History of Lakeside Community Church of the Nazarene
The history of the Lakeside Community Church (Ebensurg Church of the Nazarene) dates back to the summer of 1939. The Rev. Peter Tucker; at that time Pastoer of the Church of the Nazarene in Nanty-Glo, Pennsylvania, began conducting weekly prayer meetings in private homes in the Ebensburg area.
In June 1940, the regular attendees of these prayer meetings, under the leadership of Peter Tucker (as their home mission chairman), decided to hold public meetings to determine whether there was sufficient interest in the area population to establish a Nazarene Church in Ebensburg.
The Church of the Nazarene was founded by Dr. Phineas Bresee at Pilot Point, Texas on October 13, 1908. Pilot Pointis about 60 miles north of Dallas, Texas. The Nazarene denomination was only 32 years old at the time of the Ebensburg venture. In 1940 many people had never heard of the Church of the Nazarene.
On July 7, 1940 the Ebensburg prayer meeting attendees rented and erected a tent on land that was then vacant land in Cambria Township, along then U.S. Highway Route 219 just south of the Borough of Ebensburg.
This land is currently occupied by various retailers including several medical service businesses. The land is now called Kimball Plaza. Rev. H. B. Huffman, Nazarene Evangelist, was engaged to conduct religious services for a week (seven days) of thent meetings. It is reported that the meetings were well attended; however attendance records are not available. Originally the meetings were scheduled to close on July 28, 1940. The meeting schedule was extended due to the higher than estimated interest. The last service was held on July 28, 1940 (exactly three weeks or twenty one days). Offerings received totaled $94.90.
Following the tent meetings the Rev. O. L. Benedum (Nazarene District Superintendent of the Akron, Ohio District) organized the Ebensburg Church with thirty six (36) members.
Shortly thereafter (exact times and dates are not recorded) a single parcel of land at 619 East Sample Street, in the Borough of Ebensburg, was leased from Mrs. Ocea Morris (one of the Church Charter Members). A wood temporary Church building (built on wooden posts and designed to hold 80 people) was erected upon this land by the laymen of the Church. The first services held in this building were on Sunday, September 15, 1940 when both Sunday School and Church services were conducted. Although no attendance records are available, it is reported that these initial services were well attended. A picture taken of the Sunday School shows 44 persons.
On September 29, 1940 a used piano was purchased from Mrs. Harry Davis for $10.00. On November 20, 1940 Mildred Reighard was officially appointed by the Church Board to be the first Church pianist.
The first Church pews were actually wooden benches, handmade by the laymen, which were covered with canvas. These benches were replaced in 1941 with pews that were purchased and installed by the laymen of the church.
In 1944 the land where the temporary Church building was constructed was purchased from Mrs. Ocea Morris for $400.00. The congregation's numberical size grew slowly which enabled this temporary building (with a basement addition and a minor first floor enlargement) to be adequate for use until 1981 (a total of 41 years).
The first ful time Pastor was appointed by the District Superintendent on September 15,1940 at a salary of $15.00 per month. He was Rev. Russell R. Merriman who came from the pastorate in Jerome, Pennsylvania. Russell & Clara Merriman lived in a rented house while he was Pastor. From it's beginning th the present date of 2011 (a period of seventy one years) there have been sixteen (16) Pastors that have served the Church. A list of the Pastors and their approximate services dates will be shown on the following pages.
On October 8, 1940, the local Church elected the following officers to provide much needed leadership in the various capacities listed:
First Church Officers
Presiding Minister Rev. Russell R. Merriman
School Superintendent Gerald Reighard
Young People's President James Fetterman
Missionary President Verda Adams
Missionary Secretary Alice Francis
Missionary Treasurer Ocea Morris
Church Secretary Isobel Reighard
Church Treasurer Roger Reighard
Board of Trustees Clyde Hagens
(Chariman)
Edward Adams
Albert Stiles
Board of Stewards Ocea Morris
(Chairperson)
Maude Huffman
Merritt Makin
Mrs. Rodger Reighard
Membership Committee Margaret Hagens
(Chairperson)
Verda Adams
Maude Huffman
In June 1940, the regular attendees of these prayer meetings, under the leadership of Peter Tucker (as their home mission chairman), decided to hold public meetings to determine whether there was sufficient interest in the area population to establish a Nazarene Church in Ebensburg.
