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On February 26, 1878, John Humbird and his wife, Sarah A. Humbird for the consideration of five ($5.00) dollars granted unto Charles Fisher, George I. Irons and Laurance
Zimmerly, a plot of land on which Humbird Chapel was built. With the help of the entire community a building of logs, plaster and weatherboard was completed. A big-hearted saloonkeeper, C. H.
Hartung, gave a chandelier with six coal oil lamps. Some people, not knowing what a "chandelier" was, asked who was going to play the thing!
The first building was free of debt and dedicated as Humbird Chapel on July 13, 1879, by The Reverend A. W.
Rudasil, pastor of Centre Street Methodist Church in Cumberland. The title of his sermon was "My House Shall be Called a House of Prayer." At this time, the Oldtown Circuit was connected with the Flintstone Circuit. George W. Cecil and J. H. Howard were the ministers. Services were held twice a month. During the first year of the new church, The Reverend Cecil held a revival with people coming from miles over the mountains to hear him. People sang, shouted and praised God until the early morning hours.
In 1880, Flintstone and Oldtown Circuits were separated. The Reverend T. R. Marsh came to fill the ten preaching places on the Oldtown circuit. $310 per year was paid by the Circuit for all purposes.
The Reverend S. C. Idleman, who arrived in 1884, contracted typhoid fever and jumped out of his bedroom window and killed himself.
Money was scarce in those days with collections being as low as five cents. The Sunday School was very poor and the superintendent read from the pulpit bible. A,B,C cards were used and hymns were sung without music.
In 1887, under the successful pastorate of the Reverend T. S. Long, a circulating library was organized due to the lack of books in both the churches and the homes. 110 books and 16 Methodist hymnals were purchased and used over the entire circuit. In 1888, an envelope system for finances was started. A large revival was held that brought 63 persons in the fold.
Most of the preachers rode horseback, carrying their belongings in their saddle bags and clover for the horse behind the saddle. Many of the ministers did not stay many months, one stating, "I would rather go to jail than stay on this circuit."
In 1898, while the Reverend John A. Gross was circuit pastor, the first Humbird Chapel burned. The presiding elder, Dr. Wheeler, was to preach on that morning, January 2, 1898. Everyone worked hard to put out the blaze but could not. The altar, seats, and the famous saloon chandelier were all saved. The pastor's hands were badly burned. Plans were immediately formed to construct the second Humbird Chapel on the old foundation. Many people wanted the church moved into the settlement of North Branch. This problem was settled by circulating a paper in the community for the names of interested people to vote where the building should be erected.
The second building was a cheap frame structure costing a total of $400. Services were held in the school house while the church was being constructed by a contractor named
Reuschel. It was dedicated in June 1898 by M.F.B. Rice, pastor of Centre Street Methodist Church. The first organ was bought in 1899 by a committee of Molly Davis, Sophia
Rephan, Effy Eyler and Conda Long.
A parsonage was bought in 1913 by the entire circuit in Oldtown. It was the old Dr. Harbaugh property. Humbird Chapel paid its full apportionment.
Some of the ministers were shot at. The Reverend George W. Sheridan, who preached about his convictions during prohibition, was shot at in 1913 by some rowdies to silence him, but he never stopped.
On December 9, 1921, The Reverend John M. McFarland, a much loved preacher, was accidentally shot while hunting.
In 1928, The Reverend J. H. Cooley, with the cooperation of some members, thought that the Humbird Chapel congregation could afford a better church. Mason Davis gave the ground for the present church and a large lot for a cemetery. The proceeds of the grave lots were to help pay for the church. Work began at once and the cornerstone was laid on Thursday, November 29, 1929, at 3:00 PM by Potomac Lodge No. 100. The total cost of the building was $11,350. The nine fine stained-glass windows were donated by Ernest
Taschenberg, Mrs. Conda Long, Mrs. Georgia Everett, J. C. Newcomb, Mrs. Long's children, Mrs.
Knippenberg, Mrs. George W. Valentine and Mr. Mason Davis.
The new church was named Davis Memorial in honor of Mason Davis who gave the land and who did so much for the church. Mr. George Bowman was the contractor and much credit was due him for his endurance and wisdom in the problems that arose in the building. Many members gave their labor free. The entire brick bill was paid by H. F. Valentine, which amounted to $304.
