click to enlarge
click to enlarge  image

New Easter Robes
Tribune photo published April 15, 1955

Members of the Junior choir of the First Christian church appeared in their new robes for the first time Sunday morning when they took part in the Easter worship service.  The robes for which fabric was purchased and sewed by the Hearthstone class of the church, are gold and have black ties. [Hearthstone was an important adult Sunday School class at Ames First Christian Church.]

Singing in the choir were first row, left to right, Judy Gunnerson, Marguerite Brown, Sue Ethington, Marcia Wright, Mary Jo Hyler and Nancy Jones.  In the second row, left to right, are Nancy Ogg, Marilyn Clem, Phyllis Randau, Vicki Ervin and Barbara Wellman.  M.L. Millett Jr., at right, is the director.  In the third row, left to right, are Margaret Buchholtz, Karen Battles, Linda Hockman, Karen Wellman and Shirley Bailey.  Boys in the group are, left to right, Clayton Ogg, Allen Oslund, Tom Buchholtz and Don Miller.

click to enlarge

First Christian Church (third structure) at Sixth Street and Clark
Cornerstone laying ceremony - October 2, 1927

This 1926 Sanborn Insurance map indicates the location
of First Christian Church, not yet constructed.

The 1920 Sanborn Insurance map shows the location of the previous (second church) at the corner of 5th Street and Burnett, later known as the corner of Mathison Motors.  Also note the presence of the Episcopal Church and the four homes not yet moved from this area later used as the playground for East Central School.  The building at the bottom left indicated in blue is the photographic studio of C.R. Quade located behind his house.  Learn more about the history of First Christian Church of Ames.

The double-spired wood framed church (second church structure), dedicated September 9, 1894, held the bell later relocated to the present First Christian Church.  Still used today, the bell is engraved with the following inscription:

Buckeye Bell Foundry
Ames Church of Christ
AD 1894
The E.W. Van Duzen Co.
Cincinnati, Ohio

Pastor Rev. J.K. Hester
Elders: D.A. Kent, J.W. Wilson, W.J. Freed
Deacons: A.E. Grove, C.A. Duntz, J.J. Grove, J.W. Adams
The following intriguing 1918 account in the Ames Tri-Weekly Tribune appears to mention that same bell.
AMES PEOPLE GO WILD OVER REPORTS OF YANKS AND THEIR BRAVE FIGHTS - AMES WENT CRAZY WITH DELIGHT LAST NIGHT! - The flashing of the word over the telegraph wires of the bravery of the Yanks could only spell one thing to Ames people and that was victory for the allied armies.   ...George Underwood was not long in getting out the fife and drum corps.  With J.R. Jones at the head carrying an American flag; proudly and happily, he was followed by Fifer Underwood, Snare Drummer Thompson and Bass Drummer McMichael, a parade was started by the four men.  In less time than it takes to tell it the men began to fall in and hundreds marched to the tune of the martial music.

The fire alarm was sounded, not in the manner usually sounded to bring people from their homes with the advice a fire is underway, but the siren whistle went forward with every ounce of steam the boys down at the electric plant could give her.  The fire truck joined the parade, the picture shows flashed word on the screen and people left the buildings to join in the grand hurrah.

There has not been a celebration of the Fourth of July in Ames for years and the fireworks that have been carried over went like hot cakes.  Shot guns were brought forward and fired at random and automobile horns gave the evening air that sound that a fellow will never forget.  Boys ascended to the belfry of the Church of Christ and were so busy with the rope they caused the bell to split and go entirely out of commission.  But who cares for the bell when it had done such noble service?
Did the bell really break?  Is it possible that when the excitement of the day had calmed, it was found that the rope had broken, not the bell?

back to photos previously featured
in The Tribune's series entitled From the Archives