The below article was in the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society Church Records Collection. This posting is part of the records and histories gathered by Crawford County Chapter volunteers that were donated to become part of the Archives of Ohio United Methodism. Learn More about this archive.
Nevada United Methodist Church
In 1856, the Nevada Methodist Episcopal Church was organized from a Society of Methodist people who met in a frame structure north of the town of Nevada near the present intersection of US 30 and SR 231. For several years, following this location, the congregation held services in the Lutheran church. A 40 x 70 foot two story building was completed in 1867 at the cost of $12,000. The first floor held classrooms, lecture room, kitchen and furnace rooms. The entire second floor was sanctuary. The Nevada Circuit (Mansfield District, North Ohio Methodist Circuit) consisted of Nevada, Oceola, Wyandot, Little York, Brokensword, and Harvey’s Schoolhouse.
The church building was struck by lightning in 1904 and was condemned. A project of making apple butter helped to raise funds for the new church. Ten wagon loads of apples were used to make 450 gallons of apple butter. This, plus fresh vegetables, was shipped by rail to Cleveland and sold for nearly $2,000.00. Children had strung buckeyes and decorated the boxcar.
The present church building was built adjacent to the original building in 1905. The yellow brick building with a red tile roof was designed with an Akron Floor Plan, (revivalist design with a fan shaped sanctuary, floor sloping towards the chancel area, balconies, 20 ft. high folding doors in rear to open to expand seating area for the sanctuary). The architectural floor plans were bought from the Forest Methodist Episcopal church, Forest, Ohio. The stained glass windows, emphasising Christ were designed, constructed, and shipped from Columbus for $500. The new church was dedicated on February 7, 1906. The original church and two homes were made into the existing parking lot and lawn.
The church has enjoyed a good history of a strong Sunday School department with many youths and musical talent. Currently, there is a singing group of fifteen teenagers called “Sing-N-Celebrate” who travel to present the gospel in song, choreography, and sign language. Stephen Holliday, a member of Nevada UMC, is currently attending Ashland Theological Seminary to become an ordained United Methodist minister. The church is well known in the area for its homemade egg noodle lawn socials and gospel concerts.
