Page 86 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
P. 86
History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
At the 1946 Annual Virginia Conference, the Rev. Floyd L. Fulk was elected to
the office of Conference Superintendent. The Rev. Fulk and his family moved to
Broadway and became members of our congregation. He joined the conference in 1934,
and was ordained at the Annual Conference held in Winchester in 1937 by Bishop G. D.
Batdorf. In 1952 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Lebanon Valley
College, in recognition of his outstanding achievement in the office of Conference
Superintendent. Dr. Fulk is distinguished by having the longest term of office of any
active Superintendent in the Denomination. He has served continuously since his election in 1946.
Broadway EUB Church, 1946. November 1946 the United Brethren Church in Christ was
officially changed to the Evangelical United Brethren Church after merging with The Evangelical
Church. Thus, Broadway U.B. Church became Broadway EUB Church. October 17, 1947, at a Council
of Administration meeting the trustees were appointed a committee to select and order new pews.
Another item of business was the janitor’s salary. It was agreed to raise it to double pay or $8 per month.
Mr. “Sid” Long served 29 years as Janitor. The new pews were ordered in late
1948, along with laying a new floor and carpeting the aisle and pulpit. Calvin W.
Emswiler was named treasurer of the building fund. The pews cost $1,902.50. By the
time the new pews arrived, the Building Fund had more than enough money to pay for
them. The church then owed the bank $300 for painting the church. It was agreed to
pay this amount to the bank with the cash on hand in the Building Fund, which was
$299.89 (plus lie paid by Mr. Emswiler). Also returned to Mr. F. L. Zirkle was $184
which he had advanced on the pews. The year 1948 had another first for the Broadway
Church. Wilton Bruce Thomas, a member of the congregation entered Shenandoah
College to begin his study for the ministry. According to records available, Wilton was
the first member of this congregation to enter the ministry. By Joining the Annual
Conference in 1950, Wilton Thomas became the Rev. and was assigned to the Cedar
Grove Charge as minister.
1950-56. In 1950 the Youth Fellowship purchased a new outside bulletin
board. In 1951 the Rev. Wolfe (pictured at the right) appointed a committee to select
an electric organ. This project had been discussed for several years before a final
decision was made to buy a Wurlitzer organ at a price of $2,500. A finance committee
was appointed and given permission to borrow money if necessary. Edward Lee
Showalter was appointed organist with Mrs. Bonnie Hoover assistant. Bonnie now
(1965) serves as organist and choir director. Other improvements on the church
included an outdoor fire place, installing outdoor bulletin board, water heater and electric stove.
Partitions for additional Sunday School rooms were needed but were not installed until the basement
improvement and organ indebtedness were paid. Homecoming Day was held in July 1951 with a total
II.B.8 Broadway U.B. Church 72
At the 1946 Annual Virginia Conference, the Rev. Floyd L. Fulk was elected to
the office of Conference Superintendent. The Rev. Fulk and his family moved to
Broadway and became members of our congregation. He joined the conference in 1934,
and was ordained at the Annual Conference held in Winchester in 1937 by Bishop G. D.
Batdorf. In 1952 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Lebanon Valley
College, in recognition of his outstanding achievement in the office of Conference
Superintendent. Dr. Fulk is distinguished by having the longest term of office of any
active Superintendent in the Denomination. He has served continuously since his election in 1946.
Broadway EUB Church, 1946. November 1946 the United Brethren Church in Christ was
officially changed to the Evangelical United Brethren Church after merging with The Evangelical
Church. Thus, Broadway U.B. Church became Broadway EUB Church. October 17, 1947, at a Council
of Administration meeting the trustees were appointed a committee to select and order new pews.
Another item of business was the janitor’s salary. It was agreed to raise it to double pay or $8 per month.
Mr. “Sid” Long served 29 years as Janitor. The new pews were ordered in late
1948, along with laying a new floor and carpeting the aisle and pulpit. Calvin W.
Emswiler was named treasurer of the building fund. The pews cost $1,902.50. By the
time the new pews arrived, the Building Fund had more than enough money to pay for
them. The church then owed the bank $300 for painting the church. It was agreed to
pay this amount to the bank with the cash on hand in the Building Fund, which was
$299.89 (plus lie paid by Mr. Emswiler). Also returned to Mr. F. L. Zirkle was $184
which he had advanced on the pews. The year 1948 had another first for the Broadway
Church. Wilton Bruce Thomas, a member of the congregation entered Shenandoah
College to begin his study for the ministry. According to records available, Wilton was
the first member of this congregation to enter the ministry. By Joining the Annual
Conference in 1950, Wilton Thomas became the Rev. and was assigned to the Cedar
Grove Charge as minister.
1950-56. In 1950 the Youth Fellowship purchased a new outside bulletin
board. In 1951 the Rev. Wolfe (pictured at the right) appointed a committee to select
an electric organ. This project had been discussed for several years before a final
decision was made to buy a Wurlitzer organ at a price of $2,500. A finance committee
was appointed and given permission to borrow money if necessary. Edward Lee
Showalter was appointed organist with Mrs. Bonnie Hoover assistant. Bonnie now
(1965) serves as organist and choir director. Other improvements on the church
included an outdoor fire place, installing outdoor bulletin board, water heater and electric stove.
Partitions for additional Sunday School rooms were needed but were not installed until the basement
improvement and organ indebtedness were paid. Homecoming Day was held in July 1951 with a total
II.B.8 Broadway U.B. Church 72
