On September 11, 1916, pastor W.H. Doss called a meeting of all the official members to consider the need for erecting a new house of worship.  After discussion, it was unanimously decided to undertake the construction of a new facility at a cost of not less than $15,000.  A committee consisting of W. C. Streety, J. B. Wilson, E.E. Dabney, Dr. A.M. Allen and F.E. Carter was appointed and instructed to work out a plan and report to church on the following Sunday.

   On Sept 17, 1916 the report was unanimously adopted.  The following committees were appointed to coordinate the construction. Finance: J.B. Wilson Chairman, Dr. A.M. Allen , F.E. Carter, W.J. Holloman, A.M. Pate, W.P. Weaver and W.W.  Nance.  Building: W.C.Streety, Dr. A.M. Allen and E.E. Dabney.  The decision was to raze  the existing building and erect a new one on the same site

   The last service in the 1895 building was held on March 25, 1917.  The following morning March 26, the demolition of the building began and on April 9, ground was broken for the new church. 

    The first dollar donated to help build the church was given by Lucille Dabney.  That dollar along with a copy of the De Leon Free Press, a list of the stewards, and other items were placed in the cornerstone when it was laid on May 7, 1917.  Former pastor W. C. Hilburn (1912-1915) led the prayer and then the Presiding Elder (now called District Superintendent) S.J. Vaughn delivered an address. The members of the Masonic Lodge then laid the cornerstone.   [When members of the church went to retrieve the items in the cornerstone after it had been removed during demolition, they were able to get everything but the dollar.  All the workers denied finding a dollar in the stone.]

  The first service was held in the new building on September 9, 1917 just two days shy of one year after a new church was proposed.  The cost of the new building was $20,000.

    The first wedding in the church was held on September 18, 1917 when Lois Carter married Barney R. McGlothlin both of De Leon.  Lois was the daughter of F.E. Carter and a niece of W.C. Streety. 

         The Sanctuary was dedicated on the first Sunday in May 1926 with Bishop John M. Moore preaching. The pastor at the time of the dedication was Seba  Kirkpatrick. 

   W.C. Streety held up the paid notes from the Board of Church Extension and asked what should be done with them.  Someone said burn the notes and that was done.

   The three story structure was replaced in 1965 by the present building.  The pictured stained glass windows were moved to the new church.

   Because the church contained 12 sets of stained glass windows (6 major and 6 smaller), an extensive use of hardwood and brass fixtures (including six large railings on the third level), light fixtures that were almost antique only five or six years after construction, an extensive pressed tin ceiling, and fans purchased from the Baker Hotel in Dallas, this may have been De Leon’s greatest single architectural loss when it was demolished in 1966. 

   In the photo on the right there is an open door on the second level toward the back right. A stairway led from that door to the ground.  There were no interior stairs linking the basement and second floor because the basement remained unfinished for a number of years.  The the two front stairs and the rear door were the only access points to the sanctuary level.  The third level is visible in the demolition photo.  There were six classrooms on the third level.  Beneath that level were three sections on both the north and west sides that had folding wooden doors allowing for up to six additional class rooms.  Three large panel doors facing the sanctuary could be raised to provide additional sanctuary seating if needed.

The 1917 building soon after completion.  Notice that the sidewalks had not yet been constructed, any landscaping completed, nor had the bell structure been placed at the rear left.

  This photo was probably in the early 1950s.  The parsonage which was built in 1913 during W.C. Hilburn’s pastorate is pictured on the right and the bell tower is visible on the left.

    Below:  a commemoration plate from the early 1950s.

This interior photograph of the church alter was taken on Easter Sunday April 18, 1944. 

These stained glass windows from the 1917 church were moved to the present church in late 1964.  The window with the seated Jesus was in the center window on the south side of the 1917 building while the Herald Angels were on the center east (front ) of the building.  One of the single panels honored Cyrus Campbell.

W.C. Hilburn

S.J. Vaughn

The basement of the church photographed during the 1949 Eighth Grade Banquet.  The photographer is standing directly in front of the kitchen looking toward the southeast.  The Primary classroom is the door on the right.  The men’s class was behind the wall on the left and the entrance would be to the back center of the photo.   The Beginners class would have been to the right out of the picture.  Notice the concrete floor.  The basement was not completed during construction and the flooring and classrooms were added in 1924.  The name of each person(s) who provided the money for flooring was etched into a block of the concrete.  The slight rise visible at the lower part of the photo was where the coal furnace that heated the building initially was located.

First United Methodist Church of De Leon page 3