History of Kenwood Park United Methodist Church

• Founded on September 17, 1893, with 14 chartered members
• Initially part of a circuit with Martin's Creek and Shiloh
• First membership class baptized in Indian Creek on June 17, 1894

Church Buildings:

1. First building dedicated December 2, 1894, costing $2,900
   • Destroyed by fire on December 2, 1899
2. Second building completed in 1900
   • Remodeled in 1915, adding a tower and Sunday School rooms
   • Bell installed in 1925
   • Philathea Room added in 1929
   • Interior remodeled in 1941
3. New building construction began in 1953
   • First financial crusade in 1951, raising $27,000
   • Second financial crusade in 1953, raising $30,998
   • First unit completed in 1953
   • Second unit plans completed in 1957
   • Cornerstone laid March 16, 1958
   • Opening services held June 29, 1958
   • Stained glass windows added in 1962

Additional Changes and Additions:

• Parking lot added in the 1970s
• Roof changed in the educational unit and Pastor's study, costing $30,000
• Old church bell and bulletin board added in 1985
• Elevator installed in 1992
• New entrance from 34th Street parking lot constructed in 1992

Kenwood Park, Iowa (historical context):

• Incorporated in 1886
• Covered present 32nd through 34th streets East, and three blocks on either side of First Avenue East
• Population of around 200
• Police protection provided by a town marshal
• Shopping district between 32nd and 34th Streets
• Trolley transportation available to downtown Cedar Rapids
• First Avenue paved with bricks through Kenwood Park
• Town park at what is now 34th Street
• Frame school built in 1885 for $1,500, replaced by brick bungalow-type building in 1921, with six more rooms added in 1925 (now part of Kenwood Presbyterian Church)

The Kenwood Park Methodist Church was organized on September 17, 1893, with 14 chartered members. They were Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Reid, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Carr, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. White, Mr. and Mrs F. C. Reid, Mr. and Mrs. V. L. Page, Cornelia Oathout, Sara McKee, Christina McBride and Mrs. J. J. Linebaugh.

A student from Cornell College served the church for a few weeks. In October, Rev. N. A. Mershon was appointed Pastor and Kenwood became a part of a circuit with Martin's Creek and Shiloh. Services were held only in the evening for this newly organized church.

The first membership class to be received was baptized by immersion in Indian Creek on June 17, 1894. The first church building was dedicated December 2, 1894, and cost $2,900.00, including the lot. Rev. Walter Piper of Marion preached at the dedication service. His widow was a member of this church.

On December 2, 1899, the first building was completely destroyed by fire.

The second building was completed in 1900. Pictures of these buildings can be seen in a brochure published in October 1957. The second building was completely remodeled in 1915. A tower and Sunday School rooms were added. The bell was not installed until 1925.

In 1929 the Philathea Room was added to the church structure. In 1941 the inside of the church was remodeled. Nu-wood blocks were put on the ceiling and walls of the Nave. The seats were rearranged to provide a center aisle. An altar was built and the Chancel was divided. Mrs. Jack Nourse of Kansas City gave an organ in memory of her mother, Mrs. J. S. McKee.

In 1944 the church celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first building. In 1946 the W.S.C.S. started a building fund with a contribution of $100. In April 1950, the official board appointed a building program committee to proceed with a study for a new building which would meet present day needs, and in May it adopted a resolution to build.

The first financial crusade was held in February 1951, with Dr. J. H. Soltman of the Board of Missions as director. $27,000 was pledged for a two-year period. In 1953 Dr. Soltman returned for a second crusade which totaled $30,998 in two-year pledges.

 It was decided to erect the new building in units. The first unit decided upon was a basement behind the old structure.

Ground was broken August 16, 1953, and the contractor completed this unit December 22nd of the same year. Opening services for the new unit was conducted by the Rev. W. R. Ehlert and the District Superintendent, Dr. John C. Buthman. The Wells fund raising organization was engaged for a 150-week crusade in February 1955.

The goal was $75,000 and was reached. By the summer of 1957, sufficient cash with a promise of a mortgage loan from a Cedar Rapids bank and a program of bond sales, plans were completed for the second unit. The plans were voted on August 22nd and the final service was held in the old structure August 25, 1957.

Worship services and Church School were held Sunday mornings at the Kenwood public school with other activities held in the new basement. It took 3 weeks to raze the old building. The cornerstones were opened and only the one marked 1915 hand any contents.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held at 11:15 a.m. on September 15th. The cornerstone for the new building was laid March 16, 1958.

Opening services were held in the new building June 29, 1958. A history of the church must also include something of the various organizations of the church. The Sunday School was organized as soon as the first building was completed. The entire Sunday School met in one room. All classes used the International lessons until 1913 when Rev. Henke was instrumental in introducing the closely graded lessons.

