by Scott B. Thompson, Sr.
You may have never heard of Marvin Church. And, you probably never knew it was in Laurens County, much less that actually it still is. Many of you ride by it nearly every week and never knew it was there. Wearing a disguise of clay bricks, Marvin Methodist still stands more than one hundred and thirty years after it was first built. Transported from its original location on the New Buckeye Road in northeastern Laurens County, the small one room church is now a part of Centenary Methodist Church, which recently closed its doors after nearly ninety years of service to the Lord.
The story of Marvin Church actually goes back to January of 1866, when Pro Gustavas Adolfus Holcomb, a teacher from Riddleville, Georgia, opened a school on the old W.O. Prescott Place on the Dublin to Sandersville Road. Sixty seven students came to class on the first day, eager to learn. Holcomb's school house was a one room log structure, measuring only eighteen by twenty feet. Obviously with less than five square feet per pupil, the facility was not large enough to accommodate the students. Parents rushed into action and added a forty by fifty foot shelter. The ten foot tall addition rested upon hearted pine posts. The floor was made of rough pine planks nailed to a foundation of logs. The cover was made from five foot pine boards, cut from local woods and fastened with nails made in a local blacksmith shop. One end of the shelter was boarded up entirely and the others were left open except about three feet around the three sides at the bottom, which gave an appearance of an enclosure.
The primitive school house had no heat. On colder days, the teacher and the students built a large fire out on the grounds and positioned their school benches as close to the heart of the fire as possible. In the school's early days, twenty of the older kids were denied the opportunity to attend school because they were serving in the Confederate army.These young men, who had experienced vast extremes of heat and cold, spent most of their time in outdoor classrooms. In 1867, the Methodist Conference sent the Rev. John Morgan of Guyton, Georgia, to serve as the minister of the Dublin Circuit. At the time, there were only four Methodist churches in the circuit. The main church was in Dublin with three churches located in eastern Laurens County at Boiling Springs, Gethsemane and what would become Lovett Methodist Church, but which was then a small church about one mile north of Lovett, known as "Gopher Hill," taking its name from the fact that gophers had chosen this sand hill for easy digging of their holes.
Church services began in the school, which was affectionately known as "the Shelter." Rev. Morgan kept his appointments to preach on the third Sunday of every month. The Rev. Thomas Harris, a Christian Church minister from Sandersville, preached to his flock late in the evening on every fourth Sunday. Frederick W. Flanders, a member of a clan of Methodist ministers from Johnson and Emanuel Counties, filled in when ever he had a free Sunday.
For nearly a decade, the plan of filing engagements had to suffice until a permanent church could be established. After ten years of planning and hoping, it was the energy of a young minister, H.M. Williams, that provided the impetus to build at church at "the Shelter."
During the four years in which Rev. Morgan served the yet organized and unofficial church, local residents subscribed twelve hundred dollars to build a permanent house of worship. Any building needs a plan and it was obvious that Col. John M. Stubbs was just the man to design the church. Stubbs, a lawyer by profession and a man of many talents, lived just up the road at Tucker's Crossroads, the seat of his wife's family, the Tuckers. Mrs. Stubbs' father was Dr. Nathan Tucker, the largest plantation owner in the area and one of the largest property owners in the county. Stubbs tried several plans and attempted to come up with final cost estimates. He settled on his design which included a magnificent edifice with a tall steeple. His estimate of a cost at five thousand dollars discouraged many citizens whose resources were scant in the days of Reconstruction and its aftermath. The young lawyer's ambitious plans were abandoned in favor of the status quo.
Only when Rev. Williams rekindled up a new interest, did the citizens of the community come forward with their pledges and subscriptions to pay for the framing and weather boarding. A new site one mile south from "the Shelter" was chosen as a more desirable location at a meeting at the old "Shelter."
