Gleanings From
In Christian Fellowship
By Shirley Lindahl
Edited by Jerry Rutherford
Goals Set
The annual meeting in 1927 was attended by 100 people. Musical entertainment was provided by Mrs. Wilsie and Dorothy Viehmann singing accompanied by Mrs. Suckling. A duet was performed by John Gates, cello (Pam Gates Owens' father) and Marie Kneckley, pianist.
Goals set for the coming year were: (1) membership, (2) money, (3) social activities, (4) helpfulness in the community outside of strictly religious lines, (5) start a fund for a new church building and (6) get all members on committees. (The goals of our church have not changed much over the years. Number 4 has always played an important part in the life of this church-we have always been a church body that has as an important goal--service to the community in which we live.)
Although discussions were held about the need for a new church building it was felt at the time that the exterior needed painting. It was voted to raise the necessary funds by asking $100 each from the Christian Endeavor, Sunday School and church with Rudolph Van Aalst, R. R. Miller and David Burr, chairmen for their respective groups within the church.
The press of duties as mayor of Kirkland and his desire to slow down a bit caused Rev. Newberry, who was approaching his 75th birthday, to announce his plans to retire from the pulpit in September, 1929. (He later returned in 1933-1937.)
Scoutmaster Ernie Fortescue expressed appreciation to Rev. Newberry for his help at Scout Camp during the summer months. Each year he attended part or all of the campouts with both the Boy Scouts and the Wolf Cubs.
By 1929 the Methodist Church building was in such bad condition it be came a matter of finding temporary housing or consider adding on to the Community Church Building. Dr. Sherwood was asked to confer with Mrs. Sherwood on the possibility of using the Woman's Club building on Sundays. In the meantime a committee was looking into building costs for an addition.
The pulpit committee proposed the name of Rev. Dwight Bennett. He accepted the call for $2400 a year and a parsonage. Since the church did not own a parsonage it was necessary to rent a house for $31 per month for the new pastor.
The Sept 12, 1929 issue of the East Side Journal reported that "Eighteen social and civic community organizations joined forces to welcome Rev. & Mrs. Dwight Bennett to Kirkland ... at a reception held at the Community Church."
Other items gleaned from that issue of the weekly paper included, "...now that talking pictures are here to stay Mr. Pauley, our local showman, believes his patrons are entitled to the best." He had just installed a new projection machine at the Gateway Theater. "George Mayhew is now the bonded representative for the Electrolux, a new invention for home sanitation." (a vacuum cleaner) The woolen mill was to resume operation within a few weeks and the cannery expected nearly 600 tons of pears so they were issuing a call for women workers. This cannery is still in existence, privately owned. They can specialty items. A fund drive was under way to build cement tennis courts on the lower terrace of the high school grounds.
The big news of that time was ordinance #367 passed by the town council and signed by Mayor Newberry. The historic ordinance changed the streets and avenues of Kirkland to a numbered system. Peter Kirk's dream was all but forgotten as streets like Piccadilly, Oxford and Fleet assumed numbers. Market, Central, Waverly, Lake Street and Kirkland Avenue were among those to retain their original names. (Because of George Harris' dream and a push from the Kirkland Heritage Society the city has been installing historical street names on signs.)
Back to History Previous Gleaning Next Gleaning