Former members helped celebrate the 110th year of Iowa First United Methodist Church on Heritage Sunday, Aug. 11.

The altar area was decorated with items from years gone by. There was a hand-push plow; a milk can; an iron coffee grinder; and a bench that was from the original church and was used by children during Sunday school. Draped across an old rocking chair used in the nursery department was a quilt that was pieced 100 years ago.

It was later quilted by The Quilters, a group of ladies who still meet weekly at the church to hand quilt. Lying on the seat of the rocker and atop the quilt was a family Bible brought by Floyd DeWolf. His family were among the early settlers who migrated down from the state of Iowa in search of farmland.

There was a wooden beer stein carved by a German prisoner of war who was held in the area during World War II. There was a hand saw used by two people to cut down a tree. There was a flat iron that was heated on a wood stove, several rub boards used for washing clothes, a bronze cooking saucepan and hymnals used in the early church.

The cross was made from two previous years Christmon trees. It held cut sugar cane and rice, both area cash crops. Instead of the usual candles on the altar, two coal oil lanterns were burning. The Christian flag adorning the lectern was found in storage, faded and tattered; it was used in the church many years ago.

Following the service, members and visitors gathered in the fellowship hall for a covered-dish dinner reminiscent of the old-time “dinner on the ground.”

The altar at the church was decorated with items from years gone by. (Special to the American Press)