233
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH
403 Roosevelt Drive
Grand Coulee,Washington
In 1934, as men and families moved into the Grand Coulee area to begin work on the Dam, a small group of Lutherans sought each other out and began meeting in the homes of William Jensen, S. E. Meyer, and Inger Hartung. A Pastor Georg was the organizer until the first resident pastor, Hugo V. Gurney came in March, 1935. Services were then held in the schoolhouse between C and D Streets, Old Grand Coulee, and in Coulee Center. The longing for a church home grew and lots were donated by the Elmore-Fleischmann Land Company in May, 1935. With a small loan from the Mission Board and many hours of labor lovingly donated, a building was completed and dedicated on August 30, 1936.
This building was remodeled in 1950, a basement dug, restrooms added, the entrance changed and electric heat installed. In 1951, a bell from the old Govan School was installed and dedicated. The parking lot was acquired in 1958.
Members again in 1959 borrowed from the Mission Board and donated their labor for wainscoting, ceiling tile, floor tile and a complete paint job for the church home.
Twelve years later a Building Committee began plans for a new worship center, and a loan was secured from the Mission Board for this purpose. With the site determined, an architect was retained and on July 25, 1974, ground was broken, and the new building begun. A contractor erected the exterior and "God's Blessings led the men of various skills to give generously of their time and talents in completing the interior." (Quote taken from the Dedication pamphlet.)
On October 12, 1975, the first service was held in the new worship center and on June 6, 1976, it was dedicated.
Zion Lutheran is a member of the Missouri Synod.
The following is a list of pastors who have served this church:
March, 1935 to 1938 Hugo V. Gurney
November, 1938 to 1941 Elmer Muhly (deceased)
December, 1941 to 1944 Roland Koch
March, 1944 to 1946 Einar Bach
June, 1946 to 1947 Marcus Trosin
________________________
234
April, 1947 to 1951 Theodore Siek
July, 1952 to 1953 Herbert Schiefelbein
November, 1953 to 1963 John Frose (deceased)
October, 1964 to 1969 John Falk
July, 1969 to 1973 Kenneth Goodfellow
August, 1973 to present Daniel Wurster
ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH
207 Sunny Drive
Electric City, Washington
Little is known about the early beginning of this church, but a Mrs. Wheeler writes in the 1958 Community History that it "was begun in 1936 by an elderly man, whom we called 'Daddy Carlson'". At least six pastors preceded Reverend Wheeler who was there in 1958 when the congregation began extensive remodeling of the church building. This was completed in 1959, except for new carpeting, when fire struck and the church burned to the ground. Thereafter, different property was obtained and a year later rebuilding began.
Reverend Wheeler was succeeded by Reverend Robert Ridner who shepherded the flock for seven years until August, 1968. During this period restrooms were installed and some interior work done.
The Reverend Carl Smith was called to succeed Reverend Ridener, followed by the Reverend Harold Hansen from June, 1973, to March, 1974, when Reverend Carl Smith returned.
Since 1968, the upstairs has been completed, the basement floor poured and about finished with kitchen facilities and classrooms. Exterior siding has been put on.
Reverend Carl Smith continues to be the pastor.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Corner of C and 2nd Streets
Grand Coulee, Washington
Southern Baptist work began in Grand Coulee when Area Missionary, Howard Ramsey held a Vacation Bible School in the American Legion hall
________________________
235
in the summer of 1967. In May of 1968, Carlton Flowers, of the Ephrata Baptist Church, began a Bible Study group in the home of John Blauer. And in July, yet another Bible School was held at the Legion Hall in Grand Coulee. The Ephrata Church then sponsored a mission here, the Legion Hall was rented and an afternoon service each Sunday was begun. In November, 1968, the Reverend Robert Boyne became the pastor of the group and full services were started. Organization of the group followed and we became a church in 1873. We moved to a new building, our present church home at 2nd and C Streets in Old Grand Coulee in 1974. Reverend Goyne resigned in March, 1976, and in July, the church called its present pastor, the Reverend Charles Wasson.
