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Location: |
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The
First Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church and Cemetery is located in
rural Platte County, Nebraska in the central and eastern part of the
state. The 34' x 24' one room wood frame building has a gable roof
and is located on a two acre lot. The setting of the area is defined
by rolling hills and open fields. Built in 1884 the simple building
with minimal ornamentation rises from a stone and brick foundation
and retains a high degree of historic integrity. |
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![](images/Postville_Church_3.gif)
Postville
Welsh Church in the late
1880s and in 2004 |
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The
former village of Postville is located in eastern-central Nebraska
in Platte County. The geography of the area is diverse with the Platte
River and its low-lands and valleys providing the southern boundary
of the county, rolling hills primarily carved from glacial till on
the easternmost side of the county, and dissected plains of steep
slopes and drop-offs encompassing the western part of the county.
It was in this area in the 1860's where a settlement of Welsh people
gathered on the west bank of the Shell Creek in section 23 in Joliet
Township and built their church. |
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The
church resides on a lot of approximately two acres. The building faces
east, is surrounded by a chain link fence and is oriented toward the
road. A cemetery occupies the remaining ground behind the church.
Old stones are mixed in with new and many family names recall the
current membership as well as the original founders of the church
congregation. Mature conifer type trees are scattered throughout the
lot and in the far northwest comer of the property is the original
outhouse. Overall, the First Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church and
Cemetery retains a high degree of historic integrity, is a first-rate
representation of a very simple building type, and is the only remaining
illustration of the small community of Postville. |
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Diagram
of present day location and address |
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1890
- Record of Land Transfer |
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2004
- Record of Survey for the cemetery and church |
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Exterior: |
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The
church has a rectangular plan of 34 feet by 24 feet with an 8 foot
by 8 foot entrance hall on the East end. The construction is a wood
frame building held together with square nails. It has no bell tower
nor stained glass windows. It resembles a one-room school house,
the primary identifying features of this building as a church are
the double wood doors in the entry vestibule. The only exterior
ornament of fish scale shingle work in the gable of the vestibule.
The words "Postville Welsh Church, 1884" are painted on
the glass transom above the entry doors.
The foundation under the main building consists of uncut stone footing
supporting the main frame. The entrance hall foundation consists
of cut brick. The wood-frame building is sheathed in horizontal
drop siding. The roof is covered with wooden shingles. Windows and
doors surrounds are of plain milled boards with no molding. |
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Interior: |
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The
inside walls are plastered and painted and stenciled with religious
markings. The lower portion of the wall is of vertical board skirting.
The ceiling is a painted decorative metal, approximately 15 feet high.
The flooring is of a wide white pine board. There is a raised 8 feet
wide sanctuary in front of the church. The floor and two sets of wooden
steps leading up to the sanctuary is covered with the original carpet.
The sanctuary held the pedaled organ, book case, a large armed minister
chair with two smaller no armed chairs on each side, a pulpit and
a piano still remain in the church today.
The church is lit by 6 rectangle windows, 7 feet high, 3 windows to
the South and 3 windows to the North. Each window contains 8 panes
of 20 inches by 14 inches of glass. At night the church was lit by
6 oil lamps mounted on each window plain milled boards. The original
plan of the building consisted of two inside constructed chimneys
and two wood burning stoves for heat. Some unknown time later the
two inside chimneys were removed and one outside centered chimney
was built with cut bricks from the ground up. The church was then
heated with one large wood burning heater located toward the rear
of the church.
Entrance: on the East end of the church, is made by
going up 6 wooden steps, then through 2 inward hinged doors into an
entrance hall. Wall mounted hooks on either side of the hall held
the coats and hats. To enter the main portion of the church from the
entrance hall, one must pass through two swinging doors. Sever-al
rows of the original wooden chairs still remain in the church. |
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Changes: |
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Changes
to the building overtime have been minimal. The front stairs have
been rebuilt since its original construction but retain the spirit
of the original stair. The original plan of the building consisted
of two interior chimneys and two wood burning stoves for heat. Some
unknown time later, but within the historic period, the two chimneys
were removed and one outside chimney was centered on the west wall.
The church was then heated with one large wood burning stove located
toward the rear of the building. Six oil lamps were mounted on each
of the six windows to light the church.
In 1990, as in 1944, the call went out in order to raise funds for
the new fence. Seventy five family members were contacted by letter
across the United States of America and the drive was a success. The
response was so great that the fence was installed, the church was
shingled, repaired and painted. Inside a display was donated and photo
copies of records and church and community information is on display
for the church visitors. A United States of America and a Christian
flag stand on the floor of the sanctuary. A guest book is provided
for the visitors who wish to sign.
In 1991 the old wooden shingles were removed and replaced with new
wooden shingles. New wooden steps replaced the old wooden entrance
steps. The outside wood horizontal drop siding was water blasted to
remove all the old paint. The building was then primed and painted
in an oil base white paint. New white inside window shades replaced
the old ones. The church has never been wired for electricity. The
church is easily visible from a well maintained gravel road that runs
past the front of the church. |
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