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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEarly Churches Panel Group 03July 16,1997 Oral Histories - -- Churches Moderator: Mary Jane Hirsch Camcorder: Jeff Barba Transcriptionist: Chelsi Conway Interviewees: Al Giesenschlag Sarah Hensz Dorothy Holland na\ Co MH: So, Do we have a volunteer to begin? Tell us about your church...Mr. Al, would you like to start us out? AG: I was here as a student, and I worked my way through. I didn't go to church all the time, cause I worked, but I went to the YMCA in the evening. MH: Was that on Sunday? AG: Yes, and after that I went to the Navy and got in the war. When the war was over, I got married. SH: There wasn't a Lutheran church in College Station. They would meet at the YMCA on Sunday nights. They had a pastor who came. His name was Pastor Hartman. He came from Weideville, it's near Brenham. This group had ten to twenty on the average. They met on the second floor of the Y. MH: That is fascinating! I didn't know about that! SH: We later became organized as the American Lutheran Church of College Station on December 19, 1939. MH: Do you remember any staff who worked at the Y? Did you know Cashion? I know he was involved with a lot. AG: Cashion? I remember his name, but I didn't know him at the time. MH: Dorothy, do you wanna tell us some stories? DH: I'll be glad to tell you what I can. The best reference we have is Fred Brison's book " The First Fifty Years ". Our first minister was King Vivian, who arrived in 1920. He had been a varsity football player at SMU, and he was on the "Scrub Squad" at A &M. I haven't quite figured that out... but he was our minister. He said he arrived at quite a situation because we had no church, no parsonage and no place to meet, except on campus. I think we met at the EE building. The First Methodist church in Bryan, in 1920, had a surplus of 500 dollars. P T Ramsey, the minister then, decided to use the money to start an A &M Methodist church in College Station. Our first building was the old tabernacle. It was a drafty old building, you know, we just had space heaters, and very uncomfortable pews, a small choir, and a piano. Leta Burgess was our pianist. The tabernacle housed Sunday school classes that were in partitions around the sanctuary, and we had a very small kitchen in the back. Later we built the educational building which is called the Gordon Gay building. He was the director of the YMCA for a long time, and our educational director. In 1953, we were finally able to build a sanctuary. The tabernacle became the Wesley Foundation. We were located at Northgate for two reasons: 1) to accommodate students 2) to accommodate faculty who wanted to come to church. SH: This Lutheran church that started at the Y, moved to Northgate after the war. It was a block away from the Methodists. It started in 1948. It was just a small wooden frame building. MH: Do you have any idea how many people attended church in the early days? SH: I think around WWII, there were 200 members. Later our church grew so much, they started the mission of Peace Lutheran, but that was in the late 70's, early 80's. MH: That's interesting! I wasn't sure when the church at Northgate started. SH: Yeah. Northgate was really the place for churches. AG: Our congregation became bigger, and we started a mission of some land for three years. It was about ten acres. Then we got down where we are now. SH: Yes, we had two Lutheran churches by then, and the land for the second was given by Bill Fitch. MH: Was the minister there named SuHemeier? SH: Stan Sultemeier. MH: Oh, Sultemeier. She taught at College Heights School. She had a daughter named Debbie. AG: Yeah, we would call and invite people. That's how we got bigger. MH: Do you have something else about the very early days at Northgate? SH: Well there were also non - students that came. People came to the campus, to the church, like the Roloffs, the Euglebrechts, and students from the project houses. A &M had a peach farm out where the medical center is now. That's where the Englebrecht's lived. MH: There wasn't a church in Bryan? SH: No. MH: So...this was it! AG: I had to work all the time. We planted the trees on Eastgate, all the way to the highway and back. SH: In 1939. It was all hand work. It was done in memory of the people in the first World War. They are still there, the live oak trees. AG: I can't remember the guy at the projects, but he walked by every day. SH: It wasn't Boyett? MH: Was it Russell? AG: Yes. Dan