Historic Hood River
Country Church
Notes
No, it’s not Hood River but what a great old church building. I’m guessing this is also from Great Falls Montana, but it could be anyplace between here and there. I’m not sure how to describe it– maybe “frugal elegance?” Small, carefully placed stained glass windows, intricate but inexpensive woodwork, small but stately steeple. I wish we had an interior view.
If you look closely you can see the year “1889” in the woodwork above the door. While it looks like good sturdy frontier construction, I doubt it has survived into the 21st century. But I’m sure you can imagine it on a Sunday in the 1890’s, town folk arriving on the wood plank sidewalk in their Sunday best, eager for a brief respite from the toil of frontier life.
Photo courtesy of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon.
Kenn
As mentioned, great but frugal detail, beautiful simplicity
L.E.
Beautiful.
And it looks like the other buildings in the bleak landscape are large and well constructed.
Kyle
They had telegraph lines, wherever they were. Funny to see overhead cables ruining photographic compositions even this far back…
Arthur
Kyle, I choose to view overhead wires from a history sleuthing instead of aesthetic point of view. For example, I use the number of crossbeams and wires on the Oak Street telephone poles to help date images. I’m frequently zooming in on wires and poles to examine the details of the connection for clues.
L.E.
Is the featured star symbol common to Episcopal Churches?
Also, I wonder what the numbers 889 over the door represent?
I am wondering if this could be a commune.
Arthur
That’s "1889" organized like this:
1
88
9
Presumably the year of construction.
Kevin
It reminds me of the simpler Locust Grove Church.
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM84YY_Locust_Grove_Church_Wasco_Oregon
L.E.
Also has some similarities to the old Antelope church.
Sorry Arthur. I did not read your introduction thoroughly about 1889.
The work is so intricate and detailed, it reminds me of Scandinavian carpentry. I have spent the day looking through 1889 Montana churches, but came up with nothing. I did learn about the African Methodist Episcopal congregations established in Montana as early as 1889.
There was a Norwegian-Danish Methodist Episcopal church organization. The wooden Portland church, built in 1888 is still standing. Sally Donvan was involved in listing it with Historic Properties.
It is a large building, but not as pretty as the above church.
Nancy T
Here’s another great big old church, identified as the Methodist church in Odell, about 1912.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9qxosf5ruugdp41/Methodist%20church%20at%20Odell%20abt%201912%20%288×10%29.jpg?dl=0
Longshot
Looking at the grass around the church and the roof design which would catch sparks, I can’t imagine that the building lasted long before being taken out by a prairie fire.
cg
Arthur, I’m a day late here but could you share photo with Great Falls museum to ask if they can identify it? I checked and it looks like they have a good history museum.
Arthur
Good idea. I always like to notify "the locals" when we have relevant photos.