The First 50 Years - The Early Days

The Early Days

The dusty rider reined in his horse and dismounted . Tying the horse to a tree in the clearing, the Reverend George Hornell entered the general store of "Uncle Joe" Chase, a crude log building which housed the first business establishment in the Royal Oak area, as well as the post office. "Uncle Joe" was not only Royal Oak's first storekeeper, but he was also one of its first postmasters.

The location was known as Chase's Corners, and was situated at Thirteen Mile Road and Ball's Line Road, which today we know as Crooks Road. The store had been built on the east side of the road, opposite the present site of the First United Presbyterian Church.

The Reverend Mr. Hornell had just completed his quarterly report to the American Home Missionary Society , under whose auspices he had first come to Michigan over ten years earlier, and he was anxious to get his report on its way to the New York office of the society. The year was 1830. For almost a dozen years Hornell had faithfully served the Presbyterian congregations just to the north of Royal Oak, such congregations inc1uding, at one time or another, those at Auburn, Trowbridge's (which we know today as B1oomfie1d Center), Wing Lake, Niles Corners (today's Troy), and Birmingham (then known simply as Bloomfield). His report was mailed at the Roya1 Oak post office on May 10, 1830.

But another Presbyterian minister had visited the Royal Oak area over a dozen years prior to Hornell's trip to Chase's store. In fact, the first Presbyterian minister to locate in Michigan, the Reverend John Montieth, who arrived in Detroit in 1816, camped here overnight before the name "Royal Oak" ever attached to the region.

In the fall of 1817, Mr. Montieth led an exploring party northward out of Detroit along the winding Saginaw Trail, which entered Oakland County along the line of Ridge Road as we know it today. In a detailed dairy which he kept of this trip, Mr. Montieth reports that the exploring party made camp the first night on a mound along side a stream-bed of a branch of the Red Run. The spot today is marked by a boulder a t the corner of Woodward Avenue and Parkway.

It would be reasonable to expect that with several active Presbyterian congregations so near to Royal Oak, as those served by the Reverend George Hornell and other missionaries, that some effort would have been made to establish a church in Royal Oak. Besides the congregations previously mentioned, there were active churches of our denomination in Southfield, Farmington, Rochester, and Pontiac, as well as in Detroit. Yet almost a full century was to elapse before a Presbyterian church would be organized in Royal Oak.

During this interval of almost one hundred years , several other denominations had estab1ished churches in Royal Oak: Methodists in 1838; Baptists in 1839; Congregationalists in 1842; the United Presbyterians moved in from Troy in 1854; Roman Catholics in 1868; and Lutherans in 1874. This latter group a1so operated an orphan asylum on lands adjoining the church.

Up until the year of 1914 such residents of Roya1 Oak as were of Presbyterian membership or persuasion, attended local churches, the Presbyterian churches in Detroit, or the Birmingham Presbyterian Church where the kindly Dr. W. H. Jameson was the minister. In fact, Dr. Jameson visited parishioners in the Royal Oak area and at one time seriously considered starting a mission church here under the sponsorship of his church in Birmingham.

Occasionally, as these Royal Oakers met in their daily pursuits or at social gatherings, there wou1d be informal discussion as to the possibility of formally organizing a Presbyterian Society in Roya1 Oak. At a children's Christmas party held at Christmastime in 1913 at the Harrison Street home of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Mellen, attended also by the parents, the men of the group decided that a committee should be appointed to see what could be done to organize a church. The committee so appointed consisted of Messrs. Mellen, D. K. Smith, C. B. Edwards and James McVicar.

It was a good committee and the members went to work immediately. We have located a copy of a form letter which the committee members sent out to loca1 residents whom they knew, and who might be interested in a new church. The letter reads as follows:

Royal Oak, Mich.
Dec. 30, 1913.

(Addressee)
Royal Oak, Mich.

You are requested to be present at a Meeting at D. K. Smith's furniture store on Monday, Jan. 5th at 7:45 for the purpose of considering the formation of a Presbyterian Church in Royal Oak. Bring with you anyone who would be interested.

In case you cannot attend this Meeting, will you kindly write the undersigned if you are in sympathy with the movement, sending him a list of names of Presbyterians you know in Royal Oak.

Yours very truly.

Although this was rather short notice, it would seem that it was sufficient, as twenty interested persons gathered at Smith's store on South Washington (Fig. 1) on the lay appointed for the meeting. The Reverend J. M. Barkley of Detroit Presbytery presided. Because of the importance of the steps taken at this first formal meeting, it seems, advisable to copy the record verbatim:

Fig. 1

"Certain persons, believing and worshipping God according to their individual conscience and also believing that to God a1one are we accountable for our personal conduct, desired to assemble to further and strengthen this belief by gathering all others who would care to affiliate with them.

