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From: Diary of
a Mountain Preacher, By Fred Dinkler
Chapter 13:
"The Church of
Christ at Spring Dale, WV"
I remember the first time I was in the meeting house at
Spring Dale. It was new, and Brother Tom Butterfeld was conducting a meeting.
Following a morning service at Neville Street the church members packed a lunch,
ate by the side of thee road t Danese, and then went on to hear an afternoon
sermon by Brother Tom. This was the first meeting in the new building. Later
around 1953 I went to teach a class for Brother Ralph Price on a Thursday night.
It was a frightening experience. I drove a1952 Ford. When I left Beckley
there was no snow, but in Meadow Bridge the roads were covered. On my way home I
could not make it up the mountain from Meadow Bridge. After moments of fright, I
had to back down to Meadow Bridge and buy a set a chains before I could get
home. As a young unskilled driver I found it appropriate to thank God on my safe
return.
As I heard it, the meeting house at Spring Dale was built on
land which was donated for that purpose by W.D. Crowder and his wife, Martha. He
was in the mining business. Around 1945 they moved to Beckley with their two
sons, Joe and Bud, and attended the Neville Street church. Joe later married
Annie Bellamy, the daughter of an elder at Prosperity. Martha was injured in an
automobile accident in Florida and later died in a Beckley nursing home. Bud
Crowder and his wife, Joy, are residents of Meadow Bridge. Both are retired from
the teaching profession spending their last years at the Meadow Bridge Schools.
They both attend the church at Spring Dale. I learned a short time ago that Bud
was baptized last year by Brother Blaine Cook. This was a cause of great
rejoicing. Brother George Deitz is doing a good work in this area. He recently
retired from his work in Maryland, moved back to his home place and now preaches
for the church at Spring Dale. More about folks I grew to love at Spring Dale
next week.
I remember hearing a preacher at a Gospel Meeting in
Stanaford by the name of J. Novice Taylor. He was the located preacher at Spring
Dale. His father was Joe Taylor and 4 sons of this man were preachers of the
gospel in the Greenbrier area. J. Novice was a chaplain in the army, and I
was told that in order to be relieved of his duties there he agreed to farm and
produce food for the war effort. This was during World War II. He came to the
Spring Dale area for that purpose. He had a charming wife and was an excellent
speaker. To see him in the pulpit one would never assume he was a farmer.
Someone told me this story of a sermon J. Novice preached at Spring Dale. He
preached the funeral of the church. He cited in the sermon the reason for its
demise. It was neglected, indifferent and died of malnutrition. To emphasize his
point the local undertaker brought a casket into the building and following his
sermon J. Novice invited the church to pass by the casket to view the remains.
Inside the casket was installed a large mirror allowing each member of the
church to view himself as the deceased. One way to make a point.
Jeff Sifers
During the year of 1979 when I was working with the
church at Pax, Brother Dean Holdren preached one Sunday each month. During this
time I accepted an invitation to preach at Spring Dale on that Sunday each
month. During these visits I learned to love and appreciate these brethren very
much. I spent most of the day in the home of Brother Leonard Gill. On August 26,
1979 I baptized Jeff Sifers. He was a student a Meadow Bridge High School.
During these visits Susan Cline was baptized. Patricia McGuire Lester, Mr. and
Mrs. W. McGuire and others were restored.
I feel flattered to have been called upon to share in the
sadness and the joy of the people at Spring Dale. According to my records I
conducted the funerals of the following: Rhoda Gill in 1980; Adam Hanshew, 1982;
Howard McGuire, 1983; Rheba Hanshew, 1992; Walter Harold Hanshew, 1995, and Elva
McGuire, 1997. In 19979 a young couple asked that I marry them in Beckley.
Because I was the Assistant Principal at Clear Fork High School and had to work
the ball game, I could not perform the wedding until nearly midnight. At about
that hour Bruce Hanshew and Carolyn Shuff met me at the North Beckley Church
building and were married. Other along this line were Patricia McGuire & Wayne
Lester in 1979; Gary C. Neely and Deborah Gwinn, 1982; Willis Ennis and Christy
Ward, 1984: David Flemming and Ruth Williams, and Fred Moody and Diane Smith,
1995, Shaw Pavy and Neon Gilkerson, 1995. The last wedding I conducted was that
of Lewis Mikell and Eva Hanshew in 1998.
Spring Dale
Before I leave Spring Dale I must mention the family of
Leonard and Orpha Gill. When I visited Spring Dale I stayed, most of the time,
in their home. Brother Leonard has passed on. Orpha speaks fondly of her 32
grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren. At 89 she still keeps house and is
able to attend the services of the church. Recently I married Ruth Williams and
David Flemming. At the wedding which was held in the home of the mother, Louise,
was grandmother Orpha. The Matron of Honor was the daughter of the bride, Amy,
and granddaughter of the bride, Andrea, was a flower girl. Five generations were
present for this festive event. Among the children of Leonard and Orpha are Eva
Hanshew. She and her husband, Delbart, celebrated their Golden Wedding
anniversary on May 9th. Other children in this family are: Edward and Tommy
Gill, Eva (who recently was married to Lewis Mikell), Louise Williams, whose
husband, Lowell, was a gospel preacher, Freda Black, Gay Avery, Carolyn Adkins,
and Paul. Next we journey on up the road to the church in East Rainelle.
(Fort Worth, TX: Star Bible Publications, Inc.
2001. 63-65)
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