McConnelsville in Morgan County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
First McConnelsville Christmas Tree
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 2, 2008
1. First McConnelsville Christmas Tree Marker
Inscription.
First McConnelsville Christmas Tree. . This former Universalist Church, which held a strong conviction for education and the pursuit of knowledge, was built in 1852 at a cost of $3,500. In 1865, its members decorated the first Christmas tree to be placed in a church in McConnelsville. Two years later they installed a pipe organ at a cost of $1,000, the first such organ in the community. The first Sunday School Library was also added, allowing members to borrow books and return them a week later. A number of prominent local families attended the church, including the Manly, Whitiker, Beckett, Arrick, and Murray families from the 1850s through the early twentieth century. Richard Bilbe, a former slave who had been freed, served as an early trustee of the church and attended with his family. The church was restored and reopened as a non-denominational church in 1997.
This former Universalist Church, which held a strong conviction for education and the pursuit of knowledge, was built in 1852 at a cost of $3,500. In 1865, its members decorated the first Christmas tree to be placed in a church in McConnelsville. Two years later they installed a pipe organ at a cost of $1,000, the first such organ in the community. The first Sunday School Library was also added, allowing members to borrow books and return them a week later. A number of prominent local families attended the church, including the Manly, Whitiker, Beckett, Arrick, and Murray families from the 1850s through the early twentieth century. Richard Bilbe, a former slave who had been freed, served as an early trustee of the church and attended with his family. The church was restored and reopened as a non-denominational church in 1997.
Erected 2003 by Finley Fire Equipment Company and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 13-58.)
N, 81° 51.19′ W. Marker is in McConnelsville, Ohio, in Morgan County. Marker is at the intersection of Kennebec Avenue (Ohio Route 276) and Jefferson Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Kennebec Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 210 N Kennebec Avenue, McConnelsville OH 43756, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 2, 2008
2. First McConnelsville Christmas Tree Marker
Looking south along Kennebec Street toward courthouse (white steepled building).
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., November 2, 2008
3. First McConnelsville Christmas Tree Marker
Mt. Airy Marker can be seen behind Christmas Tree marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 898 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 7, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