Russell. That's it. MH: I didn't know the church started at Bolton Hall As I understand, the church began as a mission for the students. DH: It was. They were required to go to Sunday school worship, and if they didn't, then they were given harsh treatment. That led to joint congregations. One Sunday, I think the Baptist met in Bolton Hall, and the next Sunday...the Methodists. AG: When I started school, my dad gave me forty dollars to get started at A &M. I got through all right. (laugh) My dad killed a hog, and brought the meat to the project house. MH: Oh really? This was on Southside? AG: Uh -huh. We meet there every year to get together to talk. I guess veterans built the projecthouse building. SH: I can remember when I was a child, how hot it was in church. No air - conditioning. DH: You mentioned fans, and I remember those. MH: What kind of fans? DH: Well, they usually advertised something They had wooden handles. MH: And they were just sitting in the pews? DH: Yes, there for us to use. SH: And also, we didn't have an organ `till the 1950's. Things were very simple MH: Did you find it hard to find people to play? SH: No, there were always people who could play. They would kinda alternate. MH: When you married and lived here, was there Sunday school? SH: Yes. There was Sunday school for all ages. Church was after Sunday school. You just went from one to the other. MH: Did they have a place to bring the babies? Or did the babies stay with you? SH: They stayed with us. We didn't have the nurseries we have today. That came in later years. DH: They had partitions for Sunday school in the Methodist church. When the Sunday school time was over, we would pull back the doors, and have worship. There was a place where we had church dinners, and dedications, and weddings. The old tabernacle was a sweet place, but it wasn't very comfortable...cold in the winter, hot in the summer. I remember going to Sunday school, and having to learn Bible verses. Her name was Ruth Mogford. That was my teacher. AG: I remember my Aunt taking me to church in a wagon. DH: We just had a mudlot where the sanctuary is now. SH: All the churches were within a two or three block radius of each other, including the Catholics. Many are still there. They had the "Passion Play" in Guion Hall, and school was let out for it. I believe it was 57 or 58. They came all the way from Germany to College Station, Texas! AG: There were no cars. You rode the train to get outta here. You didn't use the highway. On Saturday, there was usually a line waiting to use the train to go to Houston or whatever. MR: Where there name changes for the church? SH: In 1948, our church became "Our Saviour's ". The name hasn't changed. MH: Did ya'll have a name on campus? Or was it just "The Lutherans "? SH: I think it was just "The Lutheran Students ". DH: The Methodist Tabernacle was built in 1923, was used until 1964. In 1951, it became the Wesley Foundation. The sanctuary was built in 1953. Our church changed its name. It was the A &M Methodist Church...but now it's the A &M United Methodist...I remember the Christmas time there. MH: In the tabernacle? DH: Yes. Oh, we had a beautiful tree, a choir, and we always had a big Christmas party. We had Santa Clause. MH: Do they do that now? SH: No, they give them a little treat bag, but Santa doesn't come. AG: My daddy put on a Santa Clause suit, and I answered the door. I screamed my head off. Then I let him in MH: Did you know it was your father? AG: Well yes. MH: Were there evening services on Sunday? DH: No, only morning (not sure about this). MH: Wednesday? DH: No. DH: I remember after church everyone would congregate outside and visit. Then someone would always ask the pastor to come and eat with them. MH: Did you say you had a parsonage? DH: Uh, no. MH: Did the church provide housing? DH: That was just his responsibility. AG: During WWI, on the ships, they had services every Sunday. SH: It was a nondenominational service. DH: In the early days, you did have the Missionary Society. Now we call it United Methodist Women. They took care of all, or at least most of the finances. Now, we have the Big Five Circles. We meet at homes, or in the fellowship hall. MH: I can remember the parties they had. DH: They had silver tea. Everyone would come in with a fifty cent piece. Most of the money, in the early days, would go to local needs. MH: Do you know about the organ? DH: Well, in the Tabernacle, at first, we only had a piano. And we were so elated when we got this small electric organ. As I stood to