St. Paul's Methodist Protestant Church (Culbertson, Nebraska) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Paul's Methodist Protestant Church
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 Location in Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Culbertson, Nebraska |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1900 |
| Built by | James L. Hoyt |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001446 |
| Added to NRHP | January 25, 1979 |
The St. Paul's Methodist Protestant Church, also known as the Stone Church, is a historic building in Culbertson, Nebraska. It stands south of the town on Nebraska Highway 17. This special church was built in 1900. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it is a very important place in American history.
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A Look Back: The Church's Story
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Before the Stone Church, people in the area used a different kind of church. In 1885, they built a church from sod. Sod is like thick grass and soil cut into blocks. It was a common building material for early settlers.
A minister named M.H. Noe led the first services there. This sod church helped the community grow. The Stone Church you see today is across the road from where that first sod church stood.
Building the Stone Church
Building the Stone Church was a big project for the community. Most of the work was done by people from the church. They did not get paid for their hard work.
They found limestone for the church from a local rock area. This quarry was about 5 miles (8.0 km) away. Church members used wagons to bring the heavy stones to the building site.
They cut and shaped the limestone by hand. Jim Flynn and a local stonemason named James Lewellyn Hoyt guided the work. Hoyt's young sons, who were only eight and ten, also helped. They helped break apart the limestone in the quarry. Rebecca Hart donated the land for the church.
It was amazing that people built such a strong stone church. Many of them still lived in simple sod houses or dugouts. The church was finished in 1900. Reverend J.E. Darby led the first dedication service.
A Community Hub
The Stone Church was very important to the Driftwood Community. It was a place for many activities until the 1950s. The church held Sunday school classes. It also had an orchestra and hosted many local events. In the early 1900s, the Stone Church was even the place where people went to vote.
Bringing the Church Back to Life
Over 75 years, the church building started to show its age. In 1975, people celebrated the church's 75th anniversary. A group was formed to help fix and save the building.
Since then, a lot of work has been done. The roof has been replaced. The walls have been made stronger. Old electrical wires were removed for safety. The inside of the church now looks much like it did when it was first built.
The Stone Church does not have running water or electricity. This is because of when it was built and its quiet location. The building is not used for regular services anymore. However, a group called the Stone Church Community Association takes care of it. They keep it as a special reminder of the settlers who built it. People still gather there once a year to remember and celebrate the church.
