California Creek Church History Prei
By WILLIAM LEE
The Mars Hill College Appalachian Room Library was the
recipient of a historic document for their archives.
The college received the gift of the original church records
for the California Creek Baptist Church for the years 1869 to
1885. They were donated by Debra Lee Oliver of Wolf Laurel,
who received the book from L.D. Ballard of Mars Hill.
The old records had been in the possession of Flossie Mur
ray Phoenix who died in 1985. It was her grandfather, W.B.
Murray, who was the first church clerk, followed by Joseph
Marion Oliver, great-grandfather to Debra Oliver.
"We have been trying to track these records down for the
last four years," said Richard Dillingham, former director of
the Appalachian Room and now curator of the Rural Life
Museum. "After Flossie Phoenix's death we had tried to
locate the records through her relatives. I'm glad to see them
I safe." ' ? :1
The book made it full circle, as did Debra Oliver, who first
visited Madison County in 1981 doing geneological research on
her family. Her great-grandfather, Joseph Marion, was the
only one of three brothers who survived the Civil War, surviv
ing the duration as a prisoner of war. He served the California
Creek Baptist Church as a clerk and deacon and was at one
time Justice of the Peace for Madison County, before he and
his family sold their property along Chandler Creek and mov
ed to Kentucky.
"These church records are the foundation to local history of
the Mars Hill area," Dillingham said. "Family histories and
community history is dependent on these church records."
The 80-page book will be desodified, according to Dill
ingham, by a chemical process to remove the acidic content of
the ink or resin paper.
"Most of this book is non-acetic," Dillingham said in scann
ing the book. "The paper is rag content, not wood pulp. And
the ink is actually a vegetable dye, known as polk berry."
Dillingham explained that wood pulp paper was not used un
til 1880, and the resin added to the paper turns to sulphuric
acid over the years, dissolving the paper.
"The ink from ball point pens is also a solid acid and will
literally eat through paper in a matter of months."
It is for this reason that Dillingham encourages churches to
preserve their old records and keep new records only on
specially treated paper with non-acetic ink.
After the book has been desodified, and microfilm copies
made, it will be stored in a fire-proof safe with other archive
records at Mars Hill College. Such records are never used for
commercial purposes, Dillingham pointed out, but for scholar
ly research only.
The college must still have an agreement with the California
Creek Baptist Church for keeping the original book, otherwise
it will have to be returned to Debra Oliver.
"Such a book is priceless to us," said Dr. Richard Hoffman,
Assistant to Mars Hill College President Dr. Fred Bentley,
and acting Director of the Appalachian Room Library. "It
would be a tribute to have this remain in our care and in our
archives for the future."
DEBRA LEE OLIVER, center, presents history of California
Creek Baptist Church to Dr. Richard Hoffman of Mars Hill
College as Richard Dilingham, right, looks on.
Debra Oliver has also made transcripts of the church
records, donating a copy to the college library, the Marshall
library, and the Mars Hill library.
Founded in 1869, the California Creek Baptist Church was a
consolidation of two smaller churches serving the Little Ivy
community and the Flag Pond community. A small log
building served as the first church until 1876, when a small
church and schoolhouse was built on the site of what is now the
Deacon's Bench restaurant, The church that is now used as
the restaurant was built in 1917 and served as church until 1969
when the California Creek Baptist Church moved to its current
site.
Robert Clauhs Commissioned
Midshipman Robert Clauhs of
Weaverville has graduated form the
U. S. Merchant Marine Academy,
Kings Point, N. Y.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Clauhs, he was presented with a
Third Mate merchant marine license
at the ceremony. He traditionally was
commissioned as a U. S. Naval
Reserve ensign and was awarded a
bachelor of science degree.
The Academy is operated by the
Maritime Administration of the U. S.
Department of Transportation.
will hold
July 13 The Rev.
to the church, w^J
Vacation Bible School Set
Hie Union Valley Missionary Baptist Church will be holding
its Vacation Bible School the week of July 14-18. There will be
classes in various crafts for each age group. Refreshements
will be served each evening, and a hot dog supper is planned
for Friday evening. Bible School will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
All children and adults are invited to attend.
