The demolition crew brought the former Fullerton First United Methodist Church down last week. NCJ photos by Rick Holtz-
The demolition crew brought the former Fullerton First United Methodist Church down last week. NCJ photos by Rick Holtz
-
The demolition crew brought the former Fullerton First United Methodist Church down last week. NCJ photos by Rick Holtz
-
The former church building was reduced to a pile of rubble by Monday.
FULLERTON — A piece of Fullerton history was lost last week.
The former building that housed the Fullerton First United Methodist Church was demolished on Wednesday. The building coming down is the latest chapter in the story of the church that dates back to 1879.
The building has been vacant since 2017, Fullerton Community Church Office Manager Lisa Lassek said. That was the year that the church merged with Fullerton First Presbyterian Church to form the community church. It’s been two years since plans were abandoned to revitalize the building and convert it into apartments.
“This was a hard decision,” Lassek said. “It’s hard for the people who live in Fullerton and had to see it unused. The decision was not done fast, but it was a decision that had to be made.”
She said that the church has been working over than last few months to remove stained glass windows from the building and remove the building’s cornerstone. Any items not kept when they two congregations merged were auctioned back in 2017.
Vern Olson was a member of the church for many years and later served as a pastor there. He said that maintenance on the building became too much for the congregation.
“You hate to see those grand old buildings go,” he said. “It wasn’t meeting the needs of the congregation in its final years. I hate to see it go but would rather see it go than continue to deteriorate in front of us.”
Valgean Warman served as pastor at the Fullerton First United Methodist Church from 2001 to 2014.
“It’ sad to see it coming down,” he said. “But on the other hand, it has been empty for years. We’re glad that the congregation joined up with the Presbyterians to form a community church. So, the ministry goes on.”
Now retired and living in Lincoln, Warman said that during the years he served in Fullerton, the peak attendance was over 100, but it declined over the years.
When the building was originally built in 1908, total costs were about $17,000. Lassek said that the demolition and property cleanup will cost about $50,000. The church eventually plans to sell the lot, she said.
“Just because the building is gone does not mean the memories are gone,” Olson said.