this time, the church reaffiliated

and became Good Hope American Lutheran Church. Services started being held i n McDonald School Jan. 5,

1947, although it still occasionally used its old sanctuary for some services.

By this time, the church owned land at Oakman and L i t ­tlefield and planned to start construction as soon as condi­tions permit (presumably good weather).

The last service i n its Post-South street sanctuary was held March 5,1949.

The new sanctuary was dedicated Jan. 14,1951.

Guardian Lutheran Address: 24544 Cherry Hill Established: 1947 Church Dedication: Sept. 19,1948 Name Chosen: Before 1950

This church began as Cherry H i l l Lutheran Sunday School sometime between 1944 and 1946. In 1944, the Rev. Robert Bannon was sent by the synod to investigate site pos­sibilities for a new Lutheran church i n northwest Dearborn i n 1944.

His first effort was the formation of Cherry H i l l Lutheran Sunday School. The first newspaper reference was found i n spring 1946 when classes met i n York (Howard) School. The advertisement for the school starting i n early M a y said classes then met at Coburn (Haigh) School.

Sometime i n June 1947, the Rev. T.H. Voss was assigned pastorship of Cherry H i l l Lutheran Sunday School with the assignment he start a full-fledged Lutheran church. The an­nouncement of his goal was made July 1,1947, Voss helped form Our Redeemer Lutheran Church two years prior to this.

About this time, the block facing Cherry H i l l between Denwood and Lafayette was purchased for the construction of anew church.

The first service was said at 10:45 a.m. Sunday Sept. 7 at Coburn School. Services were continued to be said there until the church was completed. Sunday school continued to meet at 9:30 a.m. Sundays with services said at 10:45 a.m.

Guardian Lutheran Church had 81 members when its charter was received in 1948. Its first sanctuary, a ranch-

• style chapel, was formally dedicated Sept. 19,1948. In 1997, the church had 1,654 baptized members, of whom 1,203 were confirmed.

The parish hall was completed March 28,1954.

Hope Lutheran Church Address: 3640 Madison at Carlysle Established: Sept. 15, 1946 (organized as congregation

March 16, 1947). Building Dedicated: Oct. 30,1960

Hope Lutheran Church first met i n Penn School (Nowlin School). The first organizational meeting was held June 16, 1946. The first services were Sept. 15, 1946. The congrega­tion was officially organized March 16,1947.

The first service in the original sanctuary was said July 10,1949.

The new sanctuary was built i n 1960. The first service i n this building was held Jtme 5, 1960. The dedication service

•was held Oct 30, 1960. Its cost was $225,000. It seats 440 with an overflow capacity of 100 i n the lobby.

•

(From June 1997P&G, 1-B) In spring 1946, when the Rev. Homer Berner was scout­

ing southwest Dearborn to determine the feasibility of a new local church around there, the area was just beginning to develop.

Subdivisions were just starting to be built. The first sec­tion of Nowlin School (then called Penn School), the wing fronting Penn Street, was under construction.

Fourteen people held an organizational meeting Sunday, June 16, 1946, at the home of Roland Zick. Will iam Schaef-fer, a student at Hamma Divinity School, conducted a wor­ship service at that meeting.

The Board of American Missions of the United Lutheran Church called the Rev. Walter E . Koepf to help develop a Lutheran mission i n southwest Dearborn. A house at 3536 West Point was purchased for use as a parsonage.

Hope Lutheran Church was established Sept. 15, al­though the congregation was not officially organized until March 16,1947. It had 80 charter members. Temporarily, services were conducted at Penn (Nowlin) School.

The Rev. Koepf agreed Sept. 11, 1947, to become Hope Lutheran's first pastor. He served until Nov. 30,1949. Dur­ing his tenure, four lots were purchased on the north side of Carlysle between Madison and Syracuse as a future church site.

Ground was broken for the first sanctuary March 13, 1949.

The Rev. Carl F . Kaltreider took over pastorate duties at the church June 11, 1950. Three months later on Sept. 17, the new sanctuary was dedicated. The Rev. Kaltreider served until Feb. 1,1955, when he resigned to accept another post.

That summer, the church bought additional lots on Syra­cuse.

The Rev. Daniel S. Rolik arrived Aug. 1, 1955, and be­gan a pastorship that was to last nearly four decades.

In fall 1957, the congregation bought a house on Law Street to be' used as a more appropriate parsonage.

The current sanctuary was built i n 1959-60. The educa­tional wing was built i n 1970.

"We had bidding dedications i n 1950, '60 and '70," said the Rev. Harold Schlachtenhaufen, current pastor of Hope Lutheran.

Of the original church, the pews were given to Good Hope Lutheran Church i n Garden City. When that church budt its current sanctuary, the pews were given to another mission church - Prince of Peace on Ford Road. The pews are still used there today.

The pulpit and altar were given to Shalom Lutheran Church inPinckney.

• The Rev. Walter E . Koepf, recently discharged navy

chaplain, moved into the parsonage at 3536 West Point with his family to organize a mission congregation of the Ameri­can Missions of United Lutheran Church of America.

Lots were purchased at Carlysle and Madison. The first services were held i n the home of Roland Zick,

23912 Kean. When Penn School (now Nowlin) was opened in fall 1946, services were moved there. The first service there was Sept 15,1946.

The name Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church was cho­sen in early September 1946.

• The congregation first worshipped i n its current sanctu­

ary June 5,1960. The building cost $225,000. It seats 440.

Immanuel Evangelical Church of Fordson Address: Met in Recreation Building on Schaefer Established: 1927 Later Name: Immanuel United Lutheran Church

Church was organized as a Sunday school Aug. 7, 1927, in connection with the Emmanuel United Lutheran Church.

Presumably, the name was changed about 1929 after Fordson and Dearborn merged. This church was then called Immanuel United Lutheran. It continued to meet i n the Rec­reation Ha l l at least into summer 1931.

This church apparenfly has no connection to the Imman­uel United Lutheran Church now on Ann Arbor Trai l at Inkster Road Lutheran Church of Our Master Address: 821 (nksterRoad, Inkster Established: 1952

The Lutheran Church of Our Master held its first service ' Nov. 16, 1952. Its founding pastor was the Rev. Lenhart E . Etzel.

Church began its building program i n November 1962. Its educational building was dedicated Feb. 26,1967.

Mt Hope Lutheran Address: 5323 Southfield, Allen Park Established: ????

Sanctuary dedicated Nov. 10,1968.

Our Redeemer Lutheran Address: 24931 Union Established: 1945 First Building: Notre Dame at Telegraph

Our Redeemer was started i n January 1945 as a mission congregation by the Rev. Robert O. Bannon. This church was an offshoot of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, which helped in its formation. Our Redeemer is said to be the daughter church of Emmanuel Lutheran.

Our Redeemer was origmalty simply called Lutheran Mission. The services were held in an old army barracks at 24038 Notre Dame and Telegraph. Initially, Sunday school met at 10 a.m. Sundays with services at 11 a.m. Bannon served as pastor 1945-56.

Fast growth of the congregation necessitated the enlarg­ing of the building a couple of years later with the dedication held Oct 24,1948.

In 1951, the church needed a new budding due to present church no longer able to handle its growing congregation.

.The church eyed a site on the east side of Telegraph at Notre Dame, but the construction of O.L. Smith Junior High School planned for the immediate future stopped tha plan.

The church finally bought land at Union and Westwood several blocks west of its current budding for a new home. It had the land rezoned for church use. It also had to get an O K from the N P A (National Production Authority) to obtain the necessary materials for construction due to the Korean War conflict. It got the O K i n March 1952. Ground was broken June 29 for the $140,000 sanctuary. It was completed i n February 1953.

A youth building and a gymnasium were added i n 1962 to meet the needs of the growing congregation. Ground­breaking for this was Dec. 25, 1962. Expansion included parish hall and eight Sunday school classrooms. Cost was $200,000. Work completed October 1963.

Our Redeemer has served the community well by provid­ing meeting areas for senior citizens, A I M and recovery

groups, to name a few. The nursery school was started i n 1964 and still busties daily with 2-, 3 -,' and 4-year-olds.

Numerous groups within the church provide the members with the opportunity to serve the Lord with their talents and enjoy the fellowship of other Christians.

The foundation of the church's teaching is that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose from the dead for all people, which is the central message of God's word.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Address: 19100 Ford Road Established: 1955 Synod: Ohio

Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church held its first organizational meeting i n June 1954.

Its first service was Jan. 16, 1955, at the Carpenter's Un­ion'Hall , 16427 W. Warren, Detroit, as a mission of the Michigan Synod. Its charter membership was 370.

Services continued' to be conducted here until a perma­nent home could be built

The congregation chose a site at Southfield and Dayton, three blocks south of Warren Avenue. It lost the site when plans for the Southfield Freeway about to be budt included using this land for part of the new roadway;

Members then bought land from the Ford Motor Co. Ground was broken for its sanctuary July 5, 1959, 4.5 years after it was organized. The first service in the A-frame sanc­tuary was held Feb. 28, 1960. The completed structure was dedicated Feb. 11,1962.

The educational wing was bruit i n 1979. Ground was broken Apri l 1. The dedication was Oct. 7.

Protestant Lutheran Address: Mel in Schaefer Hall, Schaefer near Michigan Ave­

nue In Operation: At least 1927

Listed in the 1927 Fordson City Directory.

St Michael Lutheran Address: 5358 S. Jim Daly Road Established: ????

Church was i n operation at least 1949-51. First listed i n Dearborn City Directory i n 1949.

United English Lutheran Location: Chase Road at Ford Road Established: ????

Church was in operation at least i n summer 1931 at Chase Road and Ford Road.

Missouri Synod Churches (1964) • Atonement Lutheran • Emmanuel Lutheran • Guardian Lutheran • Lutheran Church of Our Master • Our Redeemer Lutheran

Evangelical Churches (1964) • Goad Hope Lutheran + Hope Lutheran (?) • Prince of Peace Lutheran

American Churches (1964) • Ford Road Lutheran (Christus Victor) • St. Paul Lutheran

Missouri Synod Churches • Atonement Lutheran • Emmanuel Lutheran • Guardian Lutheran • Our Redeemer Lutheran

ELCA Synod Churches • Christus Victor Lutheran • Hope Lutheran • Immanuel Lutheran • Prince of Peace Lutheran • St. Paul Lutheran

EMMANUEL LUTHERAN Emmanuel Lutheran Address: 800 S. Military Established: 1895 Church Dedicated: Dec. 15, 1928

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church was started as a mis­sion of Emmanuel Lutheran in 1945. Plans were to start another mission church i n May 1946 i n the Dearborn Hills area. Guardian Lutheran Church was started i n this area, but no reference to assistance from Emmanuel Lutheran can be found.

• Emmanuel Lutheran Church dedicated its new sanctu­

ary on the southwest corner of Military and Morley May 3, 1959, across the street from its original frame budding, erected i n 1895.

That budding received extensive renovations resulting in the current brick structure.

The final time Emmanuel Lutheran used its former church was May 3, 1959. The cornerstone of that building was incorporated into the new building.

The church bell, silent since summer 1958, was in­stalled i n the new church's tower and was rung for the new church's dedication.

The new church has seating for more than 500, plus 200 i n the overflow i n the north transept.

The new $400,000 church was built adjoining the Christian Day School building, dedicated i n 1955.

•

Emmanuel Lutheran Church began work on its new sanctuary in 1928 i n the same site as its first building, which was erected 34 years before.

The church dedicated its current sanctuary, on the southwest corner of Mili tary and Morley, i n 1959.

•

(From July 26, 1945, Dbn. Press, P. 1) On Sunday, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Military and

Morley avenues, w i l l celebrate the 50th anniversary of its organization with a festival service at 11 a.m. The Rev. M.R. Kluender, of Maywood, 111., w i l l be the guest speaker. Pastor H.F. Hensick w i l l act as hturgist The choir, under the direction of A l v i n Wied, wi l l render special music.

Later i n the fall, the congregation wi l l continue the ob­servance of its golden anniversary with a series of special services.

Emmanuel Congregation was organized July 28, 1895, after services had been held here intermittently by pastors from Detroit. Its first officers were: trustees Christian Thiel, Gottfried Hebestreitt and Louis Rechlin Sr.; elders, John Lange, William Ziegler and Eriedrich Sylvester.

The first pastor was the Rev. Henry Behrens. Under his leadership, the property on Military and Morley was bought for $600, and a frame church erected i n 1896, at a cost of about $2,000.

When Pastor Behrens was forced to resign in 1905 be­cause of i l l health, he was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Panhorst, who served until 1908; he, i n turn, by the Rev. Geo. J. Ristow. After Pastor Ristow's resignation i n 1921, Pastor H.F. Hensick of Madison, Neb., was called and has held the office since.

In 1928, the church was rebuilt at a cost of $32,000. Ten years later, a two-manual, Reuter pipe organ was installed,

and i n 1941, a set of Deagan chimes added. Following Lutheran tradition, the congregation has al­

ways provided a thorough course of instruction i n the fun­damentals of the Christian religion, by means of the Sun­day School, and classes for church membership by confir­mation, both children's and adults. Last year, a Christian Day School was established. The congregation bought ad­ditional property across from the church and erected a tem­porary school building. A lv in Wied, a graduate of Concor­dia Teachers College at Seward, Neb., was called to take charge. In September, the school opened with an enroll­ment of 40. A l l eight grades are represented.

The school meets all of the reqnirements of the state Department of Education, besides devoting an hour a day to religious instruction. Six pupils were graduated for the eighth grade this June. The prospects for future growth of

* the school appear very bright. With a communicant membership of 350, Emmanuel

Church is served by the following church officers: presi­dent M a x F . Schmidt; elders, Henry Malvitz, Carl Staud-acher, George Weber; board of education, Ernest G. Sutton, George Dreher, Arthur E . Carlson; trustees, Clarence Hunt, Carl Johnson, Niles Rechlin; financial secretary, Clemens Glotzhober; treasurer, Glenn S. Brown; recording secretary, Alfred Engelder.

•

(From Oct 1,1970, Dbn. Press) Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Military at Morley, w i l l

celebrate a milestone i n its service to the community Oct. 4 when i t marks 75 years of serving the spiritual needs of the community of Dearborn.

A small group of courageous citizens organized the new congregation July 28, 1895. Records show first officers of the group, mainly of German ancestry, were trustees Chris­tian Thiel, Gottfried Heberstreit, Louis Rechlin Sr.; elders Johann Lange, Wilhelm Ziegler and Friederich Sylvester.

The first pastor of the fledgling body, the Rev. Henry Behrens, wasn't installed until March 1, 1896. First recep­tion of newly confirmed members followed on March 29. They were: Christian Sylvester, Will iam Kaschafsky and Dorothea Ziegler. In 1905, after 10 years of faithful service, Pastor Behrens was forced to resign because of i l l health. He was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Panhorst, who served until accepting a call to Petoskey in 1908.

The Rev. George J. Ristow replaced Pastor Panhorst and served until 1921, when the Rev. H.F. Hensick was called as pastor. The 35-year pastorate of M r . Hensick has been the longest at Emmanuel to date. Upon retirement in 1951, Pastor Hensick was given the title of pastor emeritus.

