Page 101 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 101
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
charge gained 124 members, 63 of these by confession of faith. During the past year, the Broadway
Sunday school increased from 95 to 119 in average attendance, with a corresponding increase in the
worship services. All churches have paid Benevolence and United Crusade in full.”
In 1960 Broadway Charge reported a lot purchased for new church at new location two blocks
from present site, with ample ground for parking, cost, $5,900. Also in 1960 William D. Keller from
Broadway Charge was admitted to Conference and granted License of Probationer. The same action
was taken in 1962 for Lewis C. Armentrout, Jr., from Broadway Charge. The Superintendent reported
that Broadway Church was reported considering a move to a new location for $100,000. In August
1963, Rev. W. D. Keller “displayed plans for the new Broadway Church [to the Conference Board of
Missions], indicating that the 3-acre lot was obtained for $6,000 and that basic plans suggested by
Pleasant Valley Church were being used. It was moved by Rev. Robert Bridgers and seconded by Rev.
George Widmyer that the revised and adjusted plans of construction of Broadway Church be approved.”
Ground Breaking ceremonies were held April 19, 1964, for the Mt. Carmel parsonage on
Broadway Charge. Excavation began for the basement of the new Broadway Church on Sunset Lane
August 3, 1964—Newman Building and Material Corporation of Timberville was the low bidder at
$95,000. The Superintendent also reported in 1964: “On December 1, 1963, and June 28, 1964, the
Broadway Local Conference discussed the possibility of the division of the Broadway Charge so that
Mt. Carmel could become a station. By unanimous agreement it was decided that this should be the
case, subject to the action of the Boundary Committee and the Annual Conference,” and it was so
recommended: We [Boundary Committee] recommend that Mt. Carmel Church on Broadway Charge
be dealt with as per the Superintendent’s Recommendation Number 16, and since Mt. Carmel
Congregation has built a parsonage and since the Broadway Congregation plans to build a new
parsonage, we recommend that the old parsonage be sold at a time agreed upon by the parsonage
trustees and that the proceeds be divided between the churches on the basis of each church’s interest in
the property.”
At the March 13, 1964, meeting of the Conference Board of Missions, “Rev. Roy Hedrick
moved, seconded by Rev. Don Fridinger, that the Board care for the interest over a 3-year period, on a
loan to assist in the realization of the Building Program for the Broadway Church, at $3,000 a year, not
to exceed $10,000 dollars in all; it was voted.” The 1965 report of the Superintendent included: “On
May 2,1965, the Cornerstone Laying Ceremony for the new Broadway Church took place with the
Conference Superintendent and the Pastor of the Church, the Rev. C. Fred Hickle, and the Building
Committee participating. A new parsonage is being built simultaneously adjacent to the church on the
south side, both of which are located on Sunset Drive on the western edge of the town of Broadway. Dr.
W. F. Gruver organized the Broadway Congregation in 1888 with 37 members. The first church was
dedicated by Bishop Dickson in 1891 at a cost of $1,500.” The Superintendent attended the attended the
raising of the steeple on the new Broadway Church on August 25, 1965.
Lura H. Neff Fulk, the mother of Conference Superintendent Floyd L. Fulk died February 5,
1966. “I want to say you will never know how much it meant. I received more than 250 cards and
letters and many phone calls…. One of her chief joys was attending the annual conference sessions.
She was Delegate from Broadway Charge in 1950, 1958, and 1962, attending the others as a visitor,
including her last one last June.” Lay representatives from Broadway Charge in 1966 were Mrs.
Kathleen Lincoln and Mr. Andrew Thomas. However, the Superintendent reported in 1967: “Mr.
Andrew J. Thomas, father of the Rev. Mr. Wilton B. Thomas, a member of this Conference and a
Chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, died October 2, 1966. Mr. Thomas was Lay Leader in Broadway
Church at the time of his death. He was a former Secretary of the Local Conference of Broadway
Charge for many years, and in 1964 he was a Lay Member of the Virginia Conference. He was a school
II.B.8 Broadway U.B. Church 87
charge gained 124 members, 63 of these by confession of faith. During the past year, the Broadway
Sunday school increased from 95 to 119 in average attendance, with a corresponding increase in the
worship services. All churches have paid Benevolence and United Crusade in full.”
