The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., March 5, 1920, page 1

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF GOLDENDALE M.E. CHURCH

     For fifty years the Goldendale Methodist Church has served the community. The officers of the church, therefore, are planning to duly observe this mile-stone in the history of this church.
     In keeping with the spirit of the church, revival services, beginning on March 16, 1920, and continuing until Easter, will be part of this celebration.
     The church has secured the well-known Evangelist Rev. Dr. J.W. Mahood, of Sioux City, Iowa, to conduct the services.
     Further details will be announced next week.

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., March 4, 1920, page 6

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY

     For fifty years the local Methodist church has served the Goldendale community. The officials of the church are planning to observe that fact this year. In harmony with its evangelistic spirit, a revival beginning March 16th and continuing until Easter, will be a feature of the year. The Rev. Dr. J.W. Mahood, of Sioux City, Ia., has been secured to conduct these services. Further details will be given next week. Next Sunday the pastor's morning theme will be, "Is the Church Growing," and in the evening he will discuss "The Cost of Things." All other services as usual. Remember to be in Sunday School.

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., March 11, 1920, page 1
Includes portrait

M.E. CHURCH REACHES HALF CENTURY HERE

     For fifty years the Goldendale Methodist church has been continuously "on the job," and when one pauses to reflect on the good that has been accomplished by the organization in that time, not to mention the harvest of futurity, such n institution means more to Goldendale than cursory thought indicates. It is commendable on the part of the local membership to in some auspicious manner celebrate and commemorate the passing of this "mile-stone" in the history of the greatest Protestant church on the earth so far as it relates to Klickitat county and this vicinity in particular, and to that end the services of Rev. J.W. Mahood, D.D., and his daughter, Etta Helena Mahood, have been secured for a two-weeks' service of worship, song and praise, beginning Tuesday evening of next week. The Sentinel assures its readers that they will be well repaid for the time spent in attending these meetings and will miss a rare opportunity if they fail to hear the Rev. Mahood. The gentleman is concluding this week a very successful meeting at The Dalles and other great meetings have been held by him the past winner at Pendleton and Salem.

The Klickitat County News, Goldendale, WA., October 11, 1934, page 8

BRIEF HISTORY OF METHODISM IN GOLDENDALE IS OUTLINED

     The first church to be established in Goldendale was the Methodist Episcopal church. In the fall of 1871 a large and successful camp meeting was held, which resulted in the formation of the church.
     John J. Golden and Jane G. Golden, his wife, the founders of Goldendale, donated a block of land in the original townsite in the creek bottom north of the planer, to the church, where the first church and parsonage were located. The Rev. J.H.B. Royal was the first pastor having been appointed to the Klickitat circuit in August 1871. Emma Royal, a daughter, was the first white child born in Goldendale.
     The M.E church circuit of Klickitat county was organized in the year 1869-70 by the Rev. J.W. Turner of the Walla Walla district, Oregon annual conference. The first class was formed by the Rev. G. Hines, then in charge of The Dalles district.
     In 1875 the church purchased the present location on the northeast corner of Broadway and Columbus avenue from John R. Chatfield, the consideration being $20.00. This property is situated in Lot 1, North Garden Row, and was sold prior to the survey of the addition.
     In 1878, a church building was erected on the property. Ten years later the building was destroyed in the big Goldendale conflagration of that year, when practically all the business district of the town was burned. A new church building was immediately erected, which is the same building used today with additions since the erection. Among these may be mentioned the League room addition and the primary department and kitchen. The rostrum was also added to cover the entire width of the room and a gallery was built to give it greater seating capacity, and also to be used for Sunday school classes.
     The following have served as pastors since the organization of the church:
     J.H.B. Royal, 1871-73; H. Caldwell, 1873-1875; J.W. Kuykendall, 1875-1876; J.C. Kirkman, 1876-1877; C.G. Allender, 1877-1878; W.T. Koontz, 1878-1880; G.C. Roe, 1880-1881; G.E. Wilcox, 1881-1882; S.W. Richards, 1882-1884; C.M. Bryan, 1884-1885; John Uren, 1885-1888; L.J. Whitcomb, 1888-1889; G.G. Ferguson, 1889-1890; E. McEvers, 1890-1892; J.M. McDonald, 1892-1895; U.F. Hawk, 1895-1897; Nathan Evans, 1897-1901; C.D. Nicholson, 1901-1902; H.B. Elsworthy, 1902-1904; Henry Brown, 1904-1906; Perry Chandler, 1906-1907; W.P. Jinnett, 1907-1909; Wm. DeWeese, 1909-1912; W.F. Ineson, 1912-1913; E.H. Longbrake, 1913-1914; W.L. Airheart, 1914-1916; Henry T. Greene, 1916-1918; Louis Thomas, 1918-1922; J.E. Garver, 1922-1922 (March until conference); M.L. Sanders, 1922-1923; D.A. Storey, 1925-1928; R.C. Young, 1928-1933; Robert H. Allen, 1933- (present pastor).