The present pastor, the Rev. John M . Gagern, was in ­stalled as assistant pastor July 18, 1948, and with the re­tirement of Pastor Hensick assumed the full pastorate.

Located on Morley near Military, the school grew from a humble one-room building to its present eight rooms, ininistering to more than 215 of the parish children. Like the school, church membership took on new proportions. From 350 communicant members in 1945, it has grown to nearly 1,400 today.

IMMANUEL Immanuel United Lutheran Address: 27035 Ann Arbor Trail Established: 1865 in Detroit

(from Sept. 5, 1968, PI4, DH Leader, andDbn Guide.) Century-old Tmmanuel Lutheran Church, Missouri

Synod, the mother church of westside Detroit Lutheranism, wi l l dedicate its new church next Sunday, Sept 8 (1968). The church is at 27035 Arm Arbor Trail and Mercedes, just east of Inkster Road i n Dearborn Heights. General contrac­tor is Mario Autunno Construction of Dearborn.

The morning service of dedication wi l l be conducted by the pastor, the Rev. C. Trosien, who has been pastor of Immanuel since 1953.vThis service wi l l begin at 10:30 a.m.

A n afternoon sendee of praise and thanksgiving wi l l be held at 3:30 p.m., with the Rev. Paul J. Gold, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Detroit, and Immanuers sec­ond oldest daughter congregation, delivering the sermon. The Rev. Daniel Richert of St. Paul Lutheran Church, New Boston, wi l l be the liturgist. H.F. Burger wi l l be at the or­gan for both services.

Immanuel had its beginning on 7th Street, south of Michigan Avenue, i n Detroit However, facilities were too inadequate to care for the rapid growth. Thus it is was de­cided to acquire a larger church and school. In August 1865, a site was purchased on Trumbull Avenue, north of Michigan, near the present site of Tiger Stadium.

Here, the membership of Immanuel increased rapidly, and property was purchased on 17th and Pine, just north of Michigan Avenue i n 1872. The church continued on 17th and Pine until 1966, when it was cleared for the construc­tion of a modern freeway (1-75). Since then, the congrega­tion has been holding services i n the Hillcrest School, Dearborn Heights.

After much discussion, the congregation decided to re­locate to Dearborn Heights, since there was no longer place for Immanuel i n the inner city.

When Immanuel observed its gold amiiversary i n 1915, it had helped to establish directiy or indirectiy 13 congre­gations and still had a membership of almost 1,000.

The Lutheran churches established directly or indirectiy by Immanuel were Bethlehem, McKinstry near Porter; Zion, Military near Michigan; Emmaus, 12th and Lysan-der; Gethsemane, 28th near Buchanan; St Matthew's then Springwells; St. Stephan's, then Woodmere; Christ, River Rouge; Concordia, Defray; Grace, Highland Park; Naz­areth, then Grand River and Columbus; St. Andrew's, then Trumbull and Baker; and Redeemer, then 16th and Stanley.

• (From DLL Leader, P12,10-16-75) Parishioners at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 27035 Ann

Arbor Trail, wi l l join together with former church members and friends of the church Sunday, Oct. 26, to help celebrate the 110th anniversary of that church.

Anniversary services are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. with Serninarian Carl F . Trosien of Concordia Semi­nary, St. Louis, and life-long member of Tmmanuel, delivef-ing the sermon.

A birffet dinner wtil be served i n the Parish Hal l after the service. Reservations for dinner are a must and wi l l not be accepted after Saturday, Oct. 18. For dinner reserva­tions, call 274-3525 during the day or 425-3515 after 6

LUTHERAN p.m.

Immanuel Lutheran Church had her beginning on 7th Street i n the home of Adam Ruppert on July 18, 1865, in Detroit. In August 1865, a site was purchased on Trumbull Avenue near Tiger Stadium. The membership of Immanuel Lutheran increased so rapidly that a lot was purchased on 17th and Pine, just north of Michigan. On Jan. 12, 1873, the second church building was completed and dedicated. The final service was held i n this building June 12, 1966, when that property had to be vacated because it was ac­quired by the Wayne County Road Commission for the construction of the Fisher Freeway.

From June 19, 1966, to Sept. 1,1968, services were held i n Hillcrest School, 7500 Vernon i n Dearborn Heights. On Sunday, Sept. 8, 1968, the present church, 27035 A n n A r ­bor Trail, was dedicated.

There is hardly a congregation i n Detroit and its outly­ing area which has not been blessed by Immanuel's off­spring. When Tmmanuel celebrated her golden jubilee i n 1915, she was credited with having helped establish the following Lutheran churches directly or mairectly: Zion, Bethlehem, Emmaus, Gethsemane and St. Matthew i n De­troit; Christ, River Rouge; Concordia, Delray; Grace, Highland Park; and Nazareth, St. Andrew's and Redeemer, Detroit.

The foUowing pastors have served Immanuel during the past 110 years: the Rev. K . L . M o l l , 1866-97; Rev. Wm. Hagen, 1898-1938; Rev. Carl Nietzke, 1938-46; Rev. A r ­thur Radtke, 1946-51; Rev. Lome C. Ruhl, 1951-53, and Rev. C. Trosien, 1953-present(1975).

ST. PAUL LUTHERAN St. Paul American Lutheran Address: 21915 Beech Street Established: Aug. 22,1870

St. Paul Lutheran began a sponsoring Lutheran mission on Ryan Road near 14 M i l e i n Sterling Heights i n June 1971. The church was called Fellowship Lutheran Church.

As part of the sponsorship, St. Paul donated several thousand dollars to the new church to help finance it early on.

4

(From Dearborn Historical Museum files history) On Aug. 22,1870, the Rev. K a r l M o l l , with 23 families,

organized St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. They purchased a lot on Bejbch Street i n Farland's addition, for which they paid $330.

In 1871, they built their first church, which seated 250. It was erected at a cost of $1,800. A school was also started that year. It had an average attendance of 50.

The known charter members of the church were: Henry Thiel, Carl Twork, Ferdinand Twork, Gottfried Keller, William Schultz, William Woelke and August Kreuger.

The first pastor called to serve the congregation was Markus Halboth, who served 1871-76. The next pastor called was G.B. Lange. It was during his pastorate the con­gregation left the Missouri Synod and joined the Ohio Synod on Aug. 21,1881.

Many of the members were not in sympathy with this move, so they organized another congregation under the name of Emmanuel Lutheran Church and remained with the Missouri Synod. They later built a church at the corner of Military and Morley.

This division caused the St. Paul Church to reorganize. This took place Dec. 8, 1881, with the following as its vot­ing members: Henry Thiel, Frederic Wille, Gottfried K e l l ­er, William Schultz, Carl Twork, Will iam Woelke, John Roesky, August Kreuger, John Lindemann, Franz Woelke, William Pascke, Ferdinand Twork and Carl Bret.

At this meeting, the Rev. C.H. Rohe of Detroit and John M . Farland, a notary public from Dearborn were present as witnesses, and 18 men were received as voting members.

They were: Carl Broehm, John Boitke, Wil l iam Kuhjar, Frederick Brandt, August Schmiedeknecht, Godfried Wolf, Henry Heilyk, Carl Persontke, Carl Wohlfeil, Carl Or-lowsky, Carl Krueger, August Brandt, John Schroeder, Frederick Twork, John Rosengrin, Wil l iam Schultz, John Frese and Frederick Krueger.

Also at this meeting, Carl Twork, John Roesky and Fre­derick Wille were elected as trustees.

E . M . A . Kittel, pastor 1896-1903, was called direct from the Capital University and Theological Seminary i n Co­lumbus, Ohio, where he received his theological training. Dining his pastorate, an organ was installed i n 1897, and the sacristy was built.

In 1903, Rev. Kittel was called to another congregation and the Rev. Theo Jaeger was called to this congregation. During his pastorate, a steeple was put on the church, and a bell installed in it; colored glass windows supplanted the old plain glass windows. These same windows were used i n the new church.

In 1913, Rev. Jaeger retired from active ministry. The congregation called the Rev. L . F . Mittler. It was during his

time that the church celebrated its 50th anniversary. He retired i n 1924, due to his advanced age.

The next pastor to be called was the Rev. Walter Fritz, a student at Capital University i n Columbus, Ohio. He was ordained i n St James Lutheran Church June 22, 1926, by the Rev. A . G . Bergener, and was installed as pastor of S t Paul's congregation by the same pastor July 6, 1926. Many improvements were made during his pastorate. A monthly parish paper was published. A cradle roll was established, the duplex envelop system was introduced, and a new constitution was adopted.

A more important step needed to be taken. The church was getting old and was i n very poor condition. A new church was much needed. The members voted almost unanimously at a meeting i n October 1925 to start building a new church. They resolved to make a campaign for

'$50,000, of which $17,000 was subscripted by members at this meeting. Twelve men and three women were appointed to interview the remaining members for their subscriptions. $35,000 was subscribed.

Architect Fred Spiers drew up the plans for the new church. Louis Helwig, a member of the church, was con­tractor on a salary basis.

On Apr i l 25, 1926, the first ground was turned by August Bartel, the oldest Kving member of the congrega­tion at that time. The cornerstone was laid June 20, 1926. In the cornerstone were placed a Bible, a Lutheran Stan­dard, the German weekly paper of their Synod, the Ki rch -enzeitung, the constitution of the congregation, the names of the bunding committee, and the names of all who con­tributed to the building of the new church. The church was dedicated May 15,1927.

German and English services have been used and are still being used. At present the English service is used al­most entirely, with only two German services each month.

The fist of pastors up to the present time: Konrad L. Moll -1870-71 Markus Halboth-1B71-74 G.B. Lange -1874-96 E.M.A. Kittel -1896-1903 Theodore H. Jaeger -1903-13 L.F. Mittler -1913-24 Walter J . Fritz -1924-35 W.E. Sund -1936-67 Norman C. Schellhase 1967-87 Richard Knaus - 1987-present

4

- (from Dearborn Press Page 10-C, July 18,1968) Before 1870, the Lutheran people who came to the v i l ­

lage of Dearborn and the surrounding rural area attended the Evangelical Church at Mason and Monroe. For a time, some of them attended Tmmanuel Lutheran Church on 17th and Pine in Detroit.

In August 1870, Pastor Konrad M o l l with 23 families organized St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, and i n 1871, this congregation decided to build afcame church.

Rough lumber was donated from woodlots of William Lowe and Louis Reckhn. Its seating capacity was 250 peo­ple and the cost was $1,800. The Sunday school was also begun i n 1871.

Pastor Marcus Halboth of Wyandotte, the first resident pastor, served November 1871 to spring 1874. From this date to 1935, five additional pastors served the congrega­tion.

l a 1881, the congregation decided to leave the Missouri Synod and become a member of the',Ohio Synod. Some members at this time and organized Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Military Avenue.

Records show that in 1881, 49 families paid new rents for the year ranging from $5 to $12. The pastor's salary was $432.

In January 1925, the congregation resolved to make plans for a new church building.. The cornerstone of the present structure was laid i n June 1926. It was constructed of Sandusky limestone in English Tudor-Gothic style at a cost of $80,000 with a seating capacity of 525. May 15, 1927, this new church (the present one) was dedicated.

Just prior to the first anniversary, the entire chancel from floor to ceiling was destroyed by fire. Services were conducted in the basement until the necessary repairs were made.

In October and November 1946, (he 75th anniversary was celebrated. Many fine speakers from the American Lutheran Church at large were heard. The community as well as the members became acquainted with the history of St. Paul. Membership then was 907.

1948 saw the building of a new parsonage started. The following year, Vicar Robert Herbon came from Capital University Seminary to served from July 1949 to July 1950. For 14 succeeding year, each vicar or intern served the parish for a period of one year.

May 18, 1952, a 25th anniversary dedication of the pre­sent church was held. Another dedication i n 1955 was held for an enlarged church and parish house Confirmed mem­bers were 1,347. B y 1855, S t Paul had become the third largest congregation of the American Lutheran Church in the Detroit area.

METHODIST CHURCH Christ Methodist Church Address: 27830 Avondale at Helen, west of Inkster

Road Original name: Union Chapel Created by: Merger of Wesleyan Methodist Church

and Methodist Episcopal Church in western Dearborn Township.

Established: 1859 Christ Methodist Church is one of the oldest congrega­

tions west of Dearborn. On Jury 20, 1859,vmembers of the Wesleyan Methodist

Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church at Dearborn Township's far western edge along Michigan Avenue met to discuss merging the two congregations.

The consolidation resulted i n the Union Chapel, which stood for many years on the south side of Michigan Avenue west of Inkster Road. The Union Chapel Cemetery here is a remnant of this early congregation.

In 1890, the sanctuary was on the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Inkster Road.

B y the late 1920s, the congregation was called the Inkster Methodist Episcopal Church.

A new sanctuary was erected on the site of its former church, Inkster Road at Michigan Avenue, i n 1930-31. It was dedicated March 29,1931.

The new structure, resembling a house i n design, re­placed the old store building that housed the church. The plan was to turn this new building eventually into the par­sonage with a traditional sanctuary build in the near Mure .

The congregation subsequently renamed itself Christ Methodist Church and moved to its current site on Avondale at Helen.

Dearborn Free Methodist Address: 2801 S. Telegraph Original Site: Outer Drive at Gertrude Established: Oct. 2,1938

Early information about this church is slightiy conflicted. While church records say the first Sunday school services i n Dearborn were held Oct. 2, 1938, i n a store building at 22628 Michigan Ave., articles i n the Dearborn Press i n 1937 state Dearborn Free Methodist Mission operated at 22636 Michigan Ave.

This mission was also called the West Dearborn Free Methodist Mission. It was operated under the auspices of the Wayne Free Methodist Church.

This mission was created because church members saw a need for a Methodist mission in this area.

The first church was a small white frame portable school house erected i n 1938 at 21334 Outer Drive at Gertrude. It was erected with the great help of the Rev. E . A . DeMille, superintendent of the Detroit District.

The first pastor was the Rev. H . M . Parks. It had 10 char­ter members.

A parsonage was added i n 1941, In the 1940s, the sanctuary was referred to as the Light

and Life Chapel, Free Methodist Church. In 1951, a colonial brick structure was built on the same

site to replace the old schoolhouse. It incorporated parts of

the old church. The new church sanctuary was dedicated May 18-20, 1951.

In 1954, a three-level annex, the educational unit, was added. This was dedicated Nov. 20,1955.

In 1964, work began on a new facility with the entire ex­isting complex included. Also during this time, the parson­age built i n 1941 was removed. The congregation moved into the new facility i n January 1965. It was dedicated May 2, 1965. The new sanctuary sat 700. The new fellowship hall sat 300. This doubled the size of the church.

Dearborn Free Methodist bought land on South Tele­graph north of Princeton for a new sanctuary i n June 1978. A t one time, the Archdiocese of Detroit owned this land with the plan of someday maybe budding a church there and starting a new parish. This never materialized.

The Free Methodist sanctuary was built i n 1979 and cost $956,000. The residents i n the area protested as they did not want a parking lot adjacent to West Point.

The Free Methodist Church was founded i n 1863 in Pe-kin, N . Y .

Faith Methodist Church Address: Initially met in Henry Ford School Established: 1947 or earlier

Church operated at least from summer 1947 through spring 1948.

