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"Michigan Trails" Through "Chippewa County" 
First Presbyterian Church 309 Lyon Street Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Photo contributed by Mary (Walters) Bearden |
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"Michigan Trails" Through "Chippewa County"
First Presbyterian Church 309 Lyon Street Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Photo contributed by Mary (Walters) Bearden |
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of SAULT STE MARIE, MICHIGAN 1854-2004 Contributed by Nancy Gillotte The seed of Presbyterianism was laid in the 1820's with the start of Fort Brady and the coming of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and his Indian agency. It developed in the 1850's with Charles T. Harvey, the construction of the State Lock and the development of the village. It grew as the village became a city over the next 150 years. LAIRD MISSION
PORTER MISSION
In November 1831 the American Home Missionary Society tried again. This time it was a seminary student who had graduated from Princeton in early October and left immediately for mission work. Rev. Jeremiah Porter arrived at the Mackinac Island Mission in mid October and made
his home with the Stuart family. Late that month Henry Schoolcraft sent a canoe down from his agency and took Porter to his new home in the Sault. He made his first home with Rev. Abel Bingham, the Baptist missionary and it was at his church that he first preached.
Porter, like Laird and even Bingham was astounded by the wilderness and the lack of civilization. But he noted that even among the savages the cultured people of the community had the works of Byron and other classical authors in their households. The lack of a church building was soon overcome with the loan of a former log store. In 1832 Mrs. John Johnson had a small church constructed for him near the south east corner of the Johnson property (this could be the first and only time a full blooded Indian gave a white congregation a church building). Porter used the building both as a residence and church.
In 1833 Major Fowle of Fort Brady was ordered to take his soldiers and depart to Fort Dearborn at Chicago. He asked both Bingham and Porter if either were interested in going and Porter accepted. Porter went on to start the first Presbyterian church in Chicago of which he stayed for the remainder of his career. This church which is located at the corner of 64th and Kimbark celebrated their 100th anniversary in 1933 with a history of their congregation and of Rev. Porter. In the history were several stories that Porter told of his time in Sault Ste Marie.
"W.C. having used intoxicating drink several times during the past year so as to be sensibly affected to the wounding of his own peace and the cause of Christ was called before the session this evening and made a full confession, promising to reform. " "The church committee visited Mrs. B. and her daughter and learned that both of them had attended a party where dancing had been introduced, both confessed their error."
While at the Sault he was instrumental with Bingham in forming the Sault Temperance Society and proudly claimed all but one of the officers took the pledge. Schoolcraft noted that Porter
"preaches in an animated and persuasive style and commences a system of moral instruction". While his stay in the Sault was short, he must have aggravated some of the more staid residents as a Jesuit report in 1833 stated, "With grinning teeth and bristling mane we see this Calvanistic wolf prickling up his predestinating ears."
McCullough arrived in the late fall of 1853 and February 28, 1854 saw the formal papers signed to create a Presbyterian Society. The first church had 11 members sign the petition at a Tuesday evening meeting in the home of Mr. A. Jones. The petition was sent to the Detroit Presbytery as the Lake Superior Presbytery had yet to meet. Thus Sault Ste. Marie became the first formally organized Presbyterian church in the Upper Peninsula, a part of the Detroit Presbytery, Synod of Michigan. There were three elders elected L. L. Nichols, Philetus Church and Guy Carleton. 
First United Presbyterian Church 1854
The new church had started off in boom years, the town of Sault Ste. Marie had grown from 400 to 2,000 residents in five years. Harvey, proud of the new society took $200 of his own money and purchased a lot where the present day Court House annex or Soo Polyclinic is located. A church was built using Harvey's construction firm and $3,000. There is some debate if Harvey or the church members raised this amount. By summer 1854, a church was built and everything looked great. In July McCullough took ill with pneumonia and died. Suddenly everything was on a hold again. The Detroit Presbytery and the Synod of Michigan was not going to lose this foothold and helped provide a string of supply ministers, not all of them Presbyterian. The first minister was T. S. Childs who came in August and left in November 1854. A Methodist minister, William Price came in December and left in August 1855. William Porterfield followed him in September and stayed until 1857. John Glass, an Indian missionary, came in late 1857 and stayed until late 1858. R. T. Williams, a Congregationalist, came in the spring of 1859 and stayed until the summer of 1861. The Lake Superior Presbytery (Old School), which embraced all American land touching Lake Superior was created in 1854 but never became organized, as it never met. In 1857, it was reorganized as the Lake Superior Presbytery (New School) to include only churches in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Sault Ste. Marie was one of three that had been established and thus was included in it. Things did not go well and by 1860 the Sault church was one of the largest with six members, with Marquette and Ontonagon being even smaller. 
