J. Quincy Ames and Jesse Tullis selected the new minister, James Lloyd Paulson in 1950, known as Jim. Jim, his wife, Vina and their small son, Jimmy, arrived here from Ashland in their ‘41’ Chevy. Later, Jim received $500 from our local Chevrolet Dealer, Art Hansen. Seeing the local banker, Scoop Wackman, Jim discovered he was eligible for a veteran’s loan with 1% interest. He had served in the Navy during World 2 (1944-46).
Climbing up the basement stairs, Vina’s labor pains started with their second son, John. Jim was away, attending school. Reaching the telephone, she called her neighbor, Doris Wackman to drive her to the hospital. Jesse Tullis stayed with Jimmy. Another baby boy, Peter was born. Completing their family, Philip was born four years later.
Always there when assistance was needed, the church found ways to provide. The water heater in the parsonage was purchased with profits from the food stand on Labor Day. Not having much extra time but doing his own typing and making stencil copies off the mimeograph machine, Clarice Every volunteered to take over these tasks. One of the activities was operating the concession stand at the park during the summer ball games. Those profits were used to install rest rooms in the church.
Officiating at many funerals, the church received special gifts. The picture of the “Lord’s Last Supper” (honoring David Lee Larsen), the former outdoor bulletin board (memory of Harry and Ina Hook), and a leather-bound Hymnal honoring Rev. Walter Snow’s mother, Margaret Snow.
New members, many baptisms and weddings happened in the four years. Enjoyed by many, the Young Couples Club was organized and attended by many from the church and community. A Sunday in July, 1951, Paulson baptized seven infants and children, plus an adult. Speaking that day was his father, Carsten Paulson, with special music from the choir. Also in 1951, it was announced at the Methodist Annual Conference, women ministers were admitted into membership.
Always busy, helping others, the women of the church provided a meal for the men that were helping Otto Bryant pick his corn crop. Otto was in the hospital, injured by the corn picker.
Occasionally, Jim would sing at the church and for the women at their WSCS meetings.
Retiring in Florida, he preached at the First Congregational Community Church in Cape Coral. This was where his final service was held. Following a stroke, Pastor Jim Paulson went to our Lord in September of 2009. Preceding his death were his wife, Vina, his parents and brother, Robert. In mourning were his sons, James, John, Peter and Philip and their children.
A native of Prairie du Sac, Newton Barrett was appointed to our church in July, 1954 through 1958. His wife was the former Alma Beck. During those years, Rev. Barrett served as a counselor at the Junior Camp at Pine Lake. Accompanying him were five girls: Joyce Bryant, Barbara Hook, Betty Lamb, Judy Smith and Caroline Vogt.
Newton Barrett was a nationally known runner in the Senior Olympics holding U.S. records in his age group for 50-meter and 100-meter runs. He was recognized as Writer of the Year by the Quad -City Writers Club, expressing his thoughts in poetry in Moline, Illinois. Retiring in 1969, he had served churches for 45 years in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. His life-long interest in music, he became a published composer of religious music and sang with church choirs. Students at Peterson Country remember the reverend visiting, teaching music.
Alma met Newton at the Whitman College Conservatory of Music at Pipestone, Minnesota and they married in 1917. She was an accomplished organist. She dealt with cancer the last two years of her life. Staying active, she passed July 1960. Their children were an adopted son, Bruce and another son, Elliot, born three years later.
Events happening: The WSCS made the decision to change the annual chicken pie supper to a turkey supper in October with all of the trimmings (served 350 dinners). Reservations were being made for the Easter Breakfast in April (74 attended) with Rena Hanson and Fannie Lamb, costing 25cents. The WSCS organized a home cooked food stand for the 4th year on Labor Day. Those that contributed to the Lord’s Acre project through their labor and donations provided many building improvements for the church.
A new Hammond Organ and Vibrachimes were purchased from the many memorials given the past years by former members and friends. Usually played by Alma, our pastor was also very talented on its keys. He had a deep singing voice. Sometimes, Geraldine Waite accompanied the singing. A highlight at the Organ Dedication Service was the male quartet of Messrs, Sanner, Smith, Chandler and Ames. Other music was heard from the girls’ choir.
