Oakdale seeks new use for historic church
The 121-year-old former United Brethren Church at North Third and E streets has seen better days. Paint is peeling from the gingerbread siding, there are cracks in the diamond cathedral glass, and rust covers the wrought-iron hand railing flanking the back steps.
Despite its worn condition, wedding photographers have used it as a quaint backdrop for couples getting married at The Reata across the street and local artists over the years have made it the subject of paintings.
Modesto architect David Burkett of Pratt Architecture said the church “with simplified American Queen Anne detailing and hints of Victorian style was built the same year (1893) Frank Lloyd Wright produced his first prairie-style home.”
The church indeed has a rich history that includes a division among members over accepting new parishioners associated with fraternal organizations or lodges and a pigeon problem in the belfry, which the reverend sought approval from the City Council to handle.
But it hasn’t been used as a place of worship, nor given a face-lift, since before the city bought it and an adjoining annex in 1990.
The original intent was to expand City Hall and its parking either by relocating the historic church or remodeling it and building additions. The plan never came to fruition and the city is now accepting proposals from business owners, nonprofits and individuals on how to repurpose the property.
Nothing is off the table at this point; selling, leasing and even demolition are options, said City Manager Bryan Whitemyer.
“Ideally, we’d like to find a use for the building, but this is an opportunity ... to see if there’s interest in the building,” he said. “If there is no interest in the building, those are options we will have to consider because our goal is improving the downtown. And with the current situation, we are not going to be able to help the downtown improve if we just continue to watch these buildings degrade.”
Whitemyer said he’s been approached recently by a few groups and individuals interested in the property, so on Friday, the city held open houses at the church and the 988-square-foot building at 142 S. Second St., also owned by the city.
Built in 1939, the Second Street building was a dental office before the city bought it in 2010. The next year, it was rented at no cost to the Chamber of Commerce and the Stanislaus Economic Development & Workforce Alliance to use as a business center.
But electrical issues forced the city to close and board up the building, which has remained vacant the past few years, Whitemyer said.
The church today is used for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, while its annex is rented out for activities such as bingo and garden club meetings.
Attending the open houses were members of the Oakdale Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a contractor on behalf of his anonymous client, and a few individuals, some interested in investing in the properties, others who were just curious and wanted a look inside.
“It’s been cool to see the interactions with different people in the community to share their opinions, their ideas, their thoughts, which we wouldn’t have known otherwise,” Whitemyer said. “It’s pretty much a blank canvas for us.”
Members of VFW Post 2922 can see the church’s potential as their new home. “If there’s not a lot of work to this, we really want to fix it up, have a VFW logo on the building, light it up, nice big flag,” said Senior Vice President Dan Vigil.
The chapter currently holds its meetings at the Army National Guard base on Yosemite Avenue, at the same time as the women’s auxiliary.
Auxiliary member Betty Lewis said, “It’s all in one room and the men are at one end and we are at another –”
“And some voices carry,” Vigil interjected with a chuckle.
“Sometimes they get loud. We would not get loud,” Lewis finished.
Lewis and other auxiliary members walked through the annex, where she said they could hold their hamburger nights, and in what was likely the former Sunday school room, she envisioned a bar or second kitchen.
Vigil said he hopes a permanent home in the center of town will attract new members because many people aren’t aware there is a local chapter.
He said the VFW will likely propose leasing the building for little or nothing in exchange for its restoration. “It’s going to take fundraisers to make money to fix this place up … a lot of pancakes,” he said. “Quite a few of us know a lot of contractors and I am sure they’d be willing to donate their time to the veterans.”
Whitemyer will be accepting proposals until 3 p.m. Feb. 24. They can be submitted to bwhitemyer@ci.oakdale.ca.us or 280 N. Third Ave., Oakdale, CA 95361.
Whitemyer said he will review the proposals and take them to the City Council for consideration.
Bee staff writer Erin Tracy can be reached at etracy@modbee.com or (209) 578-2366. Follow her on Twitter @ModestoBeeCrime.
HISTORY OF OAKDALE’S UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH
1889 – The United Brethren Church in Oakdale was the successor to its original location in Burneyville on the south bank of the Stanislaus River, in what today is Riverbank. The church’s parishioners divided over a movement that started in Brethren churches in Eastern states to admit people who were members of lodges or fraternal organizations – called “secret societies” by their opponents.
1891 – Those in favor of the change, the “liberals,” seceded from the “radicals.”
1893 – Oakdale contractors George English and P.L. Huntley in March were awarded the $1,650 contract to build the church. Construction was completed in May.
1914 – The Burneyville church sold and the United Brethren Church received $200 for its share.
1922 – A three-room cottage was built to house an elderly couple who were members of the church. The building was later used as a garage and kitchen.
1970 – The Rev. Wayne Watkins told the City Council he’d like its permission and guidance in handling some 50 pigeons that had taken over the belfry. The advice he received was to shoot them with pellet guns, feed them drugged grain or hire a pest exterminator. Watkins chose a more humane route, using the church bell. “The noise scatters them temporarily, but many return to damage the roof and create a mess at the church doorway,” read a 1972 Modesto Bee article.
1990 – The city of Oakdale bought the church for $180,000 with a down payment of $45,000 on a 10-year loan.
Sources: The history of the United Brethren Church came from newspaper clippings, essays and notes maintained by church members that were collected and provided by the Oakdale Museum and History Center, which is operated by Friends of Oakdale Heritage.
This story was originally published February 6, 2015 at 5:49 PM.