DRY VALLEY CHURCH

by Mary Swendener

Entry T36 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Dry Valley Church 1915

Dry Valley Church, 1970

Early in the spring of 1909, Rev. L.D.
Pearson, a missionary of the Congregational
Sunday School work, organized a little
Sunday School at Wells, Cherry County
Nebraska. One year later, Rev. W.D. King,
pastor at large, covered the same field passed
over by Rev. Pearson, the previous spring in
the interest of Sunday School organized by
Mr. Pearson.

Seeing the great need of Sunday School
and church service, Rev. King arranged for
the Congregational Sunday School Mis-
sionaries to hold a series of tent meetings at
Wells, Nebraska in August 1910, conducted
by Rev. J.D. Stewart, Superintendent of the
Congregetional Church, assisted by Rev.
Fred L. Hall and L.O. Pearson, missionaries.
At the conclusion of these meetings the
people of Dry Valley neighborhood, succee-
ded in arranging for a similar service, two
weeks later, at the Dry Valley school house
about 8 miles southwest of Wells.

The result of these meetings was the
organization of the "Dry Valley Union Con-
gregational Church", at Curlew, Nebraska
September 12, 1910.

In the spring of 1911, preparations were
begun for the erection of a church building
by the Dry Valley Congregational Church.
The cornerstone for the new building was
layed by Mr. E.L. Holland, who lived in the
valley north of the church.

Robert Boyer gave the land for the church
and cemetery. It is located in Sec. 6 Twp.
20N, Rng. 32W.

The new church building was dedicated
December 8, 1912. There were several differ-
ent pastors during the years. One of the last
was Rev. N.H. Hawkins.

In 1924 the church withdrew from the
Congregational Church, in regard to
"Missionary activities". Sunday School was
held every Sunday until the early 1940's. The
Methodist Ministers from Mullen would hold
services occasionally.

For years, all the community schools would
hold a combination Christmas Program in
the church. Around 1958, a "Methodist
Mobile Minister," `Pop' Fabre, held services
most of the winter.

After years of disuse the church became
quite run down, so in 1986-87, efforts to
restore it began.