1955-1980 fathers and sons attended the Father/Son Banquet- the menu was Swiss Steak plus Apple Pie. Basement ceiling and new light fixtures were installed. Ed/Selma Pernot presented the baptismal font in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kutzke. The church chimney was removed, no longer necessary.
The WSCS’ special guest, Edward Gibson, assistant secretary of the Wisconsin Alumnae Association, spoke at the Brooklyn High School Athletic Banquet. He played football at UW and was a former coach. He was the coach at Janesville. He showed films of the UW band’s trip to the Rose Bowl.
Existing 1955 to 1969, the Helping Hand Society consisted of elderly women who served the community and beyond. Meeting in their homes, they quilted and made scrapbooks from used greeting cards for children and others to enjoy. In 1960, they quilted over fifty quilts for a children’s home in Poynette.
Will Roberts, one of our church’s pioneers, passed in1955. Born on Thomas Jehu’s farm in 1866, Will served his country in the Civil War as a cook. Then, he joined his brothers in a silver mine where he made his fortune. Returning home, he worked for the early firm, Richards, Graves and Roberts, while romancing Agnes Jehu. Having nine children, all contributed to our church and community. Will rests in Mt. Hope Cemetery, which he helped to create.
Rev. Donald L. Frank and his wife, Karen came to our church in 1958. Three years later, he became a District Superintendent for the following eight years. Their first child was born here. In 1959, there were 284 members and 80 (sometimes up to 120) children attended Sunday School. The numbers slowly began to decline. That year, they had an Open House for two retiring teachers, Mabel Hansen and Lillian Bund. Bund decided to stay on with Marian Curless, Dorothy Bryant, Martha Bartlelt, Gladys Wackman, Emily Peterson and Margaret Sanner. The Methodist Youth Fellowship started a nursery on Sunday morning. Operating similar to the Women’s Social Christian Society (WSCS) with goals to reach others and help the church financially and socially, there was The Couples Club, later called Fellowship Club (including the husbands). They would meet within their homes. Both gatherings always included devotions, entertainment (usually local) and lunch. Inviting the community, tickets were sold to the social events at Fink’s Drug Store, Armstrong & Roberts Grocery Store or from the co-chairman of Church Activities and Social Relations. Usually, the entertainment was local people. Within the WSCS were the duties of transportation, Sunshine Secretary, supplies and literature.
Jesse Tullis was appointed to maintain the Cradle Roll, a wooden plaque that contained the baptisms within the church.
The WSCS was still using “mite boxes,” individual offerings designated towards mission concerns. A memorable Guest Day at the church (100 members and guests attending) was held in February 1960. Titled, “Album of Fashions,” Ruth George (dressed as a grandma) held a grandchild (portrayed by Marjean Curless) leafing through an album, supposedly found in an attic, showing clothing from years ago. People paraded on by as she turned the pages. Pauline Snyder presented Etta Smith’s lawn dress, sown by herself and the hankie that she carried in 1910. Ella Butts wore Lillian Bund’s dress from 1917, when she started teaching Sunday School. Modeling those fashions were Judy Smith (wearing Sarah Jehu’s 1869 wedding gown), Etta Smith wearing her mother’s (Evelyn Snyder Hubbard) black silk cape, carrying her beaded black handbag, Georgia Paynter wearing Clarice Every’s mother’s wedding dress (sewn by the Roberts sisters in 1899), Sharon Lamb wore Ethel Smith’s graduation dress (1904), Barbara Hook was wearing Lucille Behnke’s gym outfit of 1925. Wearing their own wedding gowns were Selma Pernot (1929), Florabelle Waite (1930), Clarice Every (1934-purchased at the Cinderella Shop for $12), Marilyn Pernot Elsner (1944), Marian Curless 1945) Doreen Pernot Christensen (1951) Judy Smith wore her mother, Erma’s dress 1937. Patty Anderson wore her mother’s (Marian Ellis Anderson) 1941 dress, and Betty Lamb wore Cleo Henriksen Tilley’s gown (1953).
Karen Irene Hanson Frank passed July 11, 2018. Currently, Rev. Frank is still alive in a nursing home in Altoona, WI.