In the summer of 1914 Rev. R. H. Rockwell, pastor of the North Hill United Presbyterian Church, met Mr. Geo. D. Viers, one of his very acti ve and interested members, and talked over the possibility of starting o Mission Church in Cuyahoga Foils. They later met a couple members of the then Metz Church Session and talked the matter over with them. The North End of Cuyahoga Foils seemed a growing community and for enough from the other churches in town to be the most logical location. Then, too, several members of a couple Presbyterian and United Presbyterian families from this end of town were attending the North Hill church of the time, which mode this location more desirable. Rev. 0. A. Keoch, pastor of the First United Presbyterian Church of Akron and Superintendent of Missions of Cleveland Presby­tery, and Dr. H. I. Rose, Synodical Superintendent (First Synod of the West), also looked over the possibilities of stoning a new church in this community, and were favorably impressed.

 

On August 2, 1914, the North End United Presbyterian Sabbath School held its first session of 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon, in the Crawford School, with a total attendance of 62-34 men, women and children from our own community and 28 visitors from the North Hill and Metz churches. Collection $2.56.

 

The following officers were elected:

 

Geo. D. Viers, Superintendent (from North Hill Church)

C. E. Hurd, Treasurer

Ruth McKenzie, Secretary

 

On September 20, 1914, the Sabbath School woe divided into classes. Os follows:

                                    Men's Close                         2  present

                                    Women's Close                   7  present

                                    young Ladies Close        4     present

                                    Junior Boys                          6 present

                                    Junior Girls                          8    present

                                    Primary (Girls)                  7      present

                                    Beginners (Boys and Girls)    9   present

                                              -                                    present

                                           43                                    present

                                    Teachers                               7 present

                                    Officers                                 3 present

                                              -                                    present

                                                     Total                          53  present

 

Lowest attendance in 1914 was the 2nd Sabbath of November, with 13 present, and collection of 51 cents.

 

Christmas exercises were held on the 3rd Sabbath of December, with 85 present ond collection of $2.92.

 

In July, 1915, Rev. James Potter began to serve Os our Minister, in connection with his work in the Metz congregation, and of times he woe very much discouraged at the lock of interest shown in the work by the people of this community.

 

One afternoon during the summer Mrs. Bolender was calling on Mrs. McKenzie, and Rev. Potter happened in. The following conversation took place, during which if was felt that the future of our church was decided:

 

Rev. Potter: (After exchanging greetings and some general conversation) "I am glad to find you two ladies together. What do you think, Mrs. McKenzie, shall be keep on or shall we drop the idea of starting a church in this end of Cuyahoga Falls? I have seen a couple other members and they think maybe we had better drop it-the attendance has been rather low-around 18 to 30, and one Sabbath only 13 were present."

Mrs. McKenzie: "Oh, no! we'll not drop it!"

Rev. Potter:  "Well, all right! That's all I wanted to know. Good afternoon."

Mrs. Bolender: "My, he does seem discouraged, but I still believe we will have a church on Payne Avenue someday."

 

 

We continued to work and plan toward our own church building, and on September 10, 1916 our dream was realized and the first service was held in the basement of our new Church-which was built on the lot right across from Mrs. Bolender's home on Payne Avenue (now Hudson Drive). Rev. Potter resigned on October 8, 1916, and Rev. J. S. Dague took up the work immediately-October 15, 1916.

 

 

At the morning service on December 17, 1916, under the direction of the Session of the Metz Church, the congregation was organized, with 48 Charter Members:

        Charles Beighey        W. C. Duff        Mrs. R. A. McKenzie

        Mrs. Charles Beighey        Mrs. Marcha Efaw        Leoto McKenzie

        Mrs. H. Bolender        Mrs. A. Bell Geib        Ruth McKenzie

        7~!o Bolender        C. E. Hurd        Sheldon McKenzie

        Clarence Bolender        Mrs. C. E. Hurd        F. C. McLaughlin

        Howard Bolender        Samuel Icenhour        Mrs. F. C. McLaughlin

        Mrs. Earl Colburn        Mrs. S. A. Icenhour        J. S. Machomer

        Mrs. W. B. Coflins        Gerald Jagers        Mrs. J. S. Machomer

        C. R. Costell        Leslie Jagers        Henry E. Path

        Mrs. C. H. Costell        Roy Johnson        Mrs. H. F. Path

        Edna Costell        Raymond Johnson        Clarence Path

        Robert Cowan        Mrs. G. C. Kaufman        Roy Shallohammer

        Mrs. Robert Cowan        Wm. A. Lanzer        Mrs. Slusser

        Thos. A. Davis        Mrs. Wm. A. Lanzer        Mrs. H. B. Treash

        Wm. Davis        Lloyd Lanzer        Mrs. H. B. Weirick

        Mrs. W. C. Duff        Mrs. Lloyd Lanzer        H. B. Weirick

 

Four Trustees were elected: J~ S. Machomer, C. R. Costell, F. C. McLaughlin, C. F. Hurd.