Good Shepherd Methodist Address: 1570 Mason at Monroe Established: 1859 Original name: Evangelical Church Later known as: First Evangelical United Brethren

Church Name changed: 1968

In 1929, it was known as the First Evangelical Church. In 1946, the national church merged with the United Breth­ren Church. The church's name was changed Jan. 8, 1947, to First Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1968, when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church was formed, this church changed its name to Good Shepherd to avoid confusion with nearby First United Methodist Church.

==> See First Evangelical file for more information.

Inkster M.E. Church Location: Inkster Road at Michigan Ave., Inkster Established:

Early name of Christ Methodist Church. See that church for more information.

Pioneer Methodist Episcopal Location: Where Rouge Steel plant is now Established: 1909

Pioneer Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated Sept. 19, 1909. The church was where the Rouge Steel plant is now.

Presumably, the church was on the old Maple Road south of where Rotunda Drive is now.

Simpson M.E, Church Location: Cabot near Michigan, Detroit Established:

In operation at least i n March 1924.

Stephens Methodist Address: 5000 Pelham Established: 1936 as Van Born Community Methodist

Church. Name changed 1954. Named for: Rev. Jim Stephens, pastor 1938-44 First Building: Former Harvard School at Powers and

Pelham. Talk of organizing began i n 1936". A church school,

which actually preceded the congregation, was formed i n June 1937 by Rev. W.E. Harrison.

The first service w"as held i n Harvard School on Robin­son south of the Ecorse Creek, near Van Born, by Rev. V i c ­tor Longfield. A n abandoned church at Ford Road and Wayne Road was then purchased and moved to the south­west corner of Powers and Pelham to serve as temporary quarters. A new building was erected on that site i n 1938, although it was not completed until 1941. The formal dedi­cation of this building was held Apr i l 20,1941.

Groundbreaking for the current building was held May 29, 1955. The cornerstone was actually not laid until Oct. 9, 1955. A new sanctuary was built across the street in the 1970s?. The old building was razed so a home could be built there for the pastor.

Stephens Methodist Church at Pelham and Powers first met in the former Harvard School on Robinson south of the Ecorse Creek. A t that time, the church was called Van Born Methodist Church, which would be logical since the build­ing, although it was on the opposite (north) side of Ecorse Creek from Van Bora, had always been listed as being on Van Born. Stories in the 1950s Dearborn Press showed members wanting to change the name of the church because it was confusing, being two blocks north of Van Born on Powers. The name change was eventually done with the church named after Rev. Stephens, pastor emeritus, who likely was instrumental i n securing the former school build­ing as the church.

According to a local resident, the current church was built in the 1970s to replace die smaller frame church on the south side of Powers. The old building was then razed for new housing.

Ten Evck Memorial Methodist Episcopal Location: North side of Michigan Avenue between

Howard and Mason Established: 1810 Building Dedication: 1892

This church is the forerunner to First Methodist Church at Garrison and Morley. In 1892, the congregation moved to a new, larger church built on Chicago Road (Michigan Avenue), just west of Mason. The Calvin Theater later stood on this land.

The church was made possible by a gift from William Ten Eyck. It was called the Ten Eyck Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1923, the Ten Eyck Memorial property was sold for $90,000, These funds were invested in a more modern

budding constructed on the present site at Mason and Garri­son streets.

==> See First United Methodist Church for more infor­mation.

Warren Valley United Methodist Address: 6455 Kinloch Established: 1954

A Methodist church (later named Warren Valley) was organized in Dearborn Township i n 1954. Its first service was Nov. 21, 1954, at Haston School. Its first pastor was the Rev. William G. Vowell.

• (from DH Leader P7, Nov. 20, 1969) Fifteen years ago today, preparations were being made at

Haston Junior High School for the first service for Method­ists in the Warren Valley area.

It was the result of a religious survey conducted i n this area i n 1954. Nineteen families consisting of 54 individuals identified themselves as Methodists.

Friday, 130 families representing over 250 members wi l l observe the 15th anniversary of that first service conducted Nov. 21, 1954, which marked the founding of Warren V a l ­ley United Methodist Church.

Special feature of the observance wi l l be a homecorning program. Invited to attend are former pastors the Revs. Paul Lowley, Robert Secrist and Dean W. Parker.

A memorial service wi l l be held for the first two pastors who have since passed away: founder Rev. Wil l iam G. Vowell, and the Rev. Richard E . Burgess, who served 1960-64.

Members have been grouped i n classes according to the years i n which they joined the congregation. Warren Valley United Methodist has served as many as 500 members at one time. Of the 43 people received as charter members Dec. 19,1954, 20 still live i n the area as of 1969.

The church's first Sunday school program began i n De­cember 1954. The Methodist Youth Fellowship was organ­ized i n March 1955. The first church conference was held March 24, 1955.

B y this time, members were already tlmuang i n terms of a permanent church building. The site at Kinloch and Hass was selected and ground broken Oct. 7, 1956. (First vaca­tion Bible school was held that summer.)

A white frame building, the old Henderson Memorial Methodist church building, which ad already served two congregations, was donated to the Warren Valley congrega­tion. It was moved from the corner of Puritan and Lilac in Detroit and settled on a freshly laid foundation at Kinloch and Hass. Completely renovated and remodeled, it is now covered with Roman brick.

First worship service in the church was held Jan. 12, 1958. In February, a service of consecration was held with Bishop Marshall Reed presiding.

Whitefield Methodist Church Address: Established:

Met at McDonald School i n 1932.

William S. Ford Memorial United Methodist Church Address: 16400 W. Warren, Detroit

Established: 1818 The original church dates back to 1818. The first church

built was a log building on the banks of the Rouge River near where Butler Road is now. This church shares its early history with First United Methodist Church of Dearborn.

This early building supposedly was the first Protestant church budding i n present-day Michigan.

The first school, a frame building, was constructed i n 1838. This was replaced with a brick school i n 1861. This second school stands in Greenfield Village. (NOTE: These dates are uncertain. This could be the old Scotch Settlement School, which would mean different building dates.)

The first congregation was established i n 1832, the same year the first burial in the cemetery next to the current church was made.

The church in its current state was organized in 1898 across Warren Avenue from the current sanctuary. It was moved when Warren Avenue became an actual road. A t this time, it was made into a clapboard-style white wood church. The entrance was off Warren Avenue.

Not much of the original structure remains. The area above the altar has the original wood and some of the beams are original.

The basement and current sanctuary was built in the 1950s. The office to the social room was added in the 1960s.

Supposedly, Will iam S. Ford, a third-cousin of Henry Ford, wanted to send his granddaughter to Sunday school, but there were none i n that area. He donated the land for the church. He wrote to several denominations asking for a pas­tor for the Sunday school, but the Methodist church was the only one to agree.

The first ordained pastor of this church was the Rev. H.C. Cooley, who came to the congregation i n 1905.

Originally, the church was a Methodist-Protestant de­nomination. In 1939, that denomination merged with the Methodist Episcopal and the Methodist Episcopal South churches to form the Methodist Church.

The denomination changed again in 1968 when the Methodist "Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Chinch to become the United Methodist Church.

FIRST EVANGELICAL First Evangelical United Brethren Church Address: 1570 Mason at Monroe Established: 1859 Current Name: Good Shepherd United Meth. Church Name changed:1968

This church was called First Evangelical Church until the church council voted to rename it First Evangelical United Brethren Church Jan. 8, 1947. The reason for the name change is the two national congregations had merged i n November 1946. ^

Good Shepherd Methodist Address: 1570 Mason at Monroe Established: 1859 Original name: Evangelical Church Later known as: First Evangelical United Brethren

Church Name changed: 1968

Iu 1929, it was known as the First Evangelical Church. In 1946, the national church merged with the United Breth­ren Church. The church's name was changed Jan. 8, 1947, to First Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1968, when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church was formed, this church changed its name to Good Shepherd to avoid contusion with nearby First United Methodist Church.

•

(From Dearborn Press, Sept. 21, 1939, Page 1) (Prepared by Rev. D.F. Binder) The Evangelical Church originated in Pennsylvania

about 150 years ago which movement pressed westward into Ohio.

Dearborn was included in the early pioneer work sent out by the Ohio Conference. The first missionary doing work for the Evangelical Association, which was the first name of our church, was the Rev. S. Altermose, who came to Mich i ­gan in 1839 and later moved into Monroe County.

It is not likely that he ever visited Dearborn, but the ef­fect of his work was "leaven hid in the meal." His work was done in the southeastern part of Michigan.

A number of German families had moved into Dearborn and surrounding country which was new and heavily tim­bered.

They came here to create homes for themselves and their posterity. Being sturdy and ambitious, the forest had to give way and in its place homes were built and the wilderness was changed into a landscape of beautiful farms and pleas­ant homes. These people were religiously inclined and per­haps most of them were Lutherans by faith, but without a shepherd and without religious privileges.

Having already raised the banner of the Evangelical As­sociation i n Detroit, the preachers of this church saw a golden opportunity to extend their preaching mission to Dearhora, so in the year 1859, John Phillip Schnatz was sent by the Ohio Conference to Dearborn as the first mis­sionary.

The first preaching places were in the homes of the peo­

ple. Later, by courtesy of the Presbyterians, their church located at the comer of Mason and Park Avenue, was used free of rent.

These enterprising, thrifty German people would not long abide without a church building of their own, so the first year saw them busy i n the erection of a church building which was dedicated on the first Sunday i n February 1860.

John Phillip Schnatz visited Wayne, Ypsilanti and Ply­mouth, which together with Dearborn, comprised Dearborn Mission. Of these four places, Dearborn is the only survivor. The names of the first families visited who became charter members are Louis Roeser, who piloted the first missionary to other homes, Conrad Fregal, M r . and Mrs. Shaw, M r . and Mrs. Wm. Woehlke, M r . and Mrs. John Wilde, John Orth, Fred Yenkle, Fred Koch, Christ Prehn, Mary Hiser, Anna Prush, Christ Crausa and Mary Schultz.

Two classes or districts were first organized. John Orth was elected leader of the Bush Class and the pastor of leader of the Dearborn Class. It might be said that the first im­pressions of some of the people were that the Evangelical Association was synonymous with the Lutheran Church, but when our characteristic way of revival work by exposing sin and, insisted on a regenerated life and an experimental relig­ion, some thought it a strange doctrine and after a time withdrew from us to follow former ideas.

In the year 1860, Rev. J .M. Houch served Dearborn. In 1861, Dearborn was attached to A n n Arbor circuit and served with two pastors, Carl Deike and John Franfchouser. In 1862, Dearborn was detached" from the Ann Arbor Cir­cuit and made a mission with S. Henne as pastor who served two years. The membership at that time was 32.

In 1863, the second year of S. Henne's pastorate the first Sunday School was organized with 18 members, John Orth being its first superintendent.

In 1864, the Michigan Conference was organized and J. Fuchs was sent to Dearborn as pastor. In 1865, J. Borough served as pastor. In 1866, C.G. Koch was pastor. In 1867, Dearborn was again annexed to the Ann Arbor Circuit and served by two pastors, D . Heininger and L . Engle.

In 1866, Detroit and Dearborn charges were united and served by M . Speck as pastor who also served i n 1869. In 1870, J .M. Fuchs again served with E . H . Hess. In 1871, J. M . Fuchs and M . Schweitzer served Dearborn. In this same year, 16 feet was added to the original church, which was necessary due to increased membership and attendance. In 1872, 1873 and 1874, C. Dicke served Dearborn, J .M. Muller being his colleague in 1872 and P. Multer in 1873.

In 1875, Dearborn was detached from Detroit and made a station with D . Heininger as pastor. In 1876, F.F. Meyer was pastor and during this year a house and two lots were purchased, the house to be used as a parsonage. One of these lots is where the present parsonage stands. J .M. Fuchs again served as pastor an din 1878 and 1879, J. Orth was pastor.

In 1905, during the pastorate of Peter Scheurer, the church was remodeled at a cost of $1,000 and at which time, a bell was purchased and installed.

In 1913, W.H. Wagner, pastor, the parsonage and one lot were sold and a new parsonage built on the other lot.

Up to the year 1904, the German language was used ex­clusively during all church services, and on this account, the younger people would not remain at church services, there-

fore, when Pastor Peter Scheurer sensed the situation, he formed several English classes i n the Sunday School and conducted the Sunday evening services entirely i n English.

A very live Young People's Alliance had their meetings on Sunday evening preceding the public service. This Young People's Society -was the organized when Strauch was pastor but all their meetings were conducted in the German language. B y changing the services into the Eng­lish language proved to be a boon to our church and from 1904 on, the German language was used less and less and since 1918, all services have been i n English.

Another addition was built on the church in 1915, Rev. Adam Scheuer, pastor. This addition was known as the Young Men's Bible Class Room and was financed entirely by the young men and used as their class meeting room, both as study of the Sunday School lesson and their social activities. J

A Bunding Committee was elected on March 8, 1919, but after investigation it was decided to defer building op­eration. A building fund of over $12,000 was subscribed and was being paid. B y the beginning of 1921 over $10,000 had been received.

The cornerstone was laid on Sunday, Apr i l 10,1921. The church was completed and dedicated on Nov. 20, 1921, Bishop Heinrniller officiating. The cost of the building was $43,251.22.

It was a glorious undertaking and a goal achieved which was long desired. $25,000 was loaned from a local bank through a mortgage on the church and parsonage properties for a term of 10 years. The mortgage was paid i n full i n 8 years, the birrning taking place i n December 1929.

• (From Dearborn Press, Nov. 11,1959, Page 9) Dearborn's First Evangelical United Brethren Church,

1570 Mason at Monroe i n west Dearborn, wi l l celebrate "100 Years Serving Christ i n Dearborn" on Nov. 18-22.

As the church observes its 100th anniversary i n Dear-bora, it is aware of the many changes that have been made. The congregation looks forward to its second century of service and intends to make this a memorable one.

They plan to relive the past on Nov. 18 with an old-time service, once more i n the German language with songs and clothing that date back to 1859.

A n anniversary banquet is planned for Nov. 20, which all past members of the church have been invited to attend.

Founders of this church 100 years ago were of German descent. This church has the distinction of being the oldest American-born denomination.

There were a number of German families that had moved into Dearborn and the surrounding country, which was new and heavily timbered i n 1839. They came here to create homes for themselves and their future families.

The Evangelical Church had already made a beginning in Detroit and preachers of that church saw an opportunity to extend their work in Dearborn. In 1859, John Phillip Schnatz was sent by the Ohio Conference to Dearborn as the first missionary.

The first preaching i n Dearborn was done i n homes and later at the First Presbyterian Church. B y February 1860, the first church building was dedicated.

In 1871, a 16-foot addition was made to the original church building, due to the increase i n membership and attendance. Then in 1876, a house and two lots located on the southeast corner of Chestnut and ???? (now Park and Howard Streets) were purchased. The house was used as the

first parsonage. In 1913, the parsonage and west lot were sold and a new

parsonage was built on the other lot. Another addition was built onto the church i n 1915,

which was known as the Young Men's Bible Class Room. It was used as their class meeting room, both for study of the Sunday School lesson and their social activity.

After much discussion and concern over the growth of the congregation and inadequate facilities, the cornerstone of the present chinch was laid Nov. 20,1921.

