KOLMONT CELEBRATES A CENTURY — Kolmont Community Church, located at 48 Finley Road in Mingo Junction, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Situated three miles outside of the village, the church was established on Nov. 8, 1925. The Kolmont Sunday School was erected two years earlier, with the non-denominational church to follow. Members of the church celebrated the anniversary on Aug. 8 to ensure inclement weather wouldn’t effect the commemoration, officials explained. Memorabilia from throughout the last century was gathered and set on display. All of the collected items, including newspaper articles, photographs and remembrances from throughout the years, will be kept in a special section of the church where they can be viewed at any time. The church always welcomes new people, with its saying, “You are only a visitoronce.” Because thereafter, you will be a part of the church’s family. -- Contributed

MINGO JUNCTION — Once upon a time, there was a little white church. A church that sat along a winding, twisting road in the heart of the Ohio Valley.

Although Sunday Schools are usually formed by the people within a church, this particular structure did just the opposite.

This little white church was formed from the already-existing Kolmont Sunday School … a building offering its community an adult Bible class, a senior class and intermediate and primary classes.

One might wonder if a church established from a Sunday School would ever even make it.

For those wondering, that little white church would indeed make it; and one day, even celebrate its 100th anniversary.

TREASURED MEMORIES — Sunday School teacher Ruby Grimes has been a member of the Kolmont Community Church since the 1960s. She, along with Robb Townsend, superintendent of Sunday School, and Grimes’ granddaughter, Maureen Black, church secretary, worked to organize, locate and arrange memorabilia for the church’s 100th anniversary celebration, held during the summer. Grimes put together the framed photographs of past church members for younger generations to remember those who came before them. A quilt that was made by members of the quilting committee in 1952-53, was put on display, detailing all of the church members’ signatures sewn onto the quilt. It is estimated the quilt took at least a year to complete. -- Julie Stenger

Situated three miles outside of Mingo Junction, on what is referred to as Goulds Road, lies what used to be a little white church. The men of the village helped to build the church using money that had been donated and placed into a fund.

Surrounded by much larger villages and cities, including Wintersville, Steubenville, New Alexandria and Brilliant, that little white church was completed without any debt remaining. It would be established on Nov. 8, 1925, under the name Kolmont Community Church — a play on words since the church sat within a coal-mining town.

The Rev. Marion Jeffers was the church’s first pastor, serving from 1925-27. L.L. Hoover then took over, leading the congregation from 1927-31.

And then came a pastor whom no one had expected.

Her name was the Rev. Anne Butcher.

Some of the memorabilia that was collected and organized for this year’s 100th-anniversary celebration at the church. Kolmont Sunday School teacher Ruby Grimes helped to get everything organized, as there was no bookkeeping done. -- Julie Stenger

Butcher would make her way to the little mining cottage located on Goulds Road every Sunday. She would minister for the 17 members in her congregation. During those days, it was the era of the Great Depression and rare for a woman to take on the role of a pastor.

It was even rarer when the pastor was a widow and raising a young daughter on her own. But the congregation grew to love Butcher.

What’s more, the congregation grew. And grew.

Before anyone realized it, approximately 20 years had passed since the little white church was first erected.

Butcher’s daughter, Peggy, would recall as an adult of the times when the church would become so crowded on Sundays, that people had to sit outside in their cars near the windows because there was no space left inside.

The Rev. Anne Butcher conducted Sunday services at Kolmont Community Church from 1931-66. She then served as pastor emeritus from 1967-92. It was a rarity in those days for a woman to be a minister. Known then as the “little white church in the valley,” Butcher had 17 members in her congregation. She and the Rev. Gene Erwin exchanged thoughts at the pulpit in December 1980, the year Erwin took over the position from the Rev. James Nesselroad Sr. -- Contributed

Peggy even remembered a time when the building began swaying and people were worried the church would fall in.

The congregation realized it was time for a new structure to be built. They said goodbye to that little white church, which was demolished and replaced with a bigger church to accommodate the congregation and visiting guests.

Butcher had stated she would always remember the first Sunday in June 1953, because it was the day the little white church was replaced with a “beautiful, red-brick building.”

A building fund was established, and the cornerstone of the current building was laid on June 7, 1953. Exactly three years later, the church would be dedicated. What’s more, the church was debt free. Butcher had explained everything had been paid for through the building fund with the exception of three pews and carpeting. The carpeting was paid for by the end of the month.

The new Kolmont Community Church served its purpose for decades, until once again, there was a need for a larger building.

Butcher remained with the church from 1931-66, having to leave after she suffered a heart attack. She remained pastor emeritus from 1967-92.

Lloyd Samuel Retzer came on as the church’s pastor in 1985, serving until 2017, then, as pastor emeritus until 2019. Under his 35-year leadership, membership continued to grow and another series of building funds started to be collected.

However, this time, the building would not be torn down, but would rather build on an addition.

Ground was broken on that addition in July 2005.