John Blauer
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
Spruce and Civic Way
Coulee Dam, Washington
Members of this church had formed a small branch in Coulee Dam (Mason City) as early as 1936, meeting in the old high school building located where the post office is today. In the spring of 1951, they moved to Elmer City School (now the City Hall). In the spring of 1956, a demountable house was obtained at the corner of Civic Way and Yucca and remodeled for a church home.
The congregation continued to increase and raised sufficient funds to purchase lots at the corner of Civic Way and Spruce in June, 1968. The small demountable house became too small to accommodate the congregation and arrangements were made to hold Sunday School and Sacrament meetings first in Columbia School and later in Central Elementary School.
From a branch status, church activity then developed into a Ward embracing Nespelem, Elmer City, Coulee Dam, Grand Coulee, Electric City, Wilbur, Almira, and Hartline. The Coulee Dam Ward with some help from the church headquarters in Salt Lake City bought an old chapel in Wilbur in June of 1970. Sunday services were then held in Wilbur and weekday services were held in the little church building on Yucca.
The new building at Spruce and Civic Way was begun in November, 1974, and when completed and paid for was dedicated May 24, 1975. Dedication services were conducted by Elder Marion D. Hanks, Apostle to the Twelve from Salt lake City, Utah.
Bishop Franklin E. Dimick is in charge of the Coulee Dam Ward where over three hundred members attend services and where plans are now being
________________________
236
formulated for additions to the present church home. The Coulee Dam Ward belongs to the North Grand Coulee Stake which includes eight Wards and four branches.
A feature of the entire church, here and elsewhere, is the Monday Family Night when all members of the family stay home and enjoy a program developed in the home by its members. The M. I. A. (Mutual Improvement Association) is an evening devoted to teenagers. In addition to Sunday School, teenage boys and girls report for seminary instruction before school on week days in winter, and primary children meet for one and one-half hours after school on Tuesdays. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints takes care of its own welfare work, each member being required to keep a year's supply of food, clothing, bedding, and if possible, fuel on hand. immediate help is therefore possible whenever and wherever disaster strikes.
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
405 Center
Grand Coulee, Washington
Long known as the Grand Coulee Community Church, the United Methodist began in the early days of construction (Grand Coulee Dam). In 1933 the Reverend Roy Murray came twice a week from Almira to hold services in the schoolhouse. His congregation, agreeing to work for an interdenominational church, sent the following message to The Washington Council of Churches: "We are in need of a spiritual program, a lot is held for church building when the money comes in." (Quote from 1958 community history). The Council appointed a committee: the Reverend Clayton Rice, a Dr. King, and Dr. Gertrude Apel. Dr. Apel in turn asked the fourteen affiliated denominations for support and seven of them responded: Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Disciples, United Presbyterian, and the Evangelical Reformed. These provided $1600, labor was donated, and a building begun in November, 1934 on the lot donated by the Continental Land Company. A rough unfinished church home was dedicated and in use by October, 1935.
These were the days of the great depression and many people came here with only hope of a job, often in desperate need. Churches of the area sponsored welfare work and a group of Grand Coulee women, The Aiders, organized to assist these families with food, clothing, and help for the sick. They became the Ladies Aide group of the community church.
________________________
237
A Youth Group formed in 1935, prospered, and in 1937 a Miss Grace Kendrick came to direct them. Larger quarters were needed and they began the task of putting a basement under the church for a Youth Center. This was completed seven years later under the direction of the Reverend Dennis Savage.
Because many problems arose out of the interdenominational character of this church - the communicants have represented as many as twenty-three sects - the Council of Churches labored to resolve questions of communion, baptism and church affiliation. Communion might be served in three different forms at one service, and many members held double affiliation, one in their former church home and one in the Grand Coulee Community Church.
Gratitude is expressed for a mixed choir which has enriched the services and the community.
The church home has been finished gradually over the years. A parsonage was acquired in 1937-38 under Dr. Eugene Woods. A ten-year anniversary was held October 20-21, 1945. In 1956, contributions for a memorial to Eddie Thomas, a youth member drowned in a skating accident on the new Banks Lake, poured in, and enabled the church to purchase new furniture. The stained glass windows were added during the ministry of the Reverend Mack Farmer.
