100 candles: Commemorative services will be held the weekend of Oct. 20-21 to celebrate the Wallowa Christian Christian's 100th birthday. (Observer photo/GARY FLETCHER).

-Gary Fletcher

– The Observer

WALLOWAThe Wallowa Christian Church is 100 years old.

Special commemorative services will be held the weekend of Oct. 20-21.

In 1885 Rev. J.M. Jones started meetings in the Lower Valley School House, according to information gathered by Aleta Neal, Wyleigh Carper, Mildred Trump and others.

For some time they continued to hold their meetings in the school house.

In the meantime, the City of Wallowa was incorporated, and the group moved into town.

On July 31, 1907, the Christian Church of Wallowa was organized by the evangelists Geo. C. and Arthur Ritchey.

There were 35 charter members that met in Mrs. Morelock’s house, rented for $5 per month.

O.A. La Dow was paid $300 per year as a half-time minister.

Attendance was 44 that Sunday, and La Dow baptized people that afternoon at the mill stream.

Meetings were later held in the Sposten Building belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Jim Morelock.

Later, meetings were moved to the Munford Building (now the American Legion hall) on Storie Street.

Two lots were purchased for a building site by Wm. Sherod Jan. 27, 1909.

The third minister, L.F. Stevens, led the construction of a small frame building that was dedicated in March 1909.

Pastor W.S. Crocket was then hired as a half-time minister. His ministry of about one year was to build a parsonage.

In 1911 the parsonage was finished, and Brother Claude Wingo was the first minister to live in it.

In 1919 the Wallowa Christian Church Ladies Aid was organized. Mrs. Ed Anderson was the first president.

Since then the ladies have been active in carrying out the work of the church, especially during the Depression years.

They paid most of the minister’s $15 per month salary, $5 for his suit and $1.70 for an inner tube so that he could attend his mother’s funeral.

The object of the organization was to build up the church, care for the sick and relieve the distress in the community.

All ladies older than 16 years of age could become members regardless of religious beliefs.

Seven more pastors would serve until 1926 when the church was remodeled.

Five rooms and a basement were added, and the pulpit was moved to the north side.

In 1927 the mortgage was paid off and a dedication was led by the 12th and 13th pastors, M.L. Petelle and R.N. Olson. C.F. Swander also participated.

In 1941 a woodshed was built when E.C. Hawkins was pastor.

The Friendly Folks first meeting was Jan. 11, 1953. Its 25 charter members included president Bob Evans.

For its six years of existence, the group made contributions to the church and adopted a Korean girl.

On March 28, 1954, the minister O.W. Jones dedicated a $10,000 renovation that included the addition of four classrooms, two lavatories and a new furnace that was installed in the basement in 1953. A propane furnace would be installed 38 years later.

All this was paid for by free-will donation except for $1,000 which was paid off Jan. 19, 1955.

Jones was the church’s 20th minister, and at some 13 years, the second longest serving.

On June 14, 1966, the Lostine Christian Church building was given to the Wallowa Christian Church by the Kuhn family of Lostine.

The building, complete with bell tower, was moved to Wallowa and attached to the north side of the present church.

That former Lostine church became the sanctuary where it is today.

In 1979 Bruce Hill was the minister, and a new baptistry was installed in the sanctuary.

Amy Zahm was the first to be baptized in it. Her family had donated it in memory of her grandmother, Mrs. Weinhart.

Ivan Carper had drawn up the plans for the baptistry and its installation, and was the leader of the crew constructing it.

Of the church’s 31 minister’s over the last century, the longest serving is its current one, Melvert "Mel" Byers Sr.

Byers will be the guest speaker at the special worship service beginning at 10 a.m. Oct. 21.

There will also be special music.

At noon will be a potluck luncheon.

At 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 20 Byers and past pastors will be sharing a few words.

Special musical numbers will be presented.

All this will be interspersed with church history by master of ceremonies Archie Hook.

From 3 to 5 p.m. will be a tour of the church, a tour of the town and a time of fellowship.

At 5 p.m. there will be a catered dinner at the Beth Johnson Room next to the parsonage.

One of 10 visiting former pastors, Jim Sinclair, will present music and a slide show at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday, Sinclair will sing with Mrs. Dale Lindsey "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked."

It is the same duet they sang at the church’s golden anniversary celebration on July 28, 1957.

Other returning pastors will include Earl Moore, Frank Needles, Gary Johnston, Richard Jenkins, Bruce Hill, Leslie Lane, Milton Bryarly, Barry West and Bo Midkiff.

Please RSVP for the event to Aleta Neal at 569-2417, Virginia Woodward at 886-7815 or Wyleigh Carper at 886-3654.