In The Beginning

From a Brief history of the first Baptist Church

Given at the 90th Birthday Celebration

By Doris Watson McWorter

In 1890 there were no highways, no roads, not even a trail! Since fences were almost nonexistent then.

On Sunday morning, the family climbed into the wagon and cut across the prairie to Martha. Often the family would go home with friends for Sunday dinner and stay for the evening service. Riding home in the wagon at night with no roads and no lights could have proved hazardous. But it never did.

It was not easy to go to Martha for church services. So, as more families moved into the area a great need for a church closer to home became evident. In March, 1893, six Baptist families met and organized the First Baptist Church of Blair.

The fourteen charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Watson and their daughter Sallie Watson Reid, and her husband. W.A. or Alec Reid, Mr. and Mrs. Isador Kammenzind and their daughter, Etta, who later became Mrs. Charlie Martin; Mr. and Mrs. E. Stevenson, Mr. and Mrs. Nelms and Miss Cora Nelms, and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Allen. The church disbanded after a few years, and was reorganized in February, 1898, and since that day the church has continued to function.

The first church house was built in 1903. In 1907, lots were Purchased nearer the business section of town, these lots are where the present church stands.

Plans were then drawn to build a new church home. The estimated cost was $410.00. The church did not have that kind of money, so they decided to mortgage the existing property. They borrowed $250.00. The church was dedicated on May 31, 1908.

On June 16, 1928, a sad day came. A terrible cyclone destroyed this building, and many others in town. Three persons were killed. Just one month later, on July 16, 1928, the church voted in conference to tear down the remains of the building and build a new one. The building committee was R. L. Watson, W. E. Martin, and Jim Huling.

Brother J.E. Vaughn was the pastor.

All through history we are made aware that this has been a Bible reading, singing, praying, generous, caring and progressive church. " All generations are like links in a chain." Was said by, Dr. Barclay. The charter members were the beginning link in the cause of Christ as they started this church. Many generations of links have come and gone since that day. All of them have proudly added strength as well as length to the chain.

The present church was completed and dedicated in 1988.

        Blair First Baptist Steeple

  A Committee of three people, consisting of Gayle Conger, O.C. Nobles, and Donnie Gray were selected to obtain the information on steeples and present it to the church.  The presentation was made in August 1999, and the church decided on a design and type.  The steeple was ordered the next week.  The company that made the steeple gave us an approximate delivery date of 5-12 Nov 99.  It was delivered one day early, on November 4, 99.  Since that time it has been quite a problem to find someone who would come and put it up.  Nobody seemed to be interested in doing it.  A company in Elk City said that they would put it up, but the never showed up even to look at it.  After that finally fell through, someone said that Randy Caskey would be interested in doing it.  After looking it over and checking the existing building, he said he would do it.  He had never put up a steeple before, but he enjoyed a challenge.  Randy and his two sons, Rocky, and Clint began to reinforce the existing building framework on February 8, 2000.  Working around  the boys college schedule, they came back on February 10, ready to set the steeple up.  The company that is building the road through Blair experienced some of Randy’s Southern Charm, and agreed to furnish the crane to set the steeple on the roof.  The steeple was placed on top of the church in a matter of a few minutes.  After a few hours of bolting, checking, and rebuilding things, they had the steeple installed.  Randy, Rocky, and Clint wiped out the problems of trying to find a company to do the chore in just a couple of days.  Just goes to show you that if you are professional you can do just about anything you set your mind to.  The electrician (Timmy Sullivan) then went to work and installed the lights that highlight the steeple at night.

The steeple points up to the Lord, our Savior, and reminds us that there is but one God.  The lights inside the steeple should remind us that we are to be a lighthouse in this community for the Lord.