OKEECHOBEE RETIRED EDUCATORS

Okeechobee Retired Educators Association :: Member Association of the Florida Retired Educators Association Member Association of the Florida Retired Educators Association
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ORNAMENTS:

 

2013 - First Baptist Church (1915)

  • CHRISTMAS IN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY Limited Edition Ornament
  • ORNAMENT Details:
    • 500 Produced
    • 24 karat gold on brass
    • numbered certificate with historical information
    • 2012
  • Historical Information (taken from certificate):
    On May 9, 1915, fifteen Baptists met together in the old theater building located on the rear of Scharfschwerdt's Hardware Store at 11:00 AM for the purpose of holding a religious service and to organize a Southern Baptist Church. Rev. Sidney J. King, pastor of the Ft. Pierce Baptist Church, preached the first sermon and later acted as moderator of the organizational meeting that followed. Those in attendance were: Mr. & Mrs. R.P. Fletcher, Mr. & Mrs. T.B. Owens, Mr. & Mrs. A.D. Clarkson, Mr. & Mrs. C.L. Haskell, Mr. T.C. Beaver and Mesdames C.R. Bibb, J.C. Collins, Z.H. Simmons, C.D. Clements, E.R. Kirk and O.L. Hinson. From this beginning with fifteen charter members, there has been a steady growth to the present membership of over two thousand members.

    On December 12, 1915, Rev. S.W. King assumed the duties as the first pastor of the church. He was an employee of the Home Mission Board and was to give two Sundays each month to the church. On Sunday, March 25, 1916, the church held its first services in their own building which had been constructed by them, on property deeded to them by Model Land Company, where it still stands to this day. At this time, the first Sunday School was organized with T.B. Owens being elected Superintendent. In December, 1916, the church called Rev. James M. King of Mt. Airy, NC, as pastor. On June 13, 1920, the church elected the first deacons, who were W.A. Brown, W.B. Hargraves and C.L. Haskill. These were ordained on July 4, 1920. Ground breaking for the present church was May 19, 1953 and six days later, 51 men and equipment poured 50 yards of concrete in 3 hours and 40 minutes to lay the foundation. It was finished in January, 1955 and dedicated on February 27, 1955.
  • Postage/Handling:
    If ordering for delivery outside of Okeechobee, add postage in the amount of $2 for a single ornament or $5 for multiple ornaments.
  • Purchase - $15 each
    To purchase an ornament, please email your request (specify quantity and years) or call Kay McCool 863-763-2829 or Gay Carlton 863-763-5755. You can also send your order and check/money order to the mailing address below.
Okeechobee Retired Educators Association :: Member Association of the Florida Retired Educators Association   Mailing Address:
PO Box 116
Okeechobee, FL  34973-0116
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