Harrington church turns 75

Nearly 80 people sang traditional hymns at the Harrington Church of the Nazarene’s 75th anniversary celebration Sunday, July 14. Mrs. Gordon Herron. Pastor Jim Beattie welcomed the members and guests. Short addresses were given by Rev. Guy Cooksey of Oregon, Rev. Bill Bull of Clarkston, Rev. Chuck Wilkes of Idaho, Rev. Paul Barber, and a letter from Rev. Gene Delbridge was read. A trio comprising Gerald and Virginia Zellmer and daughter Jana Shea sang accompanied by Linda Zellmer at the piano. A special guitar number was offered by Troy Nuner.

Following the service, a potluck dinner was enjoyed outside in beautiful sunny weather, with socializing and games for the younger set. The only disappointment of the day was that the District Superintendent, Rev. R.J. Cracker, was unable to attend due to a family medical emergency.

The program for the event contained the following history: “In January of 1938 Rev. Walter Nichols traveled from St. Maries, Idaho to hold a series of evangelistic meetings in Bluestem. The meetings were well attended and continued for five weeks. At the close of these meetings a ‘tent meeting’ was planned, to be held in Harrington May 24. At the close of the tent meeting it was decided to organize a Church of the Nazarene in Harrington and on July 15, 1938, sixteen charter members were taken into membership. Trustees and stewards were elected and Rev. Walter Nichols was called as the local pastor. A store building on the NE corner of 3rd & Main was rented for services and Sunday school. The pastor was paid $8.30 per week. Plans began that next year for securing property to build and lots were purchased for $17.50 on the north end of 3rd Street. In January 1941 the store building was sold and Mr. Scott, who owned the Adams-Mitchum building, offered the Nazarene Church the upstairs rooms of the building along with the materials to fix them up. Rev. Nichols resigned in April 1941 and his home and property on the corner of 3rd & Alice was purchased for $575 and became the church parsonage. On Jan 20, 1943 the church purchased the First National Bank building on the corner of 3rd & Main from Alex Kramer for $1,000. The building was remodeled and dedicated on May 2, 1943. It included the sanctuary and pastor’s office on the main floor with classrooms, restrooms, kitchen and social rooms upstairs. During the ministry of Rev. Floyd Young, the building fund was again activated and in the fall of 1966 ground was broken at 204 N. 3rd by pastor Edward Wheatley, District Superintendent Raymond Kratzer and Mayor Erv Oestreich. A new brick building was erected which contained a large sanctuary to seat 200, social room, kitchen and classrooms. The congregation moved into their new church building in December of 1967 and on April 26, 1968 an official dedication ceremony took place. The church was built at a cost of $40,000 with nearly all the labor donated. It was officially debt-free at a mortgage burning ceremony July 31, 1983. In the early 1990s, a new parsonage was purchased at 108 W. Adams and the parsonage on the church property has been removed.”

The 16 charter members who initiated the formation of the Harrington Church of the Nazarene were: Grace Yarwood Aldridge (1910-2000), Ernest Cronrath (1885-1966), Frieda Buhl Cronrath (1891-1960), Ruth Cronrath (married Cameron Kirk; b. 1927; d. ____), Eugene Cronrath (b. 1924, living), Eulah Kennedy (1906-1976), Rev. Walter Nichols (1898-1992), Mildred Nichols (1907-1996), Wyla Nichols (b. 1925, d. 2011), Alfred H. Teel (1884-1970), Gertrude Scott Teel (1887-1981), Walter Steve Teel (b. 1926, no further info), Fred W. Yarwood (1900-1986), Hattie Seaver Yarwood (1898-1981), Walter August Zellmer (1902-1976) and Francis King Zellmer (1910-2004).

Ministers who served the Harrington Church of the Nazarene and were responsible for shepherding this flock of 16 and those who came after were: Rev. Walter E. Nichols, 1938-1941; Rev. Wilford N. Vanderpool, 1941-1943; Rev. Crawford T. Vanderpool, 1943-1946; Rev. George Eplin, 1946-1946; Rev. Thomas O. Weatherby, 1946-1948; Rev. R. Orville Sampson, 1948-1952; Rev. Wallace W. Roseboro, 1952-1954; Rev. George Eplin, 1954-1955; Rev. W.T. Taylor, 1955-1957; Rev. Harold C. Paul, 1957-1960; Rev. Gene Delbridge, 1960-1962; Rev. Floyd H. Young, 1962-1966; Rev. Edward M. Wheatley, 1966-1974; Rev. Gary D. Tracy, 1974-1977; Rev. Steve W. Ralph, 1977-1981; Rev. Allan A. Franks, 1981-1985; Rev. R. Salisbury, 1985-1987; Rev. Gary Curtis, 1988-1990; Rev. Guy Cooksey, 1990-1995; Rev. Nathan Darling, 1995-1999; Terry Van Blaricum, interim 1999-2001; Rev. William Bull, 2001-2009; Rev. Tapley, interim Oct. 2009-May 2010; and current pastor, Rev. Jim Beattie who was called June 13, 2010.