As We Were

A History of Fruitvale Presbyterian Church

OUR CONGREGATIONAL STORY RESEARCHED AND COMPOSED BY MARGARET WELCH

By looking at Fruitvale Presbyterian Church today, you would say, "What a lovely building. Wonder how long it has been there?" More about the building later. But, the church congregation is 115 years old! The congregation previously met as a Sunday School in a public school building, on the corner of Boston Ave. and School Street in 1880. This continued until 1886.

In 1886, with the help of the Session of Brooklyn Presbyterian church, who recognized the need for a complete church in our area, Fruitvale was started at Palmetto Street. At first, attendance was poor. Two young girls, Ann Morrison and Myrtle Seammon, collected money (in what was a small farming community) for a church bell. The same bell still calls us to worship today. The church was duly organized in 1890 with fourteen charter members. In 1896, the name became Fruitvale Presbyterian Church.

This is rather a short article for now, but it is our introduction to some of the history of "our" church. You will find the history will be like the Stock Market, sometimes up in membership and sometimes down, BUT always here and trying to let people know, we are a friendly group with plans for the present and the future.

In continuing items regarding the development of our church, there are so many items to cover. One article I found regarding the history of FVPC, seeking to summarize the ministry of our church mentions specific items such as, "hours of committee work, long Session meetings, concern by the Trustees, services by the Deacons, care of building and property, numerous visits and telephone calls, sermons, devotions, discussion, lessons, tears, heartaches, joy and happiness have accompanied these years."

Early Years

As a former pastor, Robert Champion wrote, "also, tons of food, lunches, suppers, teas, breakfasts and snacks have been consumed. Miles of paper, pounds of ink, hundreds of spools of thread, many hundreds of dollars received and sharing ministry in the community."

In 1880, Mr. Franklin Rhoda, with four others, organized a Sunday School in a building at the corner of Boston Ave. and School St. This continued for four years. In 1886, the Session of Brooklyn Presbyterian Church, helped organize a Sunday School at Fruitvale Ave. and School St. It was launched with 45 pupils. With increasing attendance, larger quarters were soon needed. A realtor donated the lot and funds were raised by Brooklyn PC. Attendance was poor. The two young girls (mentioned in last month's article) raised money for a bell, which is still being used today to call you to church. In the late 1880s, the area around the church was primarily farm land.

After 26 years, it was found that the congregation had outgrown the facilities. After much prayer and deliberation, it was decided to move to a new location and build a church. Ground breaking for the new facility at the corner of Hopkins St. (today MacArthur Blvd.) and Coolidge Ave. was selected in 1926.

Our church was duly organized in 1890 with fourteen charter members. In 1896 the name was changed from Prospect Hill Presbyterian to our current name of Fruitvale Presbyterian Church.

The New Building

The ground breaking for the new church building was in 1926. Eda Welch, and Mrs. P.M. Walker turned the first clod of earth for the new building. The dedication of the new building was held in 1927. Children sand and waved banners, during the march to the new building.

Rev. P.M. Walker was pastor when the 45th celebration of the church was held.

Rev. C. Merle Bish was the pastor following Rev. Walker. There was remarkable growth during this period. The church building, at this time was the lovely comfortable little chapel. It has a balcony at that time (go up some Sunday and stand and look around our original meeting place!) Due to the increase of members, services were being held in Lyman Hall.

After Rev. Bish died, (his motto had been - "expect great things from God, attempt great things for God") Rev. P. H. Hayley became our pastor. During this time, we were living through World War II, and a depression. However, the church was able to pay off a mortgage of $30,000. A victory dinner was held at which the mortgage papers were burned.

After this a campaign was started to build a new Sanctuary on the empty corner. (The empty lot was the area where Christmas Trees and Halloween pumpkins were sold, and occasionally less important events took place.

In 1953, Rev. Garret Verkayl assumed the pastorate for a period of time following the retirement of Rev. Hayley. A Rev. Theodore Tritenbach became our pastor, and was with us to help celebrate our 65th Anniversary.

Shortly afterwards, the floor in Lyman Hall had to be completely replaced due to large cracks, and in some areas it was broken. Another sum had to be collected! The Hall was used as a Social Hall, community gymnasium, for wedding receptions, teas, church dinners, and monthly meeting of the Women's Society.

The Congregation Grows

The first session meeting in the new church was held May 13, 1927. A Scouting Committee, that included Arthur Welch Sr., Rev. Rhoda's son and a Mr. Truman, were involved in developing Scout Troup #38,(B.S.A.)