Having found the climate suitable for his health, he applied for the church position and was soon hired. He was hired first as a stated supply minister and preached his first sermon on Christmas day 1864. By 1865, he was accepted by the Lake Superior Presbytery as a Ml fledged Presbyterian minister. Easterday inherited a congregation of 11 members that had not seen a full time minister since its first year of existence. The church grew rapidly as Easterday was considered quite liberal as he would baptize, marry or bury just about anyone. By the time he died, he claimed to have performed at least 3,500 marriages. About 1872 Easterday proposed to the congregation to rebuild the Harvey church. The congregation approved $340 to construct a tower but refused to raise the $150 needed to supply a bell. In two years, they raised $170 to purchase new pews to replace the plank benches that had been in the church since it was constructed. One pew remains and is located in the narthex of the new church. His active ministry ended abruptly in February 1882 when at the age of 45 he suffered a stroke. Easterday and his family moved to Missouri hot springs for two years until his health returned. By 1884 the Easterdays returned to Sault Ste. Marie and remained there until their deaths. Their home was at 166 Kimball, later renumbered 706. Easterday became very involved in education and was elected Chippewa County school commissioner in 1895, a position he held for the next 15 years. He was also involved in banking, being the local agent for the Peoples Savings Bank of Detroit, and was somewhat involved in local real estate, as there is an Easterday plat in the city. From time to time he also served as a stated supply and guest speaker at various churches in the county. His first wife, Leora, died in 1919, he married Effie in 1920 and she died in 1960. Following several years of ill health, he became bedridden and died in 1927. The entire city had a day of mourning at his funeral. He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery with both of his wives, as well as two of his children.
During the Easterday years, the church had grown to a population of 200. A stated supply minister was next, in the person of Alexander P. Danskin. It has been suggested by some that Danskin was a local who was also a lay minister, as a Danskin family was involved for many years with the local church and William P. Danskin was a ruling elder for well over 30 years. Danskin was minister from March 1882 until February 1886. By 1886, the congregation was declining and the Lake Superior Presbytery wished to bring in a full time minister. In March 1886, the church hired Rev. Harlan Page Corey, who was a minister in the mining town of Florence, Wisconsin. The owner of the Florence newspaper was Chase S. Osborn, who was also interested in coming to the Sault. As a result the two came almost at the same time and remained fast friends. About the time he came, the congregation constructed a new manse at 336 East Spruce. The home today is still in the church family, as it is owned by Roberta Worley and her daughter, Jan Jobes. Rev. Corey helped to start two organizations that are still with us. He organized the first Sunday School for the church and was its first superintendent. Also during his tenure, the church established the Ladies Aide Society, that was to flourish until 1948, when it became part of the Women's Association. Corey remained until April 1890, when ill health forced him to move to warmer southern Indiana. He died in 1928 while serving a congregation in California. Thus with Rev. Corey, we also start the Christian education history of the church. For almost 120 years there has been an organized Sunday School for both children and adults. Depending upon the minister, economic times and size of the building, the "church" school has been large and small. Following the move to the new building in 1903, classes were held in the basement until movable partitions were installed in the 1930's, thus marking out classrooms. In 1956, with the "baby boom" years, a large two story addition was constructed and served the congregation well until the fire. Over the years there have been many dedicated people in the Sunday School. Mrs. Gertrude Bumstead served as chapel superintendent for over 35 years. Newton