Sixteen people stepped forward to form the new church to be named Marvin. The members represented many of the oldest and wealthiest citizens of the community. They were: Elijah F. Blackshear, Mrs. Elijah F. Blackshear, William H. Walker, Mrs. William H. Walker, Kinchen H. Walker, Richard A. Kellam, Mrs. Temperance Kellam, Miss Addie F. Kellam, Winfield B. Smith, Alfred A. Morgan, Laura M. Smith, Mrs. Polly Garnto, Mrs. Rebecca Davis, Mrs. I.M. Blackshear, David S. Blackshear, Mrs. Susan Mason and Mrs. Winifred Mason.
The first Board of Stewards was composed of Kinchen H. Walker, Richard A. Kellam, W.B. Smith and David S. Blackshear. After the election of stewards, the next step was to give the church a new name. Suggestions were sought from the members. Some suggested the traditional names such as Evergreen and Olivet. One person suggested naming the new church Guyton in honor of Joseph M. Guyton and Col. C.S. Guyton who had given the land for the site. A disillusioned old gentleman rose from his seat in the back of the church and proposed the name of "Luck and Trouble." Rev. Williams asked the pessimistic old man, who was somewhat of an agnostic, why he suggested that name he supplied should be used. He responded that "they were lucky to get it so far and trouble to get it further." Rev. Williams proposed the name of "Marvin" in honor of Bishop Enoch Mather Marvin. Rev. Williams's suggestion seemed most popular and the new church was given the name of "Marvin."
Robert H. Hightower instructed his mill hands to furnish the lumber from his mill, some sixteen miles away in Johnson County. T.J. Blackshear volunteered to hall the lumber with a three-yoke team of oxen as his matching contribution. David Stout Blackshear directed the construction. With little or no haste the the church was framed, weather boarded and covered The building remained unfinished until about 1885, when the work was finally completed. During the interim, regular services were held at "the Shelter."
After the organizing of Marvin Church, the membership increased until the day of opening the new church A large enrollment of members were present. The church was not dedicated until 1885. Dr. J.O.H. Clark preached the dedication sermon. George C. Thompson was pastor at that time. The following preachers filled the pulpit at intervals. Rev. A.M. Williams, Rev. F.W. Flanders, Rev. Hudson, Rev. Powell, Rev. Hearn. Rev. H.A. Hodges, Rev. Joseph Carr and Rev. G.M. Prescott, a local preacher.
By the 1940s, the church, located on the western side of the Buckeye Road, just before it intersects with the Cullens/Ben Hall Lake Road, was abandoned and was used sparingly for funerals in the church yard cemetery. After decades of abandonment, the building was removed some twenty five years ago and annexed to Centenary Methodist Church on Telfair Street, where it still stands today.
INFORMATION ABOUT MARVIN CHURCH
Written by T.J. Blackshear, son of David S. Blackshear, circa 1900
In January 1866, Pro Gustavas Adolfus Holcomb from Riddleville, Ga. opened a school at what is known as the W.O. Prescott place on the Dublin and Sandersville Road. On the opening day for the school 67 pupils were enrolled.
The school house was a small one room log house about 18 x 20 feet which was not large enough to accommodate 67 pupils. The patrons seeing the predicament they were in hurriedly erected a large shelter 40x50 feet. This shelter rested upon heart pine post let to the ground and extending up ten feet. A pine board floor of rough planks resting on logs laid on the ground which put the ___ wall above the ground. The cover was of five foot board made from pine trees and nailed on small pine poles which were used for laths(?). The boards were nailed on with nails made in the local blacksmith shop and generally known as _ought nails. One end of the shelter was boarded up entirely and the others were left open except about three feet around the three sides at the bottom, which gave an appearance of an enclosure.
There was no provision for heating on cold days. A large fire was kindled in the yard nearby and a few benches moved out for girls and the boys to stand around the fire to keep warm. Among the male pupils was about 20 young men form 17 to 22 years most of whom has served in the Confederate war and had had no opportunity for school advantages during the four year period of the war. The large boys were allowed to spend their study periods out in the yard where they enjoyed the warm sunshine on cold days and the shade during summer.
In 1867, Conference sent Rev. J.M. Morgan from Guyton, Ga. as pastor of the Dublin Circuit, which was at that time composed of Dublin, Gethsemane, Boiling Springs and a small church about one mile north of Lovett, known as "Gopher Hill," taking its name from the fact that gophers had chosen this sand hill for easy digging of their holes.