Accordingly a meeting was called at D. K. Smith's store Jan (the date is not shown in the record, but in view of the notice sent out we can assume it was January 5.)

Present: Dr. J. M. Barkley of Detroit, Mr. Beach, Mr. Hughes and Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Jenkins and Mrs. Jenkins, Mr. Mellen and Mrs. Mellen, Mr. Johnston, Mr. McVicars and Mrs. McVicars, Mr. Bristol and Mrs. Bristol, Mr. D. K. Smith, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Clark, Miss Ewing, Mrs. Grier, Mr. Forsythe , Mr. Cummings.

Dr. Barkley opened the meeting with prayer. Mr. McVicars was elected chairman; Mr. D. K. Smith, Treasurer; C. B. Edwards, Secretary.

Dr. Barkley then gave us a talk on how to organize a Presbyterian Church and outlined the plan used by North Woodward Pres. Church. Messrs. Mellen, Edwards were appointed by chair to interview Mr. Owens and then contact with R. L. Polk and Co. of Detroit to make a survey of the village to secure data as to how many presbyterians and how many people not affiliated with any church wou1d care to support a society of this kind.

On motion the meeting was adjourned.

This businesslike method of proceeding, evident from the very beginning, augured well for a successful launching of this new enterprise. The survey of the Polk Company, used later by some of the other churches of the village, disclosed that there were "forty-three (43) families who were Presbyterians or who would support the organization." A copy of this survey is still avai1ab1e among the church records. This information was given to those attending a meeting held on February 10, at which time the names of the families so listed were divided up among a canvassing committee composed of Messrs. Cummings, Mellen, Edwards, McVicars and Clark. The committee was not only to call on these families, but, importantly, was to ascertain "to what extent each person would support in a financial way (the new church) so that this organization will have a basis on which to work." The amount subscribed was $709.80.

At this same meeting of February 10, it was reported that in a telephone conversation with Dr. William T. Jaquess, of whom we shall hear much more later, it was learned that a meeting of the Extension Committee of the Presbytery, of which the Reverend Mr. Jaquess was secretary, was to be held the following evening at the Detroit Y. M. C. A. It was thought advisable that a committee from the Royal Oak group attend this meeting, present what data had been assembled, and petition for a church in Royal Oak.

That such a committee did appear before the Extension Committee of Presbytery is confirmed by a minute made in the record the following day to the effect that Messrs. Cummings, Johnston, Mellen, Smith, Hughes, McVicar and Edwards attended the meeting and answered questions "as to the need of a church in Royal Oak."

One report states that C. B. Edwards was selected as spokesman for the delegation and that he made his presentation "in an able manner". After the committee of Presbytery had eaten dinner, the committee from Royal Oak filed into the room "and stood with their backs to the wall (both literally and figuratively) " as no seats had been provided for the committee members.

It was no "cut and dried" meeting in any sense. The Board of Church Extension was not convinced that there was a real need for a church in Royal Oak. It suggested that possibly a Sunday School might first be established, which could later be developed into a church. The committee stood its ground, however, despite a thorough cross-examination by the men on the Extension Board, and finally convinced them that it was a church that was needed and not just a Sunday School. The deputation from Royal Oak finally won its point, and left, with not only the promise of help in the organization of a church, but with a grant of five thousand dollars to assist in such work. The board also "agreed to send us some one each Sunday to preach. "

The committee went to work immediately. A two-column display advertisement (Fig. 2) was placed in The Royal Oak Tribune, then a weekly newspaper. In the same issue, that of February 13, 1914, the following news item appeared:

"Rev. Wm. Jaquess will speak at the Masonic Temple, Sunday morning, Feb. 15, at 10 o'clock. At this time the first step will be taken toward the organization of a Presbyterian Church in Royal Oak. Everybody welcome."

A weekly display advertisement appeared in each succeeding issue of the Tribune until the middle of May.

Fig. 2

Getting good newspaper publicity for the new project presented no problem at all. Mr. W. O. Hullinger, of Mount Pleasant, had purchased the Tribune in the September preceding, and both he and Mrs. Hullinger were to become charter members of the new church. The new owner of the village newspaper was most helpful in those early days. This helpfulness continued during the rest of his lifetime.

As announced, the service was held on Sunday, February 15, at the Masonic Temple, and it was the first service of the new congregation. As this was to be the church home for some time, we illustrate (Fig. 3) the Royal Oak Masonic Temple, which occupied the block east of Williams and south of Fourth Street.