In the beginning, German language had been used ex­clusively in the church services. However, by the beginning of the 20th century, the younger people would not remain at the church services because they were not said i n English.

A t that time, Pastor Peter Schemer sensed the situation and formed several English classes in the Sunday School and conducted the Sunday evening service entirely i n Eng­lish. • B y 1918, all services in the church had been changed to

English.

(From Dearborn Historical Museum files) JJX the early 1850s, the community about Dearborn was

settled by irmnigrants of German descent. The community was new and heavily timbered. The migrants to the com­munity were religiously inclined, many of them being L u ­theran i n faith, but without a shepherd and religious privi­leges. During the Conference year of 1858, Rev. John P. Schnatz, pastor of the Evangelical Church in Detroit, visited the community, preached i n the homes of the people and laid the foundations for the Dearborn congregation.

In 1859, the Ohio Conference voted to take up Dearborn as a mission and erect a church as soon as possible. Rev. J.P. Schnatz was appointed pastor. Soon, a congregation was organized with the following as charter members: Louis Roeser, who piloted the missionary-pastor to other homes; Conrad Fregel; M r . and Mrs. Shaw; M r . and Mrs. Will iam Woelke, M r . and Mrs. John Wilde; John Orth; Fred Yenkel; Fred Koch; Christ Prehn; Mary Hiser, Anna Prush; Christ Crausa; and May Schultz.

Through courtesy of the Presbyterians, their church, lo­cated at the corner of Mason and Park Avenues, was used for a period, rent-free. The Dearborn congregation soon began erection of its own church, which was dedicated on the first Sunday i n February, 1860. Two classes were formed. John Orth was elected leader of the Bush class, and the pastor the leader of the Dearborn class. Orth was later a minister in the Michigan Conference. The first Sunday school was organized in 1860 with 18 members, John Orth being the first superintendent

At its beginning, Dearborn Mission included other preaching places, among them Wayne, Ypsilanti and Ply­mouth. A t other times, it was served with Detroit or the Arm Arbor circuit, fh 1871, 16 feet was added to the church edi­fice to provide room for a growing membership and atten­dance. Again in 1905, during the pastorate of Peter Schemer, it was necessary to remodel and enlarge the church to meet the needs of expansion. And once again in 1915, the Young Men's Bible Class added a room to the church for use of their class.

In 1876, a house and two lots were purchased, the house being used for a parsonage. In 1913, during the pastorate of W.H. Wagner, the old parsonage and one lot was sold, and a new parsonage built on the remaining lot.

Up to the year 1904, the German language was used ex-

clusfvely in all church services. But because the younger people did not understand the German, they would not re­main for the worship service. During the pastorate of Rev. Peter Schemer, several English Sunday school classes were formed and the English language used i n the evening serv­ice. After 1918, the use of German was discontinued. In 1914, the use of the duplex envelop system was adopted, which did much to solve financial problems.

With a growing church i n an expanding community, a new church edifice with more adequate facilities became imperative. A t the annual meeting Dec. 2, 1918, the initial step toward a new building was taken. A building commit­tee was elected i n March 1919. Due to high bunding costs, me beginning of construction was postponed temporarily, while a campaign for funds was made. With more than $10,000 i n the treasury, building operations began i n Febru­ary 1921. The cornerstone was laid Apr i l 10, 1921. The church was dedicated Nov. 20, 1921, with Bishop G. Hein-miller officiating. The cost of the building was $43,215.22, and was partially financed through a $25,000 bank loan.

In fall 1954, the chancel of the church was remodeled and new chancel furniture installed at a cost of more than $4,000. During the pastorate of Rev. D.F. Binder, a fine two-manual pipe organ was installed.

This congregation was host to the General Board of Missions in 1922 and entertained the Annual Conference in 1931. Four men have entered the ministry from the Dear­born church: John Orth, Darwin Nutt, Raymond Yenkel and Harold Slater.

A new parsonage was built and dedicated Apr i l 3 0,1961. In Apr i l 1968, the union of the Methodist Church and

the EvangelicalTJnited Brethren Church occurred i n Dallas, forming the United Methodist Church. A t that time, First Evangelical United Brethren Church changed its name to Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. This was done because of the close proximity of First United Methodist Church.

Also in 1968, a Christian Education Unit was added to the church 'structure at the cost of $260,000. The new facil­ity was consecrated Nov. 24, 1968.

The following pastors have served for the periods indi­cated: J.P. Schnatz, 1858-60; J .M. Haug, 1860-61; C. Deike and J. Franfchauser, 1861-62; S. Henne, 1862-64; J .M. Fuchs, 1864-65; C. Roehm, 1865-66; J. Borough, 1866-67; D. Heininger and L . Engel, 1867-68; M . Speck, 1868-70; J.M. Fuchs and E . H . Hess, 1870-71; J .M. Fuchs and F. Schweitzer, 1871-72; C. Deike and F . Mueller, 1872-74; C. Deike, 1874-75; D . Heininger, 1875-76; F.F. Meyer, 1876-77; J .M. Fuchs, 1877-78; J. Orth, 1878-80; C.G. Koch, 1880-82; J. Meek, 1882-85; J. Young, 1885-88; C. Ude, 1888-91; C.W. Ross, 1891-84; E . Weiss, 1894-87; H.T. Strauch, 1897-1900; W.A. Bulgrin, 1900-04; P. Scheurer, 1904-08; S. Salsbery 1908-12; J.A. Frye, 1912-13; W.A. Wagner, 1913-15; A . A . Schemer, 1915-20; J .M. Nyce, 1920-27; G.H. Kellerman, 1927-33; D.F. Binder, 1933-48; Leon Woodward, 1948-52; A . A . Weinert, 1952-59; R .A. Schurman, 1959-63; G.H. Wessel, 1963-66; R.F. Roe, 1966-68; A . L . Spafford, 1968.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST First Methodist Church Address: 22124 Garrison at Mason Established: 1810 Building Dedication: Nov. 14,1926

Dr. H .A . Leeson was new pastor of church when current budding was dedicated Nov. 14, 1926. Church at that time was the First Methodist Episcopal Chinch.

The first church was built i n 1818. It was a 20x30-foot log cabin along what is today Butler Road by the Rouge River.

•

(From Sept. 29,1960, Dearborn Press, P. 19) First Methodist Church of Dearborn, the oldest Protes­

tant church i n Michigan, w i l l observe its 150th anniversary with a series of special events, beginning Sunday, Oct. 2.

The church wi l l hold a special ceremony at the histori­cal marker near the site of the first Protestant church i n Michigan. First Methodist Church traces its history to this pioneer Methodist congregation.

The marker, on Butler Road just east of Greenfield, was erected by the city of Dearborn and the Dearborn Historical Commission i n June 1954.

The First Methodist Society in Michigan was formed i n 1910 by the Rev. Wil l iam Case of Massachusetts and a small group of Michigan pioneers headed by Robert Abbott, auditor-treasurer of the Michigan Territorial Government. The first Protestant church in Michigan was built by this group i n 1818 on a site near the Rouge River.

In 1837, the congregation constructed a new church on the south side of the Public Square on what is now Park Street i n Dearborn, about 100 feet from what is now Mon­roe. The land for this building was purchased from Joshua Howard, builder of the government arsenal.

For 54 years, the congregation worshipped i n this tiny budding holding 200 members. In 1892, the congregation moved to a new, larger church built on Chicago Road (Michigan Avenue), just west of Mason. The Calvin Thea­ter later stood on this land.

The church was made possible by a gift from William Ten Eyck. It was called the Ten Eyck Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1923, the Ten Eyck Memorial property was sold for $90,000. These funds were invested i n a more modern budding constructed on the present site at Mason and Gar­rison streets. The cornerstone of this building was laid in fall 1925. The new church was dedicated Nov. 14, 1926.

A n educational unit was added following World War E . Another addition was completed i n 1952.

•

(Dearborn Historical Museum history) The first attempt to hold Methodist services in and about

Detroit was made i n 1804 by Daniel Freeman, who only stayed a few days. He was followed in the same year by the Rev. Nathan Bangs, who also became discouraged i n a short time, as only children attended the services.

The second and successful attempt was made in 1809 by the Rev. William Case, who stayed about a year. In 1810, the first Methodist Church Society was organized on the Rouge River. The seven organizing members were Robert Abbott and wife (Detroit), Will iam McCarfy and wife, W i l ­

l iam Stacy and wife, and Sarah Macomb. The Rev. W i l l i am Mitchell was the minister at that time.

In spring 1811, according to Pilcher's History of Methodism, the Ordinance of Baptism, and Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, with other services, were observed by the church at the home of William Weaver, a Roman Catholic who lived on the Rouge. Services were held i n the autumn at the home of Robert Abbott i n Detroit by the Rev. Henry Ryan, the presiding elder, and by the Rev. Ninian Holms.

Rev. Holms remained until August 1812 and perhaps longer. On Aug. 16, the day of surrender of Detroit, he baptized a child.

In 1811, the Rev. Silas Hopkins was appointed to assist the Rev. Holms on the circuit B y July 1812, about 50 peo­ple, most of whom lived i n or near Detroit, had united with the church.

About this time, the Rev. George Densmore was ap­pointed to this circuit, but the war prevented his corning and scattered the little flock that had been gathered. A l ­though each brigade of American troops had a chaplain, no effort appears to have been made by any one to re-establish Protestant services until July 1815, when Rev. Joseph Hick-cox of the Genesee Conference was appointed to this place. On his arrival, he found no members except the original seven members who had held fast to their profession through all the storms of war.

Rev. Hickcox preached at Detroit once i n three weeks on Sunday evenings, and i n the interim at the Rouge and i n Canada. On one occasion, at least, he is known to have reached Canada during the winter by leaping from one floating cake of ice to another. In the latter part of 1816, he was aided by the Rev. Joseph Mitchell, an elderly local preacher of real ability, who soon filled almost all of the appointments on this side of the river. In summer 1817, Rev. Hickcox reported 30 members for the Detroit circuit.

In June 1817, the Rev. Gideon Lanning was appointed to Detroit. On account of sickness, he only remained a short time. A local preacher by the name of Thomas Harmon filled the rest of the appointment. It was due to his efforts that the first log church on the Rouge was bunt i n 1818. This location was selected i n part, at least, through the in ­fluence of the Rev. Joseph Hickcox, who had entered a tract of land on this river. This small church stood on an acre of land which was part of the Sargent farm. The exact site was 120 rods from the north bank of the Rouge and 28 rods west of the Dearborn Township line in Springwells Town­ship. The building was used for church services only about 10 years. Defections arising, the church was abandoned, used as a schoolhouse for a time, and finally "fell from grace," becoming a place of evil resort. In 1843, the neigh­bors set fire to it. From 1828 until 1837, when they built their church in Dearbornville, as it was called, they met for worship in the various setflers' homes. They were now in ­cluded in what was known as the Huron Mission.

In June 1822, the Rev. John P. Kent, assisted by the Rev. Will iam Case, presiding elder of the Upper Canada (Ontario) District, held a camp meeting near the church on the farm of Will iam Stacey. It was doubtiess the first camp meeting held i n Michigan.

The following are some of the ministers appointed to

this ciicuit: 1818: Alpheus Davis, Samuel Belton 1819: Truman Dixton 1820: Rev. John Kent, aided at times by J,B. Finley, Piatt B.

Morey and the Rev. John Strange, who was a presiding elder. 1828-29: Benjamin Cooper 1829- 30: Leonard B. Gurley 1832-34: W.H. Brockway 1835-37: E.H. PHcher 1837: W.H, Brockway. In December 1837, they bought a 40x70-foot lot from

Col. Joshua Howard for $50. This lot was located 100 feet from Monroe Boulevard on Park Street. On it, they built a small church which would seat about 200. This church was dedicated i n May 1838. The Rev. W.H. Brockway, who had the distinction of being the first licensed minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Michigan, was pastor at the time. In 1871, they bought a lot for the parsonage for $100

In 1887, they bought a lot for a new church on Michigan Avenue at a cost of $350. This was located where the Cal­vin Theater later stood for many years. In 1892, under the leadership of the Rev. M . H . Bartram, the new church was built. William Ten Eyck, by his generous'gift, made this church possible. Because of this, it was called the Ten Eyck Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church. This church served until 1924, when, together with the parsonage, it was sold for a cash consideration of $75,000.

The site for the present church at Garrison and Mason streets was purchased soon after for $17,000. The church was started in 1924 and was finished and dedicated in No­vember 1925. The final cost was $168,000.

The Depression, starting in 1929, caused the church, like many other churches, to get behind i n its payments, so at the beginning of 1938, the debt on the church was still about $48,000 with about $13,000 i n back interest. The bank, having taken over the mortgage from the govern­ment, reduced the indebtedness to $30,000, with a down payment of $2,500 and a monthly payment of $150 to be applied on the interest and principal.

Following is a list of pastors from the beginning: 1838: William H. Brockway

, 1839: Adam Minnis, John Babcock, Jonathon Blanchard 1841: John Gray, William Taylor 1842: John Gray, Alonzo Fleming 1843: G.J. Shurtliff, H. Penfield 1844: Alonzo Fleming, Charles Bruce 1845: J. Blanchard, W.W. Hayes 1846. D. Bush, W. Benson 1847: D. Bush, F. Glass 1848: Isaac Abbott, B.F. Prichard 1849: W. Mothersill, R. Bird 18S0: i.E. Collins, W. Fox 1851: S. Bessey, J.C. Wortley 1853: A. Steel, C.W. Seaman 1854: Curtis Mosher 1855: J.H. Caster 1856: J.W. Keiiag 1857: J.W. Kellog, A.J. Bigelow 1858: J. Levington, W.C. Way 1859: W.C. Way 1860: G. Smith 1861-63: B.F. Hedger, C.L. Church 1863-65: J.W. Kellog 1865-67: J.W. Kellog 1868: R. Bird 1869: R.C.Lanning 1870: A. Allen 1871: J.S. Sutton 1872-75: J.R. Noble 1875-77: G.W. Owen 1877-79: J.M. Truscott 1879-82: D.J. Odell 1882-85: L.C. York

1885-87: S.E.Warren 1887: G.W. lowe 1888: F. Berry 1889: W. Cooke 1890-95: M.H. Bartram 1895-1900: Andrew Wilson 1900-04: M.H. Mc Mali on 1904-06: J.B. Oliver 1906-08: F.J. Townsend 1908-10: Charles Collins 1910-12: George Hicks 1912-14: J.A. Cottam 1914-16: Geroge Davey 1916-22: William Daw 1922-26: Frank Fitch 1926-28: H. Addis Leeson 1928-34: Clyde Gearhart 1934-42: Gordon Phillips

and built a parsonage at a cost of $1,000.

MT. OLIVET Mount Olivet Community Methodist Church Address: 5067 Horger at Colson Established: 1926

Mt. Olivet Church originally just referred to itself as the cornrnuntiy church. It then became affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church.

The first section of the church was built i n 1926. The present sanctuary and dining hall were added i n 1952.

The church started as a Sunday school May 14, 1920, held in the home of M r . and Mrs. Will iam A . Johnson.

The original site of the church was referred to as being on Maple Road near Ford Road. This was soon deemed to small, so the congregation began meeting at Will iam Ford School until a larger sanctuary could be built.

