A piece of history in Windham Township was demolished earlier this month as the church known to locals as the Old Church on Silica, was demolished. The Old Church on Silica was rich in local history and was and icon in the community at one time, but in the last 10 or so years, the building had become an eyesore. The property (church and parsonage) was sold to a private owner who was financially unable to maintain the structure or tear it down. Over the years, the old church just deteriorated. The roof caved in and the sides started to collapse making it a dilapidated, unsafe structure. Not only was it an eyesore, it was also becoming a safety issue, according to local resident Rodger Pettit.
The church was started in the Mid 1800’s and was originally located on Newell Ledge Road in an old abandoned one-room school house. At that time, the denomination of the church was a Free-Will Baptist Church. Sometime later, a new building was constructed. In approximately 1880, they relocated the building to the north side of Silica Sand Road (Nelson Township) known as Nelson Village and became the Nelson United Brethren Church. In 1920 during the Great Depression, the church borrowed $12,000 to build a new church on the south side of Silica Sand Road in Windham Township, making there its final home. The church continued to grow and an addition on to the building was made. However, during the 1930’s, attendance had dwindled leaving three families to pay the remaining $800 loan off. In 1942 a parsonage was built for $2,000. The parsonage didn’t have inside facilities nor did the church. In fact, the church didn’t have indoor plumbing until they put on the addition in 1963.
The church has had several ministers. In 1939, Rev. Brumbaugh was the pastor there for 20 years, retiring in 1959. He was followed by Rev Wayne Rothwell, (1960-1961) who was followed by Rev Earl Rothgeb (1961-1965) and then by Rev LeRoy Glover (1965-1968).
In 1946, the Brethren Church and the Evangelical Church merged and formed the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1960, the Brethren Church and the United Methodist Church (UMC) were talking merger. A lot of “church politics” happened during that time, causing many of the parishioners to be unhappy about the pending merger. Pastor Glover resigned in 1968, leaving a church without a pastor. Folks there were divided on the issue, causing a church split. The split left only a few families left to carry on as UMC.
The last service was held on June 23, 1968 for those who left and gave up their membership. (part of the church politics) That congregation met with Windham Bible Church — whose affiliation is with the Missionary Alliance Church — for exploring what to do next. They were a congregation without a building and a pastor. They asked Rev. LeRoy Glover to be their pastor and he accepted. They were able to rent the Nelson Community House from the Nelson Township Trustees for $40/ week, plus $10/ week for use of the township custodian. They met Sunday mornings and evenings, as well as Wednesday nights. At that time, the upstairs of the Community House was deemed unsafe, due to not having fire escape, so the Sunday school classes from toddlers to teenagers were held outside. That summer, they had no rain on Sunday mornings, until they got a fire escape built. A true miracle, according to Pettit. This was the founding of what is known today as Faith Evangelical Free Church on Windham-Parkman Road.
The once-known Evangelical United Brethren Church became the UMC at Silica. Some of the history from here is vague and no one can seem to remember how long it operated before the UMC governing body closed the church and sold the property in 1985. Between 1968 and 1985 there were several new works started in the building but apparently, they did not prosper.
Which brings us to today. The old church sat on the property and was slowly disintegrating when local Nelson Township resident, Rodger Pettit, did a lot of research thru the UMC East Ohio Conference and Portage County Auditor’s office to determine whose responsibility the building was. Being that it was located in Windham Township, he brought it to the attention of the Windham Township Trustees. (WTT). The WTT talked with the owner, who was not in the financial position to do anything with the building, leaving the trustees to take some sort of action. The WTT working with the owner, tried to go through the Move Ohio Forward Program (MOFP). MOFP is a grant program that helps remove or demolish dilapidated houses. Since this wasn’t a residential dwelling, they couldn’t get a grant from the MOFP. The WTT began seeking alternative ways to find funding to get the building torn down. Working with Portage County Regional Planning, they were able to apply for a Community Block Development Grant from the county commissioners for the funding to have it demolished. They were awarded a $55,000 grant to have it demolished. However, it cost significantly less than that. (note the grant monies were held and distributed by regional planning and the remaining monies go back to the grant provider). After getting all the “ducks in a row” for it to be torn down, it was demolished earlier this month, leaving nothing but a seeded lawn and memories of days gone by.
Local historians were hoping to find the bell from the bell tower and the honor roll plaque that was there, but, sadly, neither were found, leaving no tangible memorabilia from the church except for a few bricks. Though lacking evidential materials, there is a legacy from the old church. Over the years, 18 members from that church went on to serve in the ministry or on the mission field, leaving a long spiritual endowment of the church.
Thank you, Rodger Pettit, for all your help with the Historical information. Rodger Pettit is a former member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and was married there.
** Please note, years and dates are approximate.