The Holcomb School shelter was not included in the Dublin Circuit at that time. Rev. Morgan by giving an evening apportionment made good to the Shelter, as it was generally known, and appointment every third Sunday in the month. Rev. Tom Harris, a Christian minister from Sandersville, had an evening appointment for nearly every fourth Sunday. Rev. F.W. Flanders also filled engagements at "The Shelter" when and ______ occurred. This plan of filling engagements at "The Shelter" continued until 1876 when Rev. H.M. Williams then quite a young man full of energy and determination was sent to the Dublin Circuit.
The building of the Methodist Church at the "Shelter" site had been agitated at intervals for several years. At one time during Rev. Morgan’s ministry of four years, twelve hundred dollars was subscribed and Col. John M. Stubbs then a young lawyer living at Tucker’s Cross Roads was instructed to draw plans and make estimates of the cost. He drew a beautiful plan with a tall steeple and estimated the cost at five thousand dollars. This amount seemed so large to many of the citizens until it was like sealing the whole enterprise in ice waters to _______ until 1876.
When Rev. Williams worked up new interest and called a meeting of the public and money enough to pay for framing and weather boarding was subscribed and a new site one mile south from the Shelter was chosen as a more desirable location at a meeting at the old "Shelter." Rev. Williams decided it was best to organize a church. The organization was completed with sixteen names as charter members of the new church. As the ____ members. They were: Elijah F. Blackshear, Mrs. Elijah F. Blackshear, William H. Walker, Mrs. William H. Walker, Kinchen H. Walker, Richard A. Kellam, Mrs. Temperance Kellam, Miss Addie F. Kellam, Winfield B. Smith, Alfred A. Morgan, Laura M. Smith, Mrs. Polly Garnto, Mrs. Rebecca Davis, Mrs. I.M. Blackshear, David S. Blackshear, Mrs. Susan Mason and Mrs. Winifred Mason.
The first board of Stewards was Kinchen H. Walker, Richard A. Kellam, W.B. Smith and David S. Blackshear. After completing the organization of the new church, it was in order to give it a name. All persons were asked to suggest names: Evergeen, Olivet, Guyton (as Joseph M. Guyton and Col. C.S. Guyton had given the land for the site). One old gentleman in the back of the church who was not a member of any church rose and suggested the name of "Luck and Trouble." Rev. Williams asked why he suggested that name he supplied because they were lucky to get it so far and trouble to get it further. Rev. Williams proposed the name of "Marvin" in honor of Bishop Marvin. Rev. Williams’s suggestion seemed most popular and the new church was given the name of "Marvin."
Lumber was immediately furnished from Robert H. Hightower’s mill. The great grandfather of Robert H. now residing in Dublin. The lumber was to be hauled from the mill 16 miles away in Johnson County. T.J. Blackshear with a three-yoke team of oxen did the hauling as a part of his matching contribution.
Work began at once with Mr. D.S. Blackshear as director with any volunteer labor wh came. The church was framed, weather boarded and covered and with no delay and a floor. It remained in a unfinished condition for quite a while and D.S. Blackshear was finally hired to complete the church about 1874 (?) During the time the church was being furnished and ruing the periods work was not progressing, regular services were being conducted at "The Shelter by regular pastors assigned to Marvin Church. The "Old Shelter" be referred to as forge upon which a spring board to the building of a new church.
After the organizing of Marvin Church, the membership increased until the day of opening the new church A large enrollment of members were present. The church was not dedicated until 1885. Dr. J.O.H. Clark preached the dedication sermon. George C. Thompson was Pastor at that time. The following preachers filled the pulpit at intervals. Rev. A.M. Williams, Rev. F.W. Flanders, Rev. Hudson, Rev. Powell, Rev. Hearn. Rev. H.A. Hodges, Rev. Joseph Carr and Rev. G.M. Prescott, a local preacher.
