DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm just the voice along for the ride. This is the story of the First Methodist Church of Groveton, Trinity County, Texas — and friend, it is quite a story. Groveton was founded in 1882 as a sawmill town.
One year later, in 1883, a Methodist congregation took root right alongside it. Started as a mission church, no grand building to speak of — the first services were held in the school building. A woman named Mrs.
M.L.T. Sloan organized the Sunday school, and the congregation found its footing. Then, in April of 1887, they purchased a church lot.
Put up a church building and a parsonage. Seemed like things were movin' in the right direction. Seemed that way.
Sometime after 1887, both structures burned down. Both of them. They rebuilt.
Because that's what you do. But here's where the story gets dark, and it deserves to be told straight. From 1890 to 1907, Groveton was not a quiet place.
Fighting, murders, and disorderly conduct were widespread, pouring out of numerous saloons and gaming resorts. This was a lumber company town, and lawlessness had a strong grip on it. The Methodist church was burned — apparently by arsonists who disagreed with the Reverend Jesse Lee's attempts to rid the town of its liquor, its saloons, and its lawlessness.
Let that settle for a moment. A man of faith trying to clean up a rough town, and somebody answered by putting his church to the torch. They built again.
That is the throughline of this congregation — they kept building. In 1914, a new church rose at the corner of Church and Second streets, this one with stained glass windows around the sanctuary. Additions and improvements came through the years.
In the 1960s, a modern church structure and parsonage were built. And in 1970, a belltower was added — and inside it, they hung the bell from that 1914 church building. That bell has been ringing ever since, carrying the weight of everything it outlasted.
By the time this marker was written in 1996, the congregation had been serving its members and its community for more than a hundred and ten years. Through sawdust and smoke, through violence and loss and the long work of rebuilding — they never stopped showing up.
What the marker says
First Methodist Church of Groveton This sawmill town was founded in 1882, followed by the establishment of a Groveton Methodist congregation in 1883. Begun as a mission church, the first services were held in the school building. A Sunday school was organized by Mrs. M.L.T. Sloan. A church lot was purchased in April 1887, And a church building and parsonage were constructed. Both structures burned down and were rebuilt sometime after 1887. From 1890 to 1907 fighting, murders, and disorderly content were ride spread in Groveton’s numerous saloons and gaming resorts. The Methodist church was burned, apparently by arsonists who disagreed with the Reverend Jesse Lee’s attempts to read the lumber company town of its liquor, saloons and lawlessness. A new church was built in 1914 at the corner of Church and Second streets. It included stained glass windows around the sanctuary. Additions and improvements were made through the years. In the 1960s a modern church structure and parsonage were built. A belltower was added in 1970 containing the bell from the 1914 church building. The church continues to serve its members into the community as it has for more than 110 years. (1996)