sing in the choir, tears came to my eyes, and I thought," That sounds wonderful! ". It's nothing compared to the pipe organ we have now, though. AG: We have a pipe organ in our church. It has about 500 pipes to it. It came out of a church in Galveston. SH: The church it came from was started during the turn on the century. DH: Back to the Women's work...It was started in 1921, by Bryan Auxiliary. We had 22 members. MH: Tell us about your steeple. DH: We had a cross, I think, didn't we? Not sure. MH: Do you know of a church with a bell? AG: In Brenham. MH: How was the indebtedness of the church handled? SH: They took an offering, and we got things paid off. MH: Do you think the churches have changed character? SH: Well, I know society has. AG: Parking now is a real problem. SH: A &M lets us use the parking garage without having to pay a fee. MH: Do any of you know about kerosene lamps? SH: Not at these churches. (laugh) DH: No. AG: No, but we had `em at home. SH: There wasn't electricity in rural Texas until 1938. MH: Um, any elaborate ceremonies? DH: Nothing that elaborate. SH: Maybe just Christmas and Easter, and extra things. AG: We don't have a Christmas tree in our church. SH: Christmas and Easter were always more special; with nice services. AG: We had two services. MH: Morning and evening? SH: No, 8:00 and 10:00. MH: Oh. [ War Discussion - - -not pertinate to churches MH: Oh, all right, let's end it here. END OF TAPE � t,r of Interviewer t /v 1 , (2 /' -1 ' G Place of Interview List of photos. documents. mans. etc. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE City of College Station, Texas 77840 ORAL HISTORY DATA SHEET I hereby give and grant to the HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, City of College Station, Texas, for whatever purposes may be determined, the tape recordings, transcriptions, and contents of this oral history interview. Also, permission is hereby given for any duplications of original photos, documents, maps, etc. useful to the history project to �l e returned unharmed. Interviewee releases, relinquishes and discharges CITY, its officers, agents and employees, from all claims, demands, and causes of action of every kind and character, including the cost of defense thereof, for any injury to, including the cost of defense thereof for any injury to, including death of, any person, whether that person be a third person, Interviewee, or an employee of either of the parties hereto, and any loss of or damage to property, whether the same be that either of the parties hereto or of third parties, caused by or alleged to be caused by, arising out of, or in connection with Interviewee provision of historical information, whether or not said claims, demands and causes of action in whole or in part are covered by insurance. ( in S<' Intervie ee (Please print) �gn ature of Interviewee Ori PCe Name Add ! FFJ3 RCQ Telephone Date of Birth () 7 l` / , / Place of Birth pl hc( Y e Interviewer (Please Print) INTERVIEW STATUS: Completed In progress Dat l 9 7 Initial Interviewee agrees to and shall indemnify and hold harmless CITY, its officers, agents and employees, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, causes of action, suits and liability of every kind, attorney's fees, for injury to or death of any person, or for damage to any property, arising out of or in connection with the use of the items and information referenced aboved by CITY, its agents, representatives, assigns, invitees, and participants under this grant. Such indemnity shall apply where the claims, losses damages, causes of action, suits or liability arise in whole or in part from the negligence of city. The purpose of The Historic Preservation Committee is to gather and preserve historical documents by means of the tape - recorded interview. Tape recordings and transcripts resulting from such interviews become part of the archives of The City of College Station Historic Preservation Committee and Conference Center Advisory Committee to be used for whatever purposes may be determined. with (Name of Interviewee) 1.1/ Ge��sQ .scti /ati 7. 2 . Sara s:7 3. Of) ro 7 / 4. 5. 