Anderson Township is unique among the Townships of Hamilton County in that it is the only one which was a subdivision of the original Virginia Military Tract. This was the land reserved between the Little Miami and the Scioto Rivers for land bounties to the soldiers of Virginia who served in the Revolutionary War. The Township was named for Colonel Richard Clough Anderson who was appointed Chief Surveyor of the Military District by the State of Virginia soon after the close of the War. He was awarded four hundred fifty-four acres of the Township.

Mt. Washington probably receives its name from the fact that General George Washington received a similar grant of nine hundred ninety-seven acres. His holding was a triangular tract in the north-eastern part of the Township between the east fork of the Little Miami River and the present Clermont County line.

Not until 1790 when a stockade was built, known as Gerard's Station, named for the principal man of the construction party, was a settlement established in Anderson Township. Homes were established eastward by several families from Columbia near the Stockade soon after it was built when they settled near the mouth of the Little Miami.

At the cabin of the Rev. Francis McCormick beyond the east fork of the Little Miami, the first Methodist Class in Ohio was organized in 1797. Methodism's roots were re-enforced in the Little Miami Valley when the Rev. Phillip Gatch emigrated from Virginia in 1798 to a tract of land in the forks of the Little Miami, now a part of Clermont County. He, together with four or five local preachers, circulated throughout the Miami Country preaching the Word. Soon a regular circuit was established and by 1827, there were seven Circuits within the bounds of the first one. The Salem Methodist Episcopal Church was the first Methodist Church in Anderson Township and was established by the Rev. McCormick in 1802. A stone building was erected in 1813 for the Newtown Methodist Episcopal Church

The original Village of Mt. Washington was laid out in 1838 by James C. Ludlow. About 1840, the Mt. Washington Post Office was established, with Mr. S. J. Sutton as the first Postmaster and Mr. W. B. Dunham his clerk and deputy. In 1852, Mr. Dunham became Postmaster, succeeding Mr. Sutton.

In 1850, the people of Mt. Washington and vicinity were meeting in their homes and in the old abandoned stone Baptist Church at Clough (near Berkshire) to sing together and enjoy each other's company. They soon decided that a Church in Mt. Washington was desirable. So two hundred forty-three subscriptions were taken, made payable in 1850 and 1851 to the extent of $1,670.80. Mr. Elisha Hawkins donated the lot, measuring 100 feet by 150 feet at Beechmont Avenue and Campus Lane, valued at $185, which remained the location of the Church until November 1965.

When the building was built in 1851, there was no Campus Lane. Nineteen years later the lane was cut through from Beechmont to Sutton and was called Washington Street, until Mt. Washington became a part of Cincinnati in 1911.

In 1851, the Church was finished with the exception of the basement. The first few years were hard ones for the new Church on the Amelia Charge, with the Rev. John W. Fowble as its first Pastor. They paid as much as 10 per cent interest on the indebtedness. Late in 1856, the Trustees voted to sell the property within one year if the debt was not liquidated before that time. But by the close of the Conference year in 1860, the entire debt had been accounted for, with the Rev. Fowble having completed his second Pastorate of the Church.

To digress for a bit -

A bit of history relative to the Communion Table now occupying, 1997, a position in the "new" Narthex. This table was given to the church by Mrs.Caroline Burk LeClere in honor of her daughter Mrs. Mildred LeClere Jordan for use in the original church at the time of our Centenial Celebration in April 1951. Many present members will still remember both of these very nice ladies. Mildred Jordan was our church organist who served for over 25 years. How does Mrs. LeClere fit into our history? Her father-in-law, Michael LeClere, helped to put in the foundation of the original church and made one of the original gifts for construction of that church building. She, in turn, became a member in 1888 after having married Michael's son, Louis LeClere, in 1886.

In 1862, a Committee was authorized to finish the basement of the Church. This improvement was completed at a cost of $761.69, and was dedicated August 16, 1863. One month later Mt. Washington was set off from the Amelia Circuit and made a Station at the Session of the Conference. This lasted only one year when it joined the Red Bank Circuit. At later times it was connected with California and Salem Churches and then with Salem Church alone.

Mt. Washington was incorporated November 14, 1867, and remained a separate municipality until June 5, 1911 when it was annexed to the City of Cincinnati.

