Park Street United Methodist Church

Park Street United Methodist Church began as a dream of those who envisioned a Methodist Church for the growing population of East Belmont.  The dream became a reality when the Reverend C.C. Tetherow established a Sunday school in the East Belmont School in 1921.  A tent revival soon followed and within two weeks a stronger foundation for the church was laid.

A lot was purchased from P.L. Stowe for $200.00 on an unnamed street in East Belmont, E.D. Maynard is credited with naming the church and the street, Park Street.

A building fund was begun with a $100.00 donation by the Annual Conference and $3,500.00 from the Belmont Mills.  The remainder of the $7,000.00 came from the hard work and donations of those first “Park Streeters.”  Thus, began the tradition of hard work and cheerful giving that would endure to the present.

The first service was held on July 23, 1922, a little over a year from the dream’s inception.  The church was dedicated on September 13, 1939.  Not only was the church debt free, it had been completely renovated and painted for the big Homecoming Celebration.

Park Street continued to grow and build.  First a parsonage, and then the Laura Le Building both located on Park Street.  It was here, in the Laura Lee Building that the spirit of Park Street became a visible, viable reality.  The Laura Lee became the “heart” of Park Street.  Here is where the church had a library, vespers, wedding/baby showers, egg hunts, Homecoming, chicken and dumpling suppers, and the beginning of a youth group that has continued to the present.  Laura Lee was synonymous with fellowship.  That tradition of fellowship remains with Park Street today!

The people of Park Street continued to dream about a new church to house the growing membership. That dream was realized on April 21, 1957, when the first worship service was held in the present church.  Hard work, faith in action, and the Park Street spirit saw the building debt free by June 1961.

In 1974, Park Street purchased the East Belmont School Property.  On July 22, 1979, the property and the Norwood Building were dedicated to the Glory of God.  Debt free again!

The spirit of Park Street continued to grow and the church purchased additional property in 1990.  In September 1994, the Family Life Center was completed to house not only church activities, but community activities as well.  The FLC was paid for in 2005.  The church was debt free again.