Las Sabinas, Volume 35, Number 4, 2009 Page: 6
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Las Sabinas History Journal and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Orange County Historical Society.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Even as the small congregation began to show signs of recovery, tragedy struck
again. The previously mentioned hurricane of 1865 came just seven months later,
destroying their building. Because early church minutes and records were destroyed in a
house fire, little is known of the remaining years of the century and the beginning of the
next. A photograph taken around 1905 shows a small white building in a grove of moss-
draped trees. Beside it a large number of well-dressed people stood posing for the
camera.
Through the years, services were held sometimes once a month, at other periods,
twice a month. Records do not show when services began to be held every Sunday.
Minutes from August 1925, report plans to begin a Sunday School. A church roll of 1927
includes 73 members including sixteen Pevetos, four Furtons, four Wilkinsons, six
Walleas, four Stantons, four Dormans and four Arringtons, among others.
Additions were made to the small white building during World War I. A
baptistery was added in the late 30's or early 40's. Finally, a large two-story building
held the many activities of the congregation. For at least the second time, the church
minutes and other records were destroyed when the home of Joe and Vallie Harmon
Burned in 1950.
In 1954, groundbreaking was held for the construction of an education building.
T.F. Collier was pastor. Construction continued under the ministry of J.D. Horton and
was completed during Louis Self's pastorate. Also during Louis Self's tenue, the west
education building was built and the middle children's (education) building bricked. The
frame two-story building was sold and removed. A new sanctuary was completed in the
late 1950's (18) and the large white building was torn down. A parsonage was
constructed in the early 1960's during the pastorate of James Bond.
The activities building, containing a gym. Classrooms, fellowship hall and
kitchen, was built in 1973 under the direction of the pastor, Bobby Spross. (19) Also
during his pastorate, a new sanctuary, office suite, nursey department and music
department was completed in December 1979. The old sanctuary was remodeled shortly
into a chapel and classrooms. Bobby Spross retired in April 1993 after 22 years as
pastor, having the longest tenure of any pastor of Old First Orange Baptist Church to
date.
In November of that year, Don V. Richey, Jr. was called as pastor and served until
October 1995. The office suite, nursery, and chapel were remodeled, and a playground
was built during that time. Bailey Harris became the pastor in September 1996. In 2000,
the west educational building was completely remodeled. In September 2005, Hurricane
Rita swept through southeast Texas. For the second time in the church's history, the
sanctuary was destroyed by a hurricane. It was rebuilt on the same site; the structure was
completed in May, 2007.
Old First Orange Baptist Church has long been recognized as a "mission-minded"
church. Gifts to the Cooperative Program and to special mission offerings have been6
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View seven pages within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Orange County Historical Society (Tex.). Las Sabinas, Volume 35, Number 4, 2009, periodical, 2009; Orange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth312948/m1/12/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Orange County Historical Society.