First Methodist Church

Duane's take

The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just the one bringin' it down the road to you. Way back in 1844, right on this very ground in Marion County, the First Methodist Church took root. The man holding the reins from the start was Reverend Jas.

Baldridge, the church's first pastor. Now that alone would be a fine enough story — a congregation finding its footing on the Texas frontier. But this congregation had bigger things in mind.

By 1860, they'd replaced that original log church with a brick building described as the most imposing one west of the Mississippi River. Let that sit with you for a second. West of the Mississippi River.

That is a very large piece of geography to be the most imposing anything in. But here's the detail that'll stay with you long after you've rolled past Marion County. The bell hanging in that church — the bell calling the faithful in from the Texas morning — was minted from fifteen hundred Mexican silver dollars.

Fifteen hundred of them, melted down and shaped into something meant to ring across the years. And ring across the years it did, because when the congregation erected a new building in 1884, that bell came with it. Same bell, new home.

The silver still singing. Some things, it turns out, are just too well made to leave behind.

What the marker says

Founded on this site, 1844. Rev. Jas. Baldridge, first pastor. Log church was replaced 1860 by most imposing brick one west of Mississippi River. Its bell, minted of 1500 Mexican silver dollars, now is in this building erected 1884. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1965