Pioneer Heritage Chapel and Museum - Friona, TX
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 34° 38.188 W 102° 43.235
13S E 708935 N 3835092
One bell in this old chapel.
Waymark Code: WMTDNF
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 11/07/2016
Views: 3
County of chapel: Parmer County
Location of chapel: 220 W. 6th St., in front of museum, Friona
The museum person, who came after I called, said the bell was still there, but no one rings it so they were not sure if it would work or not if tried. She refused to try when I pushed to hear it.
"The city of Friona was founded in 1906 by George G. Wright Land Company of Kansas City, an agency employed by the XIT Ranch owners to sell their range lands in small tracts. Religious-minded settlers in 1908 organized the Union Congregational Church. Charter members included Mr. & Mrs. C. L. Fergus, Charles Karr, Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Karr, Walter Kell, William McCandlish, Mr. & Mrs. D. W. McMillen, Mr. & Mrs. Ross V. McWilliams, Mr. & Mrs. C. B. Oleson, Mr. & Mrs. John Orbaugh, Mr. & Mrs. Seth Roush, Bert Shattuck, Mrs. Nellie Shattuck, and A. N. Wentworth.
"George G. Wright donated six lots at this site and the Congregational Church Building Society of New York made a $770.00 construction grant. Friona's first church building, a frame structure with hand-painted, arched windows and a belfry, was completed and dedicated n May 23, 1909. The basement added in 1916 served as center for social activities. After that meetinghouse burned in 1921, this adobe chapel was built. It was used until the congregationalists in 1969 erected a sanctuary on a new site. In 1973, this building was given to the Girl Scouts to be used for their meeting hall and activities and for a "Pioneer Heritage Chapel & Museum"." ~ Texas Historical Commission, 1975