During church's early years, it was sometimes referred to as being at Ford Road and Maple, since the area was not yet developed and the church was easily visible from that intersection.

Wahlberg's first service was Jan. 12,1947. He replaced the Rev. Owen M . Geer, longtime pastor. Geer Park is named for Rev. Geer.

•

(fromApril 6, 1949, Dbn. Guide, plO) About 28 years ago, a little town called Springwells be­

came suddenly known all over the country. It had sprung up overnight like a mushroom when it became known that Henry Ford had decided to establish one of the largest in­dustries i n the world here between Detroit and the old city of Dearborn.

Springwells would need men, working men of all sorts, to man the industry, and to build, install telephones, pave streets and do the many jobs which go with the building and running of a city. The World War had just ended, and men were making their adjustments to peacetime, so they came from all over the country to find work in the new in ­dustrial city of Dearborn.

Among them were God-loivng people who could not forget their obligation to God and humanity and who soon began to hold religious services i n the homes of the people.

The Mount Olivet Conununiry Methodist Church had its beghinings i n the residence of M r . and Mrs. Wm. Johnson, May 14, 1920, at 598 Scott Ave., now Williamson. Three people interested in God's work, M r . and Mrs. Wm. John­son and Miss Li l l ian Willis on that memorable date decided to lay the foundation through prayer and personal sacri­fices.

The 14th Avenue Methodist Church of Detroit lent seven song books and a supply of Sunday School papers and the Waodmere Methodist Church loaned 100 song books, and with this equipment, the first Protestant church began in Springwells.

The first session of the Sunday school was held on the following Sunday, May 16, 1920. The total attendance was 36. Following the organization of the Sunday school, Dr. William Dawe of Dearborn preached the first sermon in the home of Mr . Johnson, the subject being "What We Have Seen or Received, We Wm Tell to Others."

Dr. Dawe served as first pastor from its beginning until

METHODIST September 1920, when the Rev. Shank supplied until Sep­tember 1921.

It became evident that a church was needed, and i n M a y 1921, the consent was given to Dr . Edgar J. Warren, Meth­odist district superintendent, to obtain a charter for this group of worshippers to form aMethodist church.

On Aug. 23, 1921, the charter of the church was granted. The 13 names on that charter were Miss L i l l i an Willis, L .R . Foster, M r . and Mrs. Wm. A . Johnson, M r . and Mrs. Marshall C. H i l l , M r . and Mrs. Chas, E . Rowe, M r . and Mrs. Ernest Clark, Ernest G. Miller, Miss Joyce Maples and J. Sevenson.

The first building in which this new church was held was on Maple Avenue, and because it was built as a garage on the back of the lot, it was called the garage church i n later years. So large was the number of folks who came to worship i n the little building that Sunday school was held in shifts, one group corning as another was dismissed. The first minister was a Ford worker by the name of E .W. Fos­ter.

In 1925, the church called to the pastorate Rev. Edward H . Wilcox. His first trip to the new town of Springwells, he got lost, could not find his church and got stuck i n the mud. He was directed to the new superintendent of schools at the Mi l le r School, and there, Harvey Lowrey told him where he would find the church on Maple Avenue just south of Ford Road.

A t that first service there were so many people that, as M r . Wilcox says, 'Tt was filled to overflowing, and I could hardly get in. After the service, we called a business meet­ing and decided to enlarge the building and call it the tab­ernacle. In 10 days time, the men of the church, working by lantern fight with their wives- holding the lanterns, had completed the extension of the building.''

In 1925, the decision was made to build the present church. Three lots had been purchased on the corner of Horger and Colson avenue for the site of the church you now behold.

In May, ground was broken for the new church, and in September, the cornerstone was laid. The former site on Maple Drive was sold and during the interim period, wor­ship services were held i n the Wm. Ford School The first Sunday in February 1926, services were held i n the base­ment of the new church.

Now we are ready to go forward again ... now we are ready to undertake the construction of the second half of our church. We are greatly overcrowded, our membership is increaseing, our facilities are inadequate. We must com­plete the second half of our church bivuding program with­out delay. It w i l l include a new sacntaury, chapel, addi­tional church school rooms and offices as well as a large dining and assembly room.

It is hoped that construction wi l l begin this summer on the new addition. The three lots south of the present church on Horger .have been purchased and one of the houses is being moved and remodeled for a parsonage.

•

(fromApril 8, 1976, Dbn. Guide, 7-A) It was exactly 50 years ago that M t Olivet church

opened its doors at the comer of Colson and Horger streets. The continued service of worship and the many community

activities taking place i n the church fellowship hall have brought recognition and life to M L Olivet Before that time the congregation was being formed.

The first parishioners gathered at the home of M r . and Mrs. William Johnson on Scott Street (now Williamson) to form a Methodist congregation. They chose the Johnson's home because they had a piano. Hymnals and church ma­terials were borrowed from nearby churches. Small intimate services were held some six years before the congregation moved to Colson and Horger. The second house of work­shop was a garage church on Maple Street back i n 1923.

In 1926, the congregation was ready to move to its pres­ent location. While the church was building built, services were conducted at Will iam Ford School. The first service was conducted i n the basement of the present church i n February 1926. Dr. William Dawe was the church's first pastor at Colson and Horger. While several of the original parishioners have botti moved and have been transferred to other locations, the congregation still boasts around 500 members. Foreign students, sewing groups, American Can­cer Society and group stalking about vital issues have all been welcome at Mt. Olivet.

A t one time, the church had close to 1,400 members.

MOSLEM FACILITIES American Moslem Bekka Center Address: 6110 Chase Road Established:

Now closed.

American Moslem Society Address: 9985 W. Vernor Hwy. Established:

l a operation i n 1995.

Dearborn Moslem Mosque Address: Vernor at Westland Established: spring 1938

A n Islami mosque was huilt i n spring 1938 at Ferndale (Vernor) and Westland Place. Its address when it was built was 9945 Dix . A school was also built.

A t first, only a basement facility was built The rest was biult at a later date.

This mosque was originally sponsored by the Manarat Al-Huda Society. In 1940, it was sponsored by the Bekah League.

Before this mosque and the temple started by the Pro­gressive Arabian Hashmie Society were opened, Moham­med follows of southeastern Michigan had to worship i n a rented bunding i n Highland Park.

Islamic Center of America Address: 15571 Joy Road, Detroit Established: 1961 by Imam Mohamad Jawad Chirri

Has membership of 2,000 faroilies.

Islamic Council of America Address: 13200 Warren Ave. Established:

In operation i n 1995.

Islamic Institute of Knowledge Address: 13200 Warren Ave. Established:

In operation i n 1995-.

Islamic Mosque of America Address: 16427 Warren Ave., Detroit Established:

In operation i n 1961.

Progressive Arabian Hashmie Society Address: 10401 Dix at Salina Established; July 1936 or earlier

This group purchased a former bank building at D i x and Salina in July 1936 for use by social gatherings. The two-stoiy braiding was referred to as a Mus l im temple. It was not used for religious services.

In January 1939, this society offered to rent its building to the city for library purposes.

ORTHODOX CHURCHES American Orthodox Church Address: ???? Established: September 1955

The American Orthodox Church was formed in Septem­ber 1955. It bought land at Outer Drive and Cherry H i l l for the church. Its temporary home was i n the former Ralph Daly home at 22305 Long.

The church was established by Fr. Peter Moga, pastor. The church was an offshoot of the Romanian, Greek and Russian Orthodox churches. The purpose of this church was to save the Orthodox faith i n America by forgetting the old country nationality problems and merging the American culture with the ancient tenets of the church.

Ss. Constantine and Helen Eastern Orthodox Address: 4801 Oakman(?) Established: 19??

In operation i n (near?) Dearborn i n 1963. The Ss. Constantine and Helen Eastern Orthodox Educa­

tion and Cultural Center was bxiilt i n 1959 at Oakman and West Chicago. Its community center was at 4801 Oakman.

• (from Church files) The history of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Or­

thodox parish begins in the late 1800s when young Greek immigrants came to settie i n Detroit and the surrounding area.

Some of these families began holding meetings in a rented hall on Myrfle Street in Detroit. In 1930, the first board of trustees was elected for the official SS. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church.

Under their guidance, this small congregation started holding liturgical services i n a variety of locations. For the first two years, services were held i n a private home. Later, they moved to a hall above the Strand Theater at 14th Street and Grand River.

Throughout this period the entire congregation was rais­ing funds with the idea of budding a permanent place of worship. In 1937, the Archdiocese of North and South America offitially approved the goal of budding a church for all northwest Detroit Greek Orthodox citizens.

In 1944, they purchased a site for the church at Oakman at West Chicago i n Detroit. Soon after, they approved the plans for a classical Neo-Byzantine design church. After two years of intense fund-raising efforts by the parishioners, they laid the cornerstone to the church i n November 1948. In 1950, with an overflowing congregation i n a partially completed church building, they held the first liturgy.

By 1955, a second generation of Greeks had joined their elders, and together they raised sufficient funds to begin construction of the SS. Constantine and Helen Educational and Community Center at the same location.

Thus, a church community, which began with a handful of families, blossomed into the focal point for spiritual and social activities for more than 750 Greek families. This community primarily drew its members from the west side of Detroit, Dearborn and surrounding areas. It also provided the base from which the Greek Orthodox parishes of Holy

Cross i n Farmington Hills and Kinisis of Theotokon i n L i ­vonia were established.

The decline of the city and population exodus to the sub­urbs following the Detroit riots eventually took its toll on the church. By the early 1980s, the remaining SS. Constan­tine and Helen parishioners felt it necessary and safer to move from their Detroit location. They purchased 25 acres on Joy Road between Wayne and Newburgh i n Westland.

In 1986, the Hellenic Cultural Center was completed. Church services were held there until the new church was erected and completed i n September 1996.

St. Clement Ohridski Macedono Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Address: 19600 Ford Road Established: 1930

The congregation was founded in 1930 i n a church build­ing at 2930 25th Street at Michigan Avenue

The congregation bought four acres on Ford Road near Evergreen i n 1960. A groundbreaking was supposed to be held that year, but was not held until July 11,1964, after the money to build the church was raised.

The sanctuary was completed i n 1965. Its cost was $615,000. One of the principal fund-raisers for the building was movie theater mogul Nicholas George.

•

(Dearborn Guide, P. 9-A, 7-1-76) The Macedonian Bulgarian Orthodox parish, St. Clem­

ent Ohridski i n Dearborn, the second largest Macedonian community in North America, wi l l hold a three-day bicen­tennial diocesan convention this weekend and special con­secration ceremonies at the magnificent Greek-Orthodox edifice. The beautiful parish site is located at 19600 Ford Road.

The centuries-old pageantry of the consecration wi l l link the past with the present and future of the Macedonian, commumty in the metropolitan Detroit area.

The Very Rev. Panayot Pamukov of Dearborn Heights, pastor of St. Clement Ohridski, and members of the parish have invited several Orthodox bishops and priests to take part in the consecration ceremony.

The local three-domed church was budt i n 1964 and named after St. Clement of Ohrid, who lived in the ninth century A . D . He was known as the most industrious of the disciples of the Holy Brothers, SS. Cyril and Methody of Salonica. They created the Slavic alphabet, making it possi­ble to read the Holy Scriptures i n four languages: Hebrew, Greek, Latin and Slavonic.

St. Clement of Ohrid, Macedonia, taught over 3,500 stu­dents. From the rtinth century on, church and schools were established in his name all over the world.

St Paul Macedono Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Cathedral Address: 700 N. Beech Daly Established: 19??

In 1970, this was the only free Macedono Bulgarian Dio­cese i n the free world. This building is the cathedral for the

Diocese, which covers 20 parishes i n the United States and Canada.

The cathedral was dedicated and consecrated Oct. 3, 1971,

Ss. Peter & Paul Romanian Orthodox Church Address: 750 N. Beech Daly Former Address; 2702 Holly, moved 1970s Established: 1927

The church was founded i n 1927 as the First Romanian Church Monastery of the Holy Trinity. Its first church was built that same year at Holly and Lowrey Street. It changed its name i n 1929 when a new frame church was built.

It consecrated its new 350-seat sanctuary at 2702 Holly Street, on the same site as the previous church, Apr i l 26, 1936.

This church was variously referred to, though not totally accurately, during the 1930s as the Greek Orthodox Church, Roumanian Orthodox Church, Roumanian Greek Orthodox Church and SS. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church.

Groundbreaking for the current sanctuary in Dearborn Heights was held Apr i l 15, 1973. The cornerstone was for­mally laid Oct, 6, 1974. It held its first service i n its new home May 18,1975.

The church abandoned its former sanctuary on Holly Street when it moved to its new home on Beech Daly. It was unable to find a buyer for its old church.

The former church was eventually taken over by other groups. In 1983, the bunding was renovated and turned into the South Dearborn Community Council Museum and A r ­chive.

SS, Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Church Address:3850 Gilbert at Clayton, Detroit Established: 1912

This congregation was the first Orthodox Catholic con­gregation in southeastern Michigan. As more immigrants came from Eastern Europe, they started their own ethnic Orthodox churches.

The original church was a wooden frame structure. A new modern brick church was built i n 1949.

In June 2000, the church was elevated to cathedral status.

St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Address: 19300 Ford Road Established:

The groundbreaking for the church was held July 23, 1961. The sanctuary was dedicated Oct. 14, 1962. The cost of the new sanctuary was $530,000.

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity Address: 7103 Normile Established: 1939 in Detroit Moved to Dearborn: 1952

Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church held its first service September 1939 i n a former bank building at 6705 Michigan Ave.

It then moved to into a larger site at 3993 Humboldt

Avenue i n Detroit. It consisted of a church, school and rec­tory.

In August 1947, the church purchased land at Normile and Warren Avenue. Ground was broken for the current sanctuary in June 1954.

•

(from Oct. 25, 1973, Dbn. Guidep!2) Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church was established

i n 1939 when a small congregation was organized by the Very Rev. John H . Boyko i n a remodeled bunding at 6706 Michigan Ave.

Due to the war and restrictions of building materials, dreams and hopes of erecting a new church looked very dim. In 1944, Fr. Boyko located a church, rectory and school on Humboldt Avenue, which became the new home of the congregation.

The church broke ground for its current sanctuary i n June 1952. The land on Normile was blessed as a future house of worship that same day. The first Holy Divine L i t ­urgy was celebrated i n their present church Oct. 30, 1954, by the Very Rev. Jacob Kostecky.

The 15th anniversary of the present church was cele­brated with the blessing of a new iconostas Oct. 5, 1969.

In 1970, the church annex was built, providing for a new kitchen, Sunday school room and recreation room. A bell tower and Cupola was added to the exterior. The addition was dedicated i n October 1971. A t this time, the church had 90 member families. Its address at this time was listed as 7129 Normile.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES Cherry Hill United Presbyterian Address; 24110 Cherry Hill at Telegraph Established: 1942 Church Dedication: Sept. 26,1948

First discussion of foiming the church was held in Sep­tember 1942. The first service was held March 1943 in Lindbergh School. The roll when the church organized was 87 people. The by-laws were adopted May 17, 1943, with the- church originally known as West Dearborn United Presbyterian Church.

The name Cherry H i l l United Presbyterian Church was chosen Nov. 28,1943>

Plans for its own church, building were announced in February 1946. It owned 10 lots on Cherry H i l l between Mayburn andDrexel.

