It’s time for WHAT and by request we are still hanging out over on West Thomas Street. We just scooted down a few yards to what is historically known as the Underwood Memorial Chapel.
This church was built in 1912 by Eunice Underwood in memoriam to her husband Jarvis Underwood, who owned Underwood Veneer which was located about two blocks away. The chapel was Presbyterian and was a west side mission of the congregation. At the time it was built there were no churches in the area, but the mission had been meeting.
It remained Underwood Memorial Church until about 1978, by 1979 it was Mount View Baptist Church, by the early 2000s it had become Harvest Baptist. In 2016 it became Grace Reformed Church.
Through the years the church became an important part of the community, with events such as dinners and youth group meetings being held on a regular basis. The Boy Scouts met there almost from the time the doors opened in 1912.
The building is built in an Early Gothic Revival style, with a number of arches seen in the windows and doors. The windows include stained glass panes. There is a bell tower/cupola as well. It had been wood shingle until recent renovations used vinyl siding and a metal roof.
According to articles the foundation was laid in 1911, and by the time winter hit the superstructure had been raised and enclosed. The foundation is stone and measured
30 x 40 feet. The first floor included a library, Sunday School room, and chapel – with seating for about 200. The interior floor finish is birch, and various types of wood can be found throughout the interior details. The basement included another Sunday School room, as well as a dining room and kitchen.
Dedication services were held on June 30, 1912. The service included the choir, sermon, and the “Transfer of the Keys”. Big celebrations were noted in the news for both 5 and 25 years.
