Our Past Is Present December 27, 2018

December 27, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            In the early days of our city, religious congregations often did not have their own building in which to worship.  So, they used various rooms above stores or wherever there was a gathering space available or even in the homes of members of the congregation.

            In a previous story, we shared with you that in Junction City, school was conducted in the room above the old jail.  In an article in the “Junction City Union” newspaper of 1894, the writer, who was only identified as “The Old Settler” shared this story:

            “Seeing in the “Union” (newspaper) “Reminiscences of Early Day Kansas” takes me back  in memory to our church privileges in the 1860s in Junction City.  The newcomer will scarcely believe that all the church going people in town met together for worship in the upper room of the building known as the old jail, just north of the Central Hotel on Jefferson Street.  We also met a few times in the lower part of the building now used by Mr. Muenzenmayer as a storage room for stoves.   The seats were always improvised for the occasion.”

            On January 4, 1863, Junction City’s Union Church was officially organized and met in Reverend Todd’s home.  The group met without denominational concerns. 

            As the Civil War came to an end, the Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists in the community all formed churches of their own.  The Union Church continued meeting wherever there was an available space.  A Congregational Church building was constructed on the southwest corner of Fifth and Adams Streets and was dedicated on March 4, 1869. 

            And… thanks for reading today on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.