FOR MORE THAN 125 YEARS

HPCUMC: Open hearts, open minds, open doors

The historical record seen below was published in 2004 to commemorate HPCUMC’s 125th anniversary, and echoes the long-standing vitality of our ministry and outreach. See also the "Historic Tour of Gothic Building".

Our 125th Anniversary

By Rudy Heath, Church Historian

During the year beginning with December 2004, we celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the founding on December 7, 1879 of the Mt.Lookout Methodist Episcopal Church, (the predecessor church to the Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church) and the dedication of its building on December 5, 1880.  The Mt. Lookout M. E. congregation erected the first church building at the corner of Grace Avenue (then called Church Road) and Observatory Road.   Following is a history of the formation of the Mt. Lookout M. E. church written in December 1880 by C. W. Rowland, one of the founders.   It was taken from the “Trustees Record Book 1879-1903” and has been edited slightly.

Prior to the dedication of the Church, C. W. Rowland was requested to prepare a brief history of the rise and formation of the Church, to be read on the day of dedication or thereafter. The following record was prepared and read by him to the Congregation on Sunday evening, December 12, 1880, and on motion, was directed to be recorded in the Trustee's Record Book.

The initial steps in great enterprises and the beginning and early history of the lesser movements and organizations in human society are always invested with a deep interest, generally increasing with the lapse of time and the passing away of the actors in their formative period.  In order that the facts of the early history of this society may be preserved for those who shall follow, the Methodist Episcopal Church at Mt. Lookout makes the following record of its formation.

During the year 1875, a Union Church Building, to serve the purposes of a church or as a Town Hall, was erected on Church Road by The Mt. Lookout Hall Association, a corporation that issued its stock and was managed by five Trustees. This building has become famous in the ecclesiastical annals of the time, because of a controversy that arose between Rev. Mr. McCune, who served as pastor of a Union or undenominational congregation worshiping therein, and the Cincinnati Presbytery, of which he was a member.   This conflict was carried to the higher councils of the Presbyterian Church and resulted in the retirement of Mr. McCune and the subsequent joint use of the Church by the Baptists and Episcopalians, with occasional preaching by the Methodists.   A union prayer meeting and Sabbath School were maintained by the various denominations on Mt. Lookout and vicinity for several years. Historical note: Union Church Building was located at what is now the south east corner of Grace Avenue (formerly Church Road and before that Crawfish Road) and Springer Avenue upon which is presently erected a brown brick apartment building.

The number of Methodist residents in the neighborhood increased significantly during the year 1877 and fostered the desire and necessity for a separate and independent organization. A meeting was held in the Union Church on the evening of the 26th day of December 1877, to which Rev. Edward McHugh, Pastor of McKendree Chapel, Cincinnati, O, was invited for conference.   At this meeting, John S. Highlands was called to the chair and Ellsworth P. Eckert appointed Secretary. After full discussion and consideration of the situation, it was resolved to form a Class; whereupon Charles W. Rowland was on motion, elected Leader thereof. It was further resolved that the Class should be attached to McKendree Chapel Charge for the remainder of the Conference year. Methodist members of the Class who might desire to sever their existing Church relations could do so by depositing their letters of transfer at Mt. Lookout, and leaving it to be thereafter determined whether a permanent church should be formed. The Chairman was instructed to ascertain at what times and upon what terms the Methodists could secure the use of the Union Church for public services, and also to procure the services of some Methodist preacher in accordance with such times and terms.

Historical note: The McKendree Chapel church building still exists.   It's the red brick building located on the south (river) side of Eastern Avenue west of Collins Avenue near the Verdin Company bell casting foundry.

The Class resolved to meet in the Church each Wednesday evening.  The names of persons present at this meeting do not appear to have been recorded, but at the first formal meeting of the Class on Wednesday evening, January 2, 1878, these names were added:

At the next weekly meeting of the Class, the names of Mrs. Mary J. and Miss Jessie L. Highlands were added to the roll. On January 16, 1878, Bro. John S. Highlands reported having secured the use of the Union Church for each Wednesday evening; two Sabbath evenings per month and for a morning service on such fifth Sundays as might not be otherwise engaged—all at a cost of four dollars per month!