Early in 1907, the old hand-made wooden seats were removed and new chairs were installed. At the Annual Conference of 1912 Mt. Washington became a Station for the second time and has remained one ever since.

For many years the Congregation had used Charles H. Wolff's house at the southeast corner of Sutton Avenue and Plymouth Street as the Parsonage. When this was no longer available in 1913, the church people decided to build a Parsonage in the rear of the church lot. During the Pastorate of the Rev. Louis C. Radley subscriptions were taken, the Parsonage begun October 10, 1913, completed January 20, 1914, and all bills paid May 18, 1914, with the total cost approximately $2,500.

During the Pastorate of the Rev. Ovil B. Cole, 1923 to 1926, the Epworth League led in the purchase of a pipe organ for the Sanctuary, which was secured at a cost of $2,500. In 1941-42, an addition for a kitchen, lavatories and furnace room was built to the rear of the Church. At the same time new carpet and new pews were purchased for the Sanctuary.

During the Pastorate of the Rev. Edwin Swinburne, 1945-48, several of the families of the Church realized the facilities would soon be inadequate and so they began to contribute regularly to a Building Fund. Interest in the project grew to such an extent that plans were drawn for the erection of a Church School Building. The heavy duties of such a project were too much for an already weakened heart and Rev. Swinburne passed away suddenly in the middle of the project. The parlor in the completed unit was set aside as a Memorial to him by the people of the Church.

The Rev. George J. Taylor was called to work with the Congregation to complete the project. Ground was broken on December 11, 1949, the Cornerstone was laid on February 26, 1950, and the Education Building was formally opened on October 1, 1950.

In the spring of 1957 a new split level Parsonage was purchased at 6260 Raytee Terrace. Rev. John E. Dunham and family were the first to occupy the new Parsonage following the Annual Conference of 1957.

In 1961, four acres of land were purchased at 6365 Corbly Street adjacent to the new Eastern Hills School for $30,000. A Building Committee was elected by the Quarterly Conference of the Church and instructed to develop plans for a new Church Building on the Corbly Street site.

In due time an Architect, David Briggs Maxfield, Sr., a former Professor of Architecture at Miami University, was selected to draw up the plans and supervise the construction of the first phase of our new building. W.J. Reinhard Sons were selected as the General Contractors for the construction of the building.

The Building Committee, as later listed in the Program for the Consecration Service for the initial phase of the new building, was as follows:

In 1964, the Mt. Lookout Methodist Church merged with the Mt. Washington Methodist, necessitating a complete redrawing of the plans. On April 9, 1965, the congregation voted to accept $58,000 for the old church structure and land from the Humble Oil Company with the agreement that they could use the building until after the Annual Election Day Dinner. Arrangements were made to hold Church School and Morning Worship at the Eastern Hills School.
George Pace Paul Woolrich

Groundbreaking Ceremonies were held on March 13,1966, with Rev. Dr. W. Arthur Milne, President of Bethesda Hospital and Deaconess Association, officiating. The Cornerstone Laying Ceremony took place on May 7, 1967, with

Rev. L. H. Mayfield, Chaplain of Christ Hospital, preaching the sermon. On Sunday, May 21, 1967 the new building was consecrated with Bishop F. Gerald Ensley conducting the service, assisted by Dr. Edwin H. Dickey, Superintendent, Cincinnati District, and Paul H. Bassett, Minister.

The Program Committee For the Consecration Service on May 21st, 1967 and Fellowship Night on May 24th, 1967 was:

The building contains a large fellowship hall, used until November 1989 as a Sanctuary seating up to 300 persons or 200 persons when used for banquets and dinners. It also contains a completely modern kitchen, secretary's office and workroom, and a minister's study. The Educational unit includes 15 classrooms, from crib room through adult, including a music room and fine library.

During the pastorate of John S. Brown, 1971 to 1975, A Baldwin Electronic Organ was purchased for the use of the church. This was used in the Social Hall/Sanctuary until it was later moved into the new sanctuary in 1989 as is detailed in some later paragraphs.

