History

Methodists in Manhattan: A Historical Fact Sheet

The Early Years

1854 & 1855- Early communities existed at the confluence of the Blue and Kansas Rivers. Communities were combined and called New Boston.

March 24, 1855- Isaac T. Goodnow, Rev. Charles H. Lovejoy, Mr. A. Browning and others formed an advance group sent to find a place to settle for the members of the New England Emigrant Aid Society who were waiting in Kansas City. They found a “good town site” at the confluence of the Blue and Kansas Rivers. From the top of Bluemont Hill Isaac Goodnow exclaimed, “Eureka! I have found it!”

March 25, 1855- Rev. Charles H. Lovejoy held a Methodist church service in a tent. He was the first Methodist minister assigned to the Manhattan Mission Station.

April 26, 1855- The Steamboat Hartford, which was purchased and partially financed by John Pipher and a group from Manhattan, New York, arrived from Cincinnati with settlers from the New England Emigrant Aid Company. It also carried much freight and ready-made houses.

April 30, 1855- John Pipher, an ardent Methodist, organized a Methodist Society of 23 members on board the Hartford. Upon arrival in Manhattan this group joined another group of Methodists organized by Rev. Joseph Denison and Rev. C.H. Lovejoy.

June 1855- The Steamboat Hartford tried to go farther upstream but got stuck twice on sand bars. The group agreed to settle at the confluence of the Blue and Kansas Rivers, and docked on the Blue at the foot of what is now Poyntz Avenue. After negotiation among the groups, the name of the new settlement became Manhattan.

Later in 1855- The Hartford had a large bell that hung between its smokestacks. On the return journey, the steamboat caught fire and burned near St. Marys. Judge John Pipher rescued the bell, which became known as the Hartford Bell. It hung in the 1858 Methodist church building and was moved to a new building in 1880 where it remained until that building was razed in 1939. From 1939 it was on display in the Harris Temple until it was moved in 1977 to the Riley County Historical Museum where it now hangs, being placed there on indefinite loan.

1855-57, 1858-59- Rev. Joseph Denison was assigned as Minister of the Manhattan Methodist mission station. His sister, Ellen, was the wife of Isaac T. Goodnow, a lay person who worked tirelessly in raising funds of the new church and the Methodist college.

Church Buildings

1858-1879- First Methodist Episcopal Church building was at Pierre and Juliette across from the original courthouse square. (Seven Dolors Catholic Church is presently on that site, the Methodists sold the church to the Catholics).

1880- The second building of First Methodist Episcopal Church was constructed at 6th and Poyntz and enlarged twice.

1917- Second Methodist Episcopal Church at 10th and Yuma, established in 1866, builds a new stone building and is renamed Shepard Chapel.

1926- Present church building was constructed at 6th and Poyntz.

1938- Harris Activity Center was purchased from the Masonic Lodge and was known as the Lucinda Harris Memorial Temple of Christian Education. It was dedicated April 23, 1939.

1939- Florence Harris Memorial Parsonage, 121 N. Juliette was purchased. It was built in 1914.

1950- Wesley Foundation and Student Center at 1427 Anderson was built by gifts from former students at K-State. It was a “home away from home” for Methodist students at Kansas State University.

1957- Educational Building and Children’s Center was built at the corner of 6th and Humboldt.

1967- Shepard Chapel merges with First United Methodist Church. Trustees maintain building until sold in 1974.

1998- East Wing was added to the First United Methodist Church main building.

2002- Humboldt Building, 621 Humboldt was purchased from the State of Kansas.