The "Brice" Presbyterian Church cornerstone
Bluffton Presbyterian Church is celebrating its 175th anniversary (1849-2024) this year.
By Diane Winebar Have you noticed the cornerstone to the left of the front steps of the Presbyterian church building? What happened to the name "The Brice Presbyterian Church"? In 1887, fundraising efforts to construct the present church building were falling short. The wife of one of the church’s early supply pastors, the Rev. W. K. Brice, assured the congregation that her son, soon-to-be U.S. senator Calvin S. Brice, would fund the completion as a memorial to his late father. With a large donation expected, the church ordered and laid a cornerstone engraved with the Brice name. But it turns out that all the Brice money that is in this building is the $10.00 Mrs. Brice herself contributed. ▶︎
Editor's note: Brice family portraits are to be found at the Allen County Historical Museum, both at the museum and online at https://allencountymuseum.org/brice-portraits/ The portrait of the senator was painted by renowned American portrait painter John Singer Sargent in 1898. The portrait of Brice’s wife Catherine Olivia Meily Brice and daughters Helen and Margaret was painted by Carolus-Duran, who taught many famous artists and was a celebrated portraitist in France.
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, April 4, 2025
- Robert "Bob" O. Town served in the U.S. Navy
- Applications for Bluffton community pool jobs due April 10
- Bolen sentenced to 19 years to life in prison
- Tornado in Putnam County on April 2
- Pirate boys tennis edges Indians
- Brendon Matthews named Chief Executive Officer at First National Bank
- BHS spring musical is Bringing Down the House
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
- Tornado Watch issued for Allen, Hancock, Hardin and Putnam counties at 9:15 p.m. on April 2
- Flood Warning issued for Allen County at 11:03 a.m.
- Pirate tennis loss at Elida
- Pirate softball loses opener to Ada
- Pirate baseball falls to Ada
- Allen County will not test warning sirens on April 2
- March 2025 land transfers in the Bluffton Exempted Village School District
- April 22 crash report shows driver hit N. Dixie home
- Bluffton High School Honor Roll announced for 3rd quarter of 2024-2025
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
- Obituary for Betty C. Mumaugh
- Leo Club supports Bluffton Clean Up
- Wind, rain and potential flooding for April 2
- Grandey to major in education, play basketball at John Carroll
- Pirate tennis blanks Bath
- Pirate baseball sweeps opening twin bill vs. Pandora-Gilboa
- “I Have Not Forsaken the Word of God” reader's theater, April 13
- Easter Cantata performed on April 13 in Pandora