Willow Springs
Church of Christ
Pottsboro, Texas
The
Willow Springs church of Christ started in the early 20th century in
the Locust community. Many of my relatives walked to church
there, including Sarah Jane Myers (known as Aunt Jane), the Cook
family, Clountz family, Daniel family, Gardenhires, Jacksons, Roys, and
many more. At some point around mid century, they
moved the long narrow building to where it is located now near Willow
Springs across from the Clountz, Pearson and Holt land - sitting on
land donated by the Driggers family. In 1964, that long
narrow building was converted to classrooms because the members all
helped build a new brick building next to it. I still
remember the first time we went to worship there in the new building as
a child. I was in awe at that time!
The preachers I
remember:
- Robert Monroe ~ late
1950s - early 1960s
- Ross Hollingsworth
~ 1960s
- Ollie Duffield ~ 1973
- 1979
- Johnny Moore ~ 1979
- 1985
- David Hamrick ~ 1985 - 1987
- Jimmy Stegall ~ 1987 - 1992
- Frank Bauman ~ 1992 - 1998
- Leon Short ~ 1998 - 2011
Pioneer
Church
- Ollie Duffield, Willow Springs Church
of Christ preacher, said the pioneer church has some startlingly modern
characteristics, particularly in the summer when cars towing boats can
be seen in the parking area.
Torn article....
....the Willow Springs Church of Christ near Flowing
Wells Resort, says
his church occupies an important niche in the history of northern
Grayson
County.
With a present membership of more than
100, the church had its beginning in pioneer days around the turn of
the
century when groups of worshipers met in a grove of trees not too far
from the present building site. Duffield said the Willow Springs
congregation
was formally established in the summer of 1905 with William Gilbert
Reynolds
of Gunter conducting the service and he is certain meetings were held
on
a less formal basis - Bible study and singing - in the Locust
schoolhouse
before that.
Since those early times the Willow Springs
Church of Christ has grown to occupy an influential role in the life of
the community. Duffield added. Currently, services are held in the
white
brick building constructed in 1962 at a cost of $25,000, and land for
the
church was donated by Ike Eckstein of Sherman. The new building
replaced
the wooden one used since 1937 at the same site, after a storm damaged
an older one adjacent to the Willow Springs schoolhouse..
Duffield
pointed out that at the time the decision
was made to construct the new facility, it was necessary for nearly
every
member of the congregation to help.
"Crews of volunteers worked from 6pm to
__pm each workday" he explained, "as well as on Saturdays. We borrowed
an electrician from the Pottsboro Church of Christ and only one
carpenter,
painting contractor and bricklayers were hired to finish the job. The
job
started with only $6,500.00 actual cash.
Duffield said the church occupies a strategic
location due to its proximity to Lake Texoma, and added that it wasn't
at all unusual to see the parking area dotted with cars towing boats to
the lake during the summer. He added that the congregation is dedicated
to helping others, and is active in giving help to the Gunter Home for
the Aged, the Boles Home for Children , and the Tipton, Oklahoma Home
for
Children.
The first preacher to actually live in
the community, Duffield has been serving the church for exactly two
year,
and lives behind the church in a parsonage constructed by members so he
can be available at all times, Duffield noted that ...end of
torn article
Willow Springs Church of Christ History
Churches
Susan Hawkins
© 2024
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