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., July 1, 1954, page 8

METHODIST CHRUCH ORGANIZED IN KLICKITAT COUNTY SINCE 1869

     The Methodist Episcopal Church circuit of Klickitat County, was organized by the Rev. J.W. Turner of the Walla Walla District of the Oregon Annual Conference in the year 1869-70. The first class was formed by Rev. G. Hines, then in charge of The Dalles district.
     Mr. John Golden donated twelve lots as a building site for the church and four more for the parsonage. This property was near the Klickitat Creek, north and a little west of the present church property, and was deeded to the Trustees of the M.E. Church March 14, 1872.
     In August, 1871, the first minister, Rev. J.H.B. Royal, was appointed to the Klickitat County Circuit. The church was organized at a camp meeting held in the fall of 1871, and the first church was erected the following year. A short time afterwards a parsonage was built.
     In 1875 the church purchased the present location from J.R. Chatfield for the sum of $20.00, and three years later erected a church building. By 1880 the church had a membership of two hundred twenty and thirty-three probationers.
     The disastrous fire that swept Goldendale Sunday, May 13, 1888, destroyed this building. It was rebuilt in 1889, and served the community until Sunday, October 25, 1942, when it was destroyed by fire of an unknown origin. Practically all the contents were saved. Incidentally, not one Sunday service was missed on account of this loss. Through the kindness of John R. McEwen we were permitted to use the old J.C. Penney building owned by him at a very nominal cost. And, later on, with this building was leased, the Masonic Temple was offered as through the courtesy of the members and made available at less than operational costs.
     In the spring of 1943 Dr. Charles Wentworth of the Board of Home Missions and Church Extension was made available to the church for the purpose of assisting in raising funds for a new church building. This met with a generous response from both members and friends.
     Since much material from the old Court House was made available, construction was begun, and in 1944 the Cornerstone was laid. However, since workmen and materials were very scarce on account of the war, the work proceeded slowly. But services were held in the new structure in March, 1946.
     The Church was dedicated free of debt. All the money was raised locally, except $1,500 which was an outright gift from the Board of the Home Missions and Church Extension. The total cash outlay on the building and furniture was approximately $25,000.
     The church became a part of the Columbia River Conference in 1874, and in 1929 belonged to the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, as the results of the union of the Columbia River and the Puget Sound Annual Conferences.

