Dows United Methodist Church will be celebrating 150 years of service this year. Please join us on September 12th at 8:30 AM for a continental breakfast and time of fellowship. The 10 o’clock service will be given by Reverend Kalen Fristad celebrating the milestones.
Chester and Jane Burrows originally settled in Wisconsin, then lured by the prospects of wide level farmland, they came to Iowa at the close of the Civil War. They settled in Otisville which later would become Dows in 1865. The Burrows brought with them from England to America a firm belief in the religion and ways of Methodism. Soon after arriving they met others of the same faith and in a short time there were six families meeting in the Burrows’ home.
The original United Methodist Church building was erected in 1871 and was a typical clapboard country church that stood on the site of the present building. The original wooden frame church was sold in May of 1895 for $250. It was cut in two and moved across the street and made into two identical looking residences just east of the present parsonage.
Construction on the new building began May 1896. The work moved along rapidly because on August 1896 the Dows Advocate published an article indicating the structure would be ready August 30, 1896 for dedication. The present structure came into being in 1896 at a cost of $7095.59. In 1905, the present parsonage was built at a cost of $3500. In 1911 excavation under the church was completed and the basement was finished. A kitchen was installed later, and the ladies started having chicken dinners in the fall. Gwendolyn Selleck told how the water for doing the dishes was heated at her parents’ home which was a block north of the church on the north side of Forest Avenue and carried by two men to the church. In 1912 both the church and parsonage were wired for electric service and water and sewer connections were made as soon as available. Prior to this, the lights in the sanctuary were kerosene lamps hung by chains from hooks which can still be seen. In July 1933 two tornadoes came through the area. The second tornado tore the steeples off of the church.
Through the years many changes were made to the church building. Basement entrances on the south and west were added and the southeast corner remodeled into an office for the pastor. New pews were installed in 1964 and later padded and new carpet laid. The original 23 beautiful lead stained glass windows were covered with plexiglass for protection. Also, in 1964 lots were purchased to be used for a parking area and room to build an education uni. They were later landscaped, and a volleyball court was added.
Even though our membership has diminished we are still a vibrant active church. We are involved in UMW, choir, Ingathering, mission projects, annual turkey dinner, helping at the food stand during Corn Days, making laundry soap and serving the community and God.
