LaGrange church of christ – home page and index

Note – For scanned document copies related to land and building projects, see the financial Records page

Land and Building

In September 1954, the congregation purchased land from Noel and Georgia Rowan. The land began to be leveled on April 7, 1955. The building roof was completed on December 31, 1955. Interior work began on April 13, 1956, and the congregation met in the building for the first time on September 23, 1956. Dedication Sunday was declared for September 30^th, and advertised with the Charles Coil Gospel Meeting in the LaGrange Standard newspaper.

On October 14, 1957, the congregation borrowed $4,000 to construct a preacher’s house. Contributions toward the preacher’s house were received from several other congregations and members around the U.S. The preacher’s house was completed in the spring of 1958, and Paul Hosse’s family was the first to occupy it that year.

In September 1959, the men decided to cement the ground under the preacher’s house carport and construct a shop (“the shed”) at the east end of the auditorium. On November 4, 1959, the men decided to borrow $200 to complete the two projects.

In November 1962, the congregation completed the auditorium, with painted plaster on the brick walls and ceiling, and tile on the cement floor. The painting was done on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1963. The floor tile was installed on January 2^nd. The chairs were reset on January 5^th.

On April 6, 1964, the men decided to make and mount “CHURCH OF CHRIST” letters on the west side (Townline Road side) of the church building. The letters were mounted on May 8^th.

On August 3, 1964, the men decided to install sidewalks at the church building. They were finished August 22^nd.

In October 1964, the men installed a partition in the back of the auditorium for a classroom.

On December 17, 1964, the congregation placed an order with Endicott for pews to replace their auditorium chairs. The pews were installed by Endicott on February 6, 1965.

On January 6, 1965, the congregation ordered a fixed pulpit stand and communion table from Middlebury Church Furniture Company.

In May 1967, curb stops were added to the parking lot.

In October 1968, the congregation put new shingles on the church building roof.

Starting March 1969, the congregation remodeled and installed carpeting in the preacher’s house. The project was finished on June 25^th.

On September 7, 1969, the men decided to build four new classrooms to the west of the existing building. The large classroom at the back of the auditorium was to be converted into a nursery with a window into the auditorium. An additional 20’ of land south of the church building was purchased from Georgia Rowan for $200. On October 28^th the project started with tearing out the porch, to turn it the other direction. As part of the project, the partition was removed in the rest room, making one large ladies’ rest room. The men’s rest room was included in the new wing. On February 4^th, carpet was laid in the new addition, with enough left over for a runner in the auditorium. The North Central congregation in Indianapolis provided most of the tables and chairs. Other furnishings, painting, and exterior brickwork were completed throughout 1970.

On April 7, 1971, the men decided to purchase Georgia Rowan’s remaining lot on the northeast corner of the intersection of Church Street and Townline Road, at a cost of $1,000.

In July 1971, the men decided to finish the parking lot with limestone.

On July 23, 1972, the men decided to add two bedrooms and another bathroom at the west end of the preacher’s house. The addition was completed in time for Norm and Merilyn Herron’s family, with their five children, to occupy on August 29^th.

On September 12, 1976, the men decided to proceed with a new classroom addition south of the auditorium. The addition nearly doubled the square footage of the building. It was first used by the teens on January 16, 1977. The teens, hosting the first LaGrange Youth Rally, used the unfinished lobby, aisle and fellowship room for their worship service and potluck lunch. The carpet installation began on April 6^th. On April 22^nd, the baseboards and molding were completed. The classroom addition began regular use on April 24, 1977.

On November 26, 1978, the men decided to purchase Fay’s Pizza property on the southeast corner of the intersection of Central Avenue (US-20) and Townline Road, at a cost of $30,000. The purchase completed the congregation’s land expansion for the entire block along Townline Road, and increased the exposure of the building to the heavy traffic on US-20.