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Quinn
Chapel AME Church
 From
its beginning, the rough and rowdy town of Denison also had its
religious side. The Denison Town Company gave lots to any
congregation that wanted to build a house of worship. Among those
denominations was the African American Methodist Church which would
become a Denison landmark. Sherman, Texas Denison Landmarks Beginning with an aldermanic form of government the city changed in 1906 to the commission form. Dr. A.W. Acheson, who had already served 2 terms under the old system, was Denison's first mayor under the new government. The city's first town hall where everything from court to square dances might be held in 1874, now stands in North Denison and is used for a Negro church, a steeple having been added to contain the church bell. It is called Quinn Chapel Methodist church. The "town hall" at the northeast corner of Woodard and Rusk, a multi-purpose building" was probably erected during the first few months after the town was established, by the beginning of 1873. It was used in the beginning by all, or nearly all, the denominations in town. The facility was used for nonreligious meetings and educational purposes as well. It appears that the Presbyterians were the first to moved their place of worship from the town hall to a sanctuary of their own. The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, February 10, 1901 pg. 1 Week ending January 9, 1873 Religious services were held every Sunday at the new chapel on Woodard street at 11 a.m. All denominations took a hand. Rev. Milligan was the officiating clergyman. There was a social prayer meeting Thursday nights.... The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, February 4, 1912 pg. 2 January 8, 1873 At a social gathering in the chapel on Woodard street Tuesday night, on motion of Parson Milligan it was unanimously voted to serve an oyster supper in the chapel the next Tuesday evening. A committee of 5 ladies and 5 gentlemen was appointed to look after the details. Within a matter of days two churches were organized in the Woodard street chapel. On Monday, February 17, 1873, The Episcopalians met at the Woodard street chapel and organized themselves into a missionary parish under the title of St. Luke's Parish. On Sunday, February 23, 1873 the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the town hall. The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, May 17, 1912 pg. 2 February 20, 1873 The Episcopalians, at a meeting held Monday night in the Woodard street chapel, organized themselves into a missionary parish, under the title of St. Luke's Church, of Denison City. Mr. J.W. Jennings was elected Warden, Mr. Fred Caske, Secretary; and Col. Shepherd, Treasurer. The following gentlemen were appointed Church Committee: Dr. J.C. Feild, Dexter; Owens, Bennett, Keffer, Hawkins and Wood. A ladies' committee was also chosen, but the name were omitted by the local papers. Denison Daily News Monday, December 30, 1878 pg. 8 Events of 1873 Week Ending Friday, January 3rd Religious services held every Sunday at the chapel on Woodard street, Rev. Mr. Millican, the officiating clergyman. In the spring the Presbyterians of Denison propose to build a suitable church building. On February 23, 1873 a few people assembled in the town hall to organize a Methodist Episcopal, later known as the First Methodist Church. The next day, on Monday February 24, 1873 "a public school was opened in the chapel on Woodard street with thirty-five pupils. George A. Dunfreuil was principal." Attendance increased to fifty the second day (The Sunday Gazetteer, March 24, 1901) Rev. Mr. Jamison purchased the town hall from a Mr. Jennings (Denison Daily News, December 30, 1878), painted it and seated it at a cost of $962; the building was dedicated on June 2, 1873. The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, June 26, 1892 pg. 2 From April 15 to April 22, 1873 ....The Methodist denomination purchased the chapel on Woodard street, and that place, which had been free to all denominations, passed under the management of a sect.... Early schools in Grayson County were often held in private residences, private schools and churches. In March 1874 the Denison School Board adopted text books, hired five teachers, and designated four buildings as places of educating their childing, including the Methodist Chapel on Woodard Street. The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, March 30, 1902 pg. 3 Week Ending March 14, 1874 ....The board of school trustees met at Mrs. Christie's residence Tuesday night and adopted the following textbooks: Independent readers, Ray's arithmetic and algebra, Monteith's geography, Clark's grammar, Barnes' history; Quackenbos' rhetoric. The following teachers were employed: Prof. C.F. Fernal Mrs. M.A. Christie Mrs. Bowles Miss Elliston Miss Josie Hume Schools open were opened at Frenal's school house, Mrs. Christie's school building, at the Methodist chapel on Woodward street and at Mrs. Shallenberger's residence on Sears Street.... Denison Daily Cresset Saturday, August 7, 1875 pg. 4 Be sure and not miss the festival to be given by the Good Templars of our city. The yard of the Methodist church is to be used for the occasion if the weather permits. The ladies we believe propose having neck-ties as a means for bashing men to select their partners for the evening. Two neckties will be made exactly alike, by each lady, the lady wears one and placed the other in a sealed envelope. The gentlemen then draw one and the lady who wears the corresponding one is their partner. We will guarantee a good time to all who may be present. Denison Daily Cresset Wednesday 11, 1875 pg. 4 The festival given by the Good Templars in the yard of the Methodist church last night, was a decided success. The grounds were brilliantly illuminated with torches and Chinese lanters, and presented to the eye of the beholder a very pleasing picture. There were some half dozen tables in the yard for the accomodations of the lovers of ice cream and cake, and these were alway surrounded by merry parties of ladies and gentlemen, who from their actions seemed to be highly enjoying themselves. Great credit is due to the ladies and gentlement of the lodge who had charge of the arrangements, for the satisfactory manner in which everything passed off. A few of the gentlemen, who purchased neck ties, experienced some diffidulty in finding their partners, at first, but we believe all were properly mated before the close of the evening. A large, fine cake was voted to Miss Linnie Wilson, as the prettiest young lady present, and we think they made an admirable selection.. The receipts of the evening were about $40. Just three years later, the Methodists had outgrown their facilities and made plans to build a larger building. Denison Daily Cressent Monday, July 16, 1877 pg. 4 A HANDSOME STRUCTURE The New Methodist Episcopal Church The Methodist Episcopal church edifice is completed excepting the spire. It is unique in style, something entirely new in church architecture in this latitude, but is beautiful from whatever direction the eye beholds it. When Rev. Mr. Daugherty assured us that it could be completed ready for use (except the lots and furniture) for $5,000, we almost felt incredulous, but the figures prove his judgement to be correct.   Quinn Chapel AME Church History Churches Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |