Ormond Beach Historical Society unveils contents of Union Church time capsules

The contents will be part of the Ormond Beach Historical Society's first Union Church exhibition at the Anderson-Price Memorial Building.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 4:00 p.m. November 5, 2021

Leslie Madigan, Winston Churchill and Youlia Bussinger, OBHS executive director, unearth the contents of the two Union Church time capsules. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Youlia Bussinger, OBHS executive director, welcomes about 40 guests to the opening reception for the first Union Church Exhibition, held on Thursday, Nov. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

OBHS President Jerry Lampe speaks during the opening reception for the first Union Church Exhibition, held on Thursday, Nov. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Leslie Madigan, exhibits and collections committee chair for OBHS, speaks during the opening reception for the first Union Church Exhibition, held on Thursday, Nov. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Former Ormond Beach Union Church member Claudia Malo shares stories of the church during the opening reception for the first Union Church Exhibition, held on Thursday, Nov. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Former Ormond Beach Union Church member Winston Churchill speaks during the opening reception for the first Union Church Exhibition, held on Thursday, Nov. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Winston Churchill, Leslie Madigan and Youlia Bussinger present the time capsules during the opening reception for the first Union Church Exhibition, held on Thursday, Nov. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Winston Churchill pulls out the first artifact from one of the time capsules. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Winston Churchill looks over the blueprints for the church's sanctuary, dated 1959. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Leslie Madigan shows off one of the photographs, this one of minister Theodore Rogers. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Theodore Rogers was the church's pastor during the construction of the new building. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Winston Churchill holds up a historical photo during the opening reception for the first Union Church Exhibition, held on Thursday, Nov. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

A photo of church members standing in front of the original church building was among the items in the time capsules. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Winston Churchill holds a photo of the day the time capsules were placed behind the church's cornerstone. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Observer
News

The Ormond Beach Union Church building might be gone, but the Ormond Beach Historical Society has made sure its history is never forgotten.

On Thursday, Nov. 4, the Historical Society held an opening reception for the first Union Church exhibition at the Anderson-Price Memorial Building, where the contents of two time capsules saved from the church were unveiled. The city demolished the 1960 church in late July after the City Commission voted 3-2 in May to raze it and construct a temporary parking lot in its place. Community members and citizens scrambled to try and get the commission to reverse its decision to no avail.

Prior to the demolition, the city did collect artifacts, including Bibles and scrapbooks, which it then donated along with the time capsules to the Historical Society for preservation.

“I looked at all that and I thought, ‘I should do an exhibit about this.’ That’s where it started,” said Leslie Madigan, curator, and chair of the Historical Society's exhibitions and collections committee.

Preserving our cultural heritage

Madigan began her quest to learn more about the Ormond Beach Union Church, and through conversations with former members, newspaper articles and written church documents, she was able to compile a history of the church for the exhibit. At times, she said she grew a bit nervous because she was conscious of the fact that she was recording information that was personal to people's memories and worship. But, she reminded herself she was doing the exhibit because the church's history deserved to be remembered.

“It’s emotional, and everybody I talked to was so emotional, and really sad," Madigan said. "When that became overwhelming in the conversation, I tried to ask people about positive things that happened in their church when they went there. Did they marry there? Did their children go to Sunday school? And then that changed the whole direction again.”

A brief history of Ormond Beach Union Church

The church was organized in 1883 by retired minister Rev. Elisha Y. Pinkerton, and its first members used to meet in large homes and in a one-room schoolhouse on Lincoln Avenue
It was the first house of worship in the city of Ormond Beach and the first to hold Easter services on the beach in 1923.
The first church building was built and dedicated in the fall of 1884
In 1888, the new church bell rang for the first time
In 1890, the church became affiliated wit hthe State Congregational Association of Florida
Early members traveled to the church by rowboat from the beachside, and in the winter, from the Ormond Hotel by a street car.
John D. Rockefeller and his son David were members of the church.
In 1950, when the city became known as Ormond Beach, the church became the Ormond Beach Union Church.
In 1954, under the leadership of Theodore Rogers, the church's attendance grew to merit a second Sunday morning service. By the church's 75th anniversary, attendance had grown to 804.
In 1959, plans were made to construct a new sanctuary to seat 500 people.
The new church building officially opened in 1963.
From 1979 to 2012, the church was served by several pastors and remained active in the community. In 2012, the church's membership was between 80 and 100.
The church's 40th and last pastor, C.M. Carruthers, was hired in 2012. He sold the church building and land to the city in 2018.
The church was demolished in July 2021.

— Source: "The First," written by Leslie Madigan

At the opening reception, she told the crowd of about 40 guests — including a handful of former church members — that the church's story went beyond the building. It was about preserving the city's cultural heritage, and one way to do that is through artifacts.

“We think it preserves the truth of the history for generations to come," she said. "That is what the Ormond Beach Historical Society’s mission is. This evidence talks about our past, provides information about how people lived. I think it’s an emotional significance of our species as humans.”

Some of the items unearthed from the time capsules included a 1959 church annual report, building plans for the sanctuary, cards containing the names and addresses of church members and several old photographs. Clad with gloves to handle them with care, Madigan and former church member Winston Churchill, of Ormond Beach, would hold up each artifact as it was pulled from one of the jars. The crowd oohed as Churchill revealed a Coast Gazette newspaper dated May 17, 1894.

Stories of former members

Churchill and his wife Merri joined the Ormond Beach Union Church in 1997 after moving to the city from San Francisco. They were faithful members for over a decade, and Churchill said they were saddened to see the building demolished. But, they were grateful that the Historical Society has committed itself to providing a home for the church's relics.

He spoke aloud the names of fellow former members whom he considered to be heroes, even though many in the crowd didn't know them.

“On this perhaps final occasion of concern with this old church, their names ought to be spoken," he said.

Former church member Claudia Malo also spoke at the reception. As a child, she used to attend Bible school at the Ormond Beach Union Church, and recalled her involvement in the church choir. Malo couldn't carry a tune, though, and the choir director often instructed her to lip synch, she said with a laugh. As an adult, her husband served as a deacon in the church. Malo grew emotional as she shared her story, saying that the church used to be a beautiful building.

“You just walked in and you just felt close to the people and God," Malo said.

Leaving an imprint in history

Youlia Bussinger, executive director of the Ormond Beach Historical Society, said they record history, not only through researching and documenting artifacts, but also by focusing on stories and memories that portray what the community at a given time period.

The exhibit, supported by a grant from the Florida State Department Division of Arts and Culture, does just that. It's history coming to life, Bussinger said. She urged the event's attendees to write down messages for a new time capsule, to be opened in 25 years.

“Each generation leaves imprints on history," Bussinger said. "This evening, together, we’re going to leave our imprint on history.”

Madigan said exhibits like this help the Historical Society envision what it will be like to finally open an Ormond Beach Museum of History at the MacDonald House, a plan that has long been in the works for the Historical Society. Currently, the MacDonald House is undergoing exterior renovations. It is one of the oldest remaining structures in the city, dating back to 1903.

“I have so much help around here," Madigan said. "We have this great staff, so we’re setting things up archivally now so when we move into that museum it’ll be easier just to move everything over there.”

The first Union Church exhibition at the Anderson-Price Memorial Building, located at 42 N. Beach St., is available to be viewed on Saturdays through Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit ormondhistory.org