|
In the early years, a Mr. Mills was a missionary minister
who came across the Manistique Lake from McMillan to serve
the spiritual needs of the area.
During the 1880s and 1890s, Germfask was very typical
of other lumbering towns with tar paper shacks and saloons.
The Manistique Railroad was built in 1889. The village started
in 1890. The post office was established in 1891. The first
store was constructed in 1890.
The spiritual needs of the community were served before
the turn of the century by a Presbyterian missionary that
held services in the school.
In 1900 and 1901, a minister who lived at McMillan served
this area. The parsonage was built in 1902. The circuit
had 42 members, 114 in Sunday School and paid a salary of
$400 per year. The church was organized in 1904.
On the 16th day of April 1908, a conference was held in
Germfask and it was very evident from the record that the
building of the new church was the main topic. There is
recorded in the minutes the following plan: ?Thirteen ladies
are desired to find, each one, nine other persons who will
pay one cent per day for 360 days, this plan will secure
five hundred dollars. The same to be used for thenew church
to be erected in Germfask this year 1908.? The Germfask
Methodist Church was dedicated on the 22nd of December 1908.
There were inactive years between 1923 and 1927 where
it was noted that the church was a ramshackled, dilapidated
building. But, through the grace of God, those things changed.
In 1927 the Rev. Alvin Doten (who was known as Methodism?s
Sky Pilot of the Upper Peninsula) was asked by the District
Superintendent to go to Germfask. This was but one of the
fourteen places to which he ministered every two weeks.
He served the church for ten years.
In 1932 the Germfask Community Club was started and many
praiseworthy things were accomplished which benefited the
Methodist and the Catholic churches which were the only
two churches in town at that point.
From 1937 until 1958, eleven pastors served the church
with many accomplishments and improvements taking place.
In 1958, the church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.
In 1961, through a generous donation from the Rev. Jim
Hilliard, the church annex was built. The annex was dedicated
in August 1964.
During the last 40 years, much has been done to improve
the church structure and contents as has been noted in the
memorials. The membership has grown. The parsonage was sold
when the church became part of a multi-church charge.
Now in 2005, the Germfask United Methodist Church is having
its difficulties staying financially solvent. However, the
enthusiasm of the church members is great. With help from
the conference and the GCCP, it is hoped that the church
will be able to serve the area for a good many years.
|
