The original document the below came from is part of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society’s Church Collection and is dated April 12, 2012, but there is not a date of when the document was written.
Researching the history of these older churches is a challenge – Lykens Methodist Church. According to a Bicentennial History 1976 Brokensword United Methodist Church. The neighborhood of Lykens was made an appointment of the Melmore Circuit in 1878. The old Phau home was reconditioned for the first meeting place and later they were held in a schoolhouse. In 1880, a frame church was constructed 1/2 mile south of Lykens, called Buljo. Seven years later the Northern Ohio Railroad built near the church and the facility moved into Lykens in 1893. In the summer of 1937, with Rev. S. E. Drummond in charge, the church was elevated to add a basement and classrooms. While under construction on June 20th the building was completely destroyed by a tornado. Lykens United Methodist Church as It looked after a tornado leveled in 1937. With no storm insurance, the congregation faced a complete loss. However, with the assistance of the Evangelical Ohio Conference and other churches in the community, funds were made available.
They purchased the abandoned United Brethren Church, but in November 1938 that building was badly damaged by fire, but reopened several months later.
Lykens Evangelical United Brethren Church taken from a letter to Ervin Harer by Miss Ruth L. Failor formerly of Benton “In the autobiography of my great-grandfather, George Bender (1826-1904), he stated that on October 1, 1848 he united with the “Benton Class,” being the fourth member to join. Later he mentioned “felling” the first tree with his own hands toward building the Benton Church. The Crawford County History of 1881 states that the first church building was erected in 1851 in “Benton by the United Brethren Church at a cost of about $1,500.00. Rev. Bender was appointed by Conference in 1859 to the Benton Circuit. He received $32.00 in actual money. He recorded, “‘We had some good revivals.” “The Conference Journal of 1891, on file in the Sandusky Conference, EUB Church Headquarters, Findlay, Ohio, gives this: “The Benton Church house on Osceola Circuit is being much improved by re-roofing, re-flooring, painting and papering at a cost of from $500.00 to $700.00.”
In 1908 there was a remodeling program. An addition to the building itself, a vestibule and furnished basement were added.At this time the memorial stained glass windows were added. One was a memorial to my great-grandfather, the Rev. Bender; however I have not been able to ascertain which one it is since the donors’ named at the bottom of each window have been cut off, apparently by Lykens, which was rightly so.“ The church was officially closed byConference, September 5, 1931. The last service in the building while in Benton was on May 6, 1932 for the funeral of Mr. James Feltis, a pioneer of Benton. The 1937 Conference Journal says, “The Benton Church near Sycamore was sold to the Evangelical Church Trustees of Lykens for $550.00 cash.” This would have been after your newly remodeled church was flattened by that tornado earlier that manner. Thus, part of your present building has been in existence for nearly 116 years and has been used on your site for nearly 30.My ancestors, too, would be happy that the old Benton Church building is still being used in the building of God’s kingdom. Dated February 9, 1967 Miss Ruth L. Failor.
The building was moved to Lykens and remodeled with some additional rooms for Sunday School purposes. By this time Rev. Nelson M. Keck had become pastor. Having been a contractor and carpenter, he assumed supervision and did the finishing work on the newly acquired auditorium. Many members contributed free labor. The dedication took place on March 13, 1938, with Rev. C. L. Alien, the Western District Superintendent, and Rev. R. A. Sain of the Southern District in charge.
A second disaster struck the church on October 14, 1938, when a fire started in the belfry which was being repaired. Again Rev. Keck filled the role of construction supervisor and, on December 18, the building was again open for services.
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