Grove Hill New Mission Church
History
In 1839, the Presbyterian Board of Missions sent the Reverend Peter Dougherty to the Grand Traverse area. He founded a mission located at what is now called Old Mission, Michigan. He organized a church, including both European and Native Americans, in 1843. In 1852, Dougherty and his mission moved to what is now Omena, establishing a "New Mission" there and constructing a mission and boarding school. In 1858, Dougherty commissioned three local carpenters to build this church, based on traditional New England church design. The church was used by the congregation until 1871, when financial difficulties forced the mission to close.
In 1885, the church was re-opened as a Congregationalist church. Since 1925, it has been used primarily in the summer months. It is still used as the Omena Presbyterian Church.
Description
The Grove Hill New Mission Church is a rectangular frame front-gable structure sided with white clapboard. The roof is covered with shingles, and is capped with a square steeple. It measures approximately 35 feet (11 m) by 48 feet (15 m), and has a shed-roofed addition at the rear. The front entrance is covered with a triangular pediment supported by two pillars.
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Buehler, Marsha C. (March 26, 2016), National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Omena Historic District.
- ^ "Bingham District No. 5 Schoolhouse". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ "Omena Presbyterian Church". Presbyterian Church (USA). Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ "History". The Dougherty Historic Home Site. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ Deby Disch. "Crakers, Aghosas and early Omena Presbyterian Church days". Leelanau Enterprise. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
Further reading
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Amanda J. Holmes (2003), Omena: A Place in Time : a Sesquicentennial History, 1852-2002, Omena Historical Society, ISBN 9