 

At 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon the building was dedicated to the work of the Lord. The Pastor preached the sermon to a large audience, with Akron United Presbyterian ministers taking part in the service, and Rev. L. L. Gray of the Northfield Church led in the dedicatory prayer. At this service $535.00 were pledged to the Building Fund.

 

The Sabbath School enrollment as of this day was 148, of which 86 were present, and the of­fering $4.24.

 

During Rev. Dague's ministry much hard work was done, in which he was very ably assisted by his good wife, Mrs. Winifred Dague. Mrs. Dague served as Sabbath School Superintendent for a time, then Mr. C. E. Hurd was appointed to that position.

 

In September, 1917, the Women's Missionary Society was organized. Later the Ladies Guild was organized, and this group did much in raising money to help take care of expenses of this newly organized church.

          The Official Board was organized on                                                                 , the first meeting being at the home of Rev. and Mrs. Dague.

 

The First Congregational meeting was held in the church on March 14, 1918, at which Rev. Dague was elected Chairman and Leota McKenzie elected Secretary. At this meeting pledges in the amount of $270.00 were made to decrease the Church debt; also the following pledges were made to raise money for Missions;

                                     Missionary Society                                     $10.00

                                     Sabbath School                  15.00

                                     Congregational Treasury 10.00

 

>From October 13th to November 17th, 1918, the Sabbath School was closed by the Board of Health on account of influenza epidemic.

 

Miss Darlene Allen was the first person to be received into full membership of the church after its organization-December 31, 1916.

 

On March 22, 1918, Messrs. C. E. Hurd and I. S Machomer and Robert Cowan were ordained and installed elders of the congregation.

 

At the Second Congregational meeting, March 31, 1919, F. A. Colburn was elected Treasurer, super­seding C. R. Costell, our first Treasurer; pledges in the amount of $558.00 were made toward elimination of debt of $1000.00; Trustees were authorized to make application to the Women's Board for a Parsonage loan. The Young People's Christian Union Society had been organized on March 23. 1919.

 

Meeting of March 18, 1920-Women's Missionary Society had 50 active members; 22 members had been taken into the Church during the past year; Parsonage had been built at a cost of $3700.00.

 

First wedding solemnized in the Church on May 5, 1920, when our Pianist, Miss Fob  Bolender, and Mr. Kenneth Burt took their vows.

 

The Young Women's Missionary Society was organized in the summer of 1920.

 

Rev. Dague resigned in June, 1921.

 

Rev. W. F. M. Copeland began his ministry on December 20, 1921. This was our first experience in extending a pastoral call.

The Church had been continually growing, and early in 1923 we began planning an addition to our present building. In 1924 the church was enlarged at a cost of around $20,000.

During Rev. Copeland's ministry the Junior Missionary Society was organized, the Dora Arveson Mission Circle was organized. The first Prayer Group was started in February 1926. We became a self-supporting congregation; our first Financial Secretary was appointed; the first Deacons were elected.

Under the direction of able Superintendents, one of whom, Mr. Lloyd Lantzer, served about 16 years, our Sabbath School continued to grow.

When Rev. Copeland resigned as pastor of this congregation to become pastor at Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, the number on our church roll was 652 members.

On August 6, 1933, Rev. Walter R. Young became our pastor, and was ordained on October 24, 1933. During his ministry our congregation elected four additional elders, elected two additional deacons; the Junior Choir was organized. Our Church bulletins and Church News were started, and we remember Mrs. Young who did so much for us in many ways. The Mortgage on the church was burned, and already the present building had been outgrown and plans were under way for another new church building to take care of the needs of this community.

 

On September 1, 1941, Rev. Young tendered his resignation, to the regret of everyone present at this service.

 

November 12, 1941, Call issued to Rev. Cyrus B. McCown to become our pastor, which he accepted. December 12 and 14, 1941, celebration of the Church's 25th Anniversary. Also extended a welcome to our new pastor, Rev. C. B. McCown, as he had arranged to be with us during this occasion.

 

April 8, 1942-Mrs. Cora Bolender and Mrs. Robert A. McKenzie were elected Honorary Deacons in appreciation of their long and faithful service in the church.

 

October 14, 1942, plans were adopted to brick veneer our present church building to preserve it for the duration of the war or until we were in position to build a new church.

 

Rev. Cyrus B. McCown tendered his resignation from the church in May, 1947, after serving during war years, and developing the spirit of Mission giving in the church to a new high degree.

 

The Church, after a year without a pastor and with deep and earnest prayer being made, and the spiritual tone of the church having increased in January, 1948, called Rev. Dr. Henry Orr Lietman to be the pastor. He arrived on the field March 7, 1948.

 

That fall we undertook to get the building fund fully started and by Christmas the fire was aglow in everyone's heart. On April 17th the ground was broken for the new church and on the last Sabbath of November we moved into the third floor of the Sabbath School unit. On March 26th, 1950 the new sanctuary was occupied and the rich spirit of the people was shown in their rallying to the cause as never before.

 

On April 16th, 1950 the new Church was dedicated to the glory of God and to His Son Jesus Christ.