Fruitdale Community
(Grants Pass)  

  In the 1800's a group of Brethren farmers homesteaded in the Williams Creek valley. They became a mission point of the Rogue River Church of the Brethren in Talent, Oregon.  They organized organized their own congregation on April 5, 1911, with twenty members. 

  J. P. Moomaw donated 33/2 of an acre for the church site at the n. w. corner of 'four  corners' south of Williams. A meetinghouse was dedicated September 17, 1911.  It was filled each Sunday with families, from as far as Provit.

  Meanwhile, about twenty five miles away, an upstart of a town named Grants Pass seen  to be flourishing, so the Williams creek congregation established a mission point there.  They bought the vacant Methodist church building and parsonage at 220 E Street (now 408 N.W. E Street) on September 20, 1920. this was the first church building constructed in Grants Pass in 1886.  Under the leadership of M. C. Lininger of Ashland, the church grew. 

  As the farms grew older and the children left home many of the William Valley farmers  sold their homes and relocated into area around  Medford, Ashland and Grants Pass.  By 1924, the Williams Creek had become a mission point of the Grants Pass church.

  Williams Creek continued to meet monthly throughout 1936.  The following year the decrepit meeting house was sold for sixty dollars and it was torn down. the property was returned to the Moomaw homestead, and the remaining members attended the Church in Grants Pass.

  The Church of the Brethren in Grants Pass was one of many churches located in the same area to town.  the congregation felt they should relocate to where they could have more room and have an opportunity to serve in the suburban area.  A building fund was set up in 1944. As the fund grew, a building committee was appointed on March 3, 1946.  about two weeks later 2 1/2 acres  were purchased a the corner of Hamilton Lane and Fruitdale drive for $4000.  Although it would only be a move of three miles, it was to a rapidly developing residential area with outreach opportunities.

  In June, 1947, the congregation began holding their services in the Fruitdale Grange Hall while the old church in town was being torn down to help supply materials for the new church at 1682 Hamilton Lane.  At this time many old barracks at White City were being made available for building materials, and much of that was also used in the construction of the windows and doors for example. 

  Less than  six months later, January 4, 1948, the first service was held in the new facility.  the sanctuary was dedicated on August 15, one year from the date of ground-breading service.

  The name of the congregation was now the Fruitdale Community Church of the Brethren. 

  A year later two north lots on the church property were sold to help allay the expense of construction a new parsonage which was to face Fruitdale Drive.  The two-story block house was finished in 1950 at the cost of $6,800.  the old church property in Grants Pass, still containing the parsonage, was sold June 4, 1850, for $3,500. 

  An educational wing was added to the church building in 1954. Early in the sixties the original restrooms were  relocated, and the kitchen was remodeled.  in 1998 a decorative steeple was place above the sanctuary, a handicap accessible restroom  was installed, and a paved parking lot was added on the north side of the church. 

  On August 16, 1998 the church officially celebrated its 50th anniversary in the Fruitdale  area. Besides serving the community spiritually, the church provides a meeting place for various local organization. in this way it will continue to serve and encourage it community for years to come. 

  Celia Allen   November  17, 2000  


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