The Mount Herman Church as it looks today
Mount Herman Methodist Protestant Church, located on a divide between Coxes Fork and Mill Creek of Elk Fork in Harper District, Roane County, five miles from the Harmony Bridge, was established before 1878, as a church-owned burial ground.
The original church was destroyed by fire before 1900. Additional land was purchased in June of 1900 and soon after a new church was built.
It had one of the largest congregations of the Gandeeville Circuit and for several years it was one of the leading Methodist Protestant churches in the area.
The above photo was taken Sept. 28, 1928 of the first Roane
County Homecoming at Mt. Herman Church, the people you see is
about one-fourth of all the people in an early panoramic
picture taken from a platform to capture all the people
In the early 50's as families moved away and attendance at the church declined the Methodist Conference discontinued service. However the residents continued Sunday school and Preaching into the sixties. In 1984, the Methodist Conference put the land up for sale and Mt Herman was cited for destruction.
The surviving families of some of those buried at the church (headed by Dale Westfall and Ronnie Perkins) purchased the property and saved Mount Herman Church. They formed a board of Trustees (original members were Dale Westfall, Ronnie Perkins, Kenneth Randolph and Orvie Reed), and collected money for the repairs. It was then renamed Mt. Herman Community Church.
The cleanup operation and repairs to the church began in late 1984. The work was completed in 1988. Since then, church service is being held every Friday evening, every Sunday morning, and Memorial Day Weekend is celebrated every May. Today the board of Trustees includes Ronnie Perkins, Josephine Westfall, Gary Nichols, and Ronnie Westfall.
Due to time and age, Mt Herman Community Church in is need of major repairs to preserve the structural integrity. The Church Trustees has put together a "Three Phase Action Plan" they believe will address the needs of preserving the Church building for further generations.
Three Phase Action Plan:
1. Reinforce and level the foundation of the Church by adding support pillars.
2. Remove, Reinforce, Level and Replace the metal roof on Church/Bell Tower.
3. Remove, Reinforce and Replace all Church windows and Siding on Church building.
Phase one of the project is to begin July 2013 by Past Respects, LLC. Historic Preservation Service.
To save our Church from further deterioration, the above corrective action plan needs to be implemented NOW!! As surviving descendants of those who are buried there, your help is needed. To address each of the above items it will take time and money. The amount of money received will dictate the timing as to when each phase of the project can be completed. Please look into your heart and the memories of your loved one(s) buried at the church and make a financial donation to:
Mt. Herman Community Church Restoration Project
C/O Premiere Bank, 303 Main Street, Spencer WV 25276
Or to: Mt. Herman Community Church Restoration Project
C/O Ronnie Perkins, 2193 Peniel Road, Gay WV 25244
For more information pertaining to this project, Please contact either:
Ronnie Perkins, 304-927-1234
Ron Westfall, 304-464-5035
Gary Nichols, 304-927-5472
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