The names of Charles C. Isham, Mrs. Emma C. Isham, Mrs. Lina Martin, and Carrie Ackerman were added to the roll at meeting of the Class on February 6, 1878.   At the meeting on February 20, the names of Mrs. Harriet Ehler and Harry Cryer were added; and on February 27th, B. Frank Smith was added to the list of Class members.

Under arrangements made with the Trustees for use of the Union Church, Rev. Edward McHugh served the Congregation for the remainder of that Conference year, for which he received an agreed compensation. During that year about 33 copies of the new Hymnal just issued by the Methodist Book Concern were purchased. Funds for this purchase were generated by the ladies of the Church from a fete given by them at the Mt. Lookout Park to secure money to pay the preacher—the Hymnals purchased with remainder. In May 1878, the Presiding Elder of the East Cincinnati District, Rev. W. L. Hypes, was asked to preach and to consult after services as to some plan for the ensuing Conference year. This he did, but no definite plan was matured. The Class continued its weekly sessions until July 1878, and resumed them in September following.

The Conference did not adopt a plan to supply us with the services of a preacher. So, at the Class meeting on the 2nd day of October 1878, the Leader was directed to negotiate with Rev. John W. Weakley, a Supernumerary of the Cincinnati Conference residing in this City, and to secure his services for the Conference year at fixed compensation on condition of his becoming an actual resident of Mount Lookout. Dr. Weekly preached several times but finally declined the service on the required condition of residence. The Class continued its meetings and the Congregation was served at the allotted times by various Methodist preachers, gratuitously ministering to them. After this, the Congregation was served for several months by Rev. Carey T. Crum of Columbia M. E. and in this, as in many important church and benevolent enterprises, the women took a leading and active part.   Among these, deserving most honorable mention and record are:

Rev. A. B. Leonard, who preached in the afternoon of December 7, 1879, supplied the pulpit himself for several Sabbaths thereafter. He was succeeded by Rev. Bro. Dimmick of the Avondale Charge who preached without compensation until the next session of the Cincinnati Annual Conference early in September 1880. Then Rev. Edward T. Lane was appointed as the first Preacher in Charge over the Mt. Lookout M. E. Church.  

A regular Methodist Class was formed by the elder on the 7th day of December 1879.   It met at the residence of the Leader, Charles W. Rowland until its sessions were suspended in April 1880—because the Leader moved from Observatory Avenue east of Church Road to Morton Street. The Class was revived on the appointment of Rev. E. T. Lane and met at the same house as formerly, being the residence, since April 1880, of Mr. Elias Ehler, until the completion of the new Church in December 1880. The following is the list of persons having united with the Church Dec. 7, 1879, and organized into a Class, with Charles W. Rowland as Leader:

“This lot fronts (net) 80 eighty feet on Observatory Avenue…and represents a value of about ($1,600) – sixteen hundred dollars.”

On Sunday February 1, 1880, the following elections were made:

Stewards

John S. Highlands
Wesley C. Leeds

Trustees

Charles C. Isham
John S. Highlands
Samuel A. Leeds
Elias Ehler
Daniel W. Morton

At this meeting, C. W. Rowland having been previously requested to confer with John Kilgour as to the purchase of Union Church for the M. E. Church, reported that Mr. Kilgour desired to have said church building remain as at present for general church services, lectures, concerts, etc, and that he was therefore averse to its sale to any one denomination. He further reported that Mr. Kilgour had proposed, on behalf of his brother Charles H. Kilgour and himself, to present to the Methodists a suitable lot—one of their own selection—in case they would agree to proceed at once with the erection of a Methodist Episcopal Church—said lot to be of same size as the one on which the Union Church was built.

After discussion of several building sites, the lot on the south west corner of Observatory Avenue and Church (or Crawfish) Road was selected and a deed for the same was presented by the Messrs. Kilgour, as proposed, to the Church. This lot fronts (net) 80 eighty feet on Observatory Avenue , and (150) one hundred and fifty feet (net) on Church Road, and represents a value of about ($1,600) – sixteen hundred dollars.

