CHURCHES OF COULEE CITY

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

     Street view:  http://maps.google.com/?ll=47.612355,-119.292855&spn=0.000029,0.013497&t=m&z=16&vpsrc=6&layer=c&cbll=47.612359,-119.292854&panoid=53WoZLbAu7J-kjkCY_cLUA&cbp=12,14.29,,0,0

from the News-Standard, March 6, 1964:

Church to Burn Mortgage Sunday

     The Presbyterian Church will have a mortgage burning ceremony next Sunday, March 8, at 7:30 PM in the church sanctuary.  Dr. C. E. Polhemus, Synod Executive, will give the address.  A mortgage burning dinner will precede the service at 5:30 PM.
     The Presbyterian Church was first organized in July of 1904 with approximately 20 members according to old records.  However church services had been held prior to that date under the direction of the Reverend and Mrs. James Howell who came to the area about 1894.
     During the first years of the church's existence meetings were held in the school house and other buildings about town.  About 1907 under the pastoral leadership of the Rev. William Hoole and the untiring efforts of the Rev. James Howell the church building, which burned in 1957, was begun.  The first service held in the building was the Christmas program in 1907.
     The church survived the depression years and started on an upward financial climb.  As it prospered several very worth while improvements were made and in 1952 plans were formulated for building a two story, seventeen room annex.  It was completed and dedicated in 1953.
     On March 23, 1957, fire sirens wailed in the night and word quickly passed that the Presbyterian Church was on fire.  Volunteer Fire Department members, and practically every able bodied man in town, fought valiantly to quench the blaze.  The annex was saved but the sanctuary stood in complete ruin, a black charred hulk.
     A building committee was immediately named consisting of Ben Reese, Alfred Mickelsen, George Hartman, and Ray Fisher.  The Rev. Gene Upton was the minister.
     The building of beautiful brick construction was completed and dedication ceremonies were held on March 23, 1958.  Through generous donations and other means the buildings was almost paid for with the remaining balance of only about $1500.00.  Mrs. Hester Gilbert was named chairman of a drive to raise this amount.  The amount was raised through donations in a few weeks and church officers are proud to announce the mortgage burning ceremonies to be held Sunday.

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from the News-Standard, March 29, 1957:

$40,000 FIRE HERE SATURDAY DESTROYS CHURCH SANCTURY

     Fire struck the Coulee City Presbyterian church early Saturday morning damaging the structure badly.  The alarm was turned in at 3:30 a.m. by Mrs. Ras Tanneberg who had heard the flames and got out of bed to investigate.

     Prompt turnout of the Volunteer Fire Department coupled with the fact that no wind was blowing resulted in the fire being under control by 5 a.m.  The Hartline fire department responded to a call at 4:30 a.m. and sent two trucks with men to help.

     Damage was estimated by the board to be between $35,000 & $40,000.  The fire, which was thought to have started from an over-heated furnace, burned the sanctuary completely, but the recent annex addition was damaged very little.  A little smoke and water damage was all that was reported to the annex on Monday.  However, all the furnishings, including an electric organ and piano that were in the sanctuary were lost.

     The building, now a blackened skeleton, will be rebuilt as soon as insurance adjustments are made and plans can be drawn up.  Last Sunday, church services were held in the grade school but both Sunday School and church services will be held in the annex as soon as it can be cleaned up.

     The part of the building that burned was almost 50 years old and was considered one of the landmarks of the town.  At present, plans are to rebuild the church so that from the outside it will look as nearly like the old building as possible.

     Pictures of the old building:  http://www.facebook.com/index.php#!/photo.php?fbid=10150336761520143&set=oa.273108262727617&type=1&theater

     http://www.facebook.com/index.php#!/photo.php?fbid=10150336761360143&set=oa.273108262727617&type=1&theater


ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH

LUTHERAN CHURCH



CATHOLIC CHURCH

     Street view:  http://maps.google.com/?ll=47.61015,-119.287437&spn=0.000004,0.002081&t=m&vpsrc=0&layer=c&cbll=47.61005,-119.287436&panoid=9KknpgKHh36SEIDclbQC2A&cbp=12,133.09,,0,0.03&z=19
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