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Cornerstone hid piece of history

Robert Stuemky and Larry Layton removed the cornerstone of the First United Methodist Church in Newkirk last Friday, almost exactly 106 years after it was initially set. The church was destroyed by fire in December.

They were excited to discover that the cornerstone held a small metal box filled with documents from the momentous day when it was first laid.

Myra Stuemky and Karen Dye, of the Newkirk Mainstreet Association, were on hand to witness the event and catalog the items found inside.

Unfortunately, time and Mother Nature had not been kind to the historical documents lovingly placed inside the time capsule.

The metal box was almost deteriorated beyond recognition. Other paper items did not fare much better, said Dye.

There were seven coins also placed inside which included a Victorian, Canadian twenty-five-cent piece, a Prince Edward one-cent piece, a 1900 dime, a 1901 Indian Head penny, a 1902 Indian Head penny, an unidentifiable silver coin dated 1877 and a small, brass medallion of some type dated 1886.

Other items included a Bible, a Methodist hymnal and a Methodist Discipline that had the following inscription: Placed in the corner of First M.E. Church in Newkirk, Oklahoma, March 10, 1902 by the pastor Earnest B. Cole. There was a Kansas City Journal newspaper dated Tuesday, March 11, 1902, a Stonecutter's Journal, a typed history of the church and a hand-written letter by the official board on First M. E. Church stationery dated March 10, 1902.

Excerpts from the letter included, "On Sunday, March 9, Rev. S. E. Betts preached two grand and inspiring sermons which were listened to by loyal and appreciative audiences. The Word came with power and the heart of God's children rejoiced.'

'This closes the record. All the praise is God's and thus be it all His glory. Sufficient is it for his servants to do his will... Thanks be...for his unspeakable gift.'

The building committee for the church at this time included Bert E. Carder, D. O. Wilson and G. P. Endicott.

A search of newspaper accounts of the laying of the cornerstone, The Democrat Herald and the Republican News Journal both reported the following: On the Sunday, March 9, 1902, preceding the laying of the cornerstone, Dr. Betts, of Kansas City, preached at 11:00 a.m. and again at 7:00 p.m. On Monday, everyone in the community was invited to meet 'promptly' at 10:00 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church where Dr. Betts once again addressed the congregation. Those in attendance then moved to the Methodist Church for the laying of the cornerstone with 'appropriate ceremonies.'

Church records state that the church board of trustees adopted plans and specifications for the new church on Sept. 12, 1901. It is possible that church member Nehemiah Tubbs prepared the plans and specifications. Tubbs built the first Kay County Courthouse, was the architect on the second one, was the architect on the Eastman National Bank, built the brick building where R&G Style Shoppe is located and prepared plans and specifications for the Park Hotel. Mrs. Tubbs procured the Methodist Church bell.

Trustee records indicated that on Dec. 26, 1902, the contracts for the church were let. J. L. Bussert received the contract for the stone work at $200. William E. Morgan was awarded the carpentry contract which totaled $4,600 for lumber and labor. By March 10, 1902, the cornerstone was laid amid much fanfare.

On July 4, 1902, the Democrat Herald reported that the new Methodist Church had just been completed at a cost of nearly $8,000. "Rev. Iliff, of the church extension board, preached the dedicatory sermon and from the way church members donated, it must have been one of the ablest sermons ever delivered in the territory. Over $300 more than was needed to cancel the debt was subscribed. Rev. Cole and the members are to be congratulated on the energy and pluck displayed in the undertaking. In this structure, Newkirk can boast of possessing the best and most handsome church building in the territory."

Frank Weaver, Presbyterian and farmer, wrote his brother, George, in Iowa, the following passage: "Last Saturday night we had a little over two inches of rain and Sunday morning it looked like it might give us some more. So things look pretty blue for the Methodist as they was to dedicate their new church. But it cleared up a little and though the people were a little late getting in, the church was nearly full but the strangest part was how they hustled the money. They owed $2,892.10 on it yet. They had a man from Utah and he was a rustler. For in an hour he had $300 more than enough to pay the debt. My but they were a happy set."

The building was dedicated without debt. The total cost of the church and furnishings, besides the work donated by the membership, was $8,200 and it was completed in six months.

Above: Newkirk Methodist church members Larry Layton and Robert Stuemky remove the cornerstone before the demolition of the church last week. The church was demolished after having burned last December.