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User:Thartfuldodgr/Old Union Church and Cemetery

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Old Union Church and Cemetery (formerly Sugar Creek Church and Cemetery) is a site in Reeve Township, Daviess County, Indiana. The church was built in 1858 in the Greek Revival style, and served the people of Reeve Township as a religious meeting place until 1956. Since that time it has come to be used as a community center.

History

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In the first decade of the 19th century, William Ballow crossed the White River and became the first person to settle in what was to become Daviess County.[1] As more and more settlers crossed the river to settle the area, agriculture became more and more important in the young township. By the 1830s plans had been laid to construct a portion of the Wabash-Erie Canal in the county. The population exploded as immigrants arrived to work on the canal.

The land that the church and cemetery now stand on were deeded from sisters Violet Kyle and Huldah Allen. The church was used by the Sugar Creek Baptist Congregation, the second oldest congregation in Reeve Township, until the 1880s when they built a new church in nearby Alfordsville.

In 1870 a new Methodist circuit was formed in Alfordsville, but the congregation didn't have a meeting house so an agreement was struck between the Methodists and the Baptists to share the Sugar Creek Church. It is from this relationship that the church became known as the Union Church. The Methodists vacated the church in the 1880s when a new church was built to serve the congregation in Alfordsville. It is then believed that the Presbyterians used the church when it was vacated by the Methodists and the Baptists. [2]

The Alfordsville Christian Church split in 1900 over a decision whether or not to include music during services. The faction that opposed the use of music left the church in Alfordsville and moved to the Sugar Creek Church, now fondly known as 'Old Union', taking the church bell with them. It was from this move that the church tower was added to the front facade to accommodate the new bell.

In 1934, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Stark arrived from Iowa and started preaching at the Old Union Church while the Alfordsville Assembly of God Church was completed in 1937. After this the church sat vacant until 1939 when the Alfordsville United Methodist Church moved in while their new church was being built in Alfordsville. From 1955-1956 the Alfordsville Christian Church congregation used the Old Union Church while their new church was being built. [3]

From 2003-2005 a major restoration of Old Union Church took place. The roof was re-shingled, the building re-sided, and major repairs were made to the foundation, interior, and belfry. The church has never had electricity. The only heating system that the church has had were wood stoves once located at the center of the church (but have long since been removed.) In 2003 an electric safety lamp was placed in front of the church.

Old Union Cemetery

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References

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  1. ^ The History of Knox and Daviess Counties Indiana. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co. 1886.
  2. ^ "Old Union Church and Cemetery" National Register for Historic Places Nomination Form, 2005.
  3. ^ "Old Union Church and Cemetery" National Register for Historic Places Nomination Form, 2005.
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