Woodburn, Iowa Churches

Woodburn St. Mary's Catholic Church

The property at the crest of a hill where St. Mary’s Catholic Church now stands was purchased in 1868. This church was founded out of the desire of the Irish railroad workers to have a suitable place to gather for worship, and in the beginning served some 36 families of Irish railroaders.

The energetic priest who served pioneer families in the diocese, Father Bernard P. McMenomy, built a small church in 1870 at a cost of $1,200. This frame building was demolished a few years later by a summer storm. The determined parishioners built a very sturdy church on the same site using native oak 2” x 6” scantlings and sheathing. This church is twice the size of the old church.

The church was remodeled in the 1960’s under the leadership of Father Lawrence Burns. The installation of a new altar which faced the people, was one of the most noted changes. The parish was served by the Leon Team Ministry from 1971 to the discontinuation of services in 1981. Today the church is called the Historical St. Mary’s Catholic Church and has been restored by a dedicated committee of Woodburn area residents and friends. The outside of the building is much the same as it was when constructed. The inside is furnished as it was when services were discontinued.

Woodburn Methodist Episcopal Church

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized within 6 months after the village of Woodburn was started, with J.L. Tedrow being the prime mover. The first services were held in the railroad station-house. The frame church was built six months later at a cost of $1,200. Some of the early pastors were: Revs. Harris, Kennedy, D.O. Stuart, Martin, Kern, M. Allen, C.W. Brewer, A. Hancox, Gyer, Mark, Moore and F.P. Evans.

On Jan. 8, 1870, Mr. Tedrow, W. Gitchel and Alpheus Hardin, trustees, bought part of lot 45 of the original town of Woodburn for the sum of $35. On March 7, 1881, the remaining portion of lot 45 was purchased for the sum $100. By the year of 1886 the membership of the M.E. Church was about 75. Services were held every two weeks, and about 100 people attended regularly. The Sunday School superintendent was James A. Clark, who had moved to Woodburn in 1875, opening a restaurant and grocery.

On Nov. 16, 1875, the trustees bought lot 26 to be used as a parsonage. This house on Main Street is now owned by Dwight and Wanda Ewoldsen. About 1904 a new parsonage was erected on the north half of lot 45 and the original one was sold in 1905.

In 1914, during the ministry of Forrest Perkins, a two week revival was held. Many people made their decision to follow Christ and joined the church. Baptism was by immersion in the old fishing hole in Whitebreast Creek southeast of Woodburn. After this revival the Epworth League was organized and young people attended the meetings that were held on Sunday evening before the church service.
The Ladies Aid met each week to quilt, raising money to pay the minister and repair the parsonage. They also served lunches at farm sales and election dinners, and held bazaars and plays to raise money in the 1920’s and 30’s.

During the 1950’s extensive repairs were done to the church. A oil burner replaced the old coal heater, new linoleum and cabinets were put in the kitchen, and the parsonage was shingled. The parsonage was sold in the 1960’s as it was no longer being used. In 1968, the Methodist and United Brethren Churches voted to merge as the United Methodist Church.

In 1971, the stage was centered and it and the aisles were carpeted. A gas furnace was also installed at this time. The large doors that separated the sanctuary from the kitchen were removed for structural and heating reasons. A bathroom and storage room were added in 1975 with the reality of Woodburn’s water system. Donations given in memoriam were used to replace three round windows in the church. Today the church is served by ministers that travel to our small towns.

Baptist

The Baptist Church was built in 1882, at a cost of $1,000, through the efforts of Rev. George W. Smith, the only pastor the church had. It was built in Lot 14 of Coppock’s Addition to Woodburn, and was bought and moved away about 1903.



Presbyterian

The Presbyterian Church was built in 1870 at a cost of $1,600. Some of its members were: W.J. Smith, J.A. Chapmen, J.F. Smith, R.S. Findlay, and N. Porterfield. When the congregation dwindled in the 1880’s and services were discontinued in 1883, the building was to be torn down and moved to Medora. But the townspeople formed a committee and purchased the church at a cost of $200. The building was used as a town hall for a time, and later purchased by the Church of Christ, later the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Woodburn Christian Church - past and present day

The Woodburn Christian Church is affiliated with the Disciples of Christ, and was organized in September, 1889, with 19 charter members. In September 1890, the congregation (then the Church of Christ) purchased what was formerly the Presbyterian Church from the town of Woodburn. The deed was recorded September 13, 1890.

H.E. VanHorn held a meeting in 1905 resulting in 125 new members. At this time, the church voted to have a full time ministry. However, about 60 of the new members moved away within a few months and the full time ministry was discontinued in 1907. Various ministers served at times, and there were periods with no regular services. The Bible School, however, was carried on faithfully although it was few in numbers.

In 1912, A.L. Criley began a three year ministry. The Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor was organized on December 6, 1914. The church was served by a number of ministers on a part-time basis from March, 1915 on. Forrest Richeson served from 1927 until he retired in 1932. He was well known and loved in the area, as was Densmore Peterson, a lay minister from Des Moines, who served the church faithfully from 1963-1996.

