About Us
THE HISTORY OF THE OWL HOLLOW CHURCH OF CHRIST
1908-2009
Founders
In 1868, William H. Baker and his wife, Pheoniah, Left Ohio and settled in Tennessee. They bought a farm in Franklin County. They had nine children. Three of these along with their mates started the church of Christ at Owl Hollow. These children were J.P. Baker and wife Sally Weddington Baker; W.B. Young and wife, Samantha “Manie” Baker Young; George Weddington and wife, Cora Baker Weddington.
All of J.P. and Sally Bakers children were active church members until their death. They are Jim Baker, Murrell Baker, Ethel Baker Boswell, Ruthie Baker, David Baker, Lonnie Baker, & Auburn Baker. Five of their grandchildren attend at the present time. They are Virginia Baker Platt, Helen Baker Clark, Floydaline Baker Clark, Auburn Wayne Baker, and Kurfees Boswell. There are six great-grandchildren attending. They are Wanda Throneberry Reynolds, Bruce Platt, Kayla Baker, Marcia Long Haynes, Angie Baker Templeton and Lee Baker. There are four 2nd generation grandchildren. They are Michelle Reynolds Perry, Heather Clark Stafford, Darrin Henley, Tyler Henley, Corey Throneberry, and Kaylee Throneberry. There are two 3rd generation grandchildren. They are Tyler & Austin Perry. There are also descendants of W.B. and Samantha Young, Labon Platt is the great-grandson and Bruce Platt is a 2nd generation grandson.
Location
The site chosen for the church was located in Owl Hollow about 1/2 mile from Highway 50. The original site is now covered by Tims Ford Lake.
The original building was a one room white frame building with homemade pews on each side of the building. There were two rows up in the front corners that were referred to as “the amen corner”. The layout of the pews gave room for the three classes to be held. Each side of the pews held one class and the adult class was held in the back pews.
In April of 1908, the first service was held in the new building. The members of the church held their breath after the tornado of 1909, came through the community. Their church had withstood the first of many storms that would come their way.
Early Sisters
Women played a very important role in the history of the church. Samantha Baker Young worked hard to gather the materials for building the first church. Miss Roberta Kincaid and Mrs. Donnie Kincaid Ralston were two of the first women teachers. Sally Baker was responsible for taking care of the communion.
Much thought and preparation was put into preparing the communion. Sister Sally would place the bread, which she had made, wine bottle, glasses and plates in the basket that was covered with a white linen tablecloth to carry to church. After her death in 1950, her daughter, Ethel Baker Boswell, took the responsibility for some fifty years, until illness caused her to give the responsibility over to others.
The Communion in the early days of the church was quite different from today. Everyone drank out of the same glass cause there were only two glasses and two plates, one for each side of the church. By the 1950′s a tuberculosis outbreak caused the church to purchase a new set of communion glasses. About the same time, wine that had been used was substituted with grape juice.
With the passing of the collection plate in the early days of the church, pennies and nickels would fill the plate. There were very little bills to pay. Lights bill would run about $2.00 a month. Bible materials were inexpensive. Although there wasn’t much money contributed, someone had to be responsible for counting it and paying the bills of the church. Charlie Boswell was chosen to be treasurer and served in that capacity until 1976. Dan Williams became our next treasurer and still is at the present time.
Early Brother
The men of the congregation played a very important role in the development of the early church. They led the singing, passed the communion, and led prayers in the services. The earliest song leader at Owl Hollow Church of Christ was J.P. Baker. He served as song leader until his death in the 1930″s. Two sons took over as song leaders.
Sister Sally encouraged her sons, Auburn and Lonnie Baker, to fill the position. Lonnie, a teenager at the time, took over the job. He led the singing until he graduated from high school and was called to service in World War II. Again, a song leader was needed. Auburn began leading the singing. Being a little nervous about it, Sister Sally would sit on the front pew and help him get the song on the right note until he felt comfortable enough to do it himself. He would continue to lead the singing for some 50 plus years.
The church was also in need of men to teach the children’s class. James E. Baker, better known as Brother Jim, would take the responsibility of that job and continued for many years in that service.
Transportation to church in those early days was not simple. The members could either walk or ride in a buggy or on a horse. The services began at 10:00A.M, Sunday school would follow, then communion would be served, and the members would dismiss. There were no full-time preacher or night services in those days as neither budget nor transportation would allow.
During the summer in July and August, the church would hold a “Big Meeting”. A preacher would come in and preach for a week or two. These meetings encouraged many people from the community to be baptized. At the end of the week, everyone that responded would be taken to Owl Hollow Creek to be submerged. Their attire for the baptizing was their clothes they had worn to church, and they would wear their wet clothes home afterward. Some of our older sisters that witnessed the baptizing said that the women would pin the hem of their skirt together to keep the skirt from rising in the water.
