MILESTONES ALONG THE WAY
August 31, 1833 ------ Purchase of 5 acres of land (future site of Richland Campground) for $25 by trustees of Methodist Episcopal Church of Smith's Cross Roads.
About 1833 ------ First house of worship, built on Sawyer's Hill, the land having been donated by Harvey and J. I- French.
May 1, 1844 ------ Change in name to Methodist Episcopal Church, South, when the General Conference adopted a Plan of Separation in the interest of peace, long jeopardized by the slavery question.
June 29,1850 ------ Joint purchase with Eastern Star Division No. 270 Sons of Temperance of 4 acres (site of the present-day Vine Grove United Methodist Church) for $25, the lower room of the proposed building for use by the church.
About 1865 ------ Removal for services to the old Academy building (about a quarter of a mile west across the railroad, on the left, from present site), where Bishop Kavanaugh held a District Conference and revival services with many conversions.
August 17,1871 ------ Purchase from JJ. Abel, for $100 paid by note, of 1/2 acre at the present site on Market Street, where a small church was erected.
1878 ------ Change in name to First M.E. Church, South, coinciding with change in name of town to Dayton with the railroad's coming down the valley.
1888 ------ Change in status, with membership of 240, from point on Washington Circuit to station.
October 25, 1888 ------ Dedication of second church building on Market Street site.
March, 1889 ------ Destruction of church by fire.
September 8, 1889 ------ First services in rebuilt church, the third and present one on Market Street site.
October 5 1896 ------ Gift by Mrs. Mary C. Sawyer of parsonage and lot, -fronting 50 feet on 2ND Avenue __- "
1923 ------ The Bascom Waters revival, characterized by overflow morning and evening services and the conversion of several prominent citizens.
July 12 1925 ------ Speaking by William Jennings Bryan (in Dayton to assist the prosecution in the world famous Scopes Evolution Trial) at morning service.
July 26,1925 ------ Death of Bryan during an afternoon nap in the house given for his use by F. R. Rogers, leader in the church, where Bryan had attended and led in prayer that morning.
1939 ------ Change in name to First Methodist with the uniting of the Northern and Southern branches of the M. E. Church.
July 2,1943 ------ Purchase of Mountain View property for a parsonage to replace the one on Market Street north of the church.
1947-1950 ------ Renovation and brick-veneering of the church and an addition of brick for fellowship hall, kitchen, and classrooms.
1957 ------Two-story addition at the back of the church for more classrooms and a parlor.
April 23,1968 ------ Change in name to First United Methodist Church with merger with the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
1973 ------ Purchase of Edgewater property for parsonage to replace Mountain View parsonage.
1987 ------ Addition of Family Life Center.
1991 ------ Purchase of lot adjoining on the north, with the brick house to serve as a pre-school.