The debt was paid, and a Service of Dedication was held on Mother's Day, May 11, 1941. The Reverend James A. Richards gave the ;morning message using the sermon title, "The Debt We Still Owe." The cost of the church far exceeded what anyone had at first anticipated, by everyone was proud of the finished structure. Everyone struggled with the church debt, but special appreciation was due the Women's Society for Christian Service (formerly the Ladies' Aid Society) for their effort in lowering the debt.
On May 27, 1940, a resolution was extended to District Superintendent, Dr. Harry
Evaul, by the Davis Memorial Methodist Church delegation to request the Bishop and Cabinet of the Baltimore Annual Conference to form a full-time pastorate at the Davis memorial Church. The Cabinet and Bishop retained the same program for a year to allow the Oldtown Circuit to make preparations. The six churches on the Circuit were:
Oldtown, Davis Memorial, Paradise, Mt. Tabor, Oliver's Grove and Mt. Olive. The Reverend Edward Lewis was appointed in June of 1941 at a salary of $900 per year. The membership was 129.
Davis Memorial did not have its own parsonage until 1949. Land was purchased at the corner of Oldtown Road and Mexico Farms Road and a parsonage was constructed.
Davis Memorial saw the need for new and better educational and fellowship facilities in 1955. Under the leadership of The Reverend Karl L. Crowe, a building fund was started. Construction was started in July and a Service of Consecration was held February 26, 1956. Space was provided for Sunday School rooms upstairs with a fellowship hall beneath. The kitchen was remodeled and other rooms in the basement refinished. A Service of Consecration was held on Sunday, September 26, 1965. The debt being satisfied, a Service of Dedication was conducted by the Superintendent Raymond Roderick, assisted by the pastor Charles Starkey.
The task of making apple butter every fall by the Women's Society of Christian Service, now called the United Methodist Women, was made easier in 1967 (July 28, 1967), when the city water line was extended to the church.
On April 23, 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged their faith and their membership. A new name once again resulted for our church, Davis Memorial United Methodist Church.
In the fall of 1973, when The Reverend William Bice and his family came to our church, a total renovation of the parsonage was made at a cost of $10,600. After this work was completed, The Fellowship class paid $360 to have new shrubbery planted in front of the parsonage.
During the winter of 1974, the men of the church used their time and talents and made improvements to the fellowship hall, insulating and panelling the walls.
The cemetery has always been a part of Davis Memorial. In the spring of 1975, a building was built with the help of the boys from Vo-Tech and our men, to house the necessary equipment involved in taking care of the cemetery.
In the fall of 1976, a new roof was put on our sanctuary along with insulation to keep heat in during the winter and out in the summer. Total cost was $3200. Another improvement was added in October 1978 by Welsh Paving Company, who graded the front entrance and paved the entire driveway and parking lot. The cost, which was shared by the cemetery, was $10,699.
The Fellowship Class added a new lighted sign and bulletin board to the front of the church, which has greatly added to the ministry through messages from our church.
In preparation for our anniversary, the sanctuary was repaired and repainted, the United methodist Women giving $1,000 for this much needed improvement. The men also worked on replacing the front sidewalk and the Fellowship class contributed one-half the cost for materials. A note of appreciation and thanks to all who helped to make these improvements for our 1979 Anniversary Program and celebration.
In 1981 a ramp was built to provide accessibility to the sanctuary for the handicapped.
1983 brought the need for a new furnace at a cost of $5,440.
In December, 1984, the parsonage that was purchased in 1949 was sold for $35,000 and a new one adjoining church property was purchased for $53,900.
Davis Memorial has frequently supported community needs --- primarily through the United methodist Women and various individual volunteer efforts. Rev. Bice and some of our members worked many hours helping with the restoration of the Greenspring Church, which sustained major damage during the flood of November 1985. In 1986 the congregation gave $500 to the Women's Refuge and $500 to the Union Rescue Mission. Each year we prepare food baskets for the needy at Thanksgiving and fruit baskets for shut-ins at Christmas.
1989 brought a change in pastors and The Rev. William Merki and family came to our church.
In the years from 1989 to 1992 the church spent $26,000 in much-needed repairs and renovations to the church and parsonage.
1999 was the 65th year that the ladies have made apple butter! A major portion of the proceeds each year are used for projects such as curtains and appliances in the parsonage, and new front doors for the church. Some years it made possible complete payment of our apportionment. This year the sanctuary was painted and new carpet was installed. A hearty thank you for all you have done, ladies!
The proposed budget for 1994 was $68,117! We have come a long way since that little log building was named Humbird Chapel. |