BUMC History - 1910's

1916 Sanctuary

Building on Faith
Struggling to get a new red carpet for the church. The women asked Levi Longfellow for a donation. Instead they received a challenge, "You raise $10,000 for a new church and I will double it!" The money was raised and the church was dedicated in 1916, debt free.

Two Churches Unite
During WWI the 45 member Baptist church and the 55 member Methodist church joined together in hosting services every other week in each others buildings. When the Baptist church closed, its members joined the Methodists bringing with them their church bell.

The Baptist Church Bell
Our center bell which hangs in the bell tower originally came from an old Congregational Church in Huntington, Connecticut. Mrs. J. Ham, a member of that congregation, came as an early pioneer to Brooklyn Center where she joined the Baptist Church. It was through her efforts that this bell was purchased.

The congregations of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Baptist Church eventually merged. When the Baptist Church was torn down, the bell was saved and brought to our church.

When Brooklyn was remodeled and a new Sanctuary was built in 1970, the current bell tower was installed. The bells on either side of the Baptist bell were purchased during this time as well. The largest bell is part of the music system or carillon which can be heard each Sunday. The other bell is for decoration only.

National History 1910-1919

	1911 - Triangle Shirtwaist Company building in New York City catches on fire (146 die)
	1913 - Henry Ford creates assembly lines
	1914 - 1st Hollywood feature
	1914 - Charlie Chaplin debuts his most famous character: "The Tramp"
	1916 - "Self shopping" store opens
	1916 - National Women's Party formed
	1916 - The U.S. buys the Virgin Islands
	1917 - U.S. enters World War I
	1918 - U.S. airmail service inaugurated
	1919 - 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified (Prohibition begins)
	1919 - Boy Scouts of America is founded
	1919 - Black Sox scandal rocks baseball

World Events 1910-1919

	1912 - The Titanic sinks
	1914 - World War I begins
	1915 - 1st Transcontinental phone call is made
	1918 - World War I ends