History:   On June 25, 1999, The First Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church and Cemetery were registered by the Nebraska State Historical Society and the United States Department of the Interior, National Parks Services an placed in the National Register of Historical Places. Certificate of Historical Status       As the Postville settlement grew, the inhabitant's spiritual and community needs were recognized, and on December 6,1881 Elias Hughes and John Edwards formed the Articles of Association By-Laws and Constitution of the First Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church at Postville. After filing was completed on December 14,1881 at 1:39pm, the church was an official institution. On July 10,1884 David and Mary Thomas deeded two acres of land to the church for a cemetery and building site. The deed was filed for record on August 12, 1884 at 3:35pm in the Platte County, Nebraska, Register of Deeds Office. According to a board found in the attic of the church, the building was completed in 1884 and built by W.W. and LE. Evans.       The First Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church and Cemetery, later known as the Postville Welsh Church had a long association with the Welsh settlement and community in Platte County, Nebraska in the 19th and 20th centuries. Since its construction in 1884 it has been in continuous use as a gathering place for church and community services, and remains today as the only example of this small settlement. The Postville Church, was significance for the early Welsh settlement and is the only remaining gathering place of the Welsh community in Platte County. The period of significance of the Church and Cemetery, 1884-1949, is derived from the construction date of the church through 1949, the established fifty year termination date.       Although the Welsh population was stable with neighboring farms, school and church, the Post Office in Postville was removed in 1902 and relocated to Monroe, Nebraska. Church records have been kept on membership and activities since 1902, at which time the membership was listed at 42, with a peak population of 45 in 1910.       Records in he Secretary's book of 1902 show the following people contributing to the expenses of the church.   Jane Parry Griffith Parry Annie Parry Hugh Edwards Mary Edwards Owen Jones Margaret Jones John Jones Martha Williams Achsah Williams John W. Williams Owen Parry Elizabeth Parry Sarah Jones Catherine Edwards John T. Evans Annie Evans Thomas Roberts Jane Roberts Evan L. Jones Mr.& Mrs. John W. Hughes Dewey Hughes Ella Hughes William P. Jones Mary E. Jones Mary Griffith Margaret Humphrey Robert Owens       Even without the Post Office, the community stabilized and continued improvements in the church. These included the purchase of an organ in 1905, the formation of the Ladies Aid, and hosting the 1920 Quarterly Presbyterian Synod meeting. The Synod meeting was undoubtedly one of the historical highlights of the community with tents for food preparation and housing erected on the church grounds to house all the visiting dignitaries.       Between the years of 1902 and 1922 services were held regularly at the church. A change occurred in 1914 when the original Methodist organization was changed to Presbyterian to better meet the organizational needs of the congregation. It was after this change and between the years 1914 and 1922 when the church was most active. It hosted many visiting ministers, community socials, and involved many young people in weekly events. After 1922, the regular pastor left the church and regular services ceased at that time. Special events like baptisms, marriages and funerals were held in the building and occasional services were provided by visiting ministers from neighboring towns. However, regular Sunday school programs were active well into the 1960's.       Two highlights of the community's history were the Presbyterian Quarterly Synod meeting in 1920, and the funeral of Sergeant Robert O. Parry who lost his life during World War I, and is buried in the cemetery. Parry lost his life in France in 1918 during the battle of Argonne Forest. His funeral did not take place until September 1919 when his body was returned to the community. News accounts indicate that nearly 2,000 people attended the service with more than 240 automobiles.       As life and means of transportation changed, so did the Welsh dominated community and therefore did the church activities. Because regular services were no longer held at the church, the Presbyterian Synod decided to sell the church building. A meeting was held by its members to save the church building and it was discovered that the church was never deeded to the Presbyterian Synod. It was at this time in 1948 that the members withdrew from the Synod and paid no further dues. The church became known as the Postville Welsh Church.       The church has been continually cared for and governed by the families who are descendants of the original founders of the community and the congregation. When it was built in 1884 it was a place where the Welsh community could go to pray, socialize as a community, and bury their loved ones. Today the church is the sole remnant of Postville. The cemetery bears the names of the original founders and the families that continue to maintain the property.         Church Board :   The church has always had a church and cemetery board and still holds their annual church board meeting inside the church every year.       At the annual meeting in 1944, it was voted to paint the church. Dave Parry and Robert Evans were appointed to collect money for the the cost. Members were very generous and sufficient funds were collected. Members of the church gave it two coats of paint. In 1946 the fence was repaired around the cemetery and church. The building has been shingled, painted, and kept in condition by members of the church. The Ladies Aid donated their funds for the upkeep of the church.       At the annual meeting May 19, 1970, Dave Parry suggested that a trust fund be established to care for the Postville Cemetery, using only the annual interest to expenses each year. Annabelle Lloyd, Margaret Miller and Genevieve Evans were appointed as a committee to contact interested persons to learn their desires in the matter. Letters were sent out and the response was very gratifying. A trust fund was set up and still exists today. The interest is being used to pay for the mowing and the upkeep of the Cemetery.       At the meeting of the Postville Church and Cemetery Boards September 19, 1975, the President of the Church Board, Raymond Lewis and the Secretary and Treasurer of the Cemetery Boards, Annabelle Lloyd and Stanley Hughes resigned. They were given a vote of thanks for their many years of service to the Church. They had been active in the Church since 1918.       It was voted to consolidate the two boards into one as follows:   President   Darwin Lewis elected 1975 Vice President   Don Lloyd elected 1975 Secretary   Genevieve Evans elected 1941 Treasurer   Bertha Lewis elected 1935       For more than the last 60 years the same group of friends have taken an active interest in caring for the Church and Cemetery. They are descendants of the first members of the Church and the people who settled the Welsh Community of Postville, Nebraska. From the time the Article of Association was written to the present, the church and cemetery have been governed by elected board members. These officers today are elected by what is called "family members"^of the church. These members are individuals who have family members buried at the Postville Cemetery. At the present time an elected board member must have a family member buried in the Postville Cemetery. Family members have been very supportive. One family member who lived in Utah donated a large sum of money to help replace the original fence around the church property.       On Sunday, July 26, 1990, a meeting was held at the Postville Church to accept the resignation of Bertha Lewis and Genevieve Evans who had served on the church board for 55 and 49 years respectively. The offices of President and Vice President which were held by Darwin Lewis and Don Lloyd respectively had expired. They were elected to these offices in 1975 and had served for 15 years. Four new members of the Postville Church/Cemetery Board were elected.       The current Postville Church Board Members are:   President   Robert Owen Parry Secretary   Kenneth J. Parry Treasurer   Doris Evans VanDiest             The elected board keeps in touch with each family member, who lives throughout the United States, by sending them a letter each year. The letter reveals the financial standing and any activities that took place during the year. The family members then in turn send their donations to support the trust fund that was set up in 1970. Only the interest is used for the mowing and upkeep of the church property. The family member can also nominate and vote for board members when terms have expired.       *back to the top of the page*