Volume 1, Issue 26 NOVEMBER 24, 2023
YOUR LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT NEWS SOURCE
A gift to you, a gift to all Pastor Dan Barnum-Steggerda, above left, preaches to a packed congregation at Hart UCC Nov. 5. Marge Peterson, above center, reminisces with Kittie Osborn. Elder Ron Marks and his family, above right, were in attendance. Marks later led a prayer during the service. • Paul Erickson/Echo
Hart UCC recalls legacy amid closing By Stacia Erickson
for the Hart Congregational Church, calling it a “worthy object” as well as a “dire necessity.” That lovely home is on State Street with the Robinson Building, a story in itself, between What was the big news in Hart in it and the church. It serves as an of1887 is big news again, as 2023 draws fice and classrooms, since the church to a close. bought another house behind the On Saturday, Aug. 20, 1887, The original church building to serve as Argus, a local newspaper of the day, its parsonage. The entire complex can published a story written by E.S. Palbe seen directly across the street from miter, who wrote glowingly about the Hart City Hall at 408 State St. in Hart. new church being dedicated. Palmiter Another change occurred just shy wrote, “The structure is of solid brick, of 100 years later, when the Hart Con36x72’ besides the steeple part, and of gregational Church became a part of Italian style of architecture, after the Doric order.” He further described the Looking much the same today, as it did in the now well-known and firmly estab1887, Hart UCC church, State St., Hart. lished United Church of Christ (UCC) large “audience room,” the glass doors inside, and the apartment within as itself to be “sickly and weak” due to at its inception. The UCC as a denomhaving been completed. He contin- consumptive diseases. Today, the ination was first formed in a General ued to eloquently describe the new congregation finds itself in similar cir- Synod in 1957, with its constitution structure, writing, ”the windows are cumstances, suffering again but not declared in force July 4, 1961. And this year, 2023, yet another colored Cathedral glass, and patterns due to diseases, although many are elegant; the pews and pulpit are na- now undoubtedly sick at heart. To- very big change has been put into motive hardwood, designs fine, and are day’s congregation is suffering from tion. After much thought and deliberin keeping; the whole church is car- a loss of regular membership and an ation, the decision was made to close the church that has stood so proudly peted, heated by a furnace, there is a aging population. new pipe organ, and one large chanMany changes have transpired for more than 155 years on the corner delier lights the room. It is a model since the Hart Congregational Church of State and Church Streets. A church church.” It was without a doubt a tre- came into being, both physically and that has reached around the world mendously newsworthy event. spiritually. For example, in 1895, the through its missions, one that has The Hart Congregational Church local newspaper The Journal pub- successfully raised generation upon was first organized in January 1868 lished a special women’s edition, generation of the faithful and one that and consisted of six members. At first, edited and published by the Ladies has withstood the test of time until that original, tiny congregation en- Literary Club. The publication sought now. The question that has gnawed at joyed prosperity, and there were sev- to edify the public with regard to the eral additions to the membership, but club’s very first project. That proj- many is, “What will happen to the after 14 years, the congregation found ect just happened to be a parsonage building?” Many suggestions were made and more questions raised; advice was sought and freely given; options were bandied about and rejected or pursued. According to the chairman of the church trustees, Tom Osborn, “After much effort chasing down options, we have come to a resolution that we feel very comfortable with.” After meeting with Hart City Council several times and receiving support from members of the congregation, representatives of the church were directed to the Hart Tax Increment Financing Authority (TIFA) board with the thought that TIFA Third through fifth grade students from Thomas Read could take over the property since it and New Era Elementary’s student councils were able has the mandate to hold and find a to visit the newly built Shelby Elementary Friday, Nov. community-friendly use for the facil17. The students thanked everyone involved in the ities. According to Osborn, “TIFA is a project by offering workers donuts, cider and cards. funding tool administered to help catShelby Public Schools Superintendent Mark Olmstead alyze public and private investment said the school’s “progress continues in a positive in downtown Hart. Funds support way.” Currently, Shelby Elementary’s ribbon-cutting
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Giving thanks
ceremony and open house are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 16 from 9-11 a.m. • Contributed Photo
Hart UCC closing continued on page 3
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