In 1957, the Council of Churches recommended that this church leave its jurisdiction and unite with an established denomination, and on Sunday, September 22, it became the Grand Coulee Methodist Church. Robert Pruitt was the minister and the membership numbered eighty-three.
The world wide ecumenical movement brought about a union of the Methodist and United Brethren churches and the local church acquired its present name: Grand Coulee United Methodist. Redistricting has placed this area in the Spokane District. Reverend William Anderson serves the church today. A list of pastors follows: Roy Murray, Morgan Gallagher, Eugene Wood, Laurence Granger, Dennis Savage, Vernon Brooks, David Stell, T. Askew Crumbley, Robert Pruitt, James M. Lane, Laird Glosscock, Mack E. Farmer, James U. Updike, Roger Stinson, and William J. Anderson.
________________________
238
THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES:
St. Henry's
590 Grand Coulee
Grand Coulee, Washington
and
St. Benedict's
502 Sixth Street
Coulee Dam, Washington
Note: Material in this resume is derived mostly from Our Times, The Catholic Northwest Progress Central Washington Edition, published June 25, 1976. It is entitled "Diocese of Yakima, Silver Jubilee Edition".
The local churches were divided by Pope Pius XII on July 18, 1951, when the new diocese of Yakima was formed. From the Seattle jurisdiction it took the counties of Chelan, Kittitas, Yakima and Klickitat, and from the Spokane jurisdiction it took Grant, Douglas and Benton. Okanogan County remains in the Spokane Diocese.
Before activity began on Grand Coulee Dam, and up until 1900, Catholic services were held intermittently in homes over the Big Bend Area - Wilbur, Almira, Hartline, Coulee City, Leahy, etc., and some missions were established. Father Theophilus Pyper began his service to the Big Bend Missions in December 1901. During the 1920's Father John Sondergeld came down from Okanogan and celebrated Mass about where the West Power House is today.
In 1934, Father Anthony Farrelly was the newly appointed pastor for the Sacred Heart Church in Wilbur. Father Farrelly drove his Model A Ford to Grand Coulee and began celebrating Mass here in the schoolhouse on the Continental Land townsite, March 18, 1934, (Grand Coulee Center, old building on the hill?). "Later services were held in the first American Legion Hall in Grand Coulee until St. Henry's Church was completed early in 1936". (Quote from the 1958 Community History.)
Father Farrelly was given an assistant pastor for the Wilbur church which enabled him to devote full time to the Grand Coulee Dam area. On March 3, 1935, crossing the Columbia River by ferry, he celebrated Mass for Coulee Dam catholics in the contractors town, Mason City. St. Benedict's edifice was not ready until April 1.
In 1937, Bishop Charles White of Spokane raised St. Benedict's to parish status, designated St. Henry's a mission, and placed both in Father Farrelly's care.
________________________
239
So it continued until 1951 and the formation of the Yakima Diocese. In 1952, St. Henry's was closed. It re-opened with Father William Dugan in charge on October 30, 1955. The church home had fallen into disrepair, so Sunday services were held in the Carpenter's Hall, and weekday Mass at the Center Lodge Motel.
Father John Schindler came in August, 1956, and under his direction, a store on Federal Avenue was remodeled for use as a church home. Father Schindler served churches in Hartline, Coulee City, and Grand Coulee. In 1959 the south dormitory in Coulee Dam, Engineers Town, Douglas County, was purchased and remodeled for a parish hall, rectory, a CCD Center, and a small chapel.
Father Schindler has been succeeded by Fathers Heneghan, Corrigan, Simpson, Macke, Bryon, and the present pastor Father Sean McManamon.
A new edifice was built and formally dedicated on July 17, 1965, the rites conducted by Bishop Joseph P. Dougherty, first Bishop of the Yakima Diocese.
St. Henry's bell once hung in St. John's Church built by Father John Faust and his congregation in the Hartline-Almira area around 1900.
About the time of the diocesan division of the local churches, Father Farrelly was transferred to Colville. At present he serves as chaplain at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Pasco, Washington.
Over the years he has been succeeded at St. Benedict's by the following: Father W. J. Brennon, Father C. H. Verdoorn, Father Terence Tully, Father John O'Brien, Father Ronald Schenk, Father Bernard Oosterman, and the present pastor, Father Gene Glatt.