Walters was First Church superintendent for over 25 years. Willis Comb taught for over 25 years. Katherine Doench had 16 years without missing a Sunday. Not to be missed is our current Kindergarten teacher Leitha Vollick who has put in over 30 years of service. Following Rev. Corey was George W. Luther who came in September 1890. Like Rev. Page, he lived in the manse on East Spruce. Not much is known of Rev. Luther, however, there must have been some dissatisfaction as the session notes several times that members of the congregation had requested a congregation meeting to discuss the pastor. It was thought that Rev. Luther opposed the idea of a new building, as it was noted that during his term the congregation acquired a parcel of land on Bingham St. (then Church Street) for a new building, without the support of the minister. It was purchased from the Baptist church for $ 1. A note of interest was that the General Assembly of 1890 urged all member churches to change their format and elect at least 6 elders, 3 trustees and 3 deacons, all on a rotating basis. This upset some of the church membership who had been used to three elders, all male, and all elected for life. They also encouraged member churches to enforce a moral code of conduct among its members leading to the following. Mr. J. V. having sold by contract, furnishings to owners of houses of ill fame. Mr. Lennox was appointed to see Mr. V. and so tell him the church disapproves of this part of his business and for him to abstain from such acts in the future. Mr. Luther reports having seen Mr. J. B. S. and that Mr. S. had confirmed that he was not a Christian and that his name be stricken from the roll. As a result of these rules and his not wishing to build a new building, Rev. Luther left in December 1894. C. P. Bates was the next minister arriving in the Sault, in May of 1895, after an assignment in Holly, Michigan. He had been hired in January but could not leave until May, due to a synod assignment. A Women's Missionary Society was begun and ran until it too became part of the Women's Association. Evidently, Rev. Bates did not feel his health would hold up to the pressures of financing and building of a new church, as he resigned in December 1901. Preliminary work had begun in 1901 on the new building. The congregation voted to authorize a mortgage to not exceed $20,000 and a loan was negotiated with State Savings Bank of Detroit for a loan. Like his predecessors, Rev, Bates lived in the East Spruce Street manse
The cornerstone was laid August 9, 1902 with Governor Aaron T. Bliss, and Chase S. Osborn acting as speakers. Like another cornerstone, this too was laid in a rainstorm. Dedication of the church was Easter Sunday 1903. Rev. Kennedy, who had been seriously ill with pneumonia from late 1902, was in attendance but Presbytery officials, Rev. Easterday and Chase S. Osborn did the honors. Like many other estimates, the $20,000 did not come close, as the final bill was closer to $40,000. There was also considerable debate as to what to do with the former church building. Mr. Harvey wished the building to remain as a museum for the community, others wished it sold, the main problem was that the church building was owned by the congregation and the property was still in Mr. Harvey's name. Not like it is today with everything technically owned by the Presbytery. The pneumonia that afflicted Kennedy stayed with him for almost a year but the congregation paid his wages and he stayed in the manse. After he got well he never missed a Sunday. The Ladies Aid Society grew and the first bazaars and major dinners were started. During Rev. Kennedy's illness, Rev. William C. Hicks was an interim minister. The Harvey church remained intact, although abandoned, until 1911 when Rev. Kennedy and another member Jay Sutton purchased it. They had it torn down and barged it to Sugar Island. It remains there today as part of the Kennedy cottages, which upon the deaths of the Kennedy's, will again be owned by the church. James Kennedy resigned in August 1912, to work for the Michigan Industrial Accident Board in Lansing, however his sons and now his grandchildren attend church when they are at their cabin and have created a foundation that has provided summer camp experiences for our church children for over 35 years.