A new roof and stone foundation were added in the late 1890’s. In the fall of 1905, the Ladies Aid purchased a bell for the church and members erected a belfry. In the 1920’s a basement was added and a furnace installed which was later replaced with an oil heating system. In the 1960s, the sanctuary was paneled, ceiling tile installed, aisles carpeted, a new, modern kitchen built in the basement, new roof put on and the building painted.

On the morning of May 12, 1970, lightning struck the bell and belfry causing a fire which spread rapidly. The only thing saved was the bell, which was knocked out into the yard and clear of the fire by the force of the lightning. That same evening, members of the church met to plan for uninterrupted services and construction of a new building. The Catholic Church immediately offered the use of their church for services, but because of lack of sufficient space this offer had to be declined. Other churches of the community also generously offered their help and provided materials necessary to the ongoing of church services. Services were held in the Legion Hall and later in the Masonic Hall. On October 18, 1970, the basement was completed enough to hold services there. The new church was dedicated on September 26, 1971.

In the summer of 1975, the building was air conditioned and the bell saved from the fire was erected outside of the church. Lay minister, Densmore Peterson of Des Moines, faithfully served the church for over 30 years until his retirement in 1996. At the present time, Sunday School and church services are held every Sunday morning.

Woodburn, Iowa: School Days

The Woodburn Independent School had its beginning in two houses in the town. One housed the larger pupils - it was just west and across the street from the current building, and the other the smaller children - it was a house back of the old gymnasium on Vine Street. The first teacher in the lower school was Anna Tallman of Osceola, and O.P. Garris was the first teacher in the higher school.

The lower school moved to the Dr. Martin property in 1879, with the first teacher being Mary Rice. In 1880 the west section of the schoolhouse now standing on the hill near the Catholic and Christian Churches was built at a cost of $3,000. It contained two rooms, one below and one above. Seventy pupils were housed in each of the rooms with one teacher for each of the rooms. The teachers were employed for seven months. The first teachers in this new school were Arthur Hutchins, upper grades, and Mary Emerson, lower grades. In 1895, some of the children were housed in an old brick building on the east bank of Brush Creek, north of town due to lack of room in the schoolhouse.

Two additional rooms were deemed necessary, and were built in 1897. This forms the middle section of the present building. After this the brick school was discontinued and a room was added to the lower east end of the building. This became the Primary room. For several years school children went to Osceola, the county seat, for eighth grade graduation exercises. These were held either in a church or the Osceola High School.

In 1922, another room was built over the Primary room when the 12th grade was added. The school grounds of 1930 were covered with trees, being entirely surrounded by a row of great maples. J.O. Swan, school director, had overseen the planting of these maples. The grounds were enclosed by a high board fence and the pupils entered over a stile on the south side. The drought of 1934 and 1936 destroyed every maple tree and there only remained a few elms in later years, one of which was over 70 years old at the time of the drought.

The school closed in 1971 and was sold to Don Rodgers of the Woodburn Furniture Market.

Woodburn, Iowa: Early Town History

The iron horse was slow in reaching southern Iowa. For nearly twenty years after its first settlement, Clarke County communicated with the outside world only by stage lines. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad came into Clarke County in 1867. It was decided to steer its course through the natural valley south of the town of Ottawa. In days of slow transportation, this inconvenience of a mile was a hard blow for the merchants. Most of the merchants and residents immediately moved to Woodburn. In July of that year, the railroad came as far as what is now Woodburn, at the fork of the Brush and Gooseberry creeks. It is said that the little town that sprang up around the railroad station was called Woodburn because of the great piles of wood that were placed along the track near the station to fuel the engines. This was the only station in Jackson Township. The first train arrived in Osceola from the east on January 15, 1868.

The town, containing 22 lots, was laid out in the autumn of 1867 on 40 acres of land owned by the railroad and became known as Sigler’s Addition. Sigler’s Addition was named after H.C. Sigler, the first banker in Osceola, who was perhaps the one who had the greatest influence in bringing the railroad through this part of the county.

The first building in Woodburn, according to Clarke County history, was a store owned by J.L. Tedrow and O.L. Palmer. Later, W. J. Smith bought out Palmer. The first hotel was built by Haywood in 1868. John L. Morrison was the first blacksmith, and later built Swan’s Hotel. T.E. Johnson, J.R. Felger, and W.S. Randolph were the first carpenters. John W. Boden owned the first harness shop, established in 1873. D.N. Smith built a grainhouse in 1868 and also sold salt. J.L. Tedrow was the first grain buyer. The first residences were built for J.L. Tedrow, Irwin Parmenter, J.E. Chapman and Alf Hardin. The first school was taught by E.M. Lash.

On June 11, 1878, the town of Woodburn was incorporated. The Mayor was E.T. Knight who served until 1881. The Trustees were C. Blythe, Henry Garris, H.R. Means, G.W. Smith, and W.S. Lowe. The Recorder was C.P. Garris and Postmaster was Joseph L. Tedrow, who served for 10 years.

Woodburn, Iowa: Historical Street Scenes

Sigler Street looking west