Record Of Pastors At Goldendale

J.H.B. Royal.......1871
H. Caldwell........1873-1875
J.W. Kuykendall....1875-1876
J.C. Kirkman.......1876-1877
C.G. Allender......1877-1878
W.T. Koontz........1878-1880
G.C. Roe...........1880-1881
G.E. Wilcox........1881-1882
S.W. Richards......1882-1884
C.M. Bryan.........1884-1885
John Uren..........1885-1888
J.L. Whitcomb......1888-1889
G.G. Ferguson......1889-1890
Edwards McEvers....1890-1892
J.M. McDonald......1892-1895
U.F. Hawk..........1895-1897
Nathan Evans.......1897-1901
C.D. Nicholson.....1901-1902
H.B. Elworthy......1902-1904
Henry Brown........1904-1906
Perry Chandler.....1906-1907
W.P. Jinnett.......1907-1909
Wm. DeWeese........1909-1912
W.F. Ineson........1912-1913
E.H. Longbrake.....1913-1914
W.L. Airheart......1914-1916
Henry T. Greene....1916-1918
Louise Thomas......1918-1922
J.E. Garver........1922-1922
M.L. Sanders.......1922-1925
D.A. Storey........1925-1928
R.C. Young.........1928-1933
Robert H. Allen....1933-1937
C.J. Hall..........1937-1947
Bruce Groseclose...1947-1951
T.Earl Poindexter..1951-1953
Edwin B. Towle.....1953

Building Committee For The New Church

J.E. Riley.............Trustee, Chairman Executive Committee 
Charles Dudley.........Executive Committee 
W.B. Norris............Trustee, Executive Committee 
M.C. Bigby.............Steward 
Mrs. F.L. Bridgefarmer.Trustee 
Frank Fenton 
Mrs. Wm Cunningham.....Steward 
William Hornibrook.....Trustee 
G.A. Jacroux...........Trustee 
D.M. Layman............Trustee 
Mrs. W.W. Lear.........Steward 
Mrs. Ducey W. Ramsey...Trustee 
Glenn Stiff............Trustee 
R.M. Spoon.............Steward 

Officers

     Trustees: E.O. Spoon, Almon Baker, W.E. Hornibrook, E.H. Lee, W.A. McKenzie, E.E. Hinshaw, W.F. Byars, W.J. McKinzie.
     Stewards: Mrs. E.H. Lee, Mrs. E.O. Spoon, J.E. Riley, J.H. Barnes, B.F. Fenton, Mrs. E.E. Patterson, P.J. Hesler, Mrs. W.J. McKinley, Mrs. J.D. Smith, R.M. Spoon, H.W. Mort, C.W. Ramsey.
     Sunday School Superintendent: J.E. Riley
     President Epworth League: Marian Wilder

Sunday School

     "The Sunday School is one of the most flourishing organizations in the Church. Under the direction of J.E. Riley, superintendent, the School is maintaining its record. The record for the past year is as follows:

Officers and teachers......21 
Scholars in all depts.....167 
Children on Cradle Roll....23
Average attendance........139

     The School is well graded and the most modern literature is used. A number of organized classes are taking special Bible Study Courses. A Teachers Training Class is maintained.
     The School is generous in it gifts to its various benevolent causes of the Church. This is one of the largest and best schools in the region.

Officiers Of Sunday School

Superintendent:          J.E. Riley
Assistant Superitendent: P.H. Hesler
Secretary:               Miss Roubena Wylie
Treasurer:               W.F. Byars
Librarian:               Miss Ada Harris
Cradel Roll:             Mrs. E.H. Lee
Beginner's Department:   Superintendent, Miss Amy Hinshaw; 
                         Teachers:       Miss Hinshaw, Mrs. T.C. Anderson.
Primary Department:      Superintendent: Mrs. Wm. Lear; 
                         Teachers:       Miss Cecil Day, Mrs. Caroline Henry, 
                                       Miss Bessie Day, Mrs. B.J. Parriott, 
                                       Mrs. E. Partridge.
Junior Department:       Teachers, Mrs. E.E. Patterson, Mrs. H.W. Mort, N.E. Byrant.
Intermediate Department: Teachers, Mrs. W.J. McKenzie, Guy Shuey.
Senior Department:       Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Greene.
Adult Department:        Teachers, H. Rousch, E.O. Spoon.
Home Department:         Mrs. H.T. Greene, Siperintendent.

