Homesteads Methodist Church History

From the book "A People Dared/God Cared", by Edna Gossage Blue

Condensed by Ella Daves Loveday for

"Heritage Day" April 29, 2001

The story of the Homesteads Methodist Church cannot be told without giving a brief history of Cumberland Homesteads up until the time we were finally organized into a Methodist Sunday School and Church.

When Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected in 1932, the United States was in one of the worst depressions it had ever known- banks had closed, factories had shut down, mines were closed, and the unemployed were everywhere; there were few, if any jobs; the streets of the larger cities were filled with men selling apples, standing in bread lines; many committed suicide. At that time, we seemed to be a nation without hope.

Roosevelt saw our nation was in an emergency situation, and among his many plans for recovery was the one to establish and locate subsistence projects all over the United States. He felt that to get people out of the cities into rural areas and provide work for them in clearing land, cutting timber, and building homes and barns so that they could have gardens, chickens, cows, hogs to supplement their meager income, for, (1) "in working, they would regain their self-respect and live better." He was able to persuade Congress to pass a bill and appropriate money for this.

The Cumberland County Farm Agent, Bob Lyons, believed that a subsistence community could be almost self-contained. He was able to enlist the assistance of a group of concerned businessmen in Crossville, and together they presented a plan for one of the communities to be located here. The plan was approved and this project was called Cumberland Homesteads. It originally consisted of 10,000 acres, but more were bought later.

The plan was to put men to work clearing the land - cutting timber, quarrying rock, building roads, and making the timber into lumber from which the houses and barns would be constructed on each individual farm plot.

The first home for the settlers was to be a barn - (the selected Homesteaders would live in the barns until their houses were completed.)

The original Homesteaders were selected from young, honest, hard-working families who had been hurt by the depression - families who would be willing to cooperate with the overall policy and plan in order to build a better life; who would be able to be compatible with their neighbors and work together for common community goals; endure whatever hardships necessary to accomplish these goals.

Plans for a cooperative store, factories, and the operations of small farms were made by the government; but they made no provisions for a school nor a church - the government planned for the county to take care of the school, but definitely did not have any plans for denominational churches, for fear there would be dissension.

By early summer of 1934, soon after the early families arrived, they began to want to have a church, so on Sunday afternoons, all would gather at the #1 Sawmill building and stand in the open, during pretty weather, to have a church service with singing and various visiting ministers. When it rained, they crowded together under the shed among the sawdust, shavings, and lumber. When L.B. Lister's home at #9 Grassy Cove Road had the roof on and the walls completed, they met there in the unfinished house until the weather began to get cold.

By that time, the Homesteads men had donated their labor after work and on Saturdays and Sundays and, with the government furnishing lumber and other materials, had completed the first Homesteads Elementary School. It was at the corner of Turkey Oak and Deep Draw Road. School began October 1934. The school building was used for all community gatherings and, as they were a non-denominational community church group, the government permitted them to meet in the new school building on Sundays. They continued to meet there for all church activities until 1939.

In 1936, the Baptists decided to withdraw for the Community Church and build a Baptist Church. This move seemed to sow a seed of discontent. Many members became disenchanted with the Community Church and stopped attended - the yearning to go back to their own church became so strong that many joined the other denominations.

Quite a few Methodists living on the Homesteads started attending Crossville Methodists; others joined the Homesteads Baptist Church; others just stayed home. The government continued to refuse permission for a denominational church to be built on the Homesteads government land.

The wife of Frank Foote, the community manager of Cumberland Homesteads, was a Methodist and attended First Methodist Church in Crossville. In attending to his pastoral duties, Rev. J.N. Wilson of First Church visited in the home of Manager and Mrs. Foote quite often.

Sometime later, when government policy began to change and the government began to think favorable selling land to individuals and non-profit groups such as churches, Mr. Foote informed Rev. Wilson of this. Rev. Wilson then informed the bishop of the possibility that a Methodist Church might be located at the Cumberland Homesteads. Workers from Scarritt Rural Center at Crossville were sent to survey the community to see how many Methodists lived in the Homesteads. The survey found there were many more Methodists in Cumberland Homesteads than those who had affiliated with First Methodist of Crossville. All wanted a Methodist Church in the Homesteads. They dared to believe that God cared enough to help the dream that they had conceived become alive and grow.

In the fall of 1945, when Mr. Foote called Rev. Wilson to come out, as he needed to talk to him, Rev. Wilson immediately responded. When Rev. Wilson reached the Homesteads, Mr. Foote led him to the triangle of land at the intersection of Deep Draw Road and Highway 68, and began to "step off" the boundaries, telling Rev. Wilson all the while that the government was ready to sell the land.