A completely new church home has been built and was formally dedicated December 8, 1975. Members have donated many hours of loving work to beautify the grounds this summer of 1976.
________________________
240
ST. DUNSTAN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
St. Dunstan's Mission, serving the Grand Coulee Dam areawide, began in 1938 with first services under a Chaplain Kelly in the Coulee Dam Community Church. For nine years, it was literally "a church in a suitcase" moving in succession to the Legion Hall over the Co-op store (Community building, Coulee Dam; then to the Carpenters' Hall in Grand Coulee; next, to a building owned by Winnifred Bottorff in Electric City; and finally, to the present church edifice on Grand Coulee Heights. The new church home was dedicated in October 1957. Labor for the building was donated and the congregation joyfully and gratefully points to freedom from indebtedness and to further progress. New carpeting has recently been added and a new range purchased. A guild is active.
St. Dunstan's carries its share of diocesan expense within the Spokane District. Father F. J. Terry, present minister, resides in Ephrata.
THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
East of Grand Coulee Heights on Highway 174
Grand Coulee, Washington
Listed in early pages of The Star as The Friendly and Spiritual Church, Grand Coulee's Church of the Nazarene was first established in a little white frame building in Grand Coulee Center. The little white frame building had belonged to the Layman's Evangelistic Association. A deed for a lot transferred from the Continental land Company to the Layman's Association for church purposes was notarized in Spokane, February 6, 1935. It contained the proviso that said lot should revert to the grantor if or whenever it should cease to be used for church purposes. Who put up the frame building? Who preached the sermons? Does anyone know? Most of their names have slipped away, lost in the mists of forgotten years. Only one, the Reverend Ronald Palmen, 1938, father of Mrs. Beverly Bowman, is remembered.
The first known Nazarene pastor was Arthur Gillian, in 1939; the second, his brother, Harold; the third, Dale Gillian; and the fourth, Earl D. Hunter (1941-43), father of the present pastor. It was at his request that the 1935 deed was recorded, March 30, 1942. A second deed, transferring the property from the Layman's Evangelistic Association corporation to the Church of the Nazarene was notarized in Yakima, February 3, 1942, and filed for record in Ephrata, March 30, 1942, again at the request of the Reverend Earl Hunter.
________________________
241
Two more lots, adjacent to the church, were purchased from Edgar Johnson in 1955. The frame building was first given a concrete foundation, then a basement, and finally concrete block walls. An addition to the front enclosed the entrance.
As with all churches in the area, this church had its problems of attendance and membership precipitated by the fluctuation of work on the dam. But the church fellowship grew and the building, 24' x 35' became too small. Reverend Ron Hunter arrived in June, 1969, and in October, 1970, following the sale of the little white building, the congregation arranged to hold services in Center Elementary School. A building program was begun and a new church home, designed by O. Douglas Cranston of Coeur d'Alene began to take shape. This beautiful new building has a full daylight basement, sixty feet for parking space, and is a spacious 70' x 90'. It was dedicated in May, 1974.
The Nazarene church district embraces territory from the Cascades to Coeur d'Alene, and from the Canadian border to Pendleton, Oregon. A District Superintendent, Raymond Kratzer, resides in Yakima.
The Reverend Ron Hunter is bi-lingual, having learned Spanish as a boy in Bolivia and Guatemala where his father served as a missionary. He firmly believes that people should be involved in church and church should be involved in people. He practices what he preaches, and has served the Grand Coulee Dam area well as president of the local health association and in several capacities in the Grand Coulee Chamber of Commerce. The church has sponsored more than one singing group and presented a special Bicentennial Service in March, 1976.
One of the earliest members of the local church was the late Mrs. Lavina McClain.
A list of pastors follows: Arthur Gillian, 1939; Harold Gillian; Dale Gillian; Earl D. Hunter; Olaf A. Pound; Earl Browing; Paul N. Gray; Harold A. Rogers; Earl Browning; R. E. Bebout; Miss Ella Gotschall; Benn Allee; Earl Browning; James R. Noggles; Emmanuel Etter; Sidney Goodwin; Wm. W. Woods; and Ron Hunter.