Rev. Robert A. Bartlett He may have lived in the Spruce Street manse for a time, however his address generally was a farm he had acquired on Three Mile Road near Seymour. As a result of his moving to the farm, the church sold the Spruce Street manse. The Bartletts had two sons and two daughters, the eldest of which married Maurice Hunt, whose construction firm built many buildings in the Sault. Rev. Bartlett remained as minister until World War I when he enlisted with the YMCA. He officially left the Sault in January 1919 and became the secretary of the State YMCA at Camp Custer. From then until his death, he remained active as a speaker with the Presbyterian Board of Missions. He continued to maintain his home at the farm in Sault Ste. Marie. He suffered a stroke in the fall of 1926 and died at the farm March 1, 1927. He and Mrs. Bartlett are buried in Riverside Cemetery. Following Rev. Bartlett was a young minister, the Rev. R. Stanley Brown, who came in October 1919, two years out of seminary. During his tenure the Young Ladies Auxiliary and the Presbyterian Guild were formed, both lasted until 1948 when they too were merged into the new Women's Association. It was during his tenure in 1922 that the Men's Club started Scout Troop 5, which today is Troop 105 and is the oldest operating unit in the Upper Peninsula. Rev. Brown lived in a rented house at 316 Carrie. Little has been found about Rev. Brown, including a picture. According to session minutes he moved to the Iowa City, Iowa presbytery. A note in the 100th anniversary history noted that the widow of Rev. Brown and her daughter were living in Lansing and working for the State of Michigan
During his first years, the VerStraates lived in a rented home at 408 Cedar, however in 1928 a new manse was constructed adjacent to the church. Also during his tenure, the Westminster Guild was formed and later merged into the Women's Association. A former Methodist mission was acquired on Greenough street in 1926 and became the Presbyterian chapel. During his tenure, Rev. Bartlett in March and Rev. Easterday in October died in 1927. In 1928, a large Austin air chest organ replaced the old pump organ and was dedicated to the memory of Rev. Easterday. In 1964, carillon chimes were also added and dedicated to Rev. VerStraate's memory. The VerStraate years were marked with many changes in the community including the Depression, World War II and the post war growth. After 24 years at the church Dr. VerStraate decided to retire in 1949 and move back to Cedar Grove. He passed away in July of 1953 at the age of 71, and is buried in Cedar Grove. He left the church the largest Protestant church in the city with 790 registered members. Records show he conducted around 800 weddings, 700 funerals and brought around 1,100 members into the church During this time period the national body of the Presbyterian church urged all congregations to create a joint women's society. Thus, in December 1948, the new Women's Association was formed. In Sault Ste. Marie, this meant the merging of the Ladies Aid Guild, the West Minister Guild, the Young Ladies Auxiliary, the Presbyterian Guild, the Chapel Ladies Aide Society and several other associated organizations were merged into one body. Officially the First Presbyterian church Women's Association began operation January 11,1949. This organization has been the primary church service organization ever since, as they have raised untold amounts of money, and provided many service hours, for all sorts of activities and church improvements. Recently they were a primary fund raiser and provider for the new church construction and improvements. REV. DAVID P. McCLEAN
In 1953 Richard Nelson was hired as Associate Pastor covering our church and also being supply minister for Dafter, Donaldson and Neebish Island. A chapel Ladies Aid was formed, that later became part of the Women's Association. The McCleans lived in the Lyon Street manse and this too saw some upgrading. He left in November 1959, to become minister of Westminister Presbyterian in Lansing. During the 1970's he retired due to poor health and died in 1978, at the age of 59. He is buried in Mission Hill Cemetery.
DR. JOSEPH BLACKBURN  Dr. Joseph Blackburn came to the pulpit in April 1960, from the Kirk in the Hills in Bloomfield Hills. He was brought to this church due to his work with young adults. Under his guidance, the church organizations continued to grow although due to the closing of three factories the population of the city declined, as did memberships everywhere. During his tenure the Board of Deacons were dropped in favor of additional members on the Session. He was very instrumental in the creation of St. Andrews Larger parish, which was a serious attempt to fill the pulpits of the smaller congregations within the county. This program operated for over 3 decades. He owned his own home in the Sault on Washington Way and as a result the manse became a rental unit. He retired in 1971, and following the death of his wife, moved downstate. He is now deceased. A retired minister Rev. Joseph D. Ryan followed Dr. Blackburn and served as interim from September 1971 until August 1972.
Dr. James D. Lyman came to the congregation from Elk Rapids. In September 1972, he and his family moved to the manse. Like Rev. McClean, he again had to do a rebuilding of first the sanctuary and then the social hall and Sunday school rooms. The undertaking of rebuilding the organ cost more than the organ did in 1927. It was estimated that all of the rebuilding cost in excess of $100,000. The sanctuary had to be partially re-plastered and painted, while the social hall was paneled, repainted and the kitchen rebuilt. All of this was done with no outstanding debt. He was instrumental in re-establishing the Board of Deacons and in starting the Life Membership program. His wife also reorganized the youth choirs. Anew
church sign was placed on the Bingham Street side and landscaping was done. By 1979, most of the work was done and with an opportunity to go back to his home territory, he left in November 1979 to go to Peekskill, New York.
