History Con.

Richland Center, as the crossroads was then named, flourished and became quite a burgh or village. This name continued until the post office came. There was another town in the state by that name, so Richland Center became Alvarado. How the name Alvarado originated or came about is not known. The store started by John Holt came soon after the church. The Alvarado High School, a two story building, stood east on the hill across from the cemetery and was quite famous during Civil War times and for a long time after. South of the corners, there was a cabinet shop owned by Orris Perkins, an early member of the church. Many pieces of furniture made by Perkins are still in use in homes in the vicinity. There was a sawmill close by, a blacksmith shop and more houses than today. So with the coming of the post office, Alvarado was a lively little place and the church grew and flourished with the village. After the church was firmly established in 1853, not much is known of the happenings for several years. There is no mention of a change of pastors, so without a doubt, Enos P. Church and his wife were among the last to go. They still owned part of the Thomas farm as late as 1880. Enos Church had a long and successful career as a Methodist minister, raised a family of six children and lived and preached in Iowa later in his life.
As the Methodist church grew in numbers, numerous changes had to be made, so in 1872, Alvarado was added to the Hamilton Circuit, and Rev. A. C. Patie became their pastor, followed by a long list of ministers who faithfully served the church.
Alvarado Church has continued to be a center of faith on through the years, although many changes have taken place. The charge of Hamilton/Alvarado was discontinued in 1960, and Alvarado became part of the York/Alvarado Charge until 1976. Alvarado was then a single charge with its own pastor until 1985. Conference made Butler Zion and Alvarado a charge, and they shared a pastor for one year. In 1986, Alvarado again became separate with its own pastor. In 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church finalized several years of study and planning and merged into one body, to be called The United Methodist Church.
Over the years, the church building became too small, and in 1962, permission was given by the Hamilton Community School Board for the church to use the old Alvarado one-room schoolhouse for Sunday school classes, programs and parties. In 1962, the congregation felt they were ready to build an addition to the church. Plans were drawn and groundbreaking ceremonies were held on Mother's Day in 1963, with Pastors Guy and Miriam Jeffers. Rev. Kenneth Fast assumed the pastoral duties in June 1963, and the work on the addition was continued through the summer. All men, women and children worked together, and the addition was finished and dedicated in October 1963, with District Superintendent Donald Bailey. A new furnace was also installed in the sanctuary at the same time. The new fellowship addition included a kitchen and classroom space in the basement and fellowship and classroom space on the main floor. In the years following, other improvements were made, such as a lowered ceiling, recessed lighting, paneling, carpeting, restroom, ceiling fans, organ and new piano. In 1978, the Ed Strack family gave the church one acre of land to be used for parking, lawn and playground. In 1987, vinyl siding was installed on the main church building.
The women of the church have always had an important role in the church. Their talents have been combined for craftwork, and the proceeds from the bazaars have been used for local church and missions, both nationally and worldwide. ---------- Remember you are always welcome at Alvarado United Methodist Church.