Today (December 22, 2023) I was visiting with 2 different people and found out about 2 more examples
where old pictures/history were thrown away by other family members, BUT I also had good news
from 2 other folks that they were able to save old pix & history and did not burn them as they were instructed to by other family members. I also had a conversation with
another person who had saved several old Manning connected items from the trash and will get them to me for the future Manning Museum.
I'm intentionally leaving out the names of the individuals and families because my goals are the preservation of history and not pitting various people against each other, NOR
am I just making up these stories to try to sway people into believing how much of our history is being thrown away every year.
I also got involved in storing the model of the Presbyterian Church because it had to be removed from the current storage location. The owner and I want to find a long-term indoor location and
more importantly, preserve it so it can be displayed during the 2031 Manning Sesquicentennial parade that will be here before you know it.
So as I always write about - if you or a family member have old Manning connected history, pix, etc. and those things are scheduled for the burn pile or dump, PLEASE contact me
and let's see if we can find a way to preserve them but more importantly so I can scan or take digital pix so they will be preserved in the Manning Historical Database I'm constantly working
on...
Model of the Manning Presbyterian Church
I'm looking for background information on the construction - LeRoy Albertsen was
in charge from my understanding.
I'm fortunate in having farm equipment able to handle large items and also several structures large enough to temporarily store them until we find a permanent home for
them in Manning.
We can't continue throwing away and destroying our history and I'm going to do my best as long as I can to find ways to preserve it, even when I have constant head-winds to deal with.
Who cares about our history - well I hope these next images will change the minds of some people if they think it is not necessary to preserve it.
1981 Manning Centennial Parade - pulled by Russ Stribe in his pickup
First Presbyterian Church
From the 2006 Manning Quasquicentennial history book
The first service held in Manning was September 23, 1881, with a congregation of
6 members. On May 28, 1882, the church was officially incorporated.
The church building, Manning's first, was dedicated August 26, 1883, is still
standing and in use. A basement was added in 1917 and in 1939 the building was
enlarged to include a pastor office, choir room and chancel. In 1960, again the
building was enlarged by adding four classrooms and a new kitchen. Handicap
accessible entrances were added in 1986 for the lower level to the fellowship
hall and in 1990 for the main level to the sanctuary. A new garage and storage
area was built in 1995 and in 1999 two of the lower-level rooms were combined
and remodeled to become what we refer to as "the parlor," a
comfortable living room type area. And finally, the building was changed once
again in 2000 with the addition of a steeple.
Roof replacements, sanctuary painting and new carpeting for the narthex and
balcony all took place in the late 1990s. The year 2004 brought major
remodeling to the lower level "old" kitchen, fellowship hall and
current restrooms as well as adding a handicap accessible restroom and an elevator.
A pipe organ was purchased from the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning in
1993 and our organ was donated to the United Methodist Church of Manning. In
2001, a new sound system was added that included hearing impaired assistant
devices. Our worship services are currently being videotaped and shown on the local municipal cable station.
In 1994, the decision was made to combine the acting governing boards of
deacons and elders. Today there is one active board of Elders consisting of 9
members. After almost 25 years, the United Church School and Youth Fellowship,
the sharing of Sunday school classes, teachers, and youth groups with the
United Methodist Church, dissolved and each church took on separate curriculums.
Though the membership is slowly declining many activities are still going
strong. Two examples are the annual Smorgasbord held the third Sunday of
October, and the PW May Breakfast, originally held the first day of May, now is
the first Saturday of May, continue to be popular events with the Manning
community as well as surrounding communities.
In August of 1989, Reverend Marshall Brown and his family came to Manning to be
the pastor of First Presbyterian Church and he continues in that capacity. In
2006, the church will celebrate its 125th anniversary of its first worship service.
Original church
1941 - note the new addition by the different shade of shingles on the north end.
1943
1923 Bernice Dethlefs - later Mrs. William Ohde
Clifford "Bud" Johnson 1956 honored as the choir director
1956 Diamond Jubilee parade
Notice the bank building in back before it was painted.
I think Dan Pratt and Russ Stribe are
riding on this float.
And that is either Anna Karstens or one of the Karstens twins on the near-side adults riding.
Kim Haubrich & Rick Spack wedding
May 18, 2000 - adding new/modern steeple
I was in the fields this particular day, so I asked Kim Fara to use my digital camera to take theses steeple photos.
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