You may have never heard of Marvin Church. And, you probably never knew it was in Laurens County, much less that actually it still is. Many of you ride by it nearly every week and never knew it was there. Wearing a disguise of clay bricks, Marvin Methodist still stands more than one hundred and thirty years after it was first built. Transported from its original location on the New Buckeye Road in northeastern Laurens County, the small one room church is now a part of Centenary Methodist Church, which recently closed its doors after nearly ninety years of service to the Lord.
The story of Marvin Church actually goes back to January of 1866, when Pro Gustavas Adolfus Holcomb, a teacher from Riddleville, Georgia, opened a school on the old W.O. Prescott Place on the Dublin to Sandersville Road. Sixty seven students came to class on the first day, eager to learn. Holcomb's school house was a one room log structure, measuring only eighteen by twenty feet. Obviously with less than five square feet per pupil, the facility was not large enough to accommodate the students. Parents rushed into action and added a forty by fifty foot shelter. The ten foot tall addition rested upon hearted pine posts. The floor was made of rough pine planks nailed to a foundation of logs. The cover was made from five foot pine boards, cut from local woods and fastened with nails made in a local blacksmith shop. One end of the shelter was boarded up entirely and the others were left open except about three feet around the three sides at the bottom, which gave an appearance of an enclosure.
The primitive school house had no heat. On colder days, the teacher and the students built a large fire out on the grounds and positioned their school benches as close to the heart of the fire as possible. In the school's early days, twenty of the older kids were denied the opportunity to attend school because they were serving in the Confederate army.These young men, who had experienced vast extremes of heat and cold, spent most of their time in outdoor classrooms. In 1867, the Methodist Conference sent the Rev. John Morgan of Guyton, Georgia, to serve as the minister of the Dublin Circuit. At the time, there were only four Methodist churches in the circuit. The main church was in Dublin with three churches located in eastern Laurens County at Boiling Springs, Gethsemane and what would become Lovett Methodist Church, but which was then a small church about one mile north of Lovett, known as "Gopher Hill," taking its name from the fact that gophers had chosen this sand hill for easy digging of their holes.
Church services began in the school, which was affectionately known as "the Shelter." Rev. Morgan kept his appointments to preach on the third Sunday of every month. The Rev. Thomas Harris, a Christian Church minister from Sandersville, preached to his flock late in the evening on every fourth Sunday. Frederick W. Flanders, a member of a clan of Methodist ministers from Johnson and Emanuel Counties, filled in when ever he had a free Sunday.
For nearly a decade, the plan of filing engagements had to suffice until a permanent church could be established. After ten years of planning and hoping, it was the energy of a young minister, H.M. Williams, that provided the impetus to build at church at "the Shelter."
During the four years in which Rev. Morgan served the yet organized and unofficial church, local residents subscribed twelve hundred dollars to build a permanent house of worship. Any building needs a plan and it was obvious that Col. John M. Stubbs was just the man to design the church. Stubbs, a lawyer by profession and a man of many talents, lived just up the road at Tucker's Crossroads, the seat of his wife's family, the Tuckers. Mrs. Stubbs' father was Dr. Nathan Tucker, the largest plantation owner in the area and one of the largest property owners in the county. Stubbs tried several plans and attempted to come up with final cost estimates. He settled on his design which included a magnificent edifice with a tall steeple. His estimate of a cost at five thousand dollars discouraged many citizens whose resources were scant in the days of Reconstruction and its aftermath. The young lawyer's ambitious plans were abandoned in favor of the status quo.
Only when Rev. Williams rekindled up a new interest, did the citizens of the community come forward with their pledges and subscriptions to pay for the framing and weather boarding. A new site one mile south from "the Shelter" was chosen as a more desirable location at a meeting at the old "Shelter."
Sixteen people stepped forward to form the new church to be named Marvin. The members represented many of the oldest and wealthiest citizens of the community. They were: Elijah F. Blackshear, Mrs. Elijah F. Blackshear, William H. Walker, Mrs. William H. Walker, Kinchen H. Walker, Richard A. Kellam, Mrs. Temperance Kellam, Miss Addie F. Kellam, Winfield B. Smith, Alfred A. Morgan, Laura M. Smith, Mrs. Polly Garnto, Mrs. Rebecca Davis, Mrs. I.M. Blackshear, David S. Blackshear, Mrs. Susan Mason and Mrs. Winifred Mason.