Ground was broken for the first unit of the church - the chapel - Aug. 3, 1947. The building was dedicated Sept. 26, 1948. Cost of the first unit was $100,000. This included a chapel seating 36, a fellowship hall, office and class­rooms. The second unit was to be additional Sunday school space. Ground was broken for the educational unit i n 1952.

The third and final unit was to be a large sanctuary. Groimd was broken for that June 9, 1957. Its current sanc­tuary was used for the first time June 29, 1958. Several additions were later made.

The 230 feet of Mayburn Street north of Cherry H i l l was originally an open city street, but was vacated i n February 1966 and the property given to the church. The street had separated the church and its parking lot.

Dearborn Woods Presbyterian Address; 3250 Pelham (originally: 20200 Nowlin) Established: 1953

The first worship service was held i n Oct 19, 1952, i n Snow School. It was officially organized Apr i l 12, 1953, with 134 members.

Its manse, the first part of its complex, was built on Westminster Court. It was completed i n 1955. The first unit of the church on its 10-acre site was occupied and its first service i n the new building was held June 3, 1956, The chapel was completed first. Plans called for a complete church, a church school and a social activity project to fol­low.

Construction began in January 1967 for an $88,000 addition. This included nine classrooms, an enlarged sanc­tuary, new offices, choir storage and robing room. The front of the church was switched to face Pelham. The work was completed i n May 1967.

The church sold two acres i n 1972 to raise money to pave the street (Nowlin), bring its two parking lots into shape, pay off the remainder of its first mortgage - origi­nally $64,500 - and a part of its new junior mortgage.

Evangelical Presbyterian Address: 2312 Monroe Established: Closed:????

First Presbyterian Address: 600 N. Brady Established: 1834 First Building: SE corner of Garrison/Mason

The first minister of First Presbyterian was the Rev. R. Armstrong.

First Presbyterian's first church was a mission built on the southeast corner of Garrison and Mason i n 1849. The next church was at Park and Mason, across the street from the original Sacred Heart Church. It sold this building i n 1908 and put up a brick building at Mason and Garrison. The former building was then used as a feed store.

In 1929, the structure at Mason and Garrison was razed so a larger, more permanent facility could be built. The cost of the new building was $50,000. Its cornerstone was laid July 21,1929. During construction, the congregation met i n the high school gym.

In 1947, the chancel was reconstructed to bring it back to its original plans. The plans were changed when an old pipe organ was donated to First Presbyterian by Covenant Presbyterian Church.

In 1950, the cornerstone of its Christian Education Biulding was laid June 5,1950.

In 1960, the mortgage on the church was paid off. Plans were immediately begun to built a new sanctuary. The area at Brady Street and the Rouge River was chosen. Ground­breaking for this facility was Apr i l 21, 1963. Church moved i n 1965. Dedication held Jan. 24,1965.

Cost was $1.5 million. It was five years i n the planning. The new sanctuary seats 900.

The church is now at 600 N ; Brady. The former sanctu­ary is used by Fairlane Alliance Church.

• (from Dearborn Press, P10-C, July 18, 1968) On Sunday, March 9, 1834, the Rev. O.C. Thompson

preached at Dearbornville, as it was then called, and gave notice that on the following Sabbath, a Presbyterian Church would be formed.

Subsequently, 11 people were organized into a church called the First Presbyterian Church of Dearbornville.

The first church was built about 1848 on the southwest .corner of Park and Mason on land donated by Wil l iam and Margaret Sloss.

In 1908, the first structure was sold and a new bunding constructed on the southeast corner of Mason and Garrison.

The little church prospered to such an extent that i n 1929, the small church was razed and a new one built on the same site. The church has since moved to a beautiful modern budding on Brady.

• Mitchell Ha l l is named for the church's former pastor,

the Rev. John K . Mitchell, who assumed duties at the churchMay 1, 1957.

Littlefield Blvd. United Presbyterian Church Address: 7560 Littlefield Blvd. Established: Jan. 5,1930

Trie church began as a Sunday school meeting at Thayer School Oct. 6,1919.

The church was formally organized Jan. 5, 1930, by Dr. Ralph W. Mansfield. Unti l the church built its own sanctu­ary, services were held at Thayer School, McDonald School and i n a storefront on Warren Avenue. The pastor for the church's first 30 years was the Rev. Samuel C. Weir.

Ground was broken for the original church building July 16,1939 with dedication held i n 1940. Cost was $70,000.

The educational building was added i n 1957.

St, Andrew's Presbyterian Address; 26701 Joy Road Established: 1988

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was created as a merger of the formes St. Mark 's Presbyterian Church at same location and Evergreen Village Presbyterian Church as West Chicago and Evergreen. Evergreen Village Presby­terian Church was founded Dec. 7,1941.

The former St. Mark 's sanctuary was rebuilt into a larger facility to handle the combined congregations. (See also St Mark's Presbyterian.)

St Mark's Presbyterian Address: 26701 Joy Road Phone Number: CR8-9340 Established: 1955 Merged: 1988 (When church merged with Evergreen

Village Presbyterian to become St. Andrew's Presbyterian)

The church was started i n 1955 as a mission church of Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church, Hubbard at West Chicago. The groundbreaking for St. Mark's Presbyterian was Jan. 17, 1960. Unti l the church was completed, the congregation met i n Ashcroft School on West Chicago i n Redford.

St. Mark's merged with Evergreen Village Presbyterian Church (founded circa 1941) i n 1988 to form new congre­gation, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Pastor i n 1962 was the Rev. Jay Edward Sale.

UNITED CHURCH/CHRIST Dearborn Congregational Church UCC Address: 16350 Rotunda Drive Established: 1999

Dearborn Congregational was officially created in sum­mer 1999 as the merger of Greenfield and First Congrega­tional churches.

immanuel United Church of Christ on Livernois in De­troit was also supposed to be part of the merger but decided late in the process it would be better to not be part of the merger, although sorrte of its members continued as part of the newly created congregation.

Greenfield Congregational Church UCC Address: 16350 Rotunda Drive Established: 1942 Merged: 1999 with First Congregational

Greenfield Congregational was organized during World War H. Its first service was held i n Barthe's Gr i l l in the Springwells Park Shopping Center on the northwest comer of PvOtunda Drive and Greenfield.

The first Greenfield Congregational building originally was an obsolete army barracks that was also used as at one time as a hospital at Wil low Run. The church bought the building i n 1943. It was dismantled, transported to Rotunda Drive and reassembled into its present L-shape.

The new sanctuary was dedicated Oct. 27,1946. The church celebrated its 20th anniversary with special

services Oct. 14,1962, •

(From Dearborn Guide July 20, 1949, p6) The history of this church should be listed under modern

history. It begins back i n May 1942, when 32 members, with the help of the Congregational Association of Detroit, met i n a storeroom at 337 (3337?) Greenfield Road.

From the very outset the founders had i n mind the devel­opment of a commum,ty church, one which would be the focus of community life.

Their success i n attaining this goal is attested to by the fact that the original storeroom served not only as a formal place of worship, but was also used for church school ses­sions, Scout meetings, family nights, civic meetings and many other community affairs.

In 1943, the Rev. Myron R. Bunnell, the present pastor, began his ministry.

For the first family nights, which have since become an integral part of the church program, tables were borrowed from friendly churches.

A parsonage was purchased i n 1945. In addition to pro­viding Irving space for the minister within the community he served, the new parsonage also served as classrooms for the church committees and other groups during the week. •

In November of the same year, a hospital unit at Willow Run was acquired. This unit, after being moved to its pres­ent location on Rotunda Drive, was to become the present church building.

A delegation from the Greenfield church appeared before

the Board of Home Missions i n 1946 and received a grant of $25,000 to aid in completion of the church budding.

These funds, together with the voluntary work that was continually and generously performed by members and friends of the church, allowed the work of redesigning and rebuilding the church to progress. Particularly inspiring were the Saturday work bees, which acquired many of the characteristics of pioneer community "house-raising" days.

As a climax to long months of planning and work, 210 persons crowded into the chapel that first Sunday on Sep­tember 1946, to give thanks for the new church home.

No services were possible that first Easter because of a flood. After the water subsided, members and friends of the church again assembled in cooperative work teams to repair the damage and to butid an earthen dike along the Rouge River to prevent recurrence.

The year 1948 was one of continued progress and devel­opment. New pews were installed to replace the borrowed chairs, and the sidewalks were extended.

Six years have seen membership expand from the origi­nal 32 to 250 members.

First Congregational Church, UCC Address: 6811 Calhoun at Mansfield Established: 1871 Merged: 1999 with Greenfield-Congregational

This church began as a Sunday school organized at St. John's Chapel at Fort Wayne near Downtown Detroit i n 1871 when the base commander, Col. Pickney Lugenbal, decided he wanted a Sunday school there.

Work began on a church building i n 1879 on the Crane farm i n Springwells Township.lt was completed i n 1881. The congregation formally organized as the Springwells Congregational Church. It had 25 charter members. Its founding pastor was the Rev. R . W . Wallace.

In 1929, land was purchased at Calhoun and Mansfield with plans for a new chinch to be bmlt on that site. The church renamed itself First Congregational.

Its pastor i n 1929 was Dr . E l i J. Forsythe of Detroit. During the next 10 years, the congregation used the

south wing of Lowrey School. • Ground was broken for its new sanctuary on the north­west corner of Calhoun and Mansfield Oct. 2, 1938. It was completed in 1939. The church was dedicated March 30, 1941. The mortgage-burning ceremony was held Feb. 13, 1944.

The main auditorium sat 600. The basement was also used as a social hall. It could accommodate 400.

A permanent sanctuary was built i n 1949 and 1950 above the social hall. It was dedicated Nov. 19,1950.

The church sold its facilities i n 1997 and joined Green­field Congregational and Tmmanuel United Church of Christ at Greenfield's church. The new church is called Dearborn Congregational United Church of Christ.

•

(FromDearborn GuideApril27, 1949,p8) Tracing its origin back to 1871, the First Congregational

Church of Dearborn is planning an expansion which wi l l virtually complete the house of worship at Calhoun and

Mansfield. For several years, the congregation has been worshipping

i n the foundation structure. Now a superstructure wil l be built, this year the congregation hopes.

The proposed colonial building w i l l house 320 worship­pers i n the nave proper and the present basement arrange­ment wil l be remodeled to serve as an educational, recrea­tional and social center, ministering to the needs of the community.

The plan was outlined by the Rev. Thornley T. Eddy, pastor since March 1946.

The church had its begirining i n 1871 when the Sunday school was organized i n St. John's Chapel, Fort Wayne Army Post. Eight years later, i n 1879, the new church was bruit on what was known as the Crane farm in Springwells Township.

In 1881, the building was completed, and the church or­ganized as the Springwells Congregational Church with 25 charter members and the Rev. R .W. Wallace as pastor.

The church moved to a new building at West Fort and Summit i n 1889, and the name was changed to the Fort Street Congregational Church, with the Rev. J .M. Robinson as minister.

Again i n 1902, a new building, which is still standing, was dedicated and i n 1926, this congregation led all churches of that denomination in the United States i n the number of members received on profession of faith. The Rev. E l i J. Forsythe was the pastor.

The present site was bought in 1929 at Calhoun and Mansfield and once again, the congregation moved back to Dearborn and attach its present name to the church.

With only $50 i n the building treasury, excavation for the basement was begun.

The humble start was indicative of the many winds that were to buffet the small unit i n the years to come. However, a good foundation was laid, both spiritually and architec­turally, and the church survived and prospered. The Rev. Eddy succeeded the Rev. George Gullen Sr. who had been with the church for nine years.

A crowning achievement was the purchase of a parson­age at 6557 Reuter.

According to a statement from the church's annual direc­tory, "Congregationalism emphasizes beliefs i n which all evangelical Christians agree. It came to the Mayflower as the church of the Pfigrim fathers."

St James UCC Address: 4920 Greenfield Established: 1947

The church was originally called the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The first service was held Oct. 6, 1946, at Woodworth School with 49 people attending, said by the Rev. A . G. Frohney. Later i n 1946, the Dearborn Independ­ent referred to the church as Dearborn Mission Reform Church.

The church formally organized March 2, 1947, as St. Tames Evangelical and Reformed Church with 74 charter members. The first formal pastor was the Rev. Glenn E . Baumann. He served 10 years.

The plans for the first building were O K ' d i n 1948. Ground was broken for the first structure, the educational and social unit, Apr i l 10, 1949. This unit was dedicated Dec. 11,1949. It cost $60,000.

Ground was broken for a sanctuary i n 1950. The chinch

became self-supporting i n 1953. The educational unit was completed i n 1955.

The final designs for the new sanctuary was O K ' d i n 1956. Ground was broken for a new sanctuary Apr i l 10, 1960, exactly 10 years after the ground-breaking for the previous sanctuary by the new one. The cornerstone was laid June 12, 1960. The new sanctuary, though not completed, was first occupied i n February 1961.

The new sanctuary was dedicated Feb. 11,1962. It was at this time the church renamed itself St. lames United Church of Christ. In 1962, the church had a membership of 535.

St. Paul UCC Address: 26550 Cherry Hill at John Daly Established: 1872

The Dearborn Heights St. Paul United Church of Christ was relocation of a church founded i n 1872 i n Detroit.

The congregation started meeting i n Dearborn in 1952 at Haigh School i n Dearborn until the new sanctuary of semi-gothic design was built i n 1956. The first service i n the new church was said Sept. 29, 1956.

At the time, the church was called St Paul Evangelical and Reformed Church.

Springwells Congregational Church Location: Crane farm Established: 1881

This church was the forenmner of First Congregational Church.

= > See First Congregational Church for more informa­tion.

MISCELLANEOUS CHURCH **Unnamed Church Location: in the hall on Grace near Ruby Established: 1924

German services were said i n the hall on Grace near Ruby i n fall 1924. The first public word was found in Octo­ber 1924. The pastor was the Rev. W. Boritzki.

The last service was said Nov. 23, 1924. No mformation could be found on why that was the last service or to where the church or minister moved.

**Unnamed Church Location: met at Brainard School Established; 77? v

Gospel services were held Sunday nights at Brainard School i n fall 1946. **Unnamed Church Location: — Established: 1954

A n ad ran i n the June 30, 1954, Dearborn Guide asking for all Christians interested i n organizing a church based on the New Testament pattern to call TT6-3875.

No further information was found. **Unnamed Church Location: NW corner of Miller Street and North Dearborn

Road Established: ???

A church was shown on the 1876 county plat atias on the northwest corner of Mi l le r Road and North Dearborn Road, by the Rouge River. The church was not shown on the 1906 plat atlas. **Unnamed Ministry Location: Dearborn Youth Center Established: ???

The Rev. Harry Goodall held Bible instruction at the Dearborn Youth Center i n 1963 at 7 p.m. Thursdays. Aldrich Memorial Church Spiritual Address: 7411 Barrie Established: Jan. 1951 (or earlier)

This church operated at least January-December 1951 i n 7411 Barrie. Nothing else is known about this church. The Assembly Address: 22240 Morley Established: in operation Dec. 1951

This non-denominational church was at 22240 Morley. Assembly Gospel Hall Address: 21110 Outer Drive, referred to as being at Nona at

Hamilton Established: 19??

