November workday pictures

These pictures were taken at our November workday.

Clean-up on the inside

Clean-up on the outside

Wonderful workday

We had wonderful workday Saturday Nov. 15th. It was a little nippy and a little windy, but we had a great turnout. Thanks to all who came to help. Work included replacing two pieces of tin roofing that had been blown off, cutting and burning trees and lots of briars, underbrush, cleaning, sweeping, dusting and other odds and ends. Special thanks to Kenneth Mann -- who was able and not afraid to get on the roof. The rest of us were either too old or too scared -- or both!

Picture of those present (except Ginger Shorter, who took the picture)

Gene Barron, Don Gage, Nancy Corley, Kenneth Mann, Kim Vaughn, Sierra Reynolds, Rosemary Whitten, & Janet Davis

Allen Ray Jones, Charles Nunnally, Robert Vaughn, David Guy

Picture of Kenny Mann on top of the roof

Our next workday will be Saturday December 13, 2008, weather permitting.

Reminder: Workday Saturday

This is just a brief reminder that we will have a "come-and-go" cleanup/workday this Saturday, November 15th. Work starts circa 9:00 a.m., Lord willing.

Report on Syrup Festival booth

We had a good, though long, day at the Heritage Syrup Festival this past Saturday. We raised over $400 towards upkeep of the Redland building, made some good contacts and had some enjoyable visits with folks who stopped by. We posted a picture of John Miller's circa 1905 singing school, and some who looked at it had ancestors in the picture. A lady who grew up around Redland, but now lives in Waco, noticed our booth and stopped to chat. She attended church there as a child.

We had a sort of "false start", but everything worked out fine in the end. We paid for a booth with electricity, but it wouldn't power the two roasters of chili without tripping out. A city worker came and ran a cord from somewhere else and it worked fine after that.

The Syrup Festival booth appears to be a good way for promoting the Redland Community Center, and we hope to do it again next year. If you're interested in the restoration of this historic building, please consider joining us in this effort next November.

Redland booth at Syrup Festival

On Saturday, November 8, 2008, Redland Community Center will have a booth at the Heritage Syrup Festival in Henderson, Texas. We will be set up on Heritage Square near downtown. This is between the Rusk County Libary and Luminant Energy.

Please stop by and visit us. We will be selling chili. All proceeds will be used for the upkeep of the old Redland Church building.

Some things happening near and far

Saturday, November 8, 2008 -- Booth at the Syrup Festival, Henderson, Texas

Saturday, November 15, 2008 -- Come-and-go workday at Redland Church

Saturday, April 25, 2009 -- Christian Harmony Singing, all day, dinner on the ground

Sunday, May 24, 2009 -- McCune Cemetery homecoming and reunion

Workday

We held a "come-and-go workday" Saturday, October 25th. Among other things, we swept the floor, raked the yard, burned leaves and broken limbs, repaired the front door latch, and refastened two front porch posts.

There are many things left to do. Our next workday is tentatively scheduled for Saturday November 15th.

Historical Marker

REDLANDS CHURCH

THIS CHURCH TRACES ITS HISTORY TO 1873, WHEN A SMALL GROUP OF WORSHIPPERS GATHERED TOGETHER AT CHINQUAPIN SPRINGS (ONE MILE EAST) TO BUILD A COMMUNITY CHURCH. A SMALL ONE-ROOM LOG STRUCTURE WAS COMPLETED ON AUGUST 16, 1873, AND WAS USED BY BOTH METHODIST AND BAPTIST CONGREGATIONS.

LAND AT THIS SITE WAS DONATED FOR CHURCH AND SCHOOL PURPOSES BY PIONEER SETTLER HUGH BLAIR. THE LOG CHURCH AT CHINQUAPIN SPRINGS WAS RELOCATED HERE AND USED AS A UNION CHURCH AND SCHOOL. THE BAPTIST AND METHODIST CONGREGATIONS CONTINUED TO SHARE THE FACILITY. BLAIR DONATED AN ADJOINING ACRE OF LAND IN 1887 AND A NEW FRAME SANCTUARY WAS BUILT.

THE BAPTIST CONGREGATION CEASED USING THE UNION CHURCH IN 1906, WHEN THEY MOVED TO OAK FLAT COMMUNITY AND BUILT A NEW CHURCH (NOW KNOWN AS SMYRNA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH). AFTER 1906 THE UNION CHURCH WAS KNOWN AS REDLANDS CHURCH AND WAS OCCUPIED SOLELY BY THE METHODIST CONGREGATION.