The new area would be dedicated, along with a baptism as the first service held within the addition, in February 2006. The loan on the addition had been paid in full even prior to the planned date.

Again, the church was debt-free.

While the church will officially celebrate its 100th anniversary from when it was established on Nov. 8, church members and guests held a century-long celebration on Aug. 8.

Ruby Grimes has been a member of the Kolmont Community Church since the 1960s. Her granddaughter, Maureen Black, has served as church secretary for five years. Together, the two related on how the celebration went and what the church means to the people who attend.

Grimes is a Sunday School teacher who has served in a number of capacities throughout the years. She has been the Sunday School superintendent, a member of the pulpit committee, the choir leader and choir member, in charge of taking care of the flowers at the church and leading Vacation Bible School for years.

She, along with a group that included current Sunday School Superintendent Robb Townsend, organized all of the memorabilia for the church’s 100-year anniversary. Among the items which needed to be sorted and tended to were, photographs, memory albums containing newspaper clippings, quilts and more. She explained these will be kept in Butcher’s former office for viewing.

Grimes created a framed photo containing several pictures of former church members so families can see their grandparents and great-grandparents in the years ahead. History is of importance to her, so this project held special meaning, she said.

Black said her grandmother is one of the members who has been there for decades, noting perhaps the longest-attending members are Pat Fellows and Ruth Ann and Esther Paulman, sisters who married brothers.

According to Black, the Paulman sisters wed brothers Alan and Donald Fugett, whose grandfather was from the original family that started the Sunday School.

Grimes and Black recalled the story of how the Fugett brothers’ grandfather drove a truck for the Steubenville Fruit Co. and emptied the truck on Sundays so he could ride children to church.

Another centerpiece that was a focal point at the anniversary celebration was a quilt sewn by the Woman’s Quilting Group in 1953. The project took approximately a year to complete, according to Grimes. She explained how everyone who was a member of the church was asked to sign their name, and the signatures were given to the sewing group, who then sewed the signatures onto to the quilt in the form of various shapes.

The quilt is a priceless piece which the church is proud of, Grimes noted, adding the group formed a welcome circle Sunday School class and made quilts that were given to missionaries.

Black stated one church member purchased the home of Butcher’s daughter, Peggy, and discovered only recently a quilt in the attic area. When asked if the church wanted the quilt, which was more-than-likely made by the woman’s circle, officials could not turn down the gesture and are happy to have it housed where it was originally created.

“You’re only a visitor once,” Black said is one of the mottos of the church. After that, you belong to the church and are our family, she added. The non-denomination church is always welcoming of those who would like to attend or join.

“We are an independent church and supported by the members,” Grimes said. “There is no organization, just a board which the whole church supports. We do not have to go to a higher organization to get approval to anything.”

Members have donated everything and every part of the church, including pews, flagpoles and windows. Even the baptismal pool was given to the church by a member.

And as far as the original Sunday School? Its building has been replaced and sits behind the church, known as the Christian Beacon Recreation Center. The recreation center houses spaces for dinners, funeral dinners, Vacation Bible School, classrooms, the church’s Youth Group and its 15-25 participants, among Sunday School classrooms. The annual VBS usually reaches around 100 children, Black stated, noting the numbers has “really taken off since my grandma took on the VBS.”

A special sign in the front of the church states on its marquee the 100 years of Kolmont church.

The women recalled at the church’s last celebration, which was the 75th anniversary held in 2000, how a time capsule was placed underground.

The capsule was to be placed in a certain spot and opened on the 100th anniversary, according to Black. However, members of the Youth Group dug in several areas where the capsule was to be found but couldn’t locate it.

Grimes laughed at the memory, saying another one will have to be created for future generations to open since no one can locate the treasure.

It is a joke told to the congregation every once in a while, and one which everyone enjoys listening to time and time again.

Today, there are between 115 and 120 members active in the church, which is led by the Rev. Herb Fletcher, who joined the church in 2017.

The 100th anniversary celebration included the annual Sunday School picnic at Aracoma Park and swimming on Aug. 8; choir rehearsal, dinner and a concert by the Ron Retzer Trio on Aug. 9; and Sunday School classes, missionary guest speakers, a luncheon, dinner and concert by Eternal Vision, concluded the event Aug. 10.

The community is welcome to attend or visit anytime, Grimes said, with Black adding there are many programs and ministries offered.

Among the youth ministries offered are Sunday School classes, held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Sunday; Youth Group, held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays; Junior Church, held at 11 a.m. during Sunday morning worship; and Vacation Bible School, held each summer. Approximately 80 members attend morning worship services on Sunday mornings, 30 members attend services on Sunday evenings and 25 people attend Bible study at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

Outreach ministries include church camp, women’s retreat, choir, VBS and Youth Group. Other pastors who have served at Kolmont include Robert Clark, 1968-75; James Nesselroad Sr., 1975-79 and Gene Erwin, 1980-84.

For information, call (740) 282-9423 or visit Kolmontchurch.squarespace.com.