6. The City of College Station, Texas Memory Lanes Oral History Project INTERVIEW AGREEMENT I have read the above and voluntarily offer my portion of the interviews 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. In view of the scholarly value of this research material, I hereby assign rights, title, and interest pertaining to it to The City of College Station Historic Preservation Committee and Conference Center Advi ry ommittee. Integie(er (signature) eg*// Interview lease Print) Date I hereby give and grant to the HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, City of College Station, Texas, for whatever purposes may be determined, the tape recordings, transcriptions, and contents of this oral history interview. Also, permission is hereby given for any duplications of original photos, documents, maps, etc. useful to the history project to le returned unharmed. Interviewee releases, relinquishes and discharges CITY, its officers, agents and employees, from all claims, demands, and causes of action of every kind and character, including the cost of defense thereof, for any injury to, including the cost of defense thereof for any injury to, including death of, any person, whether that person be a third person, Interviewee, or an employee of either of the parties hereto, and any loss of or damage to property, whether the same be that either of the parties hereto or of third parties, caused by or alleged to be caused by, arising out of, or in connection with Interviewee provision of historical information, whether or not said claims, demands and causes of action in whole or in part are covered by insurance. - ar-io .eff Int view ee • rant) /6 s - k/P 1 4 Interviewer (Please Print) Si• t . of Interviewer ,C ? /02 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE City of College Station, Texas 77840 ORAL HISTORY DATA SHEET '-7 Place of Interview List of photos. documents. mans. etc. Signature of n ervie 3R 07 i /) - � Nam Addr (, Q Telephone Date of Birth • Place of Birth P1 U i/ e � � INTERVIEW STATUS: Completed In progress Interviewee agrees to and shall indemnify and hold harmless CITY, its officers, agents and employees, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, causes of action, suits and liability of every kind, attorney's fees, for injury to or death of any person, or for damage to any property, arising out of or in connection with the use of the items and information referenced aboved by CITY, its agents, representatives, assigns, invitees, and participants under this grant. Such indemnity shall apply where the claims, losses damages, causes of action, suits or liability arise in whole or in part from the negligence of city. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE City of College Station, Texas 77840 ORAL HISTORY DATA SHEET I hereby give and grant to the HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE, City of College Station, Texas, for whatever purposes may be determined, the tape recordings, transcriptions, and contents of this oral history interview. Also, permission is hereby given for any duplications of original photos, documents, maps, etc. useful to the history project to le returned unharmed. Interviewee releases, relinquishes and discharges CITY, its officers, agents and employees, from all claims, demands, and causes of action of every kind and character, including the cost of defense thereof, for any injury to, including the cost of defense thereof for any injury to, including death of, any person, whether that person be a third person, Interviewee, or an employee of either of the parties hereto, and any loss of or damage to property, whether the same be that either of the parties hereto or of third parties, caused by or alleged to be caused by, arising out of, or in connection with Interviewee provision of historical information, whether or not said claims, demands and causes of action in whole or in part are covered by insurance. lUr) � Interviewee) / , (Please print) a Signature Olf Interviewee Izte viewer (Pleas Print) 4 "14,- S. gn. - of Interviewer Place of Int6rview Name List of photos. documents. maws. etc. — Address ) j P c 5 '77.4 v Telephone Date of Birth 7- a Place of Birth INTERVIEW STATUS: Completed Date In progress Interviewee agrees to and shall indemnify and hold harmless CITY, its officers, agents and employees, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, causes of action, suits and liability of every kind, attorney's fees, for injury to or death of any person, or for damage to any property, arising out of or in connection with the use of the items and information referenced aboved by CITY, its agents, representatives, assigns, invitees, and participants under this grant. Such indemnity shall apply where the claims, losses damages, causes of action, suits or liability arise in whole or in part from the negligence of city. Initial EARLY CHURCHES IN COLLEGE STATION Submitted by