The first years of United Protestant Church

Editor’s note: April 11, 2012, marks the 75th anniversary of the United Protestant Church, the Church of a Thousand Trees. To celebrate this historic event, the Frontiersman shares this history of the church as compiled and edited by Priscilla Bacon.

PALMER — The Rev. Bert Bingle arrived in Palmer May 6, 1935, four days before the Colonists. He found a few survey men and some homesteaders, but was shortly joined by a large contingent of construction workers who erected the 16-foot by 20-foot tents for the families arriving on the train, as well as their own camp facilities.

The Colonists had arrived by the following Sunday, May 12 — Mother’s Day — and the first services with 35 persons present were held in the tent of the colony’s architect, Harry K. Wolfe. The sermon topic was “Our Mothers,” an appropriate theme since most present had recently left mothers far away.

Not only was Rev. Bingle a spiritual guide who spoke in simple and direct Ohio farm language, his appearance and activities were indistinguishable from the farmers and construction workers as he helped the community with daily problems. He also was a hearty man of great vigor and purpose. He organized net fishing at Knik and edited the first newspaper from reports on his short-wave radio (the aerial of which was John Bugge’s pasture fence) and from his contacts with officialdom.

Under his direction, work was immediately started on a community hall where civic and religious groups could meet. Materials were scrounged from various sources. However, this building was in use only a short time when an epidemic of measles and scarlet fever broke out, causing the death of several children.

When a doctor arrived, the community hall became, overnight, a hospital. Max and Dorothy Sherrod, nurses at that time, reported it was near the present Koslosky Building. Services thereafter were held in homes in various points in the Valley. Finally, a separate tent was secured, and in August plans were made to formally organize a church.

The Presbyterian Board of National Missions loaned $500 to build a manse. The pioneers and developers, Mr. and Mrs. M.D. Snodgrass, donated two lots. The manse was erected by volunteer labor and still stands on the southeast corner of Evergreen and South Cobb streets. This building was more than a manse. It was home to the Bingles, the center for Sunday School and church services, daily meeting place for committees of council, building committees, and constitution and bylaws.

It was also a rest center for people who had walked miles to town, with miles to walk back, and it was a news and message center. Always, Mabel Bingle had a cheerful word, a cup of coffee and cookies to renew the confidence of those weary in body, mind and spirit.

Because the membership became too large for accommodation in the manse, services were held in the new school gymnasium from April 1936 to March 1937. Until January 1937, the colony buses transported people to and from church services for free.

Meanwhile, architect Wolfe drew up plans and provided a materials list for a permanent building, without charge. The final plans were approved Dec. 31, 1936. Attorney Almer J. Peterson donated his services to draw up contracts, deeds, articles of incorporation, bylaws and all legal matters and advice.

In May 1936, the government’s agency divided a plot of ground 300-feet by 300-feet into three equal areas and granted a portion of the area to each of three churches, including United Protestant. The stipulations were that the grounds would be kept neat and clean, that the location must be used for church services only, and that should any church not hold services for a period of one year, the property would revert to the grantee.

The congregation met on this site in the summer of 1936 to “formally dedicate these grounds to the God who has led us so far in this adventure. ... We stand here at this time with bared heads asking that the Christ be our leader, our guide, our stay, our Savior.”

Timber cutting began in June, the logs being peeled in most part by the women, by students from the Eklutna School, and the men when they could spare time from myriad farm demands. Much was done in the long evenings. There were always cookies, coffee and sandwiches furnished by the women. Pouring began on the concrete piers to support the church on Sept. 8, 1936. The cornerstone, with various church records and documents enclosed, was poured Sept. 30, 1936, at a campfire meeting at the site. The log-raising began Oct. 9, 1936, with colonist Victor (Vic) Johnson as foreman.

Excavation of a small basement for a heating plant was done by hand. The heating plant consisted of an oil drum fitted with a door and flue connection. This simple device heated the church for a number of years. In cold weather the women regularly wore ski pants to church due to the inefficiency of the heating plant.

On April 10, 1937, at the Presbytery of the Yukon meeting in Anchorage, a “petition from the Protestant Church of Palmer was received and the church was added to the roll of Presbytery. The church and minister were commended for their amazing accomplishments in the erection of the church building.”

On April 11, 1937, the roads being too dangerous between Palmer and Anchorage, Presbytery staged an excursion on the Alaska Railroad. At the morning service, Presbytery dedicated the United Protestant Church of Palmer and installed Bert J. Bingle as pastor. More than 200 people were present.

The labor on the church was shared by people of 13 different denominations: Presbyterian, Moravian, Mennonite, Baptist, Unitarian, Lutheran, Methodist, Episcopalian, Church of the Open Door, Christian, Russellite, Congregational and Evangelical.