Okeechobee in Okeechobee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
First United Methodist Church of Okeechobee, Florida
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, October 30, 2018
1. First United Methodist Church of Okeechobee, Florida Marker
Inscription.
First United Methodist Church of Okeechobee, Florida. . In May 1915, Reverend William Troutman and seven founders established the First United Methodist Church (Methodist Episcopal Church South). The first church building was completed in 1916 on land donated by the Okeechobee Company, a Henry Flagler company. The one-story, wood structure was the first church building in the city of Okeechobee. The building was moved to an adjoining lot in 1921 to make way for construction of this brick church building, whose plans were approved that same year. Seed money for the construction was raised by a William Jennings Bryan lecture and the building was completed debt free in 1924. The brick church features replacement stained glass windows installed in original "rose" window frames and a Reuter pipe organ installed in 1944. The original wood building served as the parsonage until 1969, then was used as the Heart and Hand Mission and youth building until its demolition in 1979. The church has served the community by hosting Okeechobee High School graduations, numerous weddings, funerals, music programs, and other events. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 in celebration of the centennial of the first church building in Okeechobee.
In May 1915, Reverend William Troutman and seven founders established the First United Methodist Church (Methodist Episcopal Church South). The first church building was completed in 1916 on land donated by the Okeechobee Company, a Henry Flagler company. The one-story, wood structure was the first church building in the city of Okeechobee. The building was moved to an adjoining lot in 1921 to make way for construction of this brick church building, whose plans were approved that same year. Seed money for the construction was raised by a William Jennings Bryan lecture and the building was completed debt free in 1924. The brick church features replacement stained glass windows installed in original "rose" window frames and a Reuter pipe organ installed in 1944. The original wood building served as the parsonage until 1969, then was used as the Heart & Hand Mission and youth building until its demolition in 1979. The church has served the community by hosting Okeechobee High School graduations, numerous weddings, funerals, music programs, and other events. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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in 2015 in celebration of the centennial of the first church building in Okeechobee.
Erected 2016 by First United Methodist Church of Okeechobee, Florida and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-921.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1915.
Location. 27° 14.692′ N, 80° 49.887′ W. Marker is in Okeechobee, Florida, in Okeechobee County. It is at the intersection of Northwest 2nd Street and Northwest 2nd Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Northwest 2nd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Northwest 2nd Street, Okeechobee FL 34972, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Florida. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum
Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 828 times since then and 103 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 14, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3. submitted on May 20, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
