Vicksburg Church is gone, but the memories linger a lifetime

Memory is a child walking along the seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things.

Pierce Harris, Atlantic Journal

The building that had a lasting impact on my life is gone; the only trace is a cement footing where it once stood. A connection to my life, it was one of the strong threads that laced the fabric of my soul The Vicksburg Bethel Baptist Church was a living icon to me and hundreds of other people who remember the sanctuary as the place where they began their religious journey while learning valuable lessons.

It was where many exuberant couples repeated wedding vows and where some said their last goodbyes.

It all began in the late 1800s when Lemmual Hanna donated land for the town of Vicksburg (named for his wife, Victoria). By the early 1900s it became a growing community with several coal mines in the vicinity and speculation that a railroad roundhouse would be built as tracks had been laid west of town for a train turnaround. People were enthused and excited knowing for sure it would become a boom town.

Wanting to be on the business ground floor, my grandfather, John Mitchell moved his young family from Linton to open a general store, ice cream shop and to become Vicksburg's postmaster.

Shortly after, my paternal grandparents, Harry and Mary Davis, moved from Terre Haute when he was offered a position as bookkeeper for Templeton Mines. Thus, my family roots were planted and grew in that small community.

During those early years a depot was built and several trains traveled through daily. Businesses flourished including four grocery stores, a restaurant, a pool hall, livery stable, feed store and barber shop. However, one important establishment was missing - a church. .

According to my grandmother, Jessie Mitchell, there was much discussion among the townspeople as to how they could raise money and organize a church.

Furthermore, there was the religious denomination to choose as several young residents came from different faiths. Jessie had been raised a Methodist.

Finally, it was decided that it would be practical to move the small Baptist church located north of town to Vicksburg. Although the church was only one mile away, transportation was difficult as people traveled on muddy roads in wagons, carriages or on horseback.

Thus, the Vicksburg Bethel Baptist Church was born.

My first memory of the church was when I was about three years old while attending an evening service with my parents on a warm, summer evening.

The longer the sermon, the more I became bored and fascinated with condensation melting down the sides of an iced pitcher of water on a table next to the pastor.

Without a word of warning, I ran to the podium and poured myself a glass of water. I don't remember much more about the incident but doubted my antic shortened the pastor's sermon.

I loved attending kindergarten and first grade Sunday classes sitting on one of the small wooden chairs listening to the lesson from Florence Mair. I looked forward to receiving a card each week with a colorful Bible picture and verse to memorize.

When I was 12, my piano teacher had confidence that I could be the pianist for Sunday morning service. I will never forget how nervous I was and how my fingers shook when I played that first hymn. Wanting to finish as quickly as possible, I increased the tempo for the liveliest "Trust and Obey" the congregation had ever sung.

As a teenager, I looked forward to BYF (Baptist Youth Fellowship) each Sunday evening. . Of course if weather permitted, we extended our fellowship -- if you can call it that -- on the church steps before and after the meeting.

During those years, we had wonderful leaders including Mary Barnes who invited us to her house for parties, planned hay rides, ice cream socials, and Halloween parties.

Each summer our group attended summer camp at Shakamak. Following lessons during the morning, we could run to the beach and swim all afternoon.

Those times went far too fast, and many of us scattered to go to college, to work in other towns, or to the military service, but another generation took our place to begin their memories as we had taken the place of generations before us.

In the 1950s, the church burned, but with diligent work from the congregation, it rose from the ashes and was made whole again standing proud for many more years.

Time passed, and slowly the town changed. People moved to larger cities and stores closed.

Even after the new Vicksburg Bethel Baptist Church was built on State Road 54 in 1988, the old building was bought by the Douglas Trusty family and church services continued.

Finally, it was evident the building had served its life and purpose, and a few months ago it was razed leaving much consternation and discussion among us who had such wonderful memories.

As an adult, I very seldom had the opportunity to visit VBBC, but no matter what church I attended or how ornate the sanctuary, I never felt more blessed or comfortable than I did in that little white church nestled in the shade of the large oak trees.

I knew when I drank the pastor's water or increased the tempo of the hymns, I could never be surrounded and accepted by a more loving church family.

Recently, when I stopped by the empty church grove to reminisce, I listened carefully as the cold wind whistled through the snow laden trees, and I faintly heard the contagious laugh of Mary Barnes, the melodic voice of Betty Trusty and Florence Mair's beautiful rendition of "Sunrise Tomorrow."

Memories linger a lifetime.