COLLEGE CHURCH (2): CONSTRUCTING A CHURCH Way back when there were only three Nazarene churches in Nampa, First church and North Nampa had an understanding that students and faculty of the college would attend COLLEGE CHURCH. Founded in 1937, the congregation met in Emerson Hall auditorium, where students were required to attend chapel during the week. Lots of services in that big slanted room with the side and back balconies! (College High students were required to be in the side upper balconies every Friday.) By the time Pastor Corlett became President and Pastor Riley came from the east coast, it was evident that the congregation needed a new building. Sunday School would bring in 1,000, and chairs had to be set up in the hallways for the Sunday services. Riley lead a campaign (1945+) to raise money, Finkbeiner painted a rising red on the money thermometer mounted on the wall as people gave until it hurt. F.A. Powell and building constructor W.D. Parsons were major movers and planners. Those of us who were around when the building was going up on the corner across the street remember the ground breaking, the construction (Saturdays by the congregation itself), the cornerstone laying (1948), and the march across the campus (1949) for the formal dedication of the largest church in the State of Idaho. The students made the march one week when chapel was officially moved out of Emerson Hall. And so it has been. For half a century. My most vivid memory is carrying the big metal lemonade pitcher (army surplus) to volunteer workers on Saturdays and secretly climbing the scaffolding into the tower (certainly at risk to life and limb—mothers and fathers were too busy working to notice the crazy kids). ( Coming: ESSAY #3 has been written by Junella Finkbeiner)
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 17:02:11 +0000
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