ohltown united methodist church Through the years

Ohltown United Methodist Church, 2001 Ohltown Road, Mineral Ridge, is observing its 170th year. The occasion will be marked at the 9:45 a.m. service Sunday with a preview of a display of historical items. The congregation will celebrate the anniversary at worship at 9:45 a.m. Oct. 26, Founders’ Day. The Rev. Vernon Shepherd will lead worship. A potluck luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall; historical items will be displayed.

Church vision: To love God with all of ourselves. To love our neighbors as ourselves. To make disciples in the name of Jesus Christ and teach them God’s commandments.

Church mission: Love and worship God. Grow in faith as disciples of Jesus and share Christ’s love in the world.

1830s: Religious services were conducted three times a month at Michael Ohl’s gristmill located on Meander Creek near present-day Mineral Ridge. Ohltown was named for Michael Ohl. He and Simon Hood were the first two settlers. A circuit-riding minister provided pastoral leadership in what was known as Liberty Circuit.

1840s: The congregation bought its first church building in 1847 from the German Reformed Lutheran Church of Ohltown. A new church building was built in 1849, and the old one was used as a school. For construction of the new building, members supplied trees from their properties to provide lumber processed at Ohl’s sawmill.

1880s: The church sponsored its first fund-raiser, an oyster supper, on New Year’s Eve 1880.

1890s: The church members formed what was called a Mite Society, which had socials at members’ homes and had music, games and spelling bees. After refreshments, a box would be passed and each person would drop his mite, that is, what he could afford to give. Donations would go to the library. But the money ended up being used to send the pastor to the Methodist conference, where he was obliged to give the church allotment. Sometime later, the church did organize a small library.

1900s: The congregation had outgrown the church, so another was constructed in 1908, again using wood from members’ properties. The window frames of the church were made from the poplar wood of the former church pews.

1920s: The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District bought up the community of Ohltown to make way for the Meander Reservoir. Though some members relocated, the congregation remained at the church. A fire damaged the church, but it was repaired.

1930s: The first wedding was performed in the church on Thanksgiving Day 1938, when Helen Dravis and Raymond Hinricks were married.

1950s: The church was destroyed by a fire in 1952. Using the same foundation, a new church was built, and a classroom wing and kitchen were added.

1960s: Denominational changes occurred when the Evangelical-United Brethen merged with Methodists. The East Lordstown Evangelical United Brethen blended with Ohltown in 1968.

1990s: The church had a lift installed to make it handicap-accessible.

2000s: The church bought a parsonage and paid for it in three years.