Oscoda in Iosco County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First Methodist Church

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018

1. First Methodist Church Marker

Inscription.
Erected in 1865 A.D. by the pioneer lumberman, Henry Martin Loud, who in that year founded in this area one of the largest lumber operations in Michigan.

The church burned in the fire which destroyed the town of Au Sable and most of the adjoining town of Oscoda, July 11, 1911, with the loss of four lives and three thousand persons rendered homeless. The Reverend Levi Bird was the pastor at that time.

Erected by Iosco County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Disasters. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 44° 25.177′ N, 83° 19.912′ W. Marker is in Oscoda, Michigan, in Iosco County. Marker is at the intersection of West Dwight Avenue and Pearl Street, on the right when traveling west on West Dwight Avenue. Marker is mounted at waist-level, directly on the Oscoda United Methodist Church, near the southwest corner of the building, facing south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 West Dwight Avenue, Oscoda MI 48750, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Dock Reserve (approx. ¼ mile away); The Louis Chevalier Claim (approx. half a mile away); Greenbush School (approx. 11½ miles away); East Tawas Veterans Memorial

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(approx. 12½ miles away); Earl T. O’Loughlin (approx. 12½ miles away); Rodman Water Power Sawmill (approx. 12.7 miles away); Brass Range Marker (approx. 12.7 miles away); The Changing Shape of Tawas Point (approx. 12.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oscoda.

More about this marker. Marker is a large, rust-colored, embossed, metal plaque, possibly copper.

Regarding First Methodist Church. A forest fire closed in on Oscoda and the adjacent town of Au Sable, causing their 1,800 inhabitants to escape the flames in a large steamship and a special train made up of freight cars. As the people were hurried to safety, the fires descended and destroyed both towns. Several other towns were threatened and 40 cars and two bridges of the Michigan Central Railroad were also destroyed.

Also see . . .
1. The 1911 Oscoda, Michigan Fire. Swedish Finn Historical Society website entry (Submitted on September 1, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Henry Martin Loud. Wikipedia entry:
Henry Martin Loud (1824—1905) was a Michigan lumber magnate, politician, lay Methodist preacher, and philanthropist. Loud was a contributor

First Methodist Church Marker (<i>wide view; marker visible near left edge of building</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018

2. First Methodist Church Marker (wide view; marker visible near left edge of building)

to the Bayview Association of the United Methodist Church "a pioneering institution in public education" which bears a building — Loud Hall — in his name. Loud was president of White Iron Lake, Iron And Water Power Company and owned 500 acres of land in Paloma, California for citrus farming. H. M. Loud & Sons was established in 1885 with stock of the Au Sable & North Western Railroad incorporated in 1891. A decedent of Clan MacLeoid of Scotland by his father Austin Loud, his lineage also traces to Jonathan Brewster (eldest son of Elder William Brewster and Mary Brewster of the Mayflower Voyage). (Submitted on September 30, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Oscoda United Methodist Church (<i>wide view; southwest corner</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018

3. Oscoda United Methodist Church (wide view; southwest corner)

Oscoda United Methodist Church (<i>west side view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018

4. Oscoda United Methodist Church (west side view)

Oscoda United Methodist Church (<i>southeast corner view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2018

5. Oscoda United Methodist Church (southeast corner view)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 30, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.