"Since this is the only decent place on the Homesteads for a church, and I would like to see a Methodist Church here, I want you and me to build one here."

Rev. Wilson had to explain to Mr. Foote the many steps needed to do this. The two men sat down under a large tree on the triangle to work out the details of the transaction - an informal option to purchase was signed by Rev. Wilson and Mr. Foote, so that the land would be held until a Cumberland Homesteads Methodist Church could be organized - what an adventure in faith!

Rev. Wilson informed Bishop Paul Kern that Mr. Foote wanted a "Methodist Church planted here," and Mr. Foote was so positive that Rev. Wilson was the man to see that it be done, that Bishop Kern agreed.

Rev. Wilson believed that the Holy Spirit was working through Foote, himself, the Bishop and the Methodists of Cumberland Homesteads to create a church.

Homesteads Methodist Church History Continued...

Meetings were held in various homes for the purpose of planning and working toward the organization of a Sunday School and a church.

According to the Historical Record of our church, we find: The Cumberland Homesteads Sunday School was organized Sunday afternoon, November 4, 1945. The organization took place in the Old Medical Center (part of Nan Steven's home), and 45 people were present. Another organizational meeting took place in the school auditorium, January 20, 1946, with 63 charter members. (Their names are on a plaque in the Narthex at Homesteads United Methodist Church.) On this date, 3 babies were christened with water from the River Jordan and accepted into the church, and 5 others were baptized into the church in the baptistery of the Christian Church, in Crossville, by Rev. Wilson.

For approximately six months, Rev. Wilson served as a pastor of our brand new church. He had church services in the afternoons. His salary was fifty dollars per month.

At the first quarterly conference held by Rev. Coleman and Rev. Robinson, 4 stewards were elected to the first official board, along with 6 trustees.

On February 26, 1946, the trustees met at the home of Helen Wehrle and Zena Walker. A letter from Mr. Foote and one from the National Housing Authority, in reference to the sale of lot #306 for our Methodist Church, were read.

After a full and frank discussion of the proposition outlined, the following resolutions were adopted by unanimous vote -

1. That the required amount of $675 for lot #306 for the new church be paid.

2. That Reverend Carter be requested to have a qualified architect draw plans as outlined for the church to be submitted to the congregation for approval at an early date.

3. That the plans be submitted to the National Housing Authority, through Mr. Foote, for their approval.

4. Upon the approval by the National Housing Authority, the treasurer of the building fund, Miss Helen Wehrle, was authorized to pay Mr. Foote the required sum of $675 for lot #306.

As one looks back at this undertaking, it was quite daring for this small group of persons, most of whom were unemployed at the time, to take on this tremendous task - government and all. They had faith that these goals could be met by working together in unity, love, and faith under the prayerful direction of our Lord and Master.

The entire congregation approved their decision and had the necessary faith to go ahead, and on July 14, 1946, the first revival was held with Rev. Schubert Martin preaching.

The money for the down payment was borrowed by the trustees, and on August 7, 1946, the United States of America deeded lot #306 to the trustees of the Cumberland Homesteads Methodist Church.

On December 6, 1946, they had bid the sum of $1500 for the purchase of a chapel from Camp Forrest in Tullahoma, Tennessee, but it would have to be dismantled and moved then reassembled.

The chapel at Camp Forrest was awarded to the Cumberland Homesteads church. The $1500 was borrowed from the conference - eventually the government refunded all but $936.

The church was debt free and dedicated June 12, 1960.

As was mentioned before - the chapel was reassembled in 1946. Take a look around at the exposed beams in the ceiling.

When you kneel at the communion rail and place your cup in the neat holes lining it, remember that Mr. L.B. "Paw" Lister crafted it from one of the original wooden chapel benches. Feel the patina of the finish of the wood so lovingly polished by him. Mr. Lister wasn't asked to do it, wouldn't accept payment for it, he volunteered because it was needed and he loved doing things for his Lord.

When looking at the parsonage, we think of Gilbert Saylors, who was also a gifted cabinetmaker. Although he worked in Chattanooga through the week, on Saturdays and early Sunday mornings (before church), he would quietly work on the construction of the parsonage and, after its completion, he would do anything needed to make it and the church more beautiful.

He, like L.B. Lister, refused to accept reimbursement for his labor on the parsonage and the church - feeling strongly that God had given him his ability and talents, and he needed to use them for God's Glory.

Remember, when you admire our church and see and think of the building, remember that the building is only a symbol that a group of God's people have joined together in prayer, faith, love, and hard work with much sacrifice, to have a central place to worship and spread the message of God's saving grace to the people of that community. In doing so, they demonstrate His compassion and understanding. Let's all take pride in our unique heritage - no other church can compare to it!

Ladies and Gentlemen - may I present Homesteads United Methodist Church.