Sunday afternoon was spent visiting with each other. Families would all go to one house for dinner and fellowship with each other. The following Sunday they would go to someone else’s home.
New Building
1955-1956
In the 1950′s, the men of the congregation began to talk about building a new building. The time was right because the church membership had grown, the economy was good, and the men all had jobs. The church was blessed with carpenters, electricians, and brick masons who would put their talent, together to build the new building. The only cost would be for the materials. The new building consisted of our present auditorium, which has been enlarged since that time. The building was started in 1955, and completed in July of 1956.
Preachers
1958- 61: Jimmy Walker
1961- 63: Taylor Davis
1963- 67: C.R. Fite
1967- 74: J.G. Peevyhouse
1974- 79: Sidney Maxwell
1979- 83: Charles Stephens
1984- 99: Randy Davis
2000- 02: Steve McCall
2002- 05: Bill Perkins
2006-: Danny Rogers
New Site
During Brother C.R. Fite’s time at Owl Hollow, the Tennessee Valley Authority bought the church property in Owl Hollow for construction of Tim’s Ford Lake. The church building and the preacher’s house were moved to the present location. The buildings were moved without disturbing the original brickwork done by Auburn Baker. The marker stone in the brick foyer with the year 1956 on it was put in place at the time the building was being bricked. Auburn and Maude Baker donated it because they wanted future generations to know the year the building was completed. At the time it was placed, the foyer had not been added. Maude Baker, only surviving daughter-in- law to J.P. & Sally Baker, is still attending the Owl Hollow congregation and was recognized as a lifetime member in June of 2008.
During Brother Maxwell’s time, the church was remodeled. New pews, ceiling and carpet were added. An addition was also added to the back of the auditorium. In 1994, the classrooms in the wing were remodeled to add extra auditorium space. New carpet was installed throughout the church and the pews, were padded. The parsonage was converted into classrooms.
A new 6000 square foot fellowship hall containing seven classrooms, a kitchen, resource room, offices, and a library was completed in 2000.
The preacher’s house was remodeled and converted back to a residence during the time of Steve McCall and the classroom/fellowship area behind the auditorium was transformed into a nursery and a classroom.
In 1994, Shirley Williams was hired as the first secretary. The present secretary is Joan Baker.
First Elders of the Church
Sixty-eight years after the establishment of Owl Hollow Church of Christ, the first elders were appointed. They were Brother Arthur Platt (grandson of Sally Baker Young), Auburn H. Baker (son of J.P. and Sally Baker), Charlie Boswell (son-in-law of J.P. and Sally Baker), and Elvis Throneberry (grandson-in-law of J.P. and Sally Baker). The other elder appointed was Paul Clark.
The Deacons appointed were Jim Chasteen, Murrell Finchum, R.L. Jackson, Auburn Maurer and Marion Pierce.
The second groups of elders were Paul Clark, Jim Chasteen, and Marion Pierce. Deacons were Jim Ashby, Bill Edwards, Murrell Finchum, and Barry Green. These men served in this capacity until sickness caused the eldership to resolve. The church operated without elders until the spring of 1994.
The elders elected in the spring of 1994, were Bill McBride, Billy May, and Jim Chasteen. The Deacons elected were Roy Clark, Barry Green, Steve Macon, Murrell Finchum, and Jim Ashby.
A summer youth intern program was started in 1994. In 2004, Nick fowler was hired as our first full time associate minister. In 2009, Kyle Macon was brought in to fill Nick Fowler’s position as Nick and his family prepared to be the first Owl Hollow members to enter the foreign mission field full time.
To see our current leadership, check out the Staff Page.
Reminiscence
I can’t help but wonder at times what the three couples that started the church in 1908 would say if they could see our building, our attendance, and our contribution. I know they would be very proud of our accomplishments.
One of my childhood memories in the first building in the hollow was the absence of electricity. In winter, there was an old potbelly stove in the front of the building. Everyone in front was roasting, while everyone in back was freezing. Uncle Jim Baker would keep check to see if more wood was needed. The preacher would be wiping sweat and preaching at the same time. In the summer, the only fan in the building was in your hand. We had paper fans attached to a stick to fan with. The only relief that there was were hand fans provided by local business like J.C. Moore and Sons Funeral Home.
I’m thankful that people like the early brothers and sisters made the sacrifices and endured the hardships they did to start this congregation. Their love for the Lord enabled us to be able to attend church close to our homes. We must remember the members here at Owl Hollow are making history for our sons and daughters, and we must be sure to create in them the same dedication and love for God that we have always had here.
History of the Owl Hollow Church of Christ
Written by
Helen Clark, Historical Chairperson
Committee Members
Floydaline Baker Clark
Wanda (Throneberry) Reynolds
Maude Baker
Michelle (Reynolds) Perry