In 1934-35, the church was called Dearborn Assembly Hall. In 1936, it was called Assembly Gospel Hall .

By 1957, the sanctuary was used by the Dearborn Chapel. This church later relocated to a site on Monroe. Baha'i Center Address: 4685 Gertrude Established: 19??

In operation i n Dearborn Township in 1947. It was af­filiated with Baha' i Center of Detroit.

Brethren in Christ Address: 4411 Detroit at Lehigh Operated: At least during fall 1960-66

Church later occupied by Gloria Christi Lutheran Church. After that, i twasMt . Calvary Baptist Church. Calvary Church Address: met in Masonic Temple Operated: At least during 1935.

This church met during 1935 at the Masonic Temple, 905 Monroe at Garrison. Its advertising included the title Great Gospel Service. It was listed as a fundamentalist church. Central Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Address: 905 Mason at Garrison Established: 1920 Moved to Dearborn: 1965

Central Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance was organized i n 1920, Its first church was at Forest and Second nearDowntownDetroit.

The main church was formed i n 1890 with its focus be­ing overseas missionary work. The church was forced i n 1965 to find a new home because its former sanctuary was on the fringe of the expanding Wayne State University cam­pus and i n the midst of Detroit's Urban Renewal Project Phase U .

When First Presbyterian of Dearborn announced i n 1964 that its old sanctuary would be up for sale when it moved into its new home on North Brady, C C C M A called First Presbyterian and bought the old building. The sale was an­nounced October 1964 and fmalized Jan. 20,1965.

C C C M A ' s first service i n its new home i n Dearborn was heldFeb.7,1965.

==> See Fairlane Alliance for more information. Christian Missionary Alliance Address: 5430 Merrick (later 5350 Merrick) Established: Pre-1939

Before at least 1939, church was at 5430 Merrick off Powers. Its minister i n 1939-45+ was Ralph (N?) W . Guy. Church used slogan "The Church with a Missionary Vision" i n 1939. This church advertised itself in 1945 as the Gospel Fount. " It is not known i f this church had any direct connection to what is today Fairlane Alliance, which was formerly called Central Church of the Christian and Missionary A l l i ­ance and was based at Forest and Second near Downtown Detroit.

Church lasted at least through 1971. Christian Life Center Address: 21360 Outer Drive Established: ????

In operation at least May 1981-1995 Christian Reformed Church of Dearborn Address: 21360 Donaldson at Elmdale Established: 1933 First Building: Former Stevens School at 3355 Willow at

Pine. Second Building: 6066 Greenfield (1938-48) Third Building: 2630 Village Road (1949-73ish)

Current Building: Elmdale at Donaldson (since 1973) Christian Reformed Church of Dearborn has had four

buildings of its own which served as sanctuaries. The church was established i n 1933 when the Parish of

Holland Christian Reformed Church came to this area to start a congregation. The Rev. Mulder of Grand Rapids was i n town September 1933 calling on future parishioners.

Its first service was Nov. 25, 1934, at Whitmore Bolles School. The congregation continued to use the school until 1935, when it took over the former Stevens School at 3355 Willow at Pine. In 1938, it built a new sanctuary at 6066 Greenfield. It moved into the new building i n September 1939, which it used until 1948.

The cornerstone for the next sanctuary was laid June 26, 1949, at 2630 Village Road near Outer Drive. The congre­gation met in the annex of Warrendale United Brethren Church until the new cnfiding was completed.

In 1969, Dearborn ̂ Christian bought property adjacent to the church grounds toward Elmdale along Donaldson. The hope was to eventually build a larger sanctuary on the new property, which it did. (The church was still on Village Road i n 1972.) The former building is now used by Village Baptist Church. Church of God Address: 14649 Michigan Ave. In Operation: met at least summer 1943 and in 1944

This congregation met i n a store front at 14649 Michigan Avenue at least during summer 1943 and into 1944. Church of God of Prophecy Address: 9935 Tuxedo Established: (pre-1963)

Bunding i n 1949 was used by South Dearborn Church of Christ.

The interior of the sanctuary at 9935 Tuxedo was se­verely damaged by fire May 20, 1975. The cause was not known, but arson was suspected. Church of God-Dearborn Address: 20601 Powers at Hipp Established: (pre-1951)

This church was originally called Dearborn Church of God. In operation at least December 1951-98. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Pav Saints Address: 20201 Rotunda Drive Established: January 1969

Local ward was organized i n January 1969. Its original structure at Rotunda Drive and Pelham was built that same year. In 1971, a $300,000 wing featuring classrooms, a gymnasium, a stage and a library was built. The chapel was dedicated Dec. 12, 1971, for the Dearborn and Parkview Wards. This was added to the westside of the building. The expansion included 14 more classrooms.

Church of Truth Location: Recreation Hall Established: ????

This church held services in the Recreation Hall , also called Buxton Hal l , 4600 Schaefer, in 1931. The first refer­ence was found i n March 1931. It continued at least through that fall. Community Church Address: on Maples Street Established: 1925

In fall 1925, the Community Church advertised its ser­vices to the area, stating it was for all Protestant denomina­tions. It used a temporary church on Maple Street.

Included i n its advertisements was how each of the major Protestant denominations was represented i n the service. Community Church of Faith Location: met in Henry Ford School In Operation: at least during April 1944

Services were held in Henry Ford School i n Apr i l 1944. Crossroads Community Church Address: south side of Van Bom, Taylor Established: 777?

In operation i n 1997-present. Davsprinq Christian Mission Address: 3355 Willow Established: 197? Moved: 1997

Building was Stevens School 1929-32; Christian Re­formed Church of Dearborn 1935-39.

Dayspring Christian Mission moved i n around 1990. It was later called Dayspring Christian Fellowship.

The congregation moved to Allen Park in 1997. Building was razed in 1998.

Dearborn Assembly Hail Address: Nona at Hamilton Established: ????

Church was in operation i n 1934-35. In 1936, it was re­ferred to as Assembly Gospel Hall . By 1957, the budding was used by the Dearborn Chapel. This congregation moved to Monroe Street by 1965.

Dearborn Bible Church Address: 21110 Outer Drive Established: May 1973

Dearborn Bible Church, an independent fundamentalist religious group, was organized i n May 1973. Later that year, it took over the West Dearborn Church of Christ build­ing at Outer Drive and Williams. The other church had pre­viously merged with Parkside Church of Christ. Its first pastor was the Rev. Robert D . Huff. Within six weeks of its creation, the congregation grew to 150 members. Dearborn Chapel Address: 4180 Monroe Established: ????

In 1957, the Dearborn Chapel was at Hamilton and Nona. By 1965, i t was at 4180 Monroe.

Dearborn Christian Church. Disciples of Christ Address: 922 N. Beech Daly First Service: 1956 Officially Established: September 1958 Affiliated with: Disciples of Christ

Congregation originally met i n Joshua Howard School, Lawrence at York, in Dearborn, where it continued to meet for five years. It had 35 charter members. The church was an outgrowth of the Central Woodward Church in Detroit.

In 1958, it acquired 4 2/3 acres on Beech Daly for a sanctuary. D C C held groundbreaking for church sanctuary Oct. 28, 1962. First services i n new sanctuary were held June 1 (2?), 1963.

A n educational bunding was added to the facility i n 1967, and the church hopes to add a sanctuary by 1970. The congregation now totals 300 members with an annual

budget of $60,000 and an investment-in buildings and site of nearly $300,000.

The Rev. Ray W . Bosh came to the leadership of the lo­cal church i n M y 1967. His predecessors include founding pastor the Rev. Myron E . Neal, the Rev. Howard Goodrich and the late Rev. Stanley E . Melton. Dearborn Evangelical Covenant Address: 18575 Outer Drive at Golfview Established: 1954

The church started as a Sunday school meeting in How­ard School i n February 1951. The first services of the church were held i n 1952.

It was organized into a congregation Apr i l 2,1954. Ser­vices were held at Joshua Howard School until March 1958.

The church bought land at Golfview and Outer Drive in 1953. It applied for avbunding permit i n August 1956, but a few residents i n the exclusive neighborhood protested, so the request was initially denied. Circuit Court overruled the city and ordered the granting of the permit Apri l 18,1957.

Ground was broken for its sanctuary May 5, 1957. The congregation had to sue the city of Dearborn for permission to build on the site, because the dry was reluctant to allow additional churches to build at the time.

The first service i n its new building was held Feb. 16, 1958. The building was dedicated March 9,1958. Dearborn Gospel Center Location: Met in Long School Established: 197?

Church met at Long School i n March 1950. B y Decem­ber 1954, the congregation called itself Dearborn Gospel Community Clrurch. It still met at Long School. The last reference found on the church was i n spring 1955. Dearborn Gospel Hall Address: 22632 Michigan Ave. Established: 197?

The church was listed i n the 1936 Dearborn City Direc­tory as operating at 22632 Michigan Ave. Dearborn Gospel Tabernacle Address: 7041 Schaefer near Warren. Established: 1931

The first church was on Warren Avenue, A new sanctu­ary was built i n 1934 at 7041 Schaefer near Warren. This building was used until 1977, when the church rented the former Haston School.' The building on A n n Arbor Trail was built that year with the first service held Apr i l 9,1978.

Early name of Detroit World Outreach. Church first changed its name to Dearborn Assembly of God and then Fairlane Assembly of God before its most recent change to Detroit World Outreach,

• (from Dbn. Ind. P3 1-20-39) A two-story brick building and a large congregation

crowns the efforts of a Utile group of seven people who in Apri l 1931 began holding services in a store building on Warren Avenue near Greenfield.

From the very first, success attended their efforts and though at that time many people were moving away from the city, yet toward the close of 1934, their attendance had increased, so it became necessary to seek larger quarters to worship in. At that time, an opportunity was presented to purchase the property known as the Hotchkiss Building at 7041 Schaefer Road.

The property was acquired, the congregation moved in,

and on Dec. 9,1934, had their first service i n the new build­ing.

For three years, they worshipped i n this building without changing it a great deal, but again, as the auditorium be­came packed to capacity, people were turned away, unable to gain admittance.

Accordingly, work was begun the latter part of January 1938 and lasted over a period of months, the congregation doing most of the work themselves.

The Tabernacle takes special interest i n young people's work. They have their own meeting every week, which is conducted on strictly spiritual lines. Each one is encouraged to take part i n the service and to assume responsibilities as Christians i n the church.

A missionary interest has been adopted and maintained i n the Tabernacle since its beginning. A t the present time, they have one missionary who is just completing her first term on the field i n South Africa. Five are actively engaged

•in the pioneer fields of northern Michigan and Kentucky. One young man has graduated from Bible College, though not as yet engaged i n full-time service, while two more are i n college framing for the ministry.

In 1933, this church became affiliated with the General Council of the Assemblies of God, with headquarters in Springfield, M o .

The pastor, the Rev. W.D. Webster, has been with the church from the time of its inception. His sincere interest in the welfare of his people and his untiring efforts and faithful service to any and all who needed a friendly hand have con­tributed i n a large measure to the success and upbufiding of this work.

A policy of warm friendliness toward all strangers and visitors, together with a genial atmosphere maintained at all times, has made this church known throughout the city as "The Church with the Hearty Welcome."

==> See Detroit World Outreach for more information. Dearborn Pastoral Counseling Center Address: 24100 Cherry Hill Established: 1983 .

This church-sponsored counseling center was founded in 1983 as a cooperative effort of three churches - Cherry H i l l Presbyterian, First Presbyterian and Christ Episcopal. Since then three additional churches also became sponsors - First United Methodist, St. Paul Lutheran and First Baptist.

The center has its offices i n the original section of Cherry H i l l Presbyterian Church. Dearborn Pentecostal Address: 22628 Michigan Ave. Established: 1938

Church held regular levival meetings. It was taken over by the White Cross Mission i n March 1939. It was renamed Dearborn White Cross Mission. It was an mterdenomina-tional church. Dearborn Pilgrim Holiness Mission Address: 5661 Gulley, north of Ford Established: Prior to 1929.

Church was i n operation at least from 1929 through 1945. In 1929, it was referred to as Pilgrim Holiness M i s ­sion. B y 1945, the church had become Dearborn Pfigrim Holiness Church and was meeting at 5661 Gulley, north of Ford Road.

Its pastor in 1929 was the Rev. A .F . Osborn. In 1945, it was the Rev. Charles G. Derrniston.

Dearborn Roumanian 7th Day Adventist Address: 2703 Wyoming at Lowrey Established: 19??

This church was i n operation at least 1949-December 1951. What relation this church had to the First Roumanian 7th Day Adventist Church at 2855 Salina that operated at least 1939-46 is unknown. Dearbomshire Wesleyan Methodist Address: south side of Van Born east of Inkster Established: ???? In Operation: 1938-39 or longer Dearborn White Cross Mission Address: 22628 Michigan Ave. Established: 1939

The mission was created in March 1939, when it took over the Dearborn Pentecostal Church, which was formed i n 1938. Both missions rnet at 22628 Michigan Ave.

The White Cross Mission was a national interdenomina­tional church. Detroit Friends Church Address: ???? Established: 19??

Tliis congregation met temporarily at the Fairlane Y M C A starting i n October 1977. How long it met there is not known. Dutch Reformed Church Address: ???? Established: 197?

Church was i n operation i n early 1935. Emmanuel Pilgrim Holiness Church Address: 7114 Barrie Established: June 1930 or earlier

In operation at least 1930-36. In May 1936, the church held services i n a private home. Its manse was listed as be­ing at 1351 Kingsbury.

Building at 7114 Barrie i n 1990s was used by Little Zion Primitive Baptist Church. Fairlane Alliance Address: 905 Mason at Garrison Established: 1920 Moved to Dearborn: 1965 Name Changed: 19??

Church uses budding used by First Presbyterian 1930-1961. When First Presbyterian moved to current bunding at 600 N . Brady, Fairlane Alliance, then called the Central Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, bought the previous sanctuary.

Church was originally known as Christian Missionary Alliance. In 1965-69 (at least), it was called Central A l l i ­ance Church. It was known at least through 1974 as the Central Church of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, more commonly called Central Alliance Church.

*==>See Central Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance for more information. Fairlane Community Church Address: 905 Mason at Garrison Established: 1920 Current Name: Fairlane Alliance Name Changed: 19??

Name of Fairlane Alliance at least 1979-81. See that church for more information.

First Christian Church Address: 2012 Monroe at Military Established: 1956?

Little is known of this church except that it existed from at least summer 1956 to spring 1957. Its ads i n the newspa­per referred to it as being i n the Architect Temple. First Church of the Nazarene Address: 24921 Ford Road Established: 1962

First Church of the Nazarene was organized i n M y 1963 with 64 charter members. It then bought the old sanctuary of Christus Victor (Ford Road Lutheran) when that church began building a new church farther west on Ford Road.

First Church of the Nazarene held its first service i n its new sanctuary Oct. 20, 1963. Church continued to operate at least through 1981.

The building was later used by Detroit Impact, which moved back to Detroit i n 1995. First Roumanian Friends Address: 2855 Salina Established: 19??

