Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Sumas Methodist Church - 1894

Photos used with permission from a private collection.
 
 
 
Methodist Church in 1894 when it was on Columbia Street near where the Lambert House is located.


 
The Methodist Church was built in 1892 on Columbia Street but was moved to 2nd Street in 1898 where it remained until it was torn down. It was on the north side of 2nd Street next to what is now the Youth Center (Which used to be the parsonage)   It  was later converted to a Senior Center in either the 1960s or 1970s.   The Senior Center remained in the old church  until it moved to its current location at 451- 2nd Street  next to the library. 
 
If you look back in the blog at the photograph of the Highway Garage you will notice the steeple of this Church behind the garage.
 
 Can anyone share when the building discontinued being a church and when was it torn down?   
 
 


7 comments:

  1. I went to church and was married here in 1966. It was torn down sometime in the 90's. I'm pretty sure. I remember I was sad to see it gone.

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  2. I remember your wedding. I also remember going to Sunday School there. I was trying to remember when it was converted into a Senior Center. Our Campfire Girl Group sang to the seniors there so I am thinking it must have been in the early 1970s.

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  3. We moved to Sumas In 1973, I am pretty sure the church was not there. Was it on the east or west of the (current) youth center? When we moved to Sumas the house that is now the youth center was rented by the Petraborg (?) family.
    Heather

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    1. The Methodist Church was bought by the Lions Club and rented to Senior's organization called "The Friendship Club". The "Friendship Club was started by Frieda Odergaard and 16 other founding members in 1970. They first met in the City Hall and then the Advent Christian Church, They remodeled the Methodist Church calling it the "Lions Den". The Lions club owned the building and donated the proceed of the sales of the building to the new Sumas Community Center (The Library and the Senior Center.) The Sumas Community Center was unofficially opened in May 1990, The old Church Was still standing at that time.

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  4. In the 1900 census there is a M.E. minister, S.S. Guiler listed on the same page, and next to Lambert, R. If the parsonage was near this church, then it must have been near the Lambert House. Maybe (?)
    Heather

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    1. I believe you are right. It would be interesting to know where it was over there. I would also like to know why they moved the church to the later location. One would think that moving the building would be a truly daunting task.

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  5. I was told my gggrandfather built a church in Sumas. William Deeter is his name. The Deeters have a rich history in the settling of Whatcom county, there is a Deeter road there I believe. Any information on this church would be much appreciated. Kathy. Louet1956@gmail.com

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