Subscriptions to the amount of more than one half the proposed cost of the Church having been secured, a Building Committee was appointed, a plan adopted, and the work of excavation for the foundation was begun on the 18 th day of May 1880. No formality attended this beginning. However, on the succeeding Sabbath, a sermon in relation thereto was preached at 3 P.M. by Rev. Bishop Henry W. Warren of Philadelphia, who had just been elected as a Bishop of the M. E. Church by the General Conference then in session in Cincinnati.

The plan of the building was drawn by Mr. Eugene Williams, Architect, and presented to the Trustees by Mr. Geo. W. Barger, who together with Messrs. Elias Ehler and Samuel A. Leeds composed the Building Committee.  Messrs. John S. Highlands, Chas. C. Isham, Daniel W. Morton and Wesley C. Leeds gave constant personal assistance to the Building Committee and were unremitting in their attention to the details of the building and furnishing of the Church, securing donations, subscriptions, etc.

The sudden and marked change in the weather followed by so bright and glorious a day for our dedication services was regarded by the thankful Methodists of Mount Lookout as a special and gracious token of Divine favor.  

The building was completed and furnished sufficiently to have it ready for dedication on the 5th day of December 1880.

The day and night preceding the dedication was very tempestuous and unpromising for the services proposed.   A heavy east wind prevailed:   A copious rain, accompanied with deep-toned thunder and vivid lightning, fell during the afternoon of Saturday, December 4; continuing during the entire night without material abatement, until 6 o'clock Sunday morning, Dec. 5th , when the storm subsided.   The wind shifted to the northwest and soon blew away the dark clouds we so much dreaded.   Before nine o'clock Sunday morning, the clouds were all gone, and the sun shone out in his entire splendor.   The sudden and marked change in the weather followed by so bright and glorious a day for our dedication services was regarded by the thankful Methodists of Mount Lookout as a special and gracious token of Divine favor.   Bishops Isaac W. Wiley and Henry W. Warren were present by agreement. Bishop Wiley preached at 10:30 AM on “The Church as the Pillar and Ground of the Truth.” The Treasurer then presented a statement showing the cost of building to date about $3,250 and furnishings about $500, leaving about $1,600 yet to be raised to clear the church of debt. At the morning service about $600 in cash and subscriptions were secured.   At 2:30 PM, Bishop Warren preached to a crowded house, when additional subscriptions, and cash donations to the amount of $800 were secured, making the entire amount secured during the day $1,400, and leaving only about $200 yet to be provided for.   After this amount was secured, the Trustees came forward and presented the Church, when it was formally and solemnly dedicated to the worship and service of Almighty God. The ministers participating in the formal dedicatory service in the afternoon were Bishops Wiley and Warren, and Revs. A. B. Leonard, H. B. Ridgeway, and Edward T. Lane.   [Historical Note:   The $1,400 offering for the new building amounts to $26,400 in current (2004) buying power.

Memoranda

Cost of Building to Dec. 5, 1880  :  $3,250.00

Furnishment :  $500.00

Total = $3,750.00

Height of Tower : 72 feet

Width of Building : 28 feet

Length : 60 feet

“Trustees came forward and presented the Church, when it was formally and solemnly dedicated to the worship and service of Almighty God.”

The first Class formed was not a regular Methodist organization as contemplated by the Discipline, but included several persons, not members of the M.E. Church, who associated with the Methodists for mutual spiritual improvement and growth. It served its purpose as a point of attraction and life to the Methodist elements on Mt. Lookout, and as the cohesive power in molding them into a regular Methodist Episcopal Church.

Within one year from the first formation of a regular Church Society, by the blessing and favor of God, we have been permitted to honor Him by the erection and dedication of a beautiful little Church building!   Humbly and fervently thanking Him for the success which has crowned the effort to plant a permanent Methodist Episcopal Church in Mount Lookout, we commit and commend to His most gracious keeping, praying that like her Divine Head and Founder she may be constantly increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.