New Church Property

CORNERSTONE LAID OCTOBER 21, 1951

Herman Boers and William Hoffman had been chosen as a special committee to locate land the congregation could buy against the day when relocation might become necessary. Their first choice was an acre of ground on Sixth Avenue at LeFevre Road, the southwest corner of the R.I. Hults farm, where the Junior High is located now. The owner wasn't much interested but finally made an offer of an acre for $5,000. When the Congregation decided to accept his offer, he changed his mind and reniged. When the present structure was built a few years later this same man volunteered to one of the committee members that "he'd been a fool not to give the land to the congregation. If I'd only known what a beautiful church you were going to build."

The committee then located two more pieces of property, the one on LeFevre Road and another of almost equal size on Sixth Avenue in the 1200 block, where the Stevens apartments now stand. Both properties were about an acre in size; each was available for $5,000; both were within city limits. However, the Sixth Avenue property fronted Sixth Avenue only; there was no alley or side street. Furthermore, it was already completely surrounded by older housing. To have located there would have posed enormous parking problems. On the other hand, the LeFevre acre offered streets on all sides (the one on the south side was still a dirt "lovers' lane"), fronted the Kilgour recreational park, was bounded on the west by land the city planned to use for another grade school, was the highest point in the immediate area, was at the cutting edge of high quality residential construction, and was bounded on two sides by main artery roads. Your pastor decided the choice between the two properties was so obvious he declined the offer to visit both pieces of land with the voting members as they adjourned their special congregational meeting on an inspection tour before the vote. That almost proved to be a tragic mistake because the congregation chose to buy the LeFevre acre by only one vote! From that time on the Pastor determined to offer the best possible leadership also in matters which might seem so obviously clear they should not need it. The Congregation responded to Chamber of Commerce Secretary Phillips' advice: "If you folks don't buy that land, I will," by making the investment in 1946.

The committee then located two more pieces of property, the one on LeFevre Road and another of almost equal size on Sixth Avenue in the 1200 block, where the Stevens apartments now stand. Both properties were about an acre in size; each was available for $5,000; both were within city limits. However, the Sixth Avenue property fronted Sixth Avenue only; there was no alley or side street. Furthermore, it was already completely surrounded by older housing. To have located there would have posed enormous parking problems. On the other hand, the LeFevre acre offered streets on all sides (the one on the south side was still a dirt "lovers' lane"), fronted the Kilgour recreational park, was bounded on the west by land the city planned to use for another grade school, was the highest point in the immediate area, was at the cutting edge of high quality residential construction, and was bounded on two sides by main artery roads. Your pastor decided the choice between the two properties was so obvious he declined the offer to visit both pieces of land with the voting members as they adjourned their special congregational meeting on an inspection tour before the vote. That almost proved to be a tragic mistake because the congregation chose to buy the LeFevre acre by only one vote! From that time on the Pastor determined to offer the best possible leadership also in matters which might seem so obviously clear they should not need it. The Congregation responded to Chamber of Commerce Secretary Phillips' advice: "If you folks don't buy that land, I will," by making the investment in 1946.

The 75th Anniversary history reported: "$4,500.00 was invested in this plot of ground measuring 121 by 410 feet, better than an acre in size. Ideally situated for transportation purposes, located in such a way that the congregation owns the entire half block, it should serve the congregation's requirements for many years to come. No decision to build there has been reached as yet. The congregation made this purchase with an eye to the future, hoping thereby to chart the proper course for future generations.

THE BUILDING COMMITTEE Absent at Photo Time - Emil Domdey

A permanent building committee was chosen by the congregation in January, 1949. The members are Edward Burke, chairman; Emil Domdey, Alvin Ericksen, Robert Loos, John Oncken, Vernon Reed, secretary and Fred Sangrey.