Ok, found my Grace Upon Grace book by Jim Stegall that mom and dad gave me at our churchs 150th anniversary. Just glancing at it I see that the picture Linda Weaver Nolen shared was originally called Martinsville Presbyterian, and was built in 1883 beside the old lodge hall. And that evolved into Anderson Memorial with the structure I remember built next to it in 1930. Dr.Charles Reed was there from 1928-1953 and baptized me. Expansion of the church always took place when members of the mother church would voluntarily leave to become charter members of a new church. The churches became Kate Anderson, Irisburg, and Forest Hills on Beechnut Lane. Downtown Sunday morning parking was a problem with all the churches on Church Street so Anderson Memorial began searching for land to build another church right outside of downtown. Abe Globman needed the downtown property for his new retail store and offered $150,000 in 1952. Wentz Miller came in 1953-1961 and I adored that man! He was paid $6,000 a year plus the manse to live in. He led the church in its effort to accept the offer from Abe Globman and build the new church on Patrick Henry Avenue in 1960. This book is awesome and Im now going to take the time to read the entire thing. It mentions name after name of the people I grew up admiring, Bill and Carolyn Franck, Frank and Mary Lou Lacy, June and Margaret Irby, John and Mary Ragland, Judge and Mrs. MacBryde, English and Irma Ford, Frank and Frances Fulton, Stanley and Libby Cobb, Ralph and Jean Shank and on and on. What a wonderful church family to grow up in. And, one of my biggest thrills was seeing my name listed among the many members in the back of the book. Just another reason my childhood in Martinsville, VA was the best anyone could have had.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 01:04:52 +0000
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