Alton L. Giesenschlag I attended Texas A&M from 1938 until graduating in 1942. There was not a Lutheran Church in College Station at first. A group of about 10 to 20 Lutheran students met at the YMCA on campus on Sunday evenings for services. We would walk from our project houses or dorms to the Y. A Lutheran pastor would come to do the services and serve communion. On December 19, 1939 the group became organized as the American Lutheran Church of College Station. Some of the non students who came were Mr. and Mrs. Rohloff and Mr. and Mrs. Englebrecht. Later other Lutherans who came to this area for work from the Brenham area attended too. These members were the ones who started Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in College Station near North Gate after World War II. City of College Station Memory Lanes Oral History Project This is / /a,1 45/. Today is , 'd„ - /5 9' (month) (day) (year) I'm interviewing for the 5 e eLS Miss, Ms., Dr., t L)o vo time s, �o4 s ti /4 (Mr., Mrs., 4)1 Iah I This interview is taking place in Room i d z of The 4, G(/4, 5/ ,r„,, CDC r� /07 at 1 . 1300 George Bush Dr. College Station , Texas . This interview is sponsored by the Historic Preservation Committee and the Conference Center Advisory Committee cf the City of College Station. Texas. It is part of the Memory Lane Oral History Project. Have each person introduce themselves so their voice is identifiable on the tape recorder. emarks: Memory Lane: City of College Station Memory Lanes Oral History Project Churches Interview No. Name Al niensenschlaa Interview date 7/16/97 Interviewer Nary Jane Hirsch Interview length Interview Place Conference Center Special sources of information Date tape received in office # of tapes marked Date Original Photographs Yes No # of photos Date Recd Describe Photos Interview Agreement and tape disposal form: Given to interviewee on Received Yes No Date Signed Restrictions - if yes, see remarks below. Yes No Transcription: First typing completed by Pages Date (name) First audit check by Barbie Pages Date (name) Sent to interviewee on 8/16/97 Received from interviewee on Copy editing and second audit check by TOW° €€ Pages Date 9 (name) Final copies: Typed by Oral History Stage Sheet Pages Date Proofread by: 1) Pages Date 2' Pages Date Photos out for reproduction: Where to: Date: Original photos returned to: Date: Indexed by: Date Sent to bintlery by Date Received from bindery Date Deposited in archives by: Date 'narks: Memory Lane: City of College Station Memory Lanes Oral History Project Oral History Stage Sheet Churches Interview No. Name Sarah Hensz Interview date / /y/ Interviewer Mary Jane Hirsch Interview length Interview Place Conference Center Special sources of information Date tape received in office # of tapes marked Date Original Photographs Yes No # of photos Date Recd Describe Photos Interview Agreement and tape disposal form: Given to interviewee on Received Yes No Date Signed Restrictions- if yes, see remarks below. Yes No Transcription: First typing completed by Pages Date (name) - First audit check by Barbie Pages Date (name) Sent to interviewee on 8/16/97 Received from interviewee on Q I , ` Copy editing and second audit check by -4,04- B,(�1� �.1� �`- -Pages Date (name) Final copies: Typed by Pages Date Proofread by: 1) Pages Date 21 Pages Date Photos out for reproduction: Where to: Date: Original photos returned to: Date: Indexed by: Date Sent to bindery by Date Received from bindery Date Deposited in archives by: Date emarks: City of College Station Memory Lanes Oral History Project Memory Lane: Churches Sent to interviewee on Copy editing and second audit check by • Oral History Stage Sheet Name Dorothy Holla Interview No. Interview date 7 /16 /97 Interviewer Mary Hirsch Interview length Interview Place Conference Center Special sources of information Date tape received in office # of tapes marked Date Original Photographs Yes No # of photos Date Recd Describe Photos Interview Agreement and tape disposal form: Given to interviewee on Received Yes No Date Signed Restrictions - If yes, see remarks below. Yes No Transcription: First typing completed by Pages Date (name) - First audit check by Barbie Pages Date (name) Received from interviewee on 8/16/97 (name) Final copies: Typed by Pages Date Proofread by: 1) Pages Date - 2 ) Pages Date Photos out for reproduction: Original photos returned to: Indexed by: Sent to bindery by Received from bindery Deposited in archives by: Where to: Pages Date: Date: Date Date Date Date Date 9 1zh ` 7