The first Board of Stewards was composed of Kinchen H. Walker, Richard A. Kellam, W.B. Smith and David S. Blackshear. After the election of stewards, the next step was to give the church a new name. Suggestions were sought from the members. Some suggested the traditional names such as Evergreen and Olivet. One person suggested naming the new church Guyton in honor of Joseph M. Guyton and Col. C.S. Guyton who had given the land for the site. A disillusioned old gentleman rose from his seat in the back of the church and proposed the name of "Luck and Trouble." Rev. Williams asked the pessimistic old man, who was somewhat of an agnostic, why he suggested that name he supplied should be used. He responded that "they were lucky to get it so far and trouble to get it further." Rev. Williams proposed the name of "Marvin" in honor of Bishop Enoch Mather Marvin. Rev. Williams's suggestion seemed most popular and the new church was given the name of "Marvin."
Robert H. Hightower instructed his mill hands to furnish the lumber from his mill, some sixteen miles away in Johnson County. T.J. Blackshear volunteered to hall the lumber with a three-yoke team of oxen as his matching contribution. David Stout Blackshear directed the construction. With little or no haste the the church was framed, weather boarded and covered The building remained unfinished until about 1885, when the work was finally completed. During the interim, regular services were held at "the Shelter."
After the organizing of Marvin Church, the membership increased until the day of opening the new church A large enrollment of members were present. The church was not dedicated until 1885. Dr. J.O.H. Clark preached the dedication sermon. George C. Thompson was pastor at that time. The following preachers filled the pulpit at intervals. Rev. A.M. Williams, Rev. F.W. Flanders, Rev. Hudson, Rev. Powell, Rev. Hearn. Rev. H.A. Hodges, Rev. Joseph Carr and Rev. G.M. Prescott, a local preacher.
By the 1940s, the church, located on the western side of the Buckeye Road, just before it intersects with the Cullens/Ben Hall Lake Road, was abandoned and was used sparingly for funerals in the church yard cemetery. After decades of abandonment, the building was removed some twenty five years ago and annexed to Centenary Methodist Church on Telfair Street, where it still stands today.
INFORMATION ABOUT MARVIN CHURCH
Written by T.J. Blackshear, son of David S. Blackshear, circa 1900
In January 1866, Pro Gustavas Adolfus Holcomb from Riddleville, Ga. opened a school at what is known as the W.O. Prescott place on the Dublin and Sandersville Road. On the opening day for the school 67 pupils were enrolled.
The school house was a small one room log house about 18 x 20 feet which was not large enough to accommodate 67 pupils. The patrons seeing the predicament they were in hurriedly erected a large shelter 40x50 feet. This shelter rested upon heart pine post let to the ground and extending up ten feet. A pine board floor of rough planks resting on logs laid on the ground which put the ___ wall above the ground. The cover was of five foot board made from pine trees and nailed on small pine poles which were used for laths(?). The boards were nailed on with nails made in the local blacksmith shop and generally known as _ought nails. One end of the shelter was boarded up entirely and the others were left open except about three feet around the three sides at the bottom, which gave an appearance of an enclosure.
There was no provision for heating on cold days. A large fire was kindled in the yard nearby and a few benches moved out for girls and the boys to stand around the fire to keep warm. Among the male pupils was about 20 young men form 17 to 22 years most of whom has served in the Confederate war and had had no opportunity for school advantages during the four year period of the war. The large boys were allowed to spend their study periods out in the yard where they enjoyed the warm sunshine on cold days and the shade during summer.
In 1867, Conference sent Rev. J.M. Morgan from Guyton, Ga. as pastor of the Dublin Circuit, which was at that time composed of Dublin, Gethsemane, Boiling Springs and a small church about one mile north of Lovett, known as "Gopher Hill," taking its name from the fact that gophers had chosen this sand hill for easy digging of their holes.
