Here's another article on the open house to be held this coming Sunday. Historical society holds open house Dec 09, 2009 - Daily Journal BONNE TERRE — Not long ago, the building that housed St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Main Street in Bonne Terre was turned over to the Bonne Terre Historical Society. The group will be hosting an open house for the public from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 13. The church will be decorated for Christmas. Refreshments will be served. The historical society is trying to raise money to preserve and protect this old church building, which is their new home. Doris Smither, a member of the group and the Bonne Terre Memorial Library Director, said money will be used toward upkeep, payment of utilities and preservation. The building is in need of roof repairs. Contributions will be accepted there or for more information, please call 573-358-2260. They are also planning a trivia night fundraiser in the spring. The little church on Southwest Main Street had five members when it was built in 1908 — all women. In 2007, when it closed, its membership was also listed as five. There were services every Sunday and a priest from Ironton served communion one Sunday each month. Church member Pauline Kohler served as warden for the church, opening it every week and conducting services. Often she would be the only one in worship. According to a history of the church written by its treasurer, Emily dePuystar Conover, in 1912, St. Peter’s began as a mission in March of 1908. She wrote of how Archdeacon W.M. Walton came to Bonne Terre and found little support from the people, but Conover wrote to him to come back and try again. They began meeting together for worship — all the members were women. Later that year, St. Joe Lead President Dwight Jones gave the church a lot and building on Main Street valued at $1,500. He also gave them a check for $100. To raise money for a new church, they made quilt tops and sold them for as much as $50. The congregation met in the building until it built the church in front of the old structure in 1910. Mrs. Conover described it as 18 by 38 feet with white walls and ceiling with a roof in a Gothic style and woodwork finished in cherry stain. The building cost $1,500 to build. On Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:02:47 -0600 "B. Warner" <bkwofc@i1.net> wrote: > The Bonne Terre Historical Society invites everyone to > attend an Open House at St. Peter's Episcopal Church > building in Bonne Terre, Missouri, on Sunday, December >13, > 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. In an effort to preserve and protect > this old church building, the Bonne Terre Historical > Society is making an effort to raise money to be used > toward its upkeep and preservation. For more >information, > please call 358-2260. > > > > In case you missed it, the following article was >published > last May concerning the donation of the church building >to > the BT Historical Society: > > Little brick church has new owner > St. Peter's Episcopal Church now home to historical > society > By T.RESSEL > Daily Journal Staff Writer > May 29, 2009 - > > BONNE TERRE — The cute little brick church on Main >Street > in Bonne Terre will soon have new owners. > >For the past two years, the Bonne Terre Historical >Society > has been working with the Church Diocese to make St. > Peter’s Episcopal Church their home. On June 2, it will >be > official. > > Janet Barton, a member of the historical society, said > they plan to meet with representatives of the diocese >that > day. The diocese will be donating the building to the > society. > > Barton said they hope to have it ready for an open house > on July 4. > > “I’m very excited...” she said. “The Bonne Terre > Historical Society finally has a home in a historic > building.” > > Previously, the society has held their meetings at the > library up the street. > > Barton said off and on for the last year, volunteers >have > been taking care of the property. One of the volunteers >is > Mayor Fritz Gower who has done some of the mowing. > > Barton said it has taken some time to work out the > agreement with the Diocese. She said the Diocese has a >lot > of property and many other priorities. > > The little church on Southwest Main Street had five > members when it was built in 1908 — all women. In 2007, > when it closed, its membership was also listed as five. > > There were services every Sunday and a priest from >Ironton > served communion one Sunday each month. Church member > Pauline Kohler served as warden for the church, opening >it > every week and conducting services. Often she would be >the > only one in worship. > > According to a history of the church written by its > treasurer, Emily dePuystar Conover, in 1912, St. Peter’s > began as a mission in March of 1908. She wrote of how > Archdeacon W.M. Walton came to Bonne Terre and found > little support from the people, but Conover wrote to him > to come back and try again. They began meeting together > for worship — all the members were women. > > Later that year, St. Joe Lead President Dwight Jones >gave > the church a lot and building on Main Street valued at > $1,500. He also gave them a check for $100. To raise >money > for a new church, they made quilt tops and sold them for > as much as $50. > > The congregation met in the building until it built the > church in front of the old structure in 1910. Mrs. >Conover > described it as 18 by 38 feet with white walls and >ceiling > with a roof in a Gothic style and woodwork finished in > cherry stain. > > The building cost $1,500 to build. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >MOSTFRAN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >message