1950
H.H. Ramsey's 1950 poem "Hopewell" described the church's storied presence in the community. 1952
Reverend Paxton died on April 1, 1952 at the age of 95, and he is buried at Hopewell Cemetery. 1958
The 150th anniversary of Hopewell was celebrated at the annual homecoming. No homecomings were held in the following 8 years. |
1961
Hopewell was deemed unsafe for the public in 1961 after a state building inspection. The inspector found that it needed to be re-plastered, the floors repaired, and light, heat, and toilet facilities be installed. Heat and lighting costs could be avoided if the church was used only in summer. The original beams from 1814 were in place and pews in good condition, but with no guttering the foundation may have been damaged. Repair costs were estimated to range from $10,000-$15,000. To prevent the building from being torn down, ownership was transferred from the national group to the Miami Presbytery. |
Interested in learning more about our history? We have publications on the church available for order.
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