Ray Bell Groveville History 3
29/September/2024
HISTORY OF GROVEVILLE AND OUR CHURCH
Good morning. Today I would like to tell you a little history of our town of Groveville, once called Locust Grove dating back to 1695, and Church.
Now I will take you back to 1830. That is 194 years ago. Just imagine for a moment in time and try to think back all of those years and what life was like at that time. Would you like that time in 1830, or this time today in the 21st-century?
Think about it. In 1830 the town of Groveville was organized with about 10 homes. At that time Groveville school was built on Hill Road, now called Main Street. A piece of land was given for a cemetery and to build a church. The cemetery at that time was called Sunnyland Cemetery. The records show the first person laid to rest Was Mrs. Mary Ann Thompson at the age of 40.
Then around 1834, the residents had a good idea of building a church. Shortly after that, the church was being built at the cost of $999.49. The alter rail cost $9.31 and the wood was from Groveville. The church was completed and dedication took place on December 2, 1836. The Pastor was Reverend Thomas G. Stewart. As of now, 188 years have passed and we have had 85 pastors preaching here in our church. I often wondered if people back then ever thought that in 2024 that this church would still be here.
Remember, this church was built before the American Civil War. We have 36 American Civil War veterans that are lead to rest. Three were killed in action. Our first decoration day parade, now called Memorial Day, was held after that war. Then the members of our church realized they needed a home for their pastors and families to live in. In 1886 it was built and in 1892 two more rooms were added on for the cost of $114. That building is 138 years old.
The following year, the church was enlarged for the cost of $2,450. Our first Harvest Home Dinner was held in 1888 in a tent on upper Main Street on the baseball field near the peach orchard. Then the members decided to build a community house for our town of Groveville. It was built and dedicated December 10, 1917 during World War I. Our first Thanksgiving breakfast was held on November 24, 1922, in our new community house. This year will be our 102nd breakfast. In 1954 the community house was torn down and replaced by a new educational building built in 1956, under the leadership of Reverend A. David Sealand at the cost of $99,998. In that year while the building was being built, they had plans to build a new church attached to the front of the building. The burning of the mortgage was September 29, 1974. The Pastor was Reverend Douglas J. Kersey. This makes this building 68 years old. Believe it or not June 13, 1937 I was baptized by Reverend End F. Cooper Nace at the age of one year and four days old.
Our church is the “Oldest Continuing Church in Hamilton Township“. And you are all connected with this honor by being here today and supporting our church. With the leadership of our members and friends, young we’re old, we are the greatest and we must keep our church going with the help of our Lord. Just think if we can keep this church going for another 12 years this church of ours will be 200 years old. We must all do our part and keep our church moving forward in the right direction. We all should be very proud and thankful for being a part of our church. Again, you are the reason for our church being the “Oldest Continuing Church in Hamilton Township“.
Be proud, and God bless our church and to Reverend Clifton Senior and all of you today. Remember this Church is ours and has been for 188 years and is still standing because of all of you today.
I would like to thank our Administrative Board Council members for allowing me to do this project that we worked on for our 36 American Civil War Veterans that are laid to rest in our cemetery. We have plaques for World War I and World War II veterans so we thought we would honor our Civil War Veterans with this plaque. Helping me with this project were Dwayne Hadley and Danny Inman. I would like to read an article that I found. These words were written and spoken by Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President of the United States on November 19 1863 at Gettysburg Pennsylvania. “That we have resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain: that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom: and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this earth“
At this time, I would like chair person, Nancy Kasper and Reverend Clifton Sr. to please come forward. I would like to present to you and to all of our church members and friends this memorial plaque in memory of our 36 American Civil War Veterans that are laid to rest in Sunnyland / Groveville Cemetery.
Thank you and God bless you, this church and the United States of America.