Gleanings From
In Christian Fellowship
By Shirley Lindahl
Edited by Jerry Rutherford
Minister Stays and New Church Building Becomes a Reality
At a meeting held after church on February 25, 1940, Reverend Pruitt announced "Unless I could receive more salary I will have to resign... a call has come from a church in Tacoma." A motion to raise his salary to $32 per week passed as the members had agreed to raise their weekly pledge by 10 cents. Reverend Pruitt withdrew his resignation.
At last the building committee cleared the way for fund raising to begin. Instead of the three-unit Lockman plan, it was agreed to build only the chapel unit at this time. The education unit and social hall would have been located on the north and east with an open court in the middle.A congregational dinner meeting was called to announce the beginning of the drive. John Van Aalst started by announcing that he would donate 1000 tulip bulbs to be sold for $1.00 each. The Junior Aid reported that they had $200 to donate. The Sunday School paper drive netted $30. At this time total membership was 260.
Before any construction could be considered it was necessary to move the parsonage since it stood on the proposed site of the new church. It was moved about one-half block away and set on a cement foundation. It is still standing and is on the S. W. corner of First Street and Sixth Avenue. (It was sold to a private party following Reverend Helliwell's service to the church. It is now painted gray with white trim--just north of the sanctuary.)
The building committee continued to make final decisions during the summer months. August 25, 1940 was a landmark day for it signaled the beginning of construction of the church needed for almost fifty years. Helen Shinstrom was given the honor of wielding the shovel at the ground breaking ceremony with Irving Gates manning the pick.
Overseeing the construction was John Nelson (father of Enid Johnston). The plans he had submitted were on the austere side as he wanted to save the church money. But when the members selected the Lockman design he simply offered to build it that way (but not without a few arguments).
This wiry Swedish carpenter had long been active in the church so this was a labor of love. Although he was paid a small wage for his work he put in countless hours which were never tallied. This remarkable man was 80 years old at this time but members recall seeing him scamper around the construction site as agile as most men half his age.
It was voted to become the First Congregational Church of Kirkland to fully show its denominational affiliation.
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