Messenger of Peace Chapel Car facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Messenger of Peace Chapel Car
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Messenger of Peace Chapel Car in Northwest Railway Museum
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 Location in Washington (state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 9320 Stone Quarry Rd, Snoqualmie, Washington |
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| Built | 1898 |
| Built by | Barney and Smith Car Company |
| Architectural style | Railroad car |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000998 |
| Added to NRHP | January 21, 2009 |
The Messenger of Peace is a special railroad car built way back in 1898. It's called a 'chapel car' because it was like a church on wheels! Today, you can find it at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington. This unique car was even added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, which means it's a really important historical item.
Contents
Building the Chapel Car
The Messenger of Peace is a dark green, wooden railroad car. It was built using strong yellow pine wood. The car is about 70 feet (21 meters) long, 10 feet (3 meters) wide, and 13 feet (4 meters) high.
Its roof is rounded, with a raised section that has windows. These windows, called clerestory windows, let in light and fresh air. There are doors at both ends of the car.
Inside the Car
The front of the car had a small room. This was where the minister lived while traveling. The rest of the car was a big open space. This area was used for church services.
The inside walls are decorated with fancy wooden panels. These panels are made from white oak wood. When it was first built, the car used kerosene lamps for light. Later, these were changed to acetylene lights. Finally, electric lights were installed.
The car could hold 17 rows of pews, which are like church benches. It also had an organ and a lectern. A phonograph, a type of record player, was even donated by Thomas Edison himself!
A Church on Wheels: Its History
Starting in the 1890s, special railroad cars were built. These cars were designed to be mobile churches. Missionaries would travel on these cars to far-off, rural areas. The cars would then be left on a sidetrack. This allowed them to offer religious services to communities that didn't have their own churches.
The Messenger of Peace was the fifth chapel car. It was built for the American Baptist Home Mission Society. The money to build it came from women of the Baptist church. Because of this, it was often called "the Ladies' car."
Missionaries and Their Journeys
Rev. Sam Neil was the first missionary to work on the Messenger of Peace. Many other missionaries served on "the Ladies' car" over the years. These included Rev. and Mrs. Joe P. Jacobs, Rev. and Mrs. J. H. Webber, and Rev. and Mrs. Robert R. Gray.
The Messenger of Peace worked as a chapel car for a long time. It served from 1898 to 1948. It spent most of its time in Washington State. However, it traveled through at least 20 different states! It was the last Baptist chapel car to stop working, and it served the longest.
Railroad Support
Many railroad lines helped transport the Messenger of Peace. These included the Great Northern, the Northern Pacific, and the Union Pacific. Often, they carried the car for free or very cheaply. This changed during World War I.
Special Appearances
The Messenger of Peace was shown at two big events. It was at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in 1898. It was also at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904. At the 1904 Exposition, the car won a silver medal. This was surprising because it wasn't even entered in the competition!
A famous evangelist named Dwight L. Moody once gave a sermon from the Messenger of Peace. This was special because he wasn't a Baptist. Later, when Moody became very ill, the Messenger of Peace helped carry him to another train. This train took him home to Northfield, Massachusetts.
In 1910, the Messenger of Peace started working with the International Railroad YMCA. Together, they helped railroad workers.
Later Years of Service
In 1942, the Messenger of Peace was moved by barge to the Olympic Peninsula. Here, Rev. and Mrs. C. W. Cutler continued their work. They served the local community, including military members. In 1946, the car moved near Everett, Washington. It kept serving until 1948, when it finally retired.
After Its Working Life
In 1949, the Messenger of Peace got a new job. It was turned into a roadside diner in Snohomish, Washington. It was called the Ritz-Limited Cafe.
In the 1970s, the car was almost destroyed. But a local man named Art Hodgins bought it for just $1! He moved it to his property. After he passed away, his family gave the car to the Northwest Railway Museum.
The Messenger of Peace was moved to the museum's restoration shop in September 2007. In 2009, the city of Snoqualmie received a grant. This money, $180,000, came from Save America's Treasures. It is being used to restore the Messenger of Peace to how it looked around 1917.