Fig. 3

The Tribune reported the results of this first meeting in its next issue, that of February 20, as follows:

"The Presbyterian service at the Masonic Temple Sunday was largely attended. Not many less than 100 persons were out to attend the service and enthusiasm ran high for the organization of a church in this village. Next Sunday and every Sunday thereafter until further notice, services will be conducted at the same place. Next Sunday a Sunday School will be organized. "

With the blessing of the Board of Church Extension, formal action was taken "for the formation of a Presbyterian Church in Royal Oak." The enthusiastic response to the announcement of the first worship service, addressed by Dr. Jaquess, indicated that the time was right for further action. At a meeting called for the following Tuesday, February 17, two members were appointed to negotiate a lease with the Masonic Temple Association for the use of the temple for church services and other church meetings. Mr. McVicar was elected superintendent, department superintendents were appointed, and a treasurer was selected, indicating that no time was to be lost in getting an active church under way.

At a meeting two weeks later, it was decided to send out weekly notices to prospective members, and a committee was appointed to interview Dr. Pence, pastor of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church, to see if Dr. Jaquess could be obtained to serve as pastor of the new church. Although it was not possible to obtain Dr. Jaquess as permanent pastor, he did address a meeting called for Wednesday evening, March 18. He explained the procedure necessary to organize a Presbyterian Church, and he had brought with him a petition for the signatures of such persons as desired to join in the formation of such an organization. Six trustees were elected at this same meeting, all of them extremely active in the early days of the church. They were H. L. Mellen, D. K. Smith, J. W. Cummings, James McVicar, H. S. Barnard and C. B. Edwards.

Under the efforts of this committee the formal organization of the church moved along swiftly. Work within the membership also gathered momentum. Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Barnard offered to furnish hymnbooks for the church, and there was interest, even at this early date, in securing lands for the purpose of erecting a church building. Mr. E. S. Bristol was appointed to secure options on several parcels of land for a possible church site, and at a meeting held on April 27, a deposit of fifty dollars was voted "for first payment on lot," the total cost to be $1,700. The land first selected by the new organization for a church site was Lot 7, Block 20 of the original village plat, known as Sherman Stevens Plat of the Village of Royal Oak. It was located at the northeast corner of Lafayette and Fifth Streets. That site is now occupied by the west end of the Washington Theatre. At the time of purchase, only a small store building was located in that entire block--at the northwest corner of Washington and Fifth. A pine grove occupied the northeastern part of the block where the Montgomery Ward building is now located.

Negotiations for obtaining the continued use of the Masonic Temple were successful, and an organizational meeting was held there on the 17th of May, 1914. The Detroit Presbytery was represented at this meeting by the Reverends J. D. McDonald and W. T. Jaquess, and Elders Frank H. West and Frank B. Anderson. The Reverend M r . Jaquess moderated the meeting, with C. B. Edwards as secretary.

Articles of Association and By-Laws for the new church were adopted and executed by the proper officers, and Trustees and Ruling Elders were elected. The elders elected at this m e e t i n g were George H. Beach and H. S. Barnard for one-year terms, C. B,. Edwards and Alex Clark for two-year terms, and F. F. Hughes and W. H. Lighthall for three-year terms, and they thereupon became the first Session of the new church.

Trustees were also elected, as follows: John W. Cummings and H. S. Barnard for one-year terms; George H. Johnstone and James M. McVicar for two-year terms, and H. L. Mellen and D. K. Smith for three-year terms. At this same time it was decided to keep open the list of charter members until the first Communion Sabbath, which was set for June 7. On that date the charter was closed, with seventy-nine charter members. (Appendix I)

The closing entry for this significant meeting of May 17 was as follows: "The moderator having declared the church of Royal Oak duly constituted and after prayer, the meeting, upon motion, was adjourned."

With the charter closed and the summer months approaching, formal activity within the congregation seemed to slow down. With the beginning of the fall season, however, the urge to get on with the program again asserted itself, and it was felt that it was now time to call a permanent minister. Dr. Jaquess had helped with the services through June, and as September arrived, the Reverend .V. C. McKnight of Detroit moderated the Session meetings. A congregational meeting for the purpose of calling a minister was announced for the 18th of October, following the morning service, at which Mr. McKnight was the preacher.

At this meeting the following action was taken:

"It was moved and supported that the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, Michigan, call the Reverend Harry H. Blocher to become its pastor. The motion was unanimously carried. "

At the same meeting the salary was fixed at $1,500 per year. To prosecute the call at Presbytery, George H. Beach and D. K. Smith were appointed. It was probably more than mere coincidence that the November meeting of Presbytery was held at the Royal Oak Masonic Temple and on November 19, 1914 "the call of the church was presented by the Presbytery to the Rev. Harry H. Blocher and was accepted by him. The Presbytery then installed him as pastor of the church. "Thus a movement formally begun in January reached fulfillment before the year had ended.