Gleanings From
In Christian Fellowship
By Shirley Lindahl
Edited by Jerry Rutherford
The New Building is Financed
During the quarterly meeting in March 1941 it was reported that the lot donated by Mrs. Addie White had been sold for $1300 which would go into the building fund. A standing vote of thanks was given John Nelson for his "generous, unselfish and capable work." Thanks were also expressed to Shade Franklin and Irving Gates for their untiring services in working on the finance committee. Also passed was a motion that the Board of Trustees of the ecclesiastical body of the church be the same as the corporate body. That motion was to make sure of the proper ownership of the title to the land.
Application for the building loan contained the following data:
- Location: Kirkland, King County on the Northern Pacific Railroad.
- Population: 2200 of the following nationalities and in the following proportions: (Very mixed and mostly American citizens)
- Principal business of area: Growing vegetables, chickens, stock and the Lake Washington Shipyard.
- Members: 92 males and 134 females
- Services: 9:45 AM, 11 AM, and 7 PM
- Attendance: Average worship--95; Sunday School--140.
- Other churches in area: Presbyterian, People's, Episcopal, Lutheran, Catholic and Christian Scientist.
- Nearest Congregational Church: Seattle, 7 miles by boat, 21 by road
- Proposed building: 89 x 59 x 30 feet high, will seat 250
- Cost: Land, $1000; Building, $13,000, Furniture, $6000
- Subscription: Reliable subscription in writing, $15,000
- Aid: After using every effort to raise the money among ourselves we absolutely need $5000.
The application was signed by Deacons: Chester M. Clark, John Nelson, Fred Drynan. Trustees: Shade Franklin, Irving Gates, Clayton Shinstrom. The document was dated April 21, 1941 and bears the corporate seal of the First Congregational Church of Kirkland.
A mortgage on the property was always held as security by the Building Society to be sure it remained as a Congregational Church and if it did not the Society could get back its money. The $5000 in aid was to be $2000 in a grant and $3000 as a loan at 6% interest due in $75 payments due on September 1, 1941 and quarterly thereafter... "but if payments are made promptly when due the interest rate will be reduced to 2%."
Difficulty in getting clear title to the land delayed granting the loan but construction continued. The building committee only spent money as it came in. The land had been in the estate of the George Oliver family and the title was eventually cleared.
In July $2000 was received from the Building Society, half for the grant and half for the loan. The remainder was to be sent when a certificate of completion was submitted accompanied by a photo of the completed structure. "The building must be fully insured including windstorm and tornado damage." (The latter seemed a little ridiculous to the locals.) Lacking the $3000 needed to complete the work the trustees decided to try to get a local bank loan using the Building Society payment upon completion to repay the loan. F. M. Roberts handled all the legal entanglements and the congregation was very grateful.
The ledger shows 24 elm church pews, a 6 foot clergy pew and 24 choir chairs were ordered for $823. (Some of these pews are now in the small chapel.)
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