The Church of the Nazarene was founded by Dr. Phineas Bresee at Pilot Point, Texas on October 13, 1908. Pilot Pointis about 60 miles north of Dallas, Texas. The Nazarene denomination was only 32 years old at the time of the Ebensburg venture. In 1940 many people had never heard of the Church of the Nazarene.
On July 7, 1940 the Ebensburg prayer meeting attendees rented and erected a tent on land that was then vacant land in Cambria Township, along then U.S. Highway Route 219 just south of the Borough of Ebensburg.
This land is currently occupied by various retailers including several medical service businesses. The land is now called Kimball Plaza. Rev. H. B. Huffman, Nazarene Evangelist, was engaged to conduct religious services for a week (seven days) of thent meetings. It is reported that the meetings were well attended; however attendance records are not available. Originally the meetings were scheduled to close on July 28, 1940. The meeting schedule was extended due to the higher than estimated interest. The last service was held on July 28, 1940 (exactly three weeks or twenty one days). Offerings received totaled $94.90.
Following the tent meetings the Rev. O. L. Benedum (Nazarene District Superintendent of the Akron, Ohio District) organized the Ebensburg Church with thirty six (36) members.
Shortly thereafter (exact times and dates are not recorded) a single parcel of land at 619 East Sample Street, in the Borough of Ebensburg, was leased from Mrs. Ocea Morris (one of the Church Charter Members). A wood temporary Church building (built on wooden posts and designed to hold 80 people) was erected upon this land by the laymen of the Church. The first services held in this building were on Sunday, September 15, 1940 when both Sunday School and Church services were conducted. Although no attendance records are available, it is reported that these initial services were well attended. A picture taken of the Sunday School shows 44 persons.
On September 29, 1940 a used piano was purchased from Mrs. Harry Davis for $10.00. On November 20, 1940 Mildred Reighard was officially appointed by the Church Board to be the first Church pianist.
The first Church pews were actually wooden benches, handmade by the laymen, which were covered with canvas. These benches were replaced in 1941 with pews that were purchased and installed by the laymen of the church.
In 1944 the land where the temporary Church building was constructed was purchased from Mrs. Ocea Morris for $400.00. The congregation's numberical size grew slowly which enabled this temporary building (with a basement addition and a minor first floor enlargement) to be adequate for use until 1981 (a total of 41 years).
The first ful time Pastor was appointed by the District Superintendent on September 15,1940 at a salary of $15.00 per month. He was Rev. Russell R. Merriman who came from the pastorate in Jerome, Pennsylvania. Russell & Clara Merriman lived in a rented house while he was Pastor. From it's beginning th the present date of 2011 (a period of seventy one years) there have been sixteen (16) Pastors that have served the Church. A list of the Pastors and their approximate services dates will be shown on the following pages.
On October 8, 1940, the local Church elected the following officers to provide much needed leadership in the various capacities listed:
First Church Officers
Presiding Minister Rev. Russell R. Merriman
School Superintendent Gerald Reighard
Young People's President James Fetterman
Missionary President Verda Adams
Missionary Secretary Alice Francis
Missionary Treasurer Ocea Morris
Church Secretary Isobel Reighard
Church Treasurer Roger Reighard
Board of Trustees Clyde Hagens
(Chariman)
Edward Adams
Albert Stiles
Board of Stewards Ocea Morris
(Chairperson)
Maude Huffman
Merritt Makin
Mrs. Rodger Reighard
Membership Committee Margaret Hagens
(Chairperson)
Verda Adams
Maude Huffman