By Dr. Milton Loyer, Conference Archivist
July – 100 years ago
The cornerstone for the present West Decatur Calvary UMC was laid July 23, 1923. This congregation’s first church was called Otterbein and erected in 1858 about 1.5 miles southeast of the present location in the Decaturville – Mock Hill area. A Sunday School was established in 1877. In 1904 that church building was moved to the present West Decatur site and in 1905 a parsonage was built. Being the site of the parsonage, West Decatur became the home for a five-church United Brethren circuit that once included West Decatur, Sandy Ridge, New Castle, Ohio and Sanborn.
In 1920, both the church and the parsonage were destroyed by fire. A new parsonage was purchased, and the present concrete block building was erected in 1923. New Castle was discontinued in 2001, and Sanborn in 2022. West Decatur Calvary UMC now has about 150 members.
August – 50 years ago
August 19-26, 1973, Pastor Jack Landis led Salem Church along PA route 104 in Snyder County in celebrating its 100th anniversary in fine style with a week of guest speakers, special music, old-time preaching and enthusiastic signing – with many attendees and speakers dressing in period attire. Services were held in a tent seating over 300 people and equipped with two mourner’s benches. Unfortunately there will be no such 150th anniversary celebration, as the congregation voted to discontinue as of September 25, 2011.
The 1973 services were brought to a close on Sunday, August 26, with memorial and homecoming services. Bishop Hermann W. Kaebnick delivered the message at the 2 pm service, and THE LINK reported the following: “As Bishop Kaebnick stood at the old original pulpit, it was as though one traveled back in time. He spoke in Pennsylvania Dutch from time to time. His remarks on Albright’s view of sanctification made all present search their soul with deep conviction. As his hands pointed toward the old mourner’s bench, one was certain some soul [would] come and once again wet the old bench with tears of repentance.”
