TODAY, THE 287TH FARMER'S CREEK SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION WAS
HELD AT 11 A.M. AT THE FULTON CHURCH, NORTH OF MAQUOKETA. THIS
CONVENTION IS THE OLDEST OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES, STARTED
IN JACKSON COUNTY DURING THE CIVIL WAR IN 1878. IT STARTED WITH 15
CHURCHES AND 15 SCHOOLS AND IN THE EARLY YEARS, MET TWICE A YEAR IN THE SPRING AND FALL. LATER YEARS, ONLY ONCE ANNUALLY AND NOW
MEET THE LAST SUNDAY OF APRIL, ROTATING BETWEEN THREE CHURCHES,
PICTURED ABOVE AT THE BOTTOM THEIR BANNER WHICH IS PASSED TO
THE HOST CHURCH EACH YEAR. THE THREE ARE: THE FULTON CHURCH,
THE EAST IRON HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH AND THE COMMUNITY OF
CHRIST CHURCH, CORNER OF WESTERN AVENUE AND WESLEY DRIVE IN
MAQUOKETA. THE "CONVENTION" HAS OFFICERS, A TREASURY AND
CONDUCTS THEIR ANNUAL MEETING RIGHT AFTER THE HOUR LONG SUNDAY
WORSHIP SERVICE. THEN, AFTER THE MEETING, THERE IS THE POTLUCK
DINNER. HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS TAKEN BY ME. THE PHOTOS WILL
BE NO-NAMES-UNDER-THEM, AS I CANNOT REMEMBER EVERYONE.
RED HENTON IS IN A PHOTO, HIS GRANDSON MATT WALKER WHO HAS BEEN THE FULTON CHURCH ORGANIST FOR 21 YEARS, JUDY TONDERUM, EAST IRON HILL PASTOR SUSAN LeBLANC, AND LAUREL BAKER, THE "CONVENTION" PRESIDENT FROM THE EAST IRON HILL CHURCH, AND OTHERS.
THANK GOD FOR ALL OUR LITTLE COUNTRY CHURCHES STILL REMAINING.
DO YOUR SELF A FAVOR AND ATTEND A SERVICE SOON AT 9 A.M. SOME
SUNDAY AT THE EAST IRON HILL CHURCH OR ONE OF TWO SUNDAYS A
MONTH AT AT THE FULTON CHURCH, BOTH OUT IN THE COUNTRY. THE
FULTON CHURCH WAS ABOUT TO BE TORN DOWN BECAUSE OF HIGHWAY 61 CONSTRUCTION AND RED HENTON LEAD A DRIVE TO SAVE IT AND MOVE IT
TO FULTON, WHERE IT WAS RESTORED AND A BASEMENT ADDED.
NANCY AND I AGAIN ENJOYED OUR VISIT TO THE FULTON CHURCH.
AND OH YES..THE FOOD WAS EXCELLENT!
DENNIS VOY....
CLICK-ON "OLDER POSTS" BELOW AND SEE THE SATURDAY DAILY, FEATURING A PROGRAM IN THE DOWNTOWN GREEN SPACE AND THE MARCH IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA SATURDAY MORNING.