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STORY INDEX Service still most important product at Ligonier Telephone Co. A black and white sensation: Tiny Screens a big attraction in early years of television A man works from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done Indiana Extension Homemakers better the lives of families Small towns once supported their own movie theaters William Jennings Bryan among among orators at Rome City's Western Chautauqua Dr. David Rogers - Man of mystery, and benevolence DNR restoration programs working: Once abundant wildlife returning to area Rise of girls athletics have changed face of school sports Decades of intramurals: Ruth was greatest player ever: Frick Frick's predictions for 2000 not far off Small Wolf Lake big winner in 1942 basketball regional Four in a row: Finally with a gym of their own, KHS cagers went to 'Sweet 16' four straight years Ink to flow into 21st century at county's newspapers Broadcast media: Manahan was pioneer in Noble County broadcasting WAWK's history dates back to 1959 Health trends: Changes through the century occurred in medicine, health care Scarlet fever, polio were early health scares From sanitarium to partnership: A century of Noble County's medical care Funeral directors ran ambulance service in county prior to '74 'EMS arrives in time for '74 tornado LaGrange County doctors once made house calls by horseback Country doctor delivered babies in his home and drove a Thunderbird Service to mankind condensed to footnotes of history Who are the people of the Amish faith? Two controversial religious sects from the 1970's have impact on Noble County Churches with rich heritages served parishioners in LaOtto, Ege
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Spiritual heritage Churches with rich heritages served parishioners in LaOtto, Ege
Although one of the churches is from the Protestant tradition
and the other is from the Catholic tradition, both churches have
some similarities. They are both located in rural areas of Swan Township, which
is in Noble County's southeastern-most corner. Both of them were originally constructed at different sites
than where they are now located. And both have served as centers from which some of the most
respected religious leaders of their respective traditions have
preached and exhorted their followers to live lives of faith
and holiness. But, just as they share many similarities, each of these churches
has a story that is uniquely its own. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Two of the buildings the church had occupied burned to the
ground and the current church building literally survived a baptism
by fire. The interior of the present brick church, dedicated Nov. 14,
1923, was gutted by a fire on April 18, 1989. The blaze was one
of the most memorable to be fought by men who were then members
of the LaOtto, Avilla, Kendallville and Churubusco fire departments.
The church's altar and the floor of its sanctuary were heavily
damaged. The only part of the altar that survived was the tabernacle,
which fell through a gaping hole in the floor and landed in the
basement. "It was a great save," Larry Huff, then-chief of
the LaOtto Volunteer Fire Department, was quoted as saying in
a 1989 newspaper account regarding firefighters efforts to put
the fire out. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, considered by many
to be one of the most beautiful churches in the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, was repaired and renovated
within six months. On Nov. 14, 1989, the 66th anniversary of the dedication of
the current church building, the renovated building and its altar
were consecrated by Bishop John D'Arcy. The two earlier fires occurred in 1921 and 1886. In 1921, a frame building the church had occupied at the corner
of C.R. 700E and C.R. 400S "burned to the ground on a cold
winter Sunday while Mass was being offered," a church history
says. Some statues, the organ, and some of the pews were saved.
Those pews are still used during the church's annual chicken
supper that is held on the first Sunday after Labor Day. That frame church building had been built in 1876. It contained
more than three times the space of the church's first building,
which had been constructed in 1863. The original building had
been located on a two-acre tract of property a few hundred feet
north of the church's current location. In 1886, the original building, which had been relocated to
a spot adjacent to the site of the current church building, and
had been converted to a combination rectory/classroom/convent,
was destroyed by a fire. It was later replaced by a two-storied brick school, with
a brick convent attached to the rear. That building was torn
down in 1971. The way in which the Immaculate Conception church came into
being is a testament to the hardiness its members would need
to survive the various challenges they would face throughout
the years. Ege's founder, Gabriel Girardot, built the original church
building in 1863, 10 years after he had moved to the area that
was then known as the Girard (or French) Settlement. It was located on property Girardot had donated to the Bishop
of Fort Wayne. Girardot had promised God he would build a church
in the wilderness because God had blessed his labors in clearing
the heavily-wooded area and had enabled him to bring his family
to the new world, according to a church history. Girardot also handmade the pews, altar and other furnishings
that were in the original church building. It was dedicated on July 5, 1863, by Bishop John Henry Luers
and his vicar general, Father Julian Benoit, the renowned French
pioneer priest who had built the great Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception in Fort Wayne. Until the church building was constructed, Masses had been
offered in people's homes and the Girardot Settlement had been
a mission of the Avilla Parish from 1853-1863. The church experienced much growth during the 18 years (1878-1897)
that Father Francis Xavier Ege, a native of Wolpertswende, Germany,
served as its pastor. The members of the church and the residents of Girard Settlement,
including Girardot, held Father Ege in such high esteem that
it was decided in 1885 to rename the town and its post office
after him. The school was renamed Immaculate Conception in 1886 to coincide
with the patron saint of the parish church - Immaculate Conception.
