Page 142 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 142
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
Committee instructed to build one at a cost of not more than $100.” On May 16, 1900: “The Repair
Committee reported . . . total expenditures on repairs and vestibule $732.70.”
On January 2, 1901, the Trustees were authorized to employ counsel and bring suit against the
railway company for the claim for lost pews. It wasn’t until December 14, 2024 that the Minutes record:
“The Sec’y reported the payment by C&W; R.R. Co. of $29 for pews lost in transit at the time the Old
Church was repaired.”
New Church Bell, 1902. On October 8, 1902, we learn: “The question of purchasing a new bell
or having the old one recast, was discussed and Bro. Hott was made a Committee to correspond with the
Foundry and ascertain the cost of having the old one recast.” On November 12, 1902, the committee
reported back that “the McShane Bell Co. agreed to recast the old bell for 6 cents per pound and insure
the same against breakage for 10 years also to guarantee the tone.” On December 10, 1902, the bell was
shipped; and on February 4, 1903, it was reported the total cost of the bell was $43.00. That makes the
weight of the bell about 700 pounds. This bell lasted for some years, but finally broke. Mr. J. L.
Ruebush told of his experience in helping to get a new bell hung sometime between 1920 and 1925, and
he verified that if the old bell was as heavy as the new one, it weighed at least 700 pounds.
Fire, 1903. This beautiful church was destroyed by fire in
the Spring of 1903. Mr. James L. Ruebush remembers the fire,
although he was only a small boy at the time. He couldn’t go to the
fire as he was confined to his home with the mumps, but his Mother
brought him a piece of stained glass from one of the broken
windows. [The picture shows the burned church in 1903.]
Rebuilding, 1903-04. It wasn’t long before the building of
a new church house on the same sight got under way. The Minutes
record, on September 2, 1903, “At the Official Board meeting
convened in Institute Hall…the Chairman of the Building Committee was authorized to sign the contract
between Eutsler Brothers and the Building Committee for the erection of a new church at Dayton for the
price of $475, the same to be built according to the specifications prepared by P. W. Teter.” Such
matters as securing stone sills for the doors and windows of the new church were left to the judgment of
the Building Committee. The Bible Class of the Institute agreed
to put in a window in the new church. New pews were
purchased for $300, also glass for the windows at 60 cents per
foot. Finally, on September 15, 1904, “Treasurer E. Ruebush
reported total cost of the church $6,100.00. Of this amount, the
Ladies Aid Society paid $548.00, which paid for the pews and
the pulpit furniture. The Junior Auxiliary Society purchased the
II.B.14 Dayton U.B. Church and SCI 128
Committee instructed to build one at a cost of not more than $100.” On May 16, 1900: “The Repair
Committee reported . . . total expenditures on repairs and vestibule $732.70.”
On January 2, 1901, the Trustees were authorized to employ counsel and bring suit against the
railway company for the claim for lost pews. It wasn’t until December 14, 2024 that the Minutes record:
“The Sec’y reported the payment by C&W; R.R. Co. of $29 for pews lost in transit at the time the Old
Church was repaired.”
New Church Bell, 1902. On October 8, 1902, we learn: “The question of purchasing a new bell
or having the old one recast, was discussed and Bro. Hott was made a Committee to correspond with the
Foundry and ascertain the cost of having the old one recast.” On November 12, 1902, the committee
reported back that “the McShane Bell Co. agreed to recast the old bell for 6 cents per pound and insure
the same against breakage for 10 years also to guarantee the tone.” On December 10, 1902, the bell was
shipped; and on February 4, 1903, it was reported the total cost of the bell was $43.00. That makes the
weight of the bell about 700 pounds. This bell lasted for some years, but finally broke. Mr. J. L.
Ruebush told of his experience in helping to get a new bell hung sometime between 1920 and 1925, and
he verified that if the old bell was as heavy as the new one, it weighed at least 700 pounds.
Fire, 1903. This beautiful church was destroyed by fire in
the Spring of 1903. Mr. James L. Ruebush remembers the fire,
although he was only a small boy at the time. He couldn’t go to the
fire as he was confined to his home with the mumps, but his Mother
brought him a piece of stained glass from one of the broken
windows. [The picture shows the burned church in 1903.]
Rebuilding, 1903-04. It wasn’t long before the building of
a new church house on the same sight got under way. The Minutes
record, on September 2, 1903, “At the Official Board meeting
convened in Institute Hall…the Chairman of the Building Committee was authorized to sign the contract
between Eutsler Brothers and the Building Committee for the erection of a new church at Dayton for the
price of $475, the same to be built according to the specifications prepared by P. W. Teter.” Such
matters as securing stone sills for the doors and windows of the new church were left to the judgment of
the Building Committee. The Bible Class of the Institute agreed
to put in a window in the new church. New pews were
purchased for $300, also glass for the windows at 60 cents per
foot. Finally, on September 15, 1904, “Treasurer E. Ruebush
reported total cost of the church $6,100.00. Of this amount, the
Ladies Aid Society paid $548.00, which paid for the pews and
the pulpit furniture. The Junior Auxiliary Society purchased the
II.B.14 Dayton U.B. Church and SCI 128