The Ladies Aid was organized on May 9, 1894, with 14 charter members. There was also a Missionary Society. These groups were united in the Woman's Society of Christian Service. The Young People's Society was organized in 1893. Old and young alike attended until 1912 or 1913 when the older people were not invited and all married persons became ineligible regardless of age.

The parsonage was built in 1912 and Rev. and Mrs. Arthur Henke were the first to live in it. Since the completion of the new structure in 1958, there have been some changes made and some additions.

Stained glass windows were added in 1962. The first gift for them came

during our "Venture in Faith" in October and November of that year. A window committee was appointed by the Official Board consisting of Floyd Sapp and Howard Packingham, representing the Board of Trustees, Mrs. Grant Poole and Mrs. John Bell, representing the commission on worship; and the minister as an ex-officio member.

In order to finance these windows, the organizations of the church were offered an opportunity to contribute a window or part of a window. Individuals were then offered an opportunity to take part in the program and soon enough money was subscribed not only for the seven windows in the Nave, but also for windows for the front and two side entries.

On Sunday mornings traffic was becoming congested on 33rd Street. A parking lot was a necessity. Three properties on 34th Street behind the church were purchased, demolished and a parking lot was added in the 1970'S.

The flat roof above the educational unit to the West, and the Pastor's study began to leak. The roof was changed to a sloping one at a cost of $30,000. The stone structure displaying the old church bell and a bulletin board was added in 1985.

When the present church was built, there was no provision for a handicapped entrance. There were some of our members who were unable to attend Sunday services and church functions because of the steps at both of the entrances.

An elevator was a much needed addition. A fund drive was started. Through the efforts of Dale Bohrer, the Board of Trustees and church volunteers, the installation of the elevator began and was in operation in 1992.

In order to provide access to the elevator, a new entrance from the 34th Street parking lot was designed and constructed in 1992. We are proud of our church. It is a beautiful place of worship, the result of a cooperative congregation working faithfully together.

The streets weren't anything to cheer about, but Kenwood Park, lowa, was one of the places to live back in 1910. 

Incorporated in 1886, Kenwood Park covered the present 32nd through 34th streets East, and three blocks on either side of First Avenue East. A duly elected town council wasted no time passing ordinances to govern its population, while a school board provided education for the village's youngsters.

A schoolhouse had already been built in 1885, and the town council set about setting street grade standards and board sidewalks.

Police protection for the town's 200 or so occupants was provided by a town marshal charged with enforcing the town's ordinances.

Those laws prohibited disturbing the peace, intoxication, disorderly conduct, false alarm of fire, exposure of person through nudity or lewd dress, obscene books or figures, houses of ill name, profane language and maltreatment of animals.

There were specific prohibitions against breaking street lamps, fastening animals to trees and fast driving of carriage, motorcar or motorcycle.

An engineering firm was hired to set sidewalk standards, and residents were soundly chastised and sometimes fined for allowing their boardwalk sidewalks to fall into disrepair.

The carefully planned town didn't want factories, but rather the "good life" that comes from working in the city and coming home to a quiet suburb. But the lady of the house did have a shopping district close at hand.

In the area between 32nd and 34th Streets, there were three grocery stores, a drug store, bank, post office and town hall on the east side of the avenue, and a park on the west side.

A resident of the stately two-story houses could catch a trolley to downtown Cedar Rapids in the morning, the same conveyance providing the way home at night.

The boulevard leading from Cedar Rapids - now First Avenue - was mud on either side of Kenwood Park, but paved with bricks through the little town.

Evenings could be spent in the town park at what is now 34th Street. The ladies garden club was charged with keeping the tiny town hall and park filled with summer flowers.

Education for the children was a source of pride throughout the town's existence. The frame school was constructed in 1885 for $1,500, and was replaced with a brick bungalow-type building in 1921. Six more rooms were added to that building, now part of Kenwood Presbyterian Church, in 1925.

Article taken from the August 28, 1983 Cedar Rapids Gazette

More about Kenwood Park and Cedar Rapids

October 26, 1891 - Kenwood Park post office established. Mina Jensen appointed postmistress.

March 31. 1902 - C. N. Bingham was elected Mayor of Kenwood Park.

December 17. 1926 - Kenwood Park residents voted to annex with Cedar Rapids.

July 1, 1927 - Kenwood annexed to Cedar Rapids.

March 12, 1928 - Kenwood Park voted to merge their schools with the Cedar Rapids School District.

More Events in 1893

January 1 - The new baths and Natatorium (swimming pool) of the YMCA was dedicated.

January 20 - First appearance of the famous Cherry Sisters in Marion, Iowa.

April 1 - Police and Fire Departments shared 1 horse.

May 1 - The World's Columbian Exposition opened in Chicago and celebrated the 400th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America

May 3 - Central Park Presbyterian Church was organized.

August 26 - H. N. Cramer went into the drygoods business.

November 21 - 70 acres acquired for Bever Park.