ARCHIVES OF DEPAUW UNIVERSITY

Blooming Grove United Methodist Church (Franklin County - Blooming Grove, Indiana)
MC 695

ARCHIVES OF DEPAUW UNIVERSITY

AND INDIANA UNITED METHODISM

Blooming Grove UMC

Size: 1 container; 1.0 linear feet; 10 volumes; 0.58 linear feet

Restrictions: none

Accession #: MC 89 - 21

Provenance: donor

Processed: May 1991

Historical Sketch

    Soon after the coming of the first settlers in the community in 1814, a Methodist class was formed. This is believed to have taken place at the home of James Webb, who lived about one mile north of Blooming Grove. The society met in the homes of the early members and later at a red brick school about a mile northeast of Blooming Grove. After land was purchased in 1837, a brick church was built. By 1869, the membership had grown so much the congregation found it necessary to build a new church building.
    On March 2, 1869, William and Kezia Lynn deeded to the church trustees the land for the sum of $100. A frame building was constructed since lumber was plentiful at that time, with the lumber being sawed at the McWhorter sawmill near Blooming Grove. Oxen were used to draw the huge wagon on which the logs were hauled to the mill. The doors, window frames and seats were made from a poplar tree, seven feet in diameter, and was donated by C. F. Ludwig. The people of the community, assisted by one carpenter, James Barnhardt, constructed the building. The old double doors were replaced when the church was remodeled in 1959 by Ed VanMeter. At this time, a balcony was built, a new door replaced the double door, and classrooms were built.
    The Blooming Grove United Methodist Church celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 29, 1969. However, the church was closed June 12, 1988.

Collection Statement

This collection consists mostly of charge conference reports spanning the years 1966 through 1976, membership records spanning the years 1868 through 1979, quarterly conference records from the year 1948 to 1964, and W.S.C.S. records from 1940 to 1965.

MC 695

Folder 1: Baptisms, 1957-1979
           2: Certificate, 1965
           3: Charge Conference Reports, 1966-1968
           4: Charge Conference Reports, 1968-1969
           5: Charge Conference Reports, 1969-1970
           6: Charge Conference Reports, 1971
           7: Charge Conference Reports, 1972
           8: Charge Conference Reports, 1973-1974
           9: Charge Conference Reports, 1975-1976
         10: Charge Conference Reports, 1977-1978
         11: Charge Conference Reports, 1979-1980
         12: Charge Conference Reports, 1981-1982
         13: Charge Conference Reports, 1983-1984
         14: Charge Conference Reports, 1985-1986
         15: Charge Conference Reports, 1987-1988
         16: Closing of Church, 1988
         17: Correspondence about membership, 1938-1968
         18: Correspondence, 1970-1989
         19: Cradle Roll Recorder & Birthday Book, 1906-1951
         20: History [pictures]
         21: Homecoming, 1935-1964
         22: Ladies Aid Society, 1904-1910
         23: Membership Records, 1868-1881
         24: Membership Records, 1959-1964
         25: Membership Records, 1962-1975
         26: Membership Records, c.1963-1964
         27: Membership Records, 1986-1988
         28: Membership Survey, n.d.
         29: Nominating Committee Reports, 1961-1981
         30: Official Board Records, 1958-1970
         31: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1948-1951
         32: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1951-1952
         33: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1952-1954
         34: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1954-1955
         35: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1955-1956
         36: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1956-1957
         37: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1957-1958
         38: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1958-1959
         39: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1959-1960
         40: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1960-1961
         41: Quarterly Conference Reports, 1961-1964
         42: Trustee's Elections, 1969-1987
         43: W.S.C.S., 1940-1951 [loose papers from meth. v. #3183]
         44: W.S.C.S., 1951-1956 [loose papers from meth. v. #3184]
         45: W.S.C.S., 1956-1966 [loose papers from meth. v. #3185]
         46: W.S.C.S., 1953-1954
         47: W.S.C.S., 1954-1955
         48: W.S.C.S., 1955-1956
         49: W.S.C.S., 1956-1957
         50: W.S.C.S., 1957-1958
         51: W.S.C.S., 1958-1959
         52: W.S.C.S., 1959-1960
         53: W.S.C.S., 1960-1961
         54: W.S.C.S., 1961-1962
         55: W.S.C.S., 1960-1965

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