First United Methodist Church of Prestonsburg
Picture 1: First United Methodist Church
Picture 2: First Methodist Church has gone through a number of developmental phases. There was a long period before the Civil War when the congregation was not "Churched" and met in open field, court houses, school buildings, private homes and such places as it could. Then in 1883, thanks to a bequest of land from the heirs of Samuel Davidson, the congregation was able to construct Prestonsburg's first permanent Church building on a lot across from Turner Technologies.
Picture 3: In 1916, a great revival swept through the Church, and ground was broken for a new Church which became our present sanctuary.
Picture 4: The First World War, the Spanish Flu Pandemic, and material scarcity prevented the completion of the structure until April of 1919.
In 1952, the Church was overflowing with children; so the education wing was constructed on an industrial design drawn by local architect George Shannon.
Picture 5-6: In 1988, the congregation made a bold move to construct a Family Life Center to provide a venue in which all of family life might take place within the protection of the Church. This was completed in 1991.
Picture 7: In 1937, Josie Davidson approached the minister of the church and suggested that we should dig the box from the cornerstone of the church and open it. Very wisely, the minister said that would not be possible and instead suggested that an alternative box should be built that could be opened periodically. Accordingly, the church's memory box was built from the original church's alter rails (1883--1920 across from Turner Technology) and materials were sealed in the box for the future. In 2008, the box was unsealed for the first time in 50 years in conjunction with the 125th anniversary of the Anniversary of the completion of our first building. The first picture is a group picture of the congregational celebrants.
Picture 8: Minister Mark Waltz, opening the Memory Box in 2008.
Picture 9: Nancy Webb, lifting the lid of the memory box.
Picture 10: New items placed in the memory box to be sealed.
Submitted by Floyd D. Davis/First United Methodist Church of Prestonsburg Archives
<a title="Pledges for the construction of First United Methodist Church news clipping, 1916" href="http://history.fclib.org/items/show/42" target="_blank">Pledges for the construction of First Methodist Church, 1916</a> <br /><a title="History of First United Methodist Church of Prestonsburg" href="http://history.fclib.org/items/show/45" target="_blank">History of First United Methodist Church of Prestonsburg</a>
Arkansas School
Arkansas Creek rural school in 1907 with Cea Stumbo as teacher
Row 1: Arthur Robinson, Raymond Samons, Will Owens, Joe Robinson, Kendall Crisp, James Sammons, Beverly Sammons, Bennie Sammons.
Row 2: Susie Samons, Anna Crisp, Lennie Samons Peters, Pearl Samons Click, Alex Sammons, George Sammons, Mary Kidd, Fanny C. Robinson.
Row 3: Weeks Sammons, Tennessee Crisp, Henry Crisp, Bertha Samons, Will Sammons, Cea Stumbo, Rebecca Samons Robinson.
1907
Submitted by Richard Salisbury. Names provided by Charles Rice.
John Wesley Huff (1869-1933)
Picture 1: John Wesley Huff with his children by his first wife (Belle Baldridge). The little girls sitting, from left to right: Maude, Lonnie, Sally, Susan (called Sue). Standing, left to right: Ella, John Wesley, Allen, and Minta.
Picture 2: John Wesley Huff (oldest son of William and Mayoma Triplett Huff). First marriage to Belle Baldridge; second to Ammie Morgan.
circa 1905
Submitted by Susan Salisbury
<a title="Interview with Zeb Webb" href="http://history.fclib.org/items/show/9" target="_blank">Interview with Zeb Webb</a>
Family of Elizabeth Reffett, 1908
Pictured in the front row (woman, sitting in a chair) is Elizabeth Reffett, wife of Civil War veteran Joseph Reffett and granddaughter of land grant recipient Johnathan Pitts. Her sons are lined up in the back; their children are in front of them. John George Reffett, and his children and wife (Sarah) are in front.
The three children in front of Sarah Reffett are most likely O'kala, Harrison, and Whitten Reffett.
Picture taken in Pitts Fork.
circa 1908
Submitted by Floyd D. Davis and James Clifford Reffett
Pledges for the construction of First United Methodist Church news clipping, 1916
This 1916 news clipping is from the scrapbook of Penny Fields, from the archives of the First United Methodist Church. It is a record of the pledges offered by businessmen toward the building of First United Methodist Church's original Sanctuary.
1908
Submitted by Floyd D. Davis/First United Methodist Church of Prestonsburg Archives
<a title="First United Methodist Church of Prestonsburg" href="http://history.fclib.org/items/show/18" target="_blank">First Methodist Church of Prestonsburg (photos)</a> <br /><a title="History of First United Methodist Church of Prestonsburg" href="http://history.fclib.org/items/show/45" target="_blank">History of First United Methodist Church of Prestonsburg</a>
James L. Hicks and Alice Delaney Ousley Hicks
James L. Hicks was a wealthy land holder on one side of Brush Creek Mountain who sold all his holdings to buy enough land to leave an inheritance of 50 acres to each of his 17 children on the other side of the mountain in a small community that came to be called Hippo. He helped organize the Pitts Fork School on one side of the mountain for his children, and when he moved, he helped organize the Brush Creek School on the other side for his grandchildren. He also contributed land and lumber to the building of the Philadelphia Regular Baptist Church at Hippo.
Alice Delaney Ousley Hicks was a midwife who delivered most of the children in the surrounding area and carefully registered them with the health department. Some of her books still survive. This couple contributed substantially to the health and education of their community.
circa 1916
Submitted by Floyd D. Davis
Garrett Hollow, 1914
Also known as Estep Branch and Leck Martin Branch
1914
Submitted by Randy Bentley/Garrett Historical
Garrett, Summer and Winter 1914
1914
Submitted by Randy Bentley/Garrett Historical
Garrett Amusement Hall, 1914
The Amusement Hall was located where Snyder's Service Station was located. This building housed a movie theater, a pool hall, a soda fountain and a barber shop. At one time silent movies were shown, and a Mrs. Banks played music.
1914
Randy Bentley / Garrett Historical
Garrett Under Construction
Company store, 104 duplexes, and 13 single family houses. All houses had electricity and were heated by gas, but did not have indoor plumbing.
Founded by the Elk Horn Coal Company, the town name was changed from "Ballard" to "Garrett" in 1914, for John and Robert Garrett, brothers that were Baltimore bankers and coal company financiers.
Aug. 13, 1914
Submitted by Randy Bentley/Garrett Historical