On December 23, 1889, a few weeks after Washington became a state, the Presbyterian Church in Oakesdale was organized with 17 members. The Reverend B. F. Totten was the organizing pastor. Over a period of six years eight preachers took turns occupying the Presbyterian pulpit. In 1904 the Reverend Leo Totten began a five year pastorate. He was followed by the Reverend Luther Williams, who stayed for five additional years. (NOTE: Excerpted from "A Brief History of the Community Presbyterian Church of Oakesdale, Wash.,"
During the early 1930s, a Community Presbyterian Church was organized, and a building was constructed on the site of the former Methodist Church South. It was served until 1937 by the Rev. Haskell E. Tudor, a former Methodist pastor.
On June 22, 1936 Clarence Crow was authorized to demolish the South Methodist Church. This now became the site of the new Presbyterian Church, incorporated on November 7, 1936 as the Community Presbyterian Church of Oakesdale, Washington. The building was completed with the help of a $1,500 loan from the Cemetery Improvement Association and a $5,000 loan from the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church (U. S. A.). Completion of the sanctuary was accomplished with the help of many volunteers from the community. In 1940 the old Presbyterian Church was sold at the price of $100.
In 1969 the sanctuary was remodeled at a cost of about $9,000.
Records of Community Presbyterian Church, Oakesdale, Washington, icluding minutes of the Session, Deacons, and the Board of Trustees. There is a strong section on the construction of the present church, which was accomplished to a great extent with volunteer labor.
Series Introduction
Series History
Series Administration
This collection is open for research use
This collection is open for use
This collection was first processed on February 2004 and last updated on April 12, 2004