Reverend Clovis Snider and his wife, Mary Ann, came to our church in the late summer of 1941. Mary was active in the WSCS (Women’s Society of Christian Service). She was a substitute teacher at the Alpine and Peterson Country Schools, too. They had two sons, Clovis and Carl, and a daughter, Mary.
The church historian, Sadie Ellis, recorded “the 1941 Christmas program was one of the nicest Christmas programs, ever presented at the church” It was a music pageant that included many children. The Reverend and his wife organized the intermediate youth activities and chaperoned Saturday night parties for the young people, inviting those in the community too.
A well was dug near the parsonage, allowing water to be piped within. The labor was done by the men and friends of the church.
There were many baptisms, one of them was an infant, Ila Annette Henriksen. There were fourteen children in the 1941 confirmation class, one of them was Pearl Elaine Waite Later she married Harold Wilke.
At an August board meeting, it was announced that Rev. Snider asked for an absence of sixty days. Arthur Chandler was nominated to take his place. The following November, the District Superintendent told the board that Snider was unable to return because of his health. The family moved to Tucson, Arizona where he entered the Federal Hospital in November 1942. Afterwards, Snider was assigned to a defense industry housing project with the National Interdenominational Home Mission Council at Tucson. Later on, he returned to ministry there.
During Snider’s time here, a Japanese/American couple with their small child stayed at the parsonage. Following the Pearl Harbor attack, the Methodist Conference assisted with the re-location of this family to Wisconsin.
Currently doing graduate work at the UW, Rev. Roy Sturn was assigned to our church in 1943. He was a member of the North Indiana Conference. Only here for a year, the church experienced much activity. The remembered events in 1943 were the following:
The WSCS hosted a woman missionary from Malaya. She showed four reels of moving pictures of Singapore. She was evacuated from Singapore, prior to the Japanese invasion. Another young lady from Japan, attending the UW spoke on “The False Conception of Racial Supremacy.” From Japan, Kimi Fugi concluded her remarks, “We may have either racial prejudice of Christ, but we cannot have both.”
Also, that year, the combined Father/Son and Mother/Daughter Banquets honored the high school basketball team and their coach at the church. Special guests came from the UW Sports Program and sport reporters from two newspapers.
In November, the church celebrated the recognition of our Centennial (1843-1943) in Brooklyn. Historian Sadie Ellis reported, “we had a bountiful basket lunch at the community building, exchanged greetings with former residents and members, then returned to the church for the afternoon program.” All former choir members and pianists stood in the front of the church. Sadie led them in several hymns. A prayer was said by Sturn. Following Sadie singing “The Cradle Song,” Roma Borst read the history of the church. 150 attended.
The pastor’s wife, Geneva organized our first Vacation Bible School (preschool to 6th grades). She did a super job, using her special talents in the field of music that captured the young people’s interests. Unable to hide her pain during that week, different ones inquired, but she assured them all, “I’m feeling fine.” That following September, she had to have surgery, came home, but was required to return to the hospital where she passed in October. Her desire to “always give all and do well” was accomplished even before coming to Brooklyn. She was very active in developing the WSCS.
Honoring our local veterans, Lillian Bund headed the WSCS to organize the wooden “Brooklyn Honor Roll” at the village park. Picture post cards were given to the veterans. Mrs. Bund was a dedicated Sunday School teacher and cared very much for children. Seeing children playing in the dark, she would invite them in to watch TV, even popping corn.
Nationally, the previous year (1942 in January), the last Chevrolet rolled off the assembly line. All plants converted to defense work. Civilian car production didn’t resume until October 3, 1945.
June 1944- Rev. Douglas Cook and his wife, Virginia, came to Brooklyn. They encouraged the youth to participate. Our former minister, Roy Sturm, is teaching at the UW, working towards his Doctor’s Degree.
The Senior Youth Fellowship had projects for the nursery- the boys were asked to collect old toys, then paint and repair, the girls collected old dolls, made repairs and sewed dresses for them. Another group project was putting together a performance at the community building and then, invited the neighboring towns to view.
During our earlier years when the high school was here, there were more teenagers at our church. Quite often on Sunday mornings, the younger generations were present. On Fathers’ Day, the Sunday School teachers organized Sunday Worship with singing and small performances.
The WSCS would often invite the young people from the high school to sing, read or play a musical instrument or a short play performance. The Youth Group organized the entertainment at the Mother/Daughter Banquet. After giving Grace, the pastor’s wife introduced their program, “Through the Years” told of a girl’s life growing to a great grandmother that was intermingled with the girls singing, directed by Helen Gray. The girls were Joanne Hansen, Margaret Ames, Olive Sprecher, Barbara Wackman, Mary TenEyek, Doris Elmer, Doreen Pernot, Helen Hess and Pearl Waite. Showing the different stages of life, started with little Harold Amidon. Sitting in a high chair, the girls sang, “Lullaby.” Next were Ila Henriksen and Betty Lamb, emphasizing starting Sunday School. They smiled shyly waited while the girls sang “Jesus Loves Me.” Seen starting first grade was six-year-old Geraldine Waite, the girls sang “Here We Go Around the Mulberry Bush.” Dressed as campers, Gwenth Chandler wore a bathing suit and Ruth Lloyd wore a short outfit, the girls sang, “Playmates.” Mary Christensen wore a pretty suit and held a school slate, the girls sang, “School Days.” For Confirmation Sunday, Helen Hess was dressed in white and carried a Bible, the girls sang, “The Church’s One Foundation.” Joyce Pernot was in her letter sweatshirt, carrying a volleyball. The girls sang the school’s pep song, “Fight for Brooklyn High School.” When singing the popular song, “My Dreams are Getting Better” Doreen Pernot was seen wearing a blue formal and Pearl Waite in a white evening dress, both adorned with corsages. Just completing her first year at UW, Roma Borst carried a red banner and a football program, they sang “On Wisconsin.” Lillian Bund represented “the career girl,” wearing a nurse’s uniform (which was actually hers), the girls sang, “Keep the Old Fire Burning.” Erma Smith wore her wedding gown, emphasizing marriage. Helen Gray played the “Wedding March.” Appearing to be a housewife, Ardis Rasmussen carried a sewing basket, and the girls sang, “Home, Sweet Home.” Again, they saw baby Harold in his mother’s arms, they sang “Irish Lullaby.” Portraying a grandmother was Della Lockeryand a great grandmother was Jenny White, the girls sang “M.O.T.H.E.R”. and “You Are a Wonderful Mother.” Marilyn Hopkins was scheduled to appear too but unable to appear, she was home with pink eye.