June 28, 1981, while Ken D. Streitenberer was Pastor, the mortgage on the building was paid off and a service was held to burn the mortgage.  Assisting in the service were Richard Trowbridge and Rev. R. Robert Kimes, District Superintendent.  On April 24, 1983, the building was dedicated with Bishop Dwight E. Loder, Rev. R. Robert Kimes, District Superintendent, and Rev. Ken D. Streitenberger taking part in the service.

In February of 1982, a bid was made on a set of hand bells at Mt. Washington School.  The bid was accepted and the bells were purchased as a gift from Ralph and Doris Koblish in memory of her mother, Ronghild Pierson.  The church was asked to support the purchase of two octaves of Schulmerich bells to complete a three octave set.  Contributions from the congregation totaled $2845.00, allowing the purchase of the two octaves to complete the set and the additional money collected was used to purchase needed equipment and supplies.

In 1985, the Parsonage on Raytee Terrace was sold and a newer and much larger one purchased. The present Parsonage is located at 2542 Meadowmar Lane. The Rev. G. David Harper family was the first Parsonage family to live at this address.

The present Bell Tower was dedicated on Sunday, December 22, 1985 and preserves the original bell from the facility at Beechmont and Campus Lane. The bell was cast about the same time the original church building was built (1851).

In December 1987, at the Charge Conference, a motion was passed authorizing and forming a Building Committee for the purpose of dealing with the various facets of building a permanent Sanctuary as an addition to the Church facilities.

The Building Committee appointed for the construction of the Permanent Sanctuary was as follows:

An Interior Design Sub-Committee was also appointed consisting of:

After months of planning and congregational meetings, the firm of Roger Short & Associates presented us with the working drawings. When bids were opened, it was decided in a Congregational Meeting that the contract would also go to Roger Short & Associates for construction of the new Sanctuary. A Ground-breaking Ceremony was held on April 9, 1989 with the Rev. Robert E. Woods, District Superintendent, Cincinnati District, officiating assisted by our Pastor, the Rev. James Hipkins.

To quote the publicity for the start of worship in the new Sanctuary: "As of this writing, it seems only fitting that, once again, the Annual Election Day Dinner should come into the picture. We attended our former Church building on Beechmont Avenue until after the Annual Election Day Dinner of 1965.

A Service of Consecration for the new Sanctuary was held on November 19, 1989 again with District Superintendent, Robert E. Woods officiating, assisted by our pastor James R. Hipkins and several leaders of the congregation. A luncheon followed the Consecration Service and was immediately followed by a Charge Conference.

In 1999, the Patti Boettger Memorial Garden was dedicated and is located outside the large stained glass window in the Narthex.  Patti was a long-time Adult Sunday School Teacher and was a wonderful scholar of the Bible.

In 2000, when there was a change in ministers and the Rev. Terry J. Powell left after serving our church for ten years, the Administrative Board, on the advice of the Trustees, volted to sell the parsonage on Meadowmar Lane.  Our new Pastor, Dana G. Ward, is living at a parsonage at the Anderson Hills United Methodist Church as his wife is an Associate Pastor there.  Money generated by the sale of the parsonage will be held in an escrow fund to be used to purchase another parsonage in the future when the need arises.

In 2001, we celebrated our 150th Anniversary.  There was a year-long event that began in November 2000 at our annual Thanksgiving dinner when a skit written by Pastor Dana Ward depicted how the church began those many years ago.  Each month after that, a different organization or a certain year was displayed in the Narthex of the church.  T-shirts and commemorative plates with the anniversary logo were made available to the congregation; the logo was drawn by Jason Marsh from a photo.  A Church Homecoming was held in September 2001 with several former ministers in attendance.  A presentation of memorial wreaths for former ministers buried at the Mt. Washington Cemetery was conducted in October 2001.  The final celebration of our 150th Anniversary was held on November 18, 2001, with a Sunday morning service, followed by a luncheon.  Bishop Bruce Ough and District Superintendent Gregory Stover participated in that celebration.

MINISTERS WHO HAVE SERVED

MT. WASHINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

(The original history of the church was written by Richard Trowbridge.  Jean McFaddin updated the history as a part of our 150th Anniversary celebration.)

History of the handbells of Mt. Washington United Methodist Church.

