Throwback Thursday: A journey through time

Published 9:09 am Thursday, December 28, 2017

By Emily Sobecki

The Old Rugged Cross Church was not always a church. In 1862, it was a hops barn. It first turned into a church in 1876. Two years after the hymn, “Old Rugged Cross,” was introduced there in 1913 by Rev. George Bennard, the building was sold to a local farmer, who then again made it into a barn.

In 1998, the building was about to collapse. The beams had rotted, walls were on the ground, the roof caved in, and the glass windows and bell tower were gone.

After an architectural analysis found the building, original pieces were found, such as the bell, pulpit, pump organ, and two pews. A few hundred pieces of the original window glass was buried under straw.

Many people donated their time and money to help restore the church.

Now, the church is available to rent for weddings, funerals and other special services. There is also a museum of the history in the back of the church.

More Dowagiac

St. Joseph man killed in farm tractor crash

Winning Westendorp: Dowagiac grad coaches Ferris State women’s hoops to D2 Final Four

Dowagiac man gets prison time for Cassopolis gas station robbery

Honor Credit Union donates $1,000 to Dowagiac’s Music In The Park

Print Article