California Methodist Church

California Methodist Church


By Orveda Dunn of California
 

Sometime before 1813 a settlement was founded at the site around James Kennedy's ferry. A post office was established June 6, 1813. (Ref. Ky. names and places)

1813-California was first known as "Fenngor's Ferry. (Ref. Encyclopedia of Kentucky)

1850-Mayo Lodge # 198 F & AM was established.

1852-name was change to California in honor of the state of California. just up the river was Bellmont (now Mentor) coming down the river from mentor was called Washington then Oregon (now Oregon landing) next was California.

1860-Feb. 25,1860 Methodists met in the beach run meeting house to plan a new church.  The beach run meeting house was on lots 85 & 86 where the church now stands. This was to become the Northern church.

1869-ground was purchased for the Southern Methodist Church.

1874-the town of California was incorporated Feb. 25, 1874. (Ref. Kentucky names and places pg 46)

1875-mail was only coming once a week. (Ref. Kentucky Journal, April 17, 1874)
petition was signed by the superintendent of mail that California would receive mail 3 times daily.

1880-State of Kentucky- County of Campbell-with an act of the general assembly said California had to replot the town streets 50 ft; alleys 12 ft. and most lots were 40 ft by 114 ft.

1883 map shows California being 1 mile wide and 1 mile long. Do to an accident on california cross roads -the towns fathers were afraid of a law suit, so they moved the city limits to just the other side of the rail road tracks.

1887-(Ref. Ky. State Journal Sept. 14, 1887) the new Methodist church was paid for and dedicated yesterday. the town was full of preachers and people. today chickens ran scarce; also states the river was so dry boats could not run.

1892-the city was at the center of a letter writing debate over the division of the American Methodist church. they had divided into the southern and northern conferences.

1914 due to lack of members the Northern Methodist church was sold to the Southern Methodist members, November 20, 1914.  The red brick Southern Methodist was sold to J. Thorn, and was rented to my father Clyde Young.  It was destroyed in 1937 by the flood.

1945-1948 Most all records for the California Methodist Church were lost during this time.  In the spring of 1945, our town suffered the third worst flood in our history.  Our Minister Rev Noble Gray and family had to move out of the parsonage. After the flood they refused to move back to California.  We had to rent them a house in Mentor for the rest of the time he was our pastor.  When he moved away he told Mrs. Alice Spilman they had left the records in the parsonage.  However, when we looked for them, they were never found.  We did the best we could by getting information from those attending our church.  Mrs. Leola Young worked for months making up a new membership roll.


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