Friday, Oct. 10, 2008

Flower Mound’s Shiloh Church Celebrates 140 Years of Services on Sunday

By Adrian McCandless

Staff Writer

Shiloh Church will celebrate its 140th anniversary this Sunday. Although the original church building is no longer standing, the adjacent cemetary has tombstones dating back to the early days of north Texas when the Town of Flower Mound was just a trail intersection by the flower mound.

In the early 1860s, the population of Denton county was under 5,000 people and open land stretched to the horizon. The Chisholm Trail was the route ranchers used to transport cattle through north Texas to Kansas and early pioneers traveled in covered wagons pulled by livestock.

When the American Civil War ended in 1865, an economic boom triggered additional immigration into north Texas and Denton county’s population ballooned to a nearly 18,200.

The expansion of the rail road system also provided an additional boost in the economy, and was also a key factor in the founding of Shiloh Baptist Church [the original name and denomination] off present day FM 1171 [Cross Timbers Road] in 1868.

Shiloh Church Pastor Chuck Hittle said a road carrying people to the Grapevine Rail Road Station No. 2 passed by the site where the church was built, and was the reason for its specific location. He added that in 1883, a one-room church building was built at its present location, and provided both Sunday school and church services for about 63 years.

Hittle also said it has been documented that one of the first preachers, L. H. Foster, was summoned by the infamous outlaw, Jesse James, and met him in the woods after a sermon.

"It’s fascinating," Hittle said. "I wish that we had more stories like that to share, but they are all in the hearts of folks that used to go here."

He added that a large part of the history of Shiloh Church was lost when a fire destroyed the majority of the records during the 1970s.

"The story goes that a lady kept all of the records at her house, because her house burned down – all of the records burned with it," Hittle said. "If we hadn’t lost all of that, we would have such a visual of what went on – all we have right now is contained in a little metal box."

Hittle added that most of the records not damaged by the fire only go back to the 1950s.

"I’d love to know what was going on in the Roaring '20s, and what they were concerned with – I would love that," he said.

Hittle said he is hoping that the anniversary celebration planned for this Sunday will also serve as a history lesson on Shiloh Church and will generate pictures and artifacts from the past.

"We hope the oldest people can come here and tell us what they remember," he said. "If I can remember back to the 1950s – maybe they can remember back even further."

Hittle’s wife, Brenda, remains hopeful that there is information available about Shiloh Church that will date back as far as possible.

"You never know what information is out there," she said.

Hittle has also lived in the Lewisville-Flower Mound area all her life and said she has seen many changes – both to the church and the area over the years.

"I remember driving all the way out in the country with my mom when I was about eight, and we sat in this little bitty old Baptist church," she said.

Shiloh Baptist Church was on the verge of celebrating its 100th anniversary when Flower Mound was established as a town.

In 1963, church members began plans for new brick veneer educational building with $312.50. In 1965, the building was completed and remains in use to this day.

Hittle added that she really noticed a big change in Flower Mound in the 1970s when new residential and business areas began to pop up out. She added Shiloh Baptist Church also began changing and transitioned into a contemporary, non-denominational church in the 1980s .

The Shiloh Cemetery adjacent to the church provides a window into the past. Distinguished by hand carved native headstones, the cemetery has markers from the Civil, First World, Second World, Korean and Vietnam Wars, and is the resting place for many pioneers of Denton County.

The Shiloh Church 140th anniversary celebration is Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For additional information, e-mail Shiloh Church Pastor Chuck Hittle at Chuck@shilohfamilychurch.com or call at 817-430-1417.