In August of 1980, bells, which had been previously purchased by PTA of Mt. Washington School were stolen, and one half of the set (the bells previously stolen)were repurchased from the pawnshop by the school for $250. The bells were found in February of 1982 in a Cincinnati Pawn Shop. After they knew where they were, they agreed to accept bids from the community to purchase them. Marcia Powell, who was a member of the Mt. Washington PTA, was authorized to turn in a bid for the Mt. Washington UM Church to purchase the stolen bells. Mr. Hermes, the principal of the school, declared the highest bid, which she presented in the amount of $352.00 to be the purchaser of the bells. Ralph and Doris Koblish financed this purchase in memory of her mother, Ronghild Pierson. The church was asked to support the purchase of two octaves of Schulmerich bells to complete a three octave set. One octave was purchased for $999 and the second for $1157. Thus the total cost for the 3 octave set was $2509.00. The contributions that came in from the church to pay for the 2 new octaves came to $2845.00.

Contributors to this fund were as follows: - Doris and Ralph Koblish, Garnet and Bill Summerville, Si and Penny Bizub, Dick and Patty Boettger, Barbara and Charlie Sipes, The Paul O'Neils, Paul and Connie West, George Crawford, Jean Lorenz, Carol and Dick Trowbridge, Bill Miller, Mike and Marcia Powell, Iva and Lewis Cralley, Tom Wilson, George and Ginny Clarkson, Mark and Serena Tsuang, Florence and Maurice Stump, United Meth. Women, Sharon and DeWitt Celsor, Cathy Zink, Catherine Miller, Helen West, Mary Lach, Don Malott, Alice Taylor, David and Donna Johnson, Helen Brown, Joyce and Barry Benham, Carol Walker, Frand Lee Kendall, The Theron Ushers, Mrs. Hull, The Louis Grafs. Bernice Kingmon, Mr. Orsel Lamb, Greater Cincinnati ACLD, Jenny and Ken Johnson, Daffy Day Helpers, Edwin and Cecil Killen, Robert and Eva Hensley.

The extra contributions were used to purchase needed equipment and supplies (music, gloves, polish, etc.) to allow the choir to function. Flora Light made the pads for the bell tables and the red coverings from the old dossal cloths. An additional table, contributed by Rev. Terry Powell, was added and the necessary pad and cover made for it by Barbara Sipes. This from another Dossal Cloth previously given by Maurice and Florence Stump as a memorial and with their agreement for its use. The Stoles worn by the Bell Choir when performing were made by Mrs. Sipes and Paul O'Neil made the music racks.

The first bell ringers were as follows: Marcia Powell, Carol Trowbridge, Virginia Clarkson, Beth Johnson, Melissa Powell, Connie West, Sue Lytle, Marsha and Paul O'Neil, Robert and Kathy Falcone. Some of the directors we have had were Paul West, Robert Falcone, Taylor Marsh, Larry Lusby, Tom Long and Gail Kiley.

Bell cases are heavy and the choir has been required, on many occasions, to change their practice area and to carry these cases up and down the stairs, set up tables on both practice and performance occasions to meet the needs of the situation. One drawer of the choir room cabinet was given to the bell choir in which to store the bell music. Eventually much of the music had found its way into cardboard boxes and was in turmoil. Carol Trowbridge adopted the task of choir librarian and, after the obtaining of a suitable 2 drawer filing cabinet, some order came out of the chaos. Thus it became possible to find an item when needed. The Trusteees agreed that the bell tables could remain on the Chancel in front of the Choir.

Performance outfits were decided upon for the ladies as black skirts and white blouses and, for the men, black pants and white shirts. These items to to be worn with the bell choir stoles which were made by Barbara Sipes.

Thanks to the guidance of Mrs. Davies, wife of the former pastor of Mt. Washington Presbyterian church, the choir has been able to purchase the needed supplies and materials for their use from the Jeffers Co.. This company specializes in bell materials.

When Gail Kiley was our Bell Choir Director, we were members of the English Bell Ringers Association.

As this article is being written, Fall of 1998, Tom Long is directing the Bell Choir. He is also, and has been for many years, our Church Choir Director. Under his direction, they are off to an excellent start for the fall season. They are also using, for the first time, a mallet technique as well as the more conventional ringing methods.

(Bell Choir information compiled by Carol & Dick Trowbridge)