Following Dr. Lyman were two interim ministers. The first was retired military chaplain Rev. Dean Luginbill, who was here from December 1979 until November 1980. He was followed by Dr. Fred Olert, a retired minister from First Presbyterian church of Detroit, who was here from December 1980 until March 1981. Dr. Olert is well remembered for doing all of his sermons without notes.
Dr. John Kipp came to the Sault from Rocky River, Ohio, March 1981. He was faced with a looming financial crisis, as well as a congregation that was losing membership due to age, and no local jobs to keep young families. One of his first tasks was to close and sell the chapel due to costs. Two first floor Sunday School rooms were remodeled and became the chapel for early Sunday morning services. He left in January 1987 to become an executive presbyter in Ohio.
Following Dr. Kipp as interim were a couple, Rev's Paul and Nancy Tomlinson. They came in May 1987 and left in December 1988 for a position in Kentucky.
"First United Presbyterian Church 2004"
In December 1988, Rev David Henderson, our present minister, came here from Niles, Michigan. He has left a mark on the community for his work within the community, especially with Habitat for
Humanity. Like Easterday, he has been considered a community pastor doing weddings and funerals when there was no one else. The church building was made more energy efficient with replacing of
the furnaces with new units, covering the stained glass with a safety storm glass covering, had the
roof redone and had the attic insulated. One outstanding project he started, was the Sunday Soup kitchen which has now been running for over 10 years. The congregation was growing albeit slowly. Work had started on redecorating the lower Education wing and new cabinets had been finished in the kitchen.
What looked like a normal church year all changed May 7, 2000, when, following church service and soup kitchen, somebody spotted smoke coming from the roof. Four hours later the entire sanctuary lay in the remains of the basement and the social hall was destroyed beyond repair. The manse, although saved was suffering from exterior damage. The morning following the fire, the church safe with all of the records was found and the records, many of them damp, were rescued. Following assessment by the insurance company and appropriate authorities, it was believed the fire was electrical in origin, although an exact cause remains still open. A settlement with the insurance company, through the able assistance of the Statewide Claim Service, saw the church receiving around $3,800,000. The fire was to prove how many friends our church family has in the community and throughout the Presbytery. Within two months we had a new home with our old friends at First Baptist church. Within a year we had hired an architecture firm Wigen, Tinknell and Meyer of Saginaw and plans were underway. For the next two years, work was underway on the structure with demolition and excavation taking many months. Four houses were demolished along with the manse. A new manse at 509 St. James was purchased and the Hendersons moved in. The houses and manse were purchased through the church endowment fund and as a result we borrowed money from one of our own accounts. Ground breaking was held on a very hot July 22,2001. The cornerstone was officially laid in a rainstorm on September 30, 2002. In February 2003 the steeple was attached to the brick tower, with most of the city watching. During the summer, the interior was finished and our first service was held in August. In late August, materials that had been in storage throughout the city were again put in a central place. Cabinets for the Christian Education wing were acquired free from a Canadian property owner and rebuilt as needed for each room. Tables and chairs salvaged from the old education wing were cleaned, repaired and put in the classrooms. Folding tables and chairs, for the social hall were acquired from a service club bingo hall that was going out of business, for a low amount of money. Much of the kitchen equipment was acquired through a restaurant salvage business and rebuilt for the building. A special fund raiser raised enough money for the first floor pews and sanctuary furniture. Thanks to an effort by some choir members the church now has a very fine electronic organ and choir risers. All of this was in addition to the building itself and made possible through the hard work of many members. And of course, who can forget Agnes Logan and her pie sales. Finally on September 21, 2003, the new building was dedicated with Rev. Henderson, Executive Presbyter Rev. David Van Dam and Rev. David Blackburn as presiding ministers. Special music was provided by the church architect David Tagget. The primary contractor was Nomad Construction of Sault Ste. Marie. Through much hard work we have a $4,400,000 building that has less than $300,000 to be 100% paid off. We have a modern sanctuary that seats 350. A social hall and kitchen, that is the most modern in town that can seat 300 as well as a very modern building that retains the former historical memories During 2004 and 2005 more work has been done as well as one setback. A flood occurred during the early spring of 2004 when a sprinkler pipe burst and flooded the basement and much of the sanctuary. Thanks to quick action by many church members the water damage was held to a minimum and soon we were in operation again. In 2004, the risers were installed in the balcony and in 2005, the former pews, salvaged from the chapel, were refinished and installed. In early 2005, a new cross was erected in the front of the church and decorative organ pipes await refinishing and installation. Work will continue as money and materials become available. Throughout this experience we found that we have many church members with a myriad of talents. We have found that our membership can pitch in together and make it happen. In the community, we found that we have many friends regardless of denomination who were willing to sacrifice for our comfort and use. In the Baptist church, we found many life long friends. We are now ready to again serve the community for the next 150 years.