In 1887, Father Ege erected a beautiful two-story brick 10-room
priest's house that still stands. The Immaculate Conception church and the St. John Bosco church
in Churubusco eventually became combined parishes and the parish
priest began residing in Churubusco in 1971. Major renovations of the church and basement were done in
1979 and 1987. The outdoor Marian Shrine was erected in 1981. A new pole barn was erected in 1987. It served as a temporary
place for worship while renovations were made to the church following
the 1989 fire. LaOtto Wesleyan Church
The church, which was founded in 1850, will be celebrating
its 150th anniversary Oct. 16-17. The celebration will be held then because the exact date the church was founded is not known. It was sometime between mid-1849 to mid-1850, according to a church history. Jim and Lois Watkins have had their own role in making some
history during the 10-plus years they have served the church.
No other minister or ministerial couple has served the church
that long. Jim Watkins was the church's senior pastor from 1989-1997
with Lois Watkins was co-pastor. Since 1997, Lois Watkins has
been the church's first and only female senior pastor. Jim Watkins
chose to take a more active role in ministering through writing
and via the Internet. He is now the church's associate minister. Few people who drive past the small white church building
on LaOtto's south side realize it was a stop on the underground
railroad during the 1850s and 1860s and that one of its former
pastors, Aaron Worth, had been a "conductor" on the
underground railroad. The church's bullet-pocked original door, which is displayed
in its foyer, bears mute testimony to the extreme measures some
people took in trying to apprehend slaves who had sought refuge
within the church. The church has been actively involved in the Wesleyan movement,
both at the state, national level and international levels. Luther Lee - a prominent Methodist Episcopal minister who
opposed slavery - preached at the church in 1861. The pulpit
behind which Lee preached is also displayed in the church's foyer.
For a while thereafter, the church was known as Lee's Chapel.
The church has also been called LaOtto Wesleyan Methodist Church. The denomination's 12th general conference was held at the
church in 1887. During that conference, J. Augustus Cole, a native
of Sierra Leone, West Africa, was ordained an elder, and the
very first Wesleyan Methodist missionaries were sent to West
Africa to assist Cole. "It's kind of humbling intimidating to be part of this
kind of heritage," Jim Watkins said. "It kind of gives
you the feeling of 'What am I doing here?,'" he continued. Worship services were originally held in the Holbrook School
from 1849-1859. The church's original building was constructed about three-fourths
of a mile north of its present location on property that was
then known as the John Drake farm. It was placed into service
on June 26, 1859. For an unknown reason, the church's original
building was moved to its current location in 1876. LaOtto Wesleyan Church's transplanted building was rededicated
at its new location on Nov. 14, 1876. That was 47 years before the date Immaculate Conception's
new brick church was dedicated at the corner of C.R. 700E and
400S. And it was also 113 years before the date Immaculate Conception's
building was consecrated after having been remodeled and renovated
following a fire in April 1989. LaOtto Wesleyan Church is reportedly one of the oldest, if
not the oldest, structure in the denomination still being used
as a church, according to Dr. Lee Haines, denominational historian. Several noteworthy revivals reportedly occurred at the church
over the years, the church history said. Five of LaOtto Wesleyan's pastors became Indiana Conference
presidents (comparable to today's District Superintendent). At least two of LaOtto Wesleyan Church's members were actively
involved with the church for 60 or more years. They were the
late Edna Baker and Marcile Troyer Whonsetler Schenk. Miss Baker began teaching Sunday school at LaOtto Wesleyan
in 1896 and served the church for 62 years as a Sunday school
teacher, church treasurer and board member. Also, she was a member
of the Indiana Conference Pastor Relations Committee, which selected
LaOtto Wesleyan's pastors. And she taught three generations of
some families during a 50-year career at LaOtto School. Mrs. Schenk joined the church in 1930 and held continuous
membership for more than 65 years. George Ott, one of the church's pastors during the 1950s,
organized the LaOtto Community Association. That association
helped to keep LaOtto's post office from closing and helped to
develop a community center and park just west of the church. A new addition, which nearly doubled the size of the church's
building, was dedicated Feb. 21, 1965. It included a large nursery,
choir platform, pastor's office, classrooms and a second worship
area in the basement, and a new parsonage was built during 1968. A second addition to the church was built in 1977. It included
a large foyer, new rest rooms, and basement classrooms. In 1991, the old LaOtto School, which the church had owned
for several years, and which had been on a lot adjacent to the
church, was torn down because it was an unsafe building. During 1993, a fellowship area and additional restroom spaces
were added to the church's south wing. "I'm excited for the future of the church. I think it
has a bright future as it does a past," Jim Watkins said. Part of that future includes plans to construct a 7,500-square-foot addition to the church. The extra space will be used as a multipurpose building. It will contain a half-court basketball area, a large kitchen, and a large stage for dramas and productions, Jim Watkins said. |
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Fire
has played a major role in the 136-year history of Immaculate
Conception Catholic Church, located at the corner of C.R. 700E
and C.R. 400S in Ege.
LaOtto
Wesleyan Church, Old State Road 3, LaOtto, has a rich past and
a bright future, according to its ministers, Lois and Jim Watkins.