Vacation Bible School Set
The Salvation Army Churches of Bonnie Hill and Sleepy
Valley will be conducting a combined Vacation Bible School at
the Sleepy Valley Church beginning on Monday, July 21
through Friday, July 25. The service will run from 6:30 p.m. to
8:30 p.m. each evening.
A group from Charlotte, N.C., known as "The Sonshine Ex
press" will be conducting the classes. Everyone is welcome to
attend.
For further information contact Lt. Thomas Friddle, Com
manding Officer of the Salvation Army Churches of Hot Spr
ings, 622-3359.
Mars Hill
Laundry Mat
Big Branch Rd. Mars Hill
next to Stagecoach
Shopping Center
Register to Win!
*50
^ Giveawav
^ Drawings for a $50.00 cash prize will be
fgr held each Saturday at 10 a.m. through
July.
Open 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. 7 Days a Week "Aint God Great"
(5V
CAROLINA TIRE CO.
Retail Division of Brad Ra(an, Inc.
Stoney Knob, Weaverville
658-2741
Johnson's Farm
& Home Supply
No. Main St., Weaverville
645-6959
?9arL
ft&Al*
MAM ST., MA1SHALL, NC 2$7S3
ST41?^
641293)
Frank Roberts, Broker # 75259
Main Street, Marshall
649-2535
Lake Louise
Automotive Ser., Inc.
Brakes, Tune-up, All Car Sers.
Mike Davis
1 34 Merrimon, Weaverville
645-9662 645-9609
Trippie "G" Glass
we manufacture
I & all types of glass
averville Hwy., Asheville
645-5558
i
Branches in Marshall & Weaverville I
Wolf Laurel
Resort -
Restaurants, Lodging, Spirts,
Hunting "
689-41 1 1
Asheville Outdoor
Power Equipment
207 Weaverville Hwy., Asheville
645-9440
The News Record
P 0. Box 369
Marshall. N.C. 28753
649-2741
Sluders
Food Mart
Hwy. 119, Mars Hill
689-4232
Home Electric
& Furniture Cik
Appliances, Furniture, T.V., Radio
Electrical Service
Main Street, Marshall
649-3841
Roberts Ogle's
Body Shop
24 Hour Wrecker Service
627 Ivy Hill Rd.
649-2838
Campbell Television
Service
Color Specialist,
30yrs. experience
390Weaverville Hwy.
645-6546
H&H Oil Company
"Time for summer fills!"
402 Hwy. 25/70, Marshall
649-2626
Madison Gun Club
&
Guns, Ammunition,
Reloading equipment
Open Saturday Only
649-3606
Blue Ridge
Communications
Professional Radii
Scanners, CB and Auto Radios
770 New Stock Rd., Weaverville
645-707C
Mars Hill
Garage
"i
Sunday
Matthew
5:1-12
?
Monday
Matthew
?:1-S
?
Tuesday
Luke
6:37-42
?
Wednesday
Matthew
13:1-9
?
Thursday
Matthew
13:31-52
?
Friday
Luke
12:13-21
?
Saturday
Mark
12:28-34
Stand In The Gap
God told Ezekiel: "I sought for al
man . . . who should build up the wall and
stand in the gap before me and for the
Jand. . .but I found none." (Ezekiel
22:30)
And God still looks for people will
"stand in the gap" and build up the Wall
on which He can build His kingdom. He
looks for good people, people of vision,
those who will not sell their souls for a
mess of pottge nor sacrifice their birth
rights on the altar of expediency in the
marketplace.
Following the bloody years of the Civil
War, the name and character of Gen.
Robert E. Lee never faltered nor waivered.
This great general stood taller in defeat
than most generals ever stood in victory.
One day a group of men approached him
about hewling a business enterprise of
questionable nature. They offered him
$50,000. "You will have to do nothing.
All we want is the use of your name they
told him.
Gen. Lee stood tall behind his desk,
parents. It is all 1 have, and it i? not for
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