Milestone Dates in the West Des Moines United Methodist Church

Winter of 1892-93	First Methodist services held in Valley Junction in Mott’s Hall.
1894	Church built at Seventh and Elm on land bought by Ladies Aid.
1896	Small church is moved across the street and a larger church is under construction at the same Seventh and Elm site.
Winter of 1902	Church badly damaged when fire breaks out in furnace during revival.
1904	First service held at new church at Seventh and Elm.
1942	First pipe organ is purchased and installed.
1947	Land at 8th and Grand purchased.
March 8, 1953	Mrs. John (Peggy) LeVere leads the congregation to donate to the building fund and start building a new church.
February 14, 1954	Cornerstone for Unit I of new building laid, cost is $103,000.
September 19, 1954	First service held in Unit I of new building.
1957	Construction begins on Unit II, cost is $203,465.
December 14, 1958	First service in Unit II in the new sanctuary.
December 28, 1958	Consecration of the new building.
October 6, 1963	Mortgage paid and church dedicated.
1970	First Last Supper Dramatization held on Maundy Thursday.
1971	Construction begins on Unit III, cost is $382,413.
December 4, 1979	Dedication of new bell tower in memory of Skip Elson.
November 1986	Building expansion committee formed.
March 1992	Building expansion completed.

Those of us on the web team and communications committee who have added these church history pages are either too young or too forgetful to know many of the details surrounding these photos. Please use the feedback form (in the right column) to send us any corrections or additional info we're missing.