You can park your pew here

Hubbard Historical Society spreads church history throughout city

HUBBARD -- Items from the historic Hubbard Presbyterian Church, which closed in 1959, have found new homes.

They are being showcased in the parlor at the Hubbard Historical Society's McBride House and at city hall.

Robin Zambrini, president of the historical society, said the society received the McBride House in 1997. She said the pulpit from the church now sits in a room there and many of the pews from the church are finding locations, including the main lobby at the city building.

"It is a great donation to the house. We know the history of the church," she said.

Roberta Grantz of Covenant Life Fellowship Church said it is important to keep historic items. She said Hubbard Presbyterian Church was built in 1857 at the property where the Rite Aid store now sits at Hager and West Liberty streets. The site also included the church parsonage.

She said that in 1923, an addition was made to the church. The church closed in 1959 and was acquired by Hubbard First Assembly of God, with the Presbyterians wanting it to remain a church.

After First Assembly of God built a new church called Covenant Life Fellowship off state Route 304, the old church was demolished in the mid-1990s. However, many items, such as the pulpit, were kept. Grantz said the pulpit was used for special events, such as weddings and christenings.

"It was a fancier pulpit, which needed fixed up. It is a piece of history. The pews were also beautiful and had hand carvings on them. The wood is gorgeous," she said.

Daryl Wolfe repaired the pulpit.

Grantz said her church kept some of the pews, including a smaller one known as the deacon pew, which seats two people. Other pews were donated to various groups and individuals.

The Hubbard CARES group also had some of the church pews.

Mayor Ben Kyle said three restored 8-foot church pews are in the lobby of the city building.

He said Linda Clark and others with Hubbard CARES have been trying to see if local businesses and civic organizations would be willing to take the pews.

"This is a way of making a connection between the past and the present," Kyle said.

He said the oak pews with ornate carvings have been in dry storage since the church was dismantled in 1997.

Kyle said a plaque will be installed by the pews so people know their history.

The original bell tower from the church, made of hand-hewn beams, stands restored at Harding Park.

The pulpit now sits in a window at the McBride House facing the direction where the church used to be.

"The pulpit has literally come home," Grantz said.

Grantz said she can only imagine all the sermons that were preached from that pulpit over the years and all the people who preached from it.

She said when First Assembly acquired the Presbyterian church and items in 1959, "the members were all ecstatic to have this beautiful building to worship in."

"We had a kitchen and social hall, which we did not have before," Grantz said.

She said the original church had a dozen or more pew benches of different lengths.

"I am very pleased that the pulpit will be shown at the McBride House and be taken care of by the historical society. We need to maintain our history," Grantz said.

RECORDING HISTORY

Zambrini said the historical society members are archiving and cataloging the photos and other items inside the McBride House.

She said the Hubbard society, through a grant obtained from the Trumbull County Historical Society, has joined local historical societies, such as Fowler and Howland, in archiving items.

Old pictures are being scanned for cataloging and can be viewed online by searching for Hubbard Historical Society, which has its own page.

"We have more than 300 entries. We have pictures and information on churches, people, schools and anything from Hubbard. We are continually adding to this. Many are pictures donated to the historical society," Zambrini said.

She said once all the photos are scanned, objects in the house will be next.

She said renovation work is being done on the second floor also, with help from the Trumbull County Historical Society, which provides AmeriCorps members.

"The AmeriCorps members are trained in historical preservation. They are helping us catalog all our collections so we can actually store our photos in archival boxes," Zambrini said, noting the volunteers come to the house twice per month.

She said items are being organized into specific viable collections that will be displayed by topics, such as a section with wedding dresses.

"This is a real move forward for us. We are moving the past into the future. We are becoming a museum rather just a house with old things," she said.

Mary Ann Lark, a 25-year member and past president and treasurer, said the society is planning for various events this year, including guest speakers and parties.