The Holcomb School shelter was not included in the Dublin Circuit at that time. Rev. Morgan by giving an evening apportionment made good to the Shelter, as it was generally known, and appointment every third Sunday in the month. Rev. Tom Harris, a Christian minister from Sandersville, had an evening appointment for nearly every fourth Sunday. Rev. F.W. Flanders also filled engagements at "The Shelter" when and ______ occurred. This plan of filling engagements at "The Shelter" continued until 1876 when Rev. H.M. Williams then quite a young man full of energy and determination was sent to the Dublin Circuit.
The building of the Methodist Church at the "Shelter" site had been agitated at intervals for several years. At one time during Rev. Morgan’s ministry of four years, twelve hundred dollars was subscribed and Col. John M. Stubbs then a young lawyer living at Tucker’s Cross Roads was instructed to draw plans and make estimates of the cost. He drew a beautiful plan with a tall steeple and estimated the cost at five thousand dollars. This amount seemed so large to many of the citizens until it was like sealing the whole enterprise in ice waters to _______ until 1876.
When Rev. Williams worked up new interest and called a meeting of the public and money enough to pay for framing and weather boarding was subscribed and a new site one mile south from the Shelter was chosen as a more desirable location at a meeting at the old "Shelter." Rev. Williams decided it was best to organize a church. The organization was completed with sixteen names as charter members of the new church. As the ____ members. They were: Elijah F. Blackshear, Mrs. Elijah F. Blackshear, William H. Walker, Mrs. William H. Walker, Kinchen H. Walker, Richard A. Kellam, Mrs. Temperance Kellam, Miss Addie F. Kellam, Winfield B. Smith, Alfred A. Morgan, Laura M. Smith, Mrs. Polly Garnto, Mrs. Rebecca Davis, Mrs. I.M. Blackshear, David S. Blackshear, Mrs. Susan Mason and Mrs. Winifred Mason.
The first board of Stewards was Kinchen H. Walker, Richard A. Kellam, W.B. Smith and David S. Blackshear. After completing the organization of the new church, it was in order to give it a name. All persons were asked to suggest names: Evergeen, Olivet, Guyton (as Joseph M. Guyton and Col. C.S. Guyton had given the land for the site). One old gentleman in the back of the church who was not a member of any church rose and suggested the name of "Luck and Trouble." Rev. Williams asked why he suggested that name he supplied because they were lucky to get it so far and trouble to get it further. Rev. Williams proposed the name of "Marvin" in honor of Bishop Marvin. Rev. Williams’s suggestion seemed most popular and the new church was given the name of "Marvin."
Lumber was immediately furnished from Robert H. Hightower’s mill. The great grandfather of Robert H. now residing in Dublin. The lumber was to be hauled from the mill 16 miles away in Johnson County. T.J. Blackshear with a three-yoke team of oxen did the hauling as a part of his matching contribution.
Work began at once with Mr. D.S. Blackshear as director with any volunteer labor wh came. The church was framed, weather boarded and covered and with no delay and a floor. It remained in a unfinished condition for quite a while and D.S. Blackshear was finally hired to complete the church about 1874 (?) During the time the church was being furnished and ruing the periods work was not progressing, regular services were being conducted at "The Shelter by regular pastors assigned to Marvin Church. The "Old Shelter" be referred to as forge upon which a spring board to the building of a new church.
After the organizing of Marvin Church, the membership increased until the day of opening the new church A large enrollment of members were present. The church was not dedicated until 1885. Dr. J.O.H. Clark preached the dedication sermon. George C. Thompson was Pastor at that time. The following preachers filled the pulpit at intervals. Rev. A.M. Williams, Rev. F.W. Flanders, Rev. Hudson, Rev. Powell, Rev. Hearn. Rev. H.A. Hodges, Rev. Joseph Carr and Rev. G.M. Prescott, a local preacher.
Interesting info, Scott. I've thought often thought about taking a trip around the state and photographing backroad country churches. I don't know if I have that much time, though. There's a bunch! :^)
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I found this by researching my grandfather on ancestry Giglamesh Kenneth Kellam Keen February 17th 1920-November 20th 1964 Burgamy Laurens County Georgia.
ReplyDeleteC.J.B. 8:11 MON 1 JUNE 2020 P.S.Happy Birthday Daddy!