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The first mention of Presbyterianism in the Sault came in October 1823 when a young divinity student named Robert McMurtrie Laird appeared on the last boat of the season. He was sent by
the American Home Missionary Society to minister to the needs of the soldiers at the newly created Fort Brady and to answer a call sent by Schoolcraft to send a missionary. Laird, being from Maryland and thus having puritanical views took a very dim view of the very rural surrounds
Henry Rowe not to mention the excessive use of alcohol at Schoolcraft me fort Although he lived in quarters at the fort,
military attendance at his services was sparse as he noted that most of the soldiers met him with a most unseemingly mirth and use of wassail. The accomplishment he was most proud of was the uniting in marriage of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and Jane Johnson. He departed on the first boat in spring never to return. He later did quite well in Detroit. Laird is quoted in his reports for the following " If any other community on earth needed religion more than Sault Ste. Marie did at that time, no one knows its location "
For the next two decades little was done to develop the church, however in 1850 things soon changed. Enter the Synod of Michigan and Charles T. Harvey of the St. Mary's Fall Ship Canal Company. The Synod of Michigan was attempting to create some missions and hopefully some congregations on the southern shore of Lake Superior, especially in the mining areas. In 1853 the Rev. J. Irwin Smith departed for Ontonagon to seek out the possibilities for a new
church, while another was sent to Superior to check the possibilities there. Harvey, who was constructing the first lock, had requested a missionary from the American Home Missionary Society in 1853 and they sent a missionary named William McCullough to Sault Ste. Marie to check out the possibilities.
The minister whose job it fell on to build the new church was Rev. James A. Kennedy. Rev. Kennedy was minister of a congregation in Grand
Haven when he left to come to the Sault in April 1902 and the Kennedy family has been a part of our church family ever since. In July 1902
planning work began with the Edward Demars company of Marquette as architect. An architect
with the Demars firm was Oro Thomas Easterday, son of Thomas, who lived in the city. The building was constructed of Jacobsville brownstone, Richardson Renaissance design and had a 100 foot bell tower, again without a bell. It had seating for 550 on the first floor and 350 in the balcony and was the largest in the city. There is debate as to where the woodwork and stained glass came from, but at least one source claimed that the Hall and Munson company of Bay Mills (then the largest such company in the world) did both. No listing is made of the contractor but one source claims a Mr. Irwin was the primary builder.
In September 1912 the Rev. Robert Alexander Bartlett took the position as minister. He came to the Sault from Moberly, Missouri. During his first 17 years as a minister he served congregations in Indiana, Kansas and Missouri. He was a graduate of Maryville College and Lane Seminary. His obituary noted that he was an eloquent speaker and was frequently asked to speak before both religious and public meetings.
In May of 1925, the minister with the longest tenure of all, came to the pulpit in the person of Dr. John VerStraate. Rev. VerStraate came from a church in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin and like other Presbyterian ministers, had degrees from Princeton. When he came to minister the congregation was at 390. During his tenure the building was modernized with a new heating plant and extensive work done on the social hall, with a kitchen in the former VerStraate coal bin.
Rev. David P. McClean succeeded Dr. VerStraate in September 1949. McClean became pastor in September 1949 and he remained until November 1959. During his tenure, the two story education wing was constructed. The building, opened in 1958 cost $161,000 and was a major church undertaking. Another project was to replace the two front porches, and steps facing Bingham Aye., with ones of a new design. Also during his tenure the social hall and kitchen were rebuilt.