THE METHODIST CONGREGATION DISBANDED IN 1964 AND THE REDLANDS CHURCH WAS PURCHASED AT AUCTION BY A GROUP OF FORMER MEMBERS. THE BUILDING IS MAINTAINED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND IS USED FOR SPECIAL SERVICES SUCH AS MEMORIALS, FUNERALS, AND WEDDINGS.

Redlands Church. Texas Historical Marker. (1989)

NOTES:
The contents of this marker is typed in ALL CAPS to replicate that style on the marker itself.
The "S" on "Redlands" is a mistake. The church and community is REDLAND (singular).

Welcome

Welcome to "What's Happening at Old Redland". This blog will be dedicated to the happenings at Old Redland Church of Rusk County, Texas -- now Redland Community Center. Old Redland Church was built circa 1890. It was used by the Baptists from this time until 1907, and by the Methodists until 1964. Currently we are trying to clean up, fix up, and promote the use of the building for Redland Community and surrounding area events. Stay tuned, we'll tell you more about "What's Happening at Old Redland."

Inside, 4 Oct 2008

Outside, 4 Oct 2008

History

This church traces its history to 1873, when a small group of worshippers gathered together at Chinquapin Springs (one mile east) to form Smyrna Baptist Church on August 16, 1873. Though records have not been preserved, tradition suggests that a Methodist Church was organized around this same time, and that both congregations used a small one-room log building at Chinquapin.

The Redland site was donated for church and school purposes by pioneer settler Hugh Blair. The log church building at Chinquapin was relocated to Redland as a union church and school until the present frame building was built circa 1887-90.

The Baptist congregation ceased using the union church building in 1907, when they moved to the Oak Flat community. After 1907 the union church was known as Redland Church and occupied solely by the Methodist congregation.

The Methodist congregation disbanded in 1964 and the building was purchased by a group of former members. The building is maintained by the Redland Community Center, Inc. and its board of directors. The building is available for special services such as memorials, homecomings, family reunions, funerals, weddings, and singings.

Area families who were members of Redland Methodist Church
Bane, Barron, Blair, Blanton, Bryan, Guy, Harper, Holleman, Johnson, Lowe, McCune, McWhorter, Moore, Pruitt, Walker, Whitley, Whitten

Area families who were/are members of Smyrna Baptist Church
Allen, Blair, Bradbury, Chapman, Gage, Gallaway, Griffith, Holleman, Johnson, Jones, Lyles, McCune, Milstead, Moore, Parker, Pruitt, Sanders, Scruggs, Sprayberry, Stanford, Vaughn, Wells, Woolverton

Historical marker link

These lists are not exhaustive. If you know of others who should be added, please contact us.

Picture

Photo circa 1978, from J. W. Griffith's Centennial + 5

Picture from outside, 10/4/08
Picture on inside, 10/4/08
Singing school at Redland

Board

2016-17 Redland Community Center Board of Directors
R. L. Vaughn, President; Gene Barron, Vice-President; Ginger Shorter, Treasurer; Teana Robinson, Secretary; Don Gage, member; Dewayne Walker, member.

Past Trustees/Board members
Carol Arnold; Harriet Barron; Jessica Bridges; David Guy; Bobby Helpenstell; Timothy Hoover; Austin Johnson; Doug Johnson; Wanda Lum; Levie McCune; Charlie Vaughn.

If we've accidentally left off any past trustees, please let us know so they can be added. Thanks.

Donations

If you would like to support the restoration, upkeep and progress of the Redland Community Center, your donation may be sent to:

Redland Community Center
Ginger Shorter, Secretary
10866 CR 4232 W
Cushing, TX 75760

Make checks payable to "Redland Community Center, Inc".

Or for more information e-mail: rl_vaughn-AT-yahoo.com

Purpose

1. To preserve and maintain the Redland Church as an historical structure

2. To provide a meeting place and recreational facility for individuals and organizations in the Laneville Community and surrounding areas

3. To foster a sense of history and community for persons residing in and around the Laneville Community

4. To set out and establish a long-term plan for achievement of the goals and aspirations of the corporation

Singing school at Redland

Sacred Harp singing class circa 1905

Taught at Redland

By John W. Miller of Athens, TX