Blair Free Methodist Church
The Free Methodist Church was first introduced in Nebraska in
the early 1870's. In 1884, the Kansas conference organized a
Nebraska district in the southeastern part of the state. T. H.
Allen and F. A. Smith were first appointed to the district.
In 1890, a Nebraska conference was organized at the Bethel
Church near Yutan, Nebraska, by general superintendent G. W.
Coleman. In 1889 Rev. Bracken was appointed pastor of the
Blair Church. The same year a new church was built. The church
was known as Blair-Bethel Fletcher circuit with Rev. F.E.
Stephens successor to Rev. Bracken. Through the years the
Blair church shared ministers with Omaha or Fremont. Resident
pastors have included H. C. Williams, Truman Bauer, Ivan
Turner, Merle Hockman, Harold McBride, Floyd Cooper, Robert
Hagenmeier and others.
Pastors serving the Blair church as a circuit with other
churches have included. H. M. Williamson, V. A. Bagley, Mrs.
Rachel Chormley, C. B. Patrick W. H. Lee, J. C. Green, F. A.
Hand, Ivan Booker, Harold Timm, J. C. Bedford and others.
In 1953, with Rev. Truman Bauer as pastor, part of the old
church was torn down. It had stood for 63 years. The new
building began. Under the direction of Rev. Ivan Turner, a new
building was completed and dedicated in 1955. There never was
a full time pastor from 1931 to 1953.
Some of the members of the church through the years were Libby
and Peter Johnson, Dan and Marie Greeno, Maude Compton, Harold
Christophers and Enid Hood and many others. Many of the
members moved from this community in the mid 1960's. In 1969
the church was sold to the Grange. Submitted by Mrs.
Russell Musick and Floyd Cooper. |
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