Listed in the Dearborn City Directory 1936. In the 1939-47 City Directories, First Roumanian 7thDay Adventist was listed at this address. In the 1949 City Directory, the Roma­nian 7th Day Adventist Church was listed at 2703 Wyo­ming. First Roumanian 7th Day Adventist Address: 2855 Salina Established: 19??

Listed i n the Dearborn City Directories 1939-46. In the 1936 City Directory, the First Roumanian Friends Church was listed at this address. In the 1949 City Directory, the Romanian 7th Day Adventist Church was listed at 2703 Wyoming.

Full Gospel Christian Center Address: 5467 S. Beech Daly • Established:

In operation i n 1995.

Full Gospel Mission Address: 1682 Leland Court (last house) Established: fn operation at /east 1928-31.

This was a Pentecostal church. Superintendent i n 1928 was O.E. Malcolm. Gabriel Richard Center Address: 5001 Evergreen, on UM-Dearborn campus Established: 19??

This is a non-denominational religious center on the northern edge of the University of Michigan-Dearborn cam­pus.

Good News Fellowship Address: 6050Appoline Established: 1977

The church in December 1977 called itself Dearborn's newest church. Its pastor was the Rev. Richard Moon. Gospel Fount Address: 948 Monroe Established: 1942

The Gospel Fount held its formal owning Nov. 22,1942, under the auspices of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Dearborn under the leadership of its pastor, the Ralph W. Guy, 5350 Merrick.

The Gospel Fount was to be a meeting place for Evan­gelical Christians of all churches and Christian groups. Its meetings were held for many years i n the Scandia Hall , 948 Monroe, which was at one time part of the old Detroit Arse­nal.

In 1945, the Christian Missionary Alliance at 5350 Merrick i n south Dearborn Township advertised itself as the Gospel Fount, possibly mdicating the Gospel Fount being moved out of its facility on Monroe Street. Grace Reformed Church in America Address: — Established: 19??

morjerationmDearbominfall 1947. Hoiv Alliance Spiritualist Address: Met in Knights of Dearborn Hall in Calvin Building Established: 19?? V

This church was hrvoperation in 1937. Immanuel Lutheran Mission Address: 22632 Michigan Ave. Established: 1938

This revivalist mission operated at least during March 1938. Italian Christian Mission Address: 4322 Bingham In Operation: October 1931

The Italian Christian Church/Mission held its first ser­vice Jan. 25, 1931, a tMt . Olivet Church. It continued oper­ation at least through October 1931. Jehovah's Witness

Dearborn Congregation Cherry Hill Congregation

South Dearborn Heights Congregation Addresses: Kingdom Hall, 4138 Williams Established: 1952?

The original local Kingdom Hal l for the Jehovah's Wit­ness was at 3902 Monroe at Dartmouth. It was dedicated March 10 and 11, 1956. It moved to its current site on W i l ­liams between Lehigh and Colgate i n 1992.

The sanctuary was purchased from the defunct Good Shepherd Episcopal Church i n February 1991. It was at its former sanctuary at Dartmouth and Monroe for nearly 40 years. Jehovah's Witness

North Dearborn Heights Congregation Address: Kingdom Hall, 25801 Ann Arbor Trail Established:

In operation i n 1995. Jehovah's Witness

Dearborn East Congregation Greenfield Congregation

Address: Kingdom Hall, ????? Tireman Established:

In operation about 1979-present. Judgment Morning Ministries Address: 6963 Barrie Established:

In operation i n 1995. League of a Thousand Location: Met in Miller School Established: 1938

Church was sponsored by Christian men who worked at the Ford Rouge Plant. It held two services each Sunday. It is

not known how long this group was i n operation. It lasted at least into 1939. Martha-Mary Chapel Location: Greenfield Village Established: 1929

This was the first of six Martha-Mary chapels built by Henry and Clara Ford i n honor of their mothers (Martha Ford and Mary Bryant).

This one was built i n 1929 i n Greenfield Village. The first service was held i n the chapel Jan. 26, 1931. It

as not yet completed as it had no pews or pulpit yet. Chapel services were then held each morning. Previously, they were held i n the schoolhouse.

The second was at Camp Legion at Willow Pun. Four more were then built at South Sudbury, Mass.; Macon, Mich . ; Richmond H i l l , Ga.; and Camp Legion i n Dearborn.

The one at Willow Run was moved i n 1955 to Gulley and Wilson i n north Dearborn Township to serve as the sanctu­ary of the recently formed Cherry H i l l Baptist Church.

That congregation built a new sanctuary next to the chapel i n 1961-62. The chapel was then used for special services, like for weddings.

The one originally at Macon was evenmally moved to Trenton for use by a church there. The one i n Dearborn was moved to Brighton. As of 1978, the ones i n Georgia and Massachusetts were still i n use i n their original sites.

In 1978, Cherry H i l l Baptist wanted to expand, but its only available land was where the old chapel sat. It offered the chapel to anyone willing to pay to have it moved. Sev­eral churches indicated interest, but the price of moving was too high.

The city of Dearborn Heights considered the chapel with the idea of relocating it to the southwest side of the Canfield Center, but city officials decided the budget did not allow for such an extravagance.

Even Greenfield Village was not interested as it already had the first Martha-Mary Chapel. Finally, the chapel at Cheny H i l l Baptist was razed i n spring 1978.

Messiah Adventist Address: Unknown Established: 1874 Disbanded: 1889

(Following compiled by Col. Joshua Howard Chapter DAR under the direction of Carrie C. Allmendinger.)

Will iam A . Nowlin donated a lot on the northeast corner of Monroe and Nowlin for the church. It seated 160 and cost $1,500. The sanctuary was dedicated in 1875.

In 1874, the church had 20 members. In 1889, i t was down to six, at which point the remaining members decided to disband.

The Rev. C.W. Learned, who lived i n the neighborhood, was the only pastor of the church.

The sanctuary stood vacant for several years. Part of it was incorporated into a house later built on that site. Metropolitan Church Association Address: Notre Dame at Telegraph Established:

This Wesleyan church operated in the former sanctuary originally built by Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. It func­tioned at least from June 1956.

B y 1959, it was called Wesleyan Community Church. (See that church for more information.)

Metro Child Evangelism Fellowship Address: 5501 Chase Established:

In operation i n 1995. Inside Calvary Baptist Church. New Apostolic Address: 15320 Michigan Ave. Established: Sept. 3, 1933

The New Apostolic Church was founded Sept. 3, 1933. The first services were said at 15320 Michigan Ave. This church continued to be listed at that address i n the Dearborn City Directories at least through the 1949 editions.

B y 1948, the church had moved to 948 Monroe. In the 1946 Dearborn City Directory, Dearborn Calvary Assembly was listed at being at that address.

One source says New Apostolic Church was founded i n 1949, These possibly could be three different churches.

A New Apostolic Church dedicated a new sanctuary at 20331 Outer Drive Feb. 11,1950. Oxford Gospel Church Address: 3355 Willow at Pine Established: 1946 or earlier Disbanded: 1977(?)

Dearborn Public Schools signed a quit deed to the former Stevens School at 3355 Willow Aug. 15, 1946, giving the site and structure to Oxford Gospel Church.

This church disbanded i n January 1978 when its pastor, the Rev. Ear l Gary, retired. Fart of the congregation then stayed at the sanctuary's new tenant, Pinegrove Memorial Assembly of God.

Oxford Gospel Sunday School Location: met i.h Oxford School Established: 1942 or earlier.

This mterdenominational church met i n Oxford School at least i n September 1942. Pilgrim Missionary Tabernacle Location: met in Thayer School Established: March 1940

This church organized i n March 1940. Services were held at Thayer School. It continued to operate at least through September 1940.

Pine Grove Church Address: 3355 Willow at Pine Established: 1957 or earlier

The church building was originally used as Stevens School When the school district closed the school, the building remained vacant for a few years until 1939, when Dearborn Christian Reformed moved in.

The church was also referred to as the Pine Grove M e ­morial Church. It was of the Ful l Gospel denomination.

After Pine Grove Church closed, sometime between summer 1974 and 1978, the building became home to Ox­ford Gospel Church,

That church disbanded i n January 1978. Next came Pinegrove Memorial Assembly of God, which continued to operate for several years. Its final tenant was Dayspring Christian Services, which relocated to Allen Park i n 1998. The building was razed i n summer 1998 for new homes. Romanian Pentecostal Church of God Address: 4460 Pardee Established:

In operation i n 1995.

Roumanian Seventh Day Adventist Address: 2703 Wyoming Established: 19??

This church was listed as being at 2703 Wyoming i n the 1949 Dearborn City Directory. The church was i n operation by spring 1944.

The First Roumanian 7th Day Adventist Church was at 2855 Salina, according to the 1939-46 Dearborn City Direc­tories.

In the 1936 Dearborn City Directory, First Roumanian Friends Church was at that address. St. Pashal's Address; 3850 Merrick Established: Closed: ???? St. Paul Spiritual Church of the W.B.T. Address: 258 W. Michigan Ave. Established:

Church was i n operation i n 1929. Salvation Armv-DH Citadel Address: 26700 Warren Ave. Established: 1889 Relocated: February 1971

Moved to Dearborn Heights i n February 1971 i n former Warren Valley Baptist Church. It actually began using the site i n March.

Ground was broken for a $400,000 addition Sept. 12, 1971. The facilities included a new sanctuary, gymnasium, offices, classrooms, music rooms and recreation rooms. It had a total floor space of more than 25,000 square feet. The new facilities were dedicated Sept. 17,1972.

This congregational unit of the Salvation Army first met i n 1889 i n a room over a fish market i n Cadillac Square i n downtown Detroit. It moved to new buildings at Second and Michigan i n 1906 and then to Second and Bagley i n 1939. (From DB Leader Sept 14,1972)

Seventh Day Pentecostal Address: 5912 Berwyn one block north of Ford Road Established: 1961

Seventh Day Pentecostal Church opened its sanctuary i n January 1961 after almost seven years of construction by its founder, Elder Peter M . Jensen. He built the sanctuary al­most all by himself by hand. The denomination was rela­tively new at that time. It was an offshoot of Pentecostal Church, created i n the 1950s.

B y 1970, the building was i n need of repair, which the congregation set out to do.

Shalom Ministry Address: 922 N. Beech Daly Established: 1975

Shalom Ministry, a non-denominational congregation, was in rented facilities most of its existence.

Shalom Ministry was founded about 1974 by the Rev. Joe Shannon. The initial services were held Friday nights i n a storefront on Beech Daly at Dartmouth i n Inkster. It was coffeehouse-style type of ministry originally as it began dur­ing a time when the young people of the 1960s were return­ing to Jesus. The services were mostly folk music with groups continuously performing through the evening.

In Apr i l 1979, the church moved its services to the Fel­lowship Ha l l of Dearborn Baptist Temple.

Its pastor i n 1997, the Rev. James Duncan, described the congregation at the time as something between Baptist and

Pentecostal, During its first two decades of existence, it had seven

homes. A t one point, it owned a sanctuary on Ecorse Road i n Taylor.

The congregation was still growing at the time, so the members decided to seek bigger quarters. It sold the current church and rented space i n a larger church. That building was then sold by the owning congregation, leaving Shalom Ministry without a home. This was i n 1991.

The group then reached an agreement with Dearborn Christian Church to share its facility at 922 N . BeechDaly. Special Band of Hope Address: Met in Recreation Building on Schaefer Established: 1937

This short-lived congregation held its first service June 6, 1937, i n the Recreation Building on Schaefer south of Michigan. <, Spiritual Church of Truth Address: Met in Memorial Building (Commandant's Quar­

ters) Established:

This church met i n 1931 in the former Memorial Build­ing (now Commandant's Quarters) at what then listed as 13 N . Monroe Street. Trailside United Brethren Address: 22550 W. Warren in Detroit Established: 1939 Closed: 1995?

Trailside United Brethren Church could be called the daughter church of Warrendale United Brethren Church farther east on Warren Avenue. In 1939, M r . and Mrs. E d ­ward Banwart were sent down the street from Warrendale UB to start what would be come Trailside U B Church.

The first service was held Nov. 19, 1939, in Coonville School, which was located across the street from where the church now sits. This is now the Dearborn Heights campus of Henry Ford Community College. The original service had 23 people attend.

The first pastor was the Rev. G. Raymond Jewel, who served 1943-45. He had moved here with his family from Indian. The Rev. Will is E . Bishop took over until 1951. The next pastor was the Rev. Robert L . Stewart, who served for 17 years. He later became pastor at Warrendale U B . Six other pastors then followed (as of 1985).

The church is named after A n n Arbor Trail, which runs a short distance from the church.

The first church building was started i n May 1951. The first service i n that stracture was held M a y 12, 1954. Be­cause of growing overcrowding, a new church was built. Construction began Jan. 29, 1961. The first service there was Dec. 24,1961. Trinity Church of God Address: 5467 S. Beech Daly Established: Current Name: Full Gospel Christian Center Name Changed: ????

Now Full Gospel Christian Center Trinity Pentecostal Church of God Address: 8305 Lenore Established:

In operation i n 1995. United Pentecostal Church Address: 4411 Detroit

Established: In operation i n December 1974.

United Spiritual Ministerial Union Location: Met in K of C Hall on Maple Established: Nov. 22, 1940

This congregation was organized Nov. 22, 1940. Its first anniversary service in 1941 was held i n the

Knights of Columbus Hal l , 4519 Maple. Unity Chapel (Dial a Thought! Address: Dearborn, Ml Established:

In operation in 1995. Unity Church Address: Met in Dearborn Community Center, Horger at

Michigan Avenue. Established:

Unity services were held i n 1931 in the Masonic Temple. In 1947, it met i n the Dearborn Cormnunity Center (the Horger Center). It is not definite i f these two meetings are related.

Universal Life Church Address: 4041 Lapham Established:

In operation in 1995. Universal Spiritual and Psychic and Science Church Location: Wyoming at Southern Established: Oct. 3, 1937

This church opened and was dedicated Oct. 3, 1937. It was at Wyoming and Southern. Its founding pastor was the Rev. Mae Pawlitz. Van Born Community Church Address: Fellrath at Van Born (?) Established: 1937

The church quickly needed its own facility because of growing membership. It bought an abandoned church at Ford Road and Wayne Road and moved it to its present site. Warrendale Community Church Address: 19700 Ford Road Established: 1950

The church was organized i n 1950. Unti l it built its own sanctuary, services were held i n an old school house and the Y M C A .

The Warrendale Community Church building was i n 1959 and 1960, being completed before Easter of that year. The building was dedicated Oct. 9,1960, It cost $118,000.

Wesleyan Community Church Address: Notre Dame at Telegraph Established: 19??

The church was i n operation at least during 1956-79. Its home was the former Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at Notre Dame and Telegraph. It was originally referred to as Metropolitan Church Association.

The owners of the site in 1979 told the church it was canceling the lease effective Dec. 1, 1979, leaving the church to find other accommodations.

The church asked the school district Nov. 19,1979, to al­low it use of the closed Lapham School building on West-wood. After much consideration, the district said no, citing a possible violation of the U.S. Constitution stating separa­tion of church and state.

It is not known what happened to the congregation after this. West Unitarian Address: Met on UM-Dearborn campus Established:

Operated at least during winter and spring 1966. Word of Faith Fellowship Address: 3871 Heritage Parkway Established:

In operation i n 1995.

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