BUMC History - 1860's

First Church Building

Location, location, location...
Although there have been many changes in the church's structure since the first building in 1866, Brooklyn United Methodist Church has stood at the same location all these many years.

In 1862 men were leaving as "volunteers" for the Civil War. Hard years followed, but the classes of devout people continued to meet. Even though 75 men from this community left to fight in the war, the women, almost single handedly, kept their meetings and the Sunday School alive.

As the years passed the need for a church became apparent. On November 4, 1865, despite the lean years of the Civil War, the board of Trustees authorized a 23' x 40' church building to be built. This new building was dedicated on July 6, 1866 and the first meetings were held in the new church on September 16, 1866. The cost of the building was $123.00.

A parsonage was built in 1867. This building burned in 1916.

Short history of the Circuit Rider

Circuit Rider: A minister who rode from place to place to preach along a circuit.

Circuit: A periodical journey around an accustomed territory to perform certain duties, as by judges, ministers, or salesmen. The route followed or district covered.

After a 10-day session, Circuit riders would depart for their widely separated fields, following the wagon trails of the early settlers. The Methodist Circuit Rider began his epoch-making career as evangelist, pastor, organizer, and builder. The Circuit Rider was often also the schoolmaster and founder of schools and colleges. In most cases, he was a single man and traveled on horseback with clothes and books in his saddlebags. He preached in homes and crude chapels.

National History 1860-1869

	1860 - Impressionism starts in the art world
	1860 - Pony Express founded
	1860 - Abraham Lincoln elected President
	1860 - Southern States Secede
	1861 - Abraham Lincoln Inaugurated
	1861 - Civil War begins
	1863 - Emancipation Proclamation issued
	1865 - The South surrenders ending the U.S. Civil War
	1865 - Abraham Lincoln assassinated
	1865 - 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishes slavery
	1866 - 1st Transatlantic telegraph wire
	1867 - U.S. buys Alaska from Russia
	1867 - Dominion of Canada established
	1868-1870 - 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution extends voting rights to African-Americans (African American Extended Citizenship Rights Act)
	1868 - The 1st commercially successful plastic, Celluloid, is developed
	1868 - Typewriter invented
	1869 - Women's Suffrage begins with the creation of the National Women's Suffrage Association
	1869 - 1st Transcontinental Railroad completed