Revised 1997 May 27
I am seeking the aid of former teachers and students to make this report historically accurate. Some details are likely to change.

Claude Eddleman Farm (1939-1958)

Churches

There was a church a mile south of us and we attended there until I was in the 6th grade, but the neighbor who took us to it moved and we began going to one closer about 3/4 mile east of us.

I mostly enjoyed going to church for it gave a chance to ask Matt Benz and others about farming topics I was uncertain about and wanted to get a second opinion on. Usually that would be questions abour rabbits or I might want to ask Jim Francis about a beekeeping problem. Jim had 3 hives and all the equipment and books, even a honey extractor.

Sunday school began at 9:30 and about 10:00 church began and as we sang the second song the minister usually arrived from Dillman church 3 miles away where he preached first and then came to our church. If he did not arrive on schedule, we just sany another song or two.

Wednesday night at 7:30 was Youth Fellowship Service and afterwards we got to play games a while until the adult sponsors decided they needed to get home. We welcomed these opportunities to play with friends we had not seen since Sunday.

A couple times per year we had Pitchin Dinners after church. Each family brought a few dishes of their best cooking and lemonade or iced tea and we all had a feast. Pitch in meant each family pitched in what food they had. In fancier circles the dinners are called Covered Dish Dinners meaning the dishes are covered to keep the flies off during the morning services.

The Church had a plaque at the front behind the minister inscribed "1886" which was the year the wood frame building was built. That was the year my dad was born and made it easy to remember his birth year.

to be continued.

Suggestions, corrections, and comments are appreciated: Contact Harold Eddleman indbio@disknet.com