In 1960 Broadway Charge reported a lot purchased for new church at new location two blocks
from present site, with ample ground for parking, cost, $5,900. Also in 1960 William D. Keller from
Broadway Charge was admitted to Conference and granted License of Probationer. The same action
was taken in 1962 for Lewis C. Armentrout, Jr., from Broadway Charge. The Superintendent reported
that Broadway Church was reported considering a move to a new location for $100,000. In August
1963, Rev. W. D. Keller “displayed plans for the new Broadway Church [to the Conference Board of
Missions], indicating that the 3-acre lot was obtained for $6,000 and that basic plans suggested by
Pleasant Valley Church were being used. It was moved by Rev. Robert Bridgers and seconded by Rev.
George Widmyer that the revised and adjusted plans of construction of Broadway Church be approved.”
Ground Breaking ceremonies were held April 19, 1964, for the Mt. Carmel parsonage on
Broadway Charge. Excavation began for the basement of the new Broadway Church on Sunset Lane
August 3, 1964—Newman Building and Material Corporation of Timberville was the low bidder at
$95,000. The Superintendent also reported in 1964: “On December 1, 1963, and June 28, 1964, the
Broadway Local Conference discussed the possibility of the division of the Broadway Charge so that
Mt. Carmel could become a station. By unanimous agreement it was decided that this should be the
case, subject to the action of the Boundary Committee and the Annual Conference,” and it was so
recommended: We [Boundary Committee] recommend that Mt. Carmel Church on Broadway Charge
be dealt with as per the Superintendent’s Recommendation Number 16, and since Mt. Carmel
Congregation has built a parsonage and since the Broadway Congregation plans to build a new
parsonage, we recommend that the old parsonage be sold at a time agreed upon by the parsonage
trustees and that the proceeds be divided between the churches on the basis of each church’s interest in
the property.”
At the March 13, 1964, meeting of the Conference Board of Missions, “Rev. Roy Hedrick
moved, seconded by Rev. Don Fridinger, that the Board care for the interest over a 3-year period, on a
loan to assist in the realization of the Building Program for the Broadway Church, at $3,000 a year, not
to exceed $10,000 dollars in all; it was voted.” The 1965 report of the Superintendent included: “On
May 2,1965, the Cornerstone Laying Ceremony for the new Broadway Church took place with the
Conference Superintendent and the Pastor of the Church, the Rev. C. Fred Hickle, and the Building
Committee participating. A new parsonage is being built simultaneously adjacent to the church on the
south side, both of which are located on Sunset Drive on the western edge of the town of Broadway. Dr.
W. F. Gruver organized the Broadway Congregation in 1888 with 37 members. The first church was
dedicated by Bishop Dickson in 1891 at a cost of $1,500.” The Superintendent attended the attended the
raising of the steeple on the new Broadway Church on August 25, 1965.
Lura H. Neff Fulk, the mother of Conference Superintendent Floyd L. Fulk died February 5,
1966. “I want to say you will never know how much it meant. I received more than 250 cards and
letters and many phone calls…. One of her chief joys was attending the annual conference sessions.
She was Delegate from Broadway Charge in 1950, 1958, and 1962, attending the others as a visitor,
including her last one last June.” Lay representatives from Broadway Charge in 1966 were Mrs.
Kathleen Lincoln and Mr. Andrew Thomas. However, the Superintendent reported in 1967: “Mr.
Andrew J. Thomas, father of the Rev. Mr. Wilton B. Thomas, a member of this Conference and a
Chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, died October 2, 1966. Mr. Thomas was Lay Leader in Broadway
Church at the time of his death. He was a former Secretary of the Local Conference of Broadway
Charge for many years, and in 1964 he was a Lay Member of the Virginia Conference. He was a school
II.B.8 Broadway U.B. Church 87
