FUN FACTS

25 YEARS AGO AT SCWC:  1981

Back when Bruce was still having birthdays - Reported in the weekly church newsletter under "Birthdays this Week": Bruce, April 18th. (Happy Birthday Bruce!!)

30 YEARS AGO:  1976

One Sunday's attendance was 139 and the tithe for the day was $417.18.  The balance on the mortgage for the church building was reported as $315.  A mortgage burning was in the planning stages!

75 YEARS AGO:   1931

A Y.M.W.B. (Young Missionary Workers Band) Group met once a month to raise funds for the support of missionaries in the foreign fields and to create a greater missionary spirit among the young people and children.  Membership dues were to be not less than one cent per week. 

110 YEARS AGO:   1896

Rev. Pierce has been holding meetings at the W. Methodist chapel at Velzy (Solon Center).  He is a man of power and comes filled with the Holy Ghost.  The homes are scarce that do not count among this number some that call on the name of the Lord.  The chapel was too small to contain the people so they tore down one end and built an addition of 12 feet and many are still unable to get in.  They come by the tens to the altar.  Over 125 have been to the altar and still the good work goes on.

The Cedar Springs Clipper

Pastor's Wife Steps in as Pastor

Did you know that our church once was pastored by a woman? In 1933, Mrs. Grace Hanna, wife of former pastor Rev. George Hanna was asked to fill the pulpit when Rev. O. G. Shantz resigned and left for Canada. She remained as pastor for nine months until conference time when Rev. Wesley Griffin was appointed pastor.

I'm told that she and her husband George lived in the area and farmed on 20 Mile Road. George passed away in 1931. I'm also told that my own grandmother, Mamie Fisk had traveled to Fairmount Bible College in Indiana with the Hannas in 1919, where they attended school to prepare for ministry work. Grandma also attended the college. From reading what little church history that is recorded, Grace remained active in the ministry until she remarried and moved with her new husband to another town far enough away that she could not attend SCWC. It is told in the memoirs of Rev. Keith McRoberts, pastor in 1944-47, that the new husband brought back to the McRoberts family a thousand pounds of potatoes at harvest time, which were kept in the Michigan cellar of the parsonage and kept nicely.

Grace Hanna wrote: "May God's sunshine continue to shine on his people here at Solon, may many be saved and ready for the coming of Jesus."