Gradually, more congregational development started and continued. A Mrs. Bibby, the church organist, asked for cooperation from all those with voices (the original papers stated, we hope this was clarified).

A group was formed from married couples, called the "Schooner Club," and was active until about 1965.

In 1936, Rev. Walker left and Rev. C. Meryl Bish was called as pastor. In 1941 Rev. Bish left and Rev. Perce Hayley was called to be pastor. During the following years, the world was in the turmoil of World War II. Our congregation was developing rapidly. By now, the lovely smaller Chapel was not large enough for the services, so they were being held in Lyman Hall. It was during this time, that a proposal was made, that a larger sanctuary be constructed and tied into the existing building to alleviate the Sunday Morning Services in the gymnasium.

In 1950 an elaborate dedication ceremony was held upon the completion of the new sanctuary. Rev. Perce Hayley presided. During this period, the congregation was increasing rapidly. The 50th and 60th anniversaries of the church were celebrated. In 1953 Rev. Hayley retired. Rev. Gerret Verkayl served for three months. Rev. Theodore Tritenbach became pastor in 1954. The feature of the 65th anniversary was the reconstruction of the gym floor and the hall was dedicated "Lyman Hall," in memory of Elder Richard Lyman. Rev. Tritenbach passed away in 1956. A Rev. Robert V. Chapman became pastor.

Shortly thereafter the MacArthur Freeway was started. This caused a great change in the Fruitvale Church congregation, as well as the surrounding neighborhood.

The MacArthur Freeway, as it developed, was the cause of many changes in the Dimond and Laurel areas. Many families were forced to move and many chose to move out into the suburbs. This move created a loss in the attendance of all the younger children, especially in the Sunday School population.

In the 1950s and 1960s, some of the activities in the church included the formation of couples' groups. These were created by the affinities of the involved couples. Titles of some of the groups included Geneva, Wedding Ring, Ball and Chain, Yo-Mar, and Fellowship. Special seasonal services marked the high point of the community created and nurtured by these groups.

About 1965, during an evening Maundy Thursday Service, with Rev. Bob Chapman presiding, a great bolt of lightening hit a trans former in the Dimond District and lit up the rose window located over the choir loft. This was shortly followed by a sudden darkness in the sanctuary followed by a tremendous thunderclap. Oo course there was shocked silence and some considered the possibility that they might be witnessing the Second Coming (a direct quote from the original story).

In 1964, the 75th anniversary of the church was celebrated. During this period, music, drama, study workshops, retreats, conferences, trips, and service highlights with youth activities were prominent. Also during this period, Patricia Yonan organized the Mustard See Children's' Choir. They were popular and performed at Children's Fairyland, Oakland City Hall, in the Dimond District, and at other places, as well as on local television.

The Women's Society was a busy group in those days. The Choir Director was Esther Hughes. Thoughts about Satellite Homes (Senior Housing) was considered, but ultimately did not occur. The dark shades of the Vietnam War began to he felt by the
congregation (as well as other congregations).

In June 1969, Arthur Washington became Choir Director. He served 20 years, which was celebrated during the Centennial Celebration, as well as Geraldine Martin, celebrating 30 years as our organist (you can still find her every Sunday playing with excitement and joy). This was a wonderful musical time and enjoyed by all.

Franklin Rhoda

Franklin Rhoda started Fruitvale Sunday School many years ago. After looking around us every day, could you think, as you wander around experiencing rapid transit, telephones, television, many homes, freeways, etc., that this whole Fruitvale was once a farming community? It's from this area that Fruitvale Presbyterian Church was gradually formed. The following excerpt regarding Franklin Rhoda, our church's founding pastor, will be of interest.

Franklin Rhoda, son of Frederick Rhoda, who was the first of the German immigrant to settle and farm in the Fruitvale areas, was a member of the first (1873) graduating class of the University of California, Berkeley. He was a geologist and a good one. In early years he worked in Colorado surveying in the Rocky Mountains, and wrote a small book, "Bible Gems". He wrote as a young man, "having been myself rescued from the power of sin, through the love and mercy of Jesus Christ, I have long had an earnest desire to do something that might recommend Him to my friends.."

Part of that effort was beginning the Sunday School in Fruitvale, and effort which later become Fruitvale Presbyterian Church, where he served as pastor from July 1899 to August 1916.

"Such is the beginning of the way in which a light (is it not a little one?) has been set on a hill near Fruitvale. May it burn with the zeal of the Holy Spirit and give for the on every side the warmth of the Savior's love." - Franklin Rhoda.