Crawfordsville First Methodist Church
Crawfordsville First United Methodist Church
Methodism began in Montgomery County in 1825 with Circuit preacher, Rev. James Armstrong. By 1835 a congregation could support a preacher who was Rev. J. Miller. The first church was where "Wabash Road and Water Street" crossed and was added on to several times. Oyster-ice cream suppers were prominent fund raiser. In 1857, a new church was built, the debt paid for before the Civil War began. A Ladies' Aid Society and men's Foreign Missionary Society were added to with the Women's Foreign Missionary Society and the Home Missionary Society and still later, the United Methodist Women. In 1939, the Episcopal was dropped and in 1969 the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren merged to form United Methodists. This particular church chose the name, First United Methodist at this time with two other Methodist churches becoming The Trinity United Methodist and Christ United Methodist. There have been four churches on the site at 212 East Wabash, the last in 1976. A two-story parsonage stood just west of the church for many years. The church members look forward to the Bicentennial anniversary in 2025.
(NOTE:This article does not say which Methodist Church, so I placed it here under the First Methodist Church. If someone knows otherwise please let me know.)
Source: CDJ 16 April 1894 p 4
Dr. Tucker reports the following persons as having united with his church as a result of the Ostrom meetings: Dora Andrews, Daisy Albright, Margaret angle, WA Birch, Mrs. S. Burkholder, Martha A. Binford, Ruby Byrd, FM Butcher, Grace Butcher, Rose Butcher, Pearl Corbin, Edith Crist, Barton Cox, Cora Cox, Mary Cox, Walter Cruse, Leroy Clore Edith Drake, Alexander Duncan, Nora Drake, Alexander Duncan, Nora Drake, Harry Evans, DW Flanigan, Sherman Grimes, Paul Gerard, Frank Griest, Maud Griest, Mary Griest, Maud V. Garber, Carl Griffith, Newton Harland, James Hamilton, Ada Harley, Mrs. Lindamood, Morgan Lindamood, Isaac Lindamood, Willis Lindamood, LT Lindamood, Mrs. Nellie Laymon, Lola McGilliard, Mary Mikles, Myrtle Kelly, IC Maxwell, Jonathan Nutt, Harley Patterson, JW Pease, Albert L. Paire, Mary Sprague, Glen Smith, Samuel Scott, Pearl Scott, Ethel Smith, Robert Youngman, Sarah Young, Bessie McDonald, Mary Galey, Sarah Yount.
Yesterday, there were 20 more additions and 50 baptisms.
Wabash Ave Methodist - parsonage built
Source: Sunday Star, May 27, 1901 p 2
A modern home with hardwood floors, furnace, hot and cold water and all modern conveniences, will at once be built next to the Methodist Church on Wabash Avenue for the church parsonage. The old house has been sold and moved away. The new parsonage will cost about $4,500.
Photo Source: Taken on May 24, 2020 by Jim Zach
Below is an earlier church at this site, probably from a post card.
