since July 1998 since July 1998
Union Center CemeteryThe following history is taken from the history prepared by Alberta Buxton-Blaser in Novenber, 1981 to celebrate Union Center's 70th anniversary.
Until the opening of the Union Center church in 1921, the early pioneers were meeting in the Appleton School House for Sunday School and Church services. Appleton was located one mile west of Union Center. The first Appleton school was located in a store/post office on the "Apple Ranch" arroud 1900. In 1906 the school was moved almost one mile north to a dugout in the Northeast corner of that same section. In 1910 a new school building was erected across the road to the Northeast. All three rooms were used for classrooms. Later, the east room was made into a teacherage. There were wide, double doors on the East side and a ramp was built so the teachers car could even be drove into the building for shelter if needed.
Every Sunday afternoon, the Methodists and Baptists met together in the Appleton School to hold Sunday School and church services. This is where the name "Union Center" originated. A Presiding Elder of the Methodist Church would come and preach to the congregation once and possible twice a month;. In those days they were known as "Circuit Ridding Preachers". A local farmer/preacher, Mr. Eulah Atherton, wuld preach the other Sunday's. Mr. Atherton believes that the first services held in the new Appleton School House was March 10, 1910 or 1911.
An acre of land was given, by Mr. Joe Aldrige, for a burial ground one mile East of the Appleton School by 1900 or possibly earlier.
The Methodist congregation decided to build a church. On September 18, 1920, charlie and Elizabeth (Reuszer) Schulze deeded one Acre of land, located just across the road North of the Appleton cemetery, in the southwest corner of the section. The ground breaking ceremony was led by Mrs. Asa (Belle) DeHart in the summer of 1920.
Charlie H. Buxton furnished a team of four horses and a scoop, or slide, to dig the basement. Earl Briled furnished a team of mules also th help pull the slide. All the men donated their time and the women brought the food daily to feed them. Jennie Buxton-Jennings and Annie Whitmer gathered donations for the building materials.
The building consisted of a basement and a raised one room first floor. The basement contained a coal furnace, which later was changed to a central propane heater. The old furnace room would become the kitchen. In 1967, a classroom and bath was added to the North side of the church. Indoor stairs were also built leading to the basement. The official dedication of Union Center Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was Sunday, October 02, 1921 at 11am with Rev. J.O. Peterson, presiding. The church is still in existence and has a small but loyal congregation.
