Rohlers Union United
Bluebird Lane
The first preaching by the
United Brethren began June 9, 1799 when Reverend Christian Newcomer preached in
the home of Jacob Roller. Again, on December 9, 1802, he rode about twelve
miles and preached to a little flock at Rohlers Schoolhouse. Newcomer’s journal
shows that he visited here again January 12 1806, May 5, 1806 and November 15,
1807. Other Brethren ministers preached at this appointment at various
intervals.
Records from 1840 indicate
that the United Brethren maintained regular preaching at Rohlers Union Church.
The early preaching was in German and later in either German or English. With
the exception of a short period in 1850’s, there were no United Brethren
members in the community for many years. However, preaching services were
conducted at interval of four weeks.
When the school was built in
1855, the old building was then used exclusively for worship until the year
1870. In that year the Lutherans erected their own church about one sixth of a
mile west of the original church. The United Brethren and Baptists erected a
new union church building just west of the original log meeting house.
The building was constructed
of native brown sandstone with white mortar made of lime, sand and horsehair
for pointing. The stones were carefully cut in a style known as ashlar. They
were laid in patterns of long and short Fleming bond brickwork. Quoins were a
prominent feature of the stonework. (A quoin is an external corner or angle of
a building). Double hung windows with paneled shutters, transoms over the two
doors, a central window in the gable end and a heavy
coved cornice made the building attractive in appearance. All the exterior
woodwork was painted white.
The floor of the church was
laid with wide wood boards. The walls were plastered with a mixture of lime and
sand. The pews were constructed of fine white pine. The pews on the left were
occupied by women worshipers and those on the right by the males. The two sides
were divided by partition the same height as the pews down the center. The
doors on the left and the right were entered separately by the men and women.
An Amen corner was placed in
the front on each side of the church. The seats in these corners were occupied
by devout and worthy members of the congregation who would respond with a
hearty “Amen” at proper times during the prayers of the preachers. The plain
pulpit was elevated on a platform to make it visible by all in attendance.
In 1886, the congregation of
thirty members built a frame building with a tin roof behind the church to
serve as a stable for horses and carriages of the preachers administering to
the congregation. In 1907 the belfry and the bell were added. The last service
in the church was held October 24, 1943.
In 1965, the historic church
was restored for preservation. The exterior was repainted; new flooring was
laid with narrower boards, the entire interior re-plastered and the woodwork
repainted.
Public worship services were
held in the late 1960’s during the summer on Sunday afternoons but were
discontinued in the 1970’s.
This
building served as the stable for the preacher's horse.
History of