Epworth League

     "The young people of the church are organized in an Epworth League, which holds devotional meetings each Sunday evening; conducts special courses of study in Bible and missions; and provides a social meeting each month for the young people of the church and community.
     "Like their lord, these young people are 'not here to be ministered unto, but to minister." Each year they make large gifts to worthy enterprises for the uplift of humanity. Miss Marian Wilder is the President and under her direction is a corps of faithful and efficient workers."

Ladies Aid Society

     "This society is noted for its ability to serve. Every year finds this band of faithful women hard at work, lifting some load, solving some financial problem; adjusting some social difficulty. The year past has been one of hard work, but out of has come success. The parlor and kitchen of the church were finished and paid for by this Society this year, giving much needed room. The furnishing of the parsonage is one of the special works of the Aid. To tell every method used for raising money would cover pages, but mention must be made of the success of the Lunch Room conducted during the week of the county fair; the 'Experience' social; and the Annual Bazaar, which was the most successful ever held by the society. The efficient president is Mrs. W.J. McKenzie."

Woman's Foreign Missionary Society

     "This society has not a large membership, but what it lacks in numbers is more than made up in zeal for the spread of the Kingdom of Christ in all the earth. A meeting is held the last Friday in each month, at which time a program of missionary interest is given. Everything considered the last year has been one of marked success.

Children's Service

     "A weekly service for the Church is held each Friday afternoon. The Pastor and his wife and charge of this meeting. It is primarily a meeting for religious instruction, but other features of social and religious life are involved in it. On some afternoons a 'Junior Church' service is held, the children acting as ushers, singing in the choir. The sermon is by the Pastor and is along some line of special interest to the children. Connected with this service our numbers of 'good times' - picnics, hikes for the boys, gymnasium classes for girls and boys and play times."

Our Benevolence

     "For the Conference Year ending September, 1916, our gifts to the Benevolent enterprises of the Church were as follows:

Foreign Missions....................$65
Home Missions and Church Extension...56
Board of Education...................23
Board of Sunday Schools...............7
Conference Claimants (Chicago)........5
Church Temperance Society.............2
General Office Epworth League.........5
Womens Foreign Missionary Society....32
American Bible Society................3
Local and other benevolences........119
Gifts for preceding year............159
Total..............................$326
Increase over preceding year.......$167

The Goldendale sentinel, Goldendale, WA., October 29, 1942, page 1

METHODIST CHURCH IS DESTROYED BY FIRE SUNDAY
ESTIMATE LOSS AT $10,000
Alarm Turned In at 10:20 When Sunday School In Session; No One Injured; Started Near Chimney

     Like any ignited box of kindling, the First Methodist church of Goldendale burned to a total loss in less than an hour, Sunday morning.
     Soon after the ten o'clock Sunday School session started with over 150 present, October 25, classes in the main auditorium heard a noise like the dropping of tiny pebbles on a board. Soon an outside observer saw flame and smoke starting from the rear roof of the church, where the main chimney was. It was speculated that a spark from the chimney started the conflagration, or perhaps a defective flue. W.B. Hudson turned in the alarm from the garage at 10:20 o'clock, when he saw the flames shooting up.
     Low water pressure due to the long dry spell complicated matters for the volunteer firefighters. Concern for the parsonage next to the church was great, but supports were placed against the east wall of the church, and a steady stream of water kept on the parsonage, so that it did not catch fire.

Steeple Falls In

     The steeple, long a graceful landmark of the community, burned rapidly, and fortunately, fell inside the church. All church furnishings were removed, and many were taken from the parsonage, too.
     The children in the church annex at the time were quietly conducted across the street. There were no serious injuries, for firemen or Sunday school attendants.
     It was stated that insurance covered only $5,000, with Sunday's loss estimated at $10,000. Church trustees have met since that time, and will formulate plans for future rebuilding. For the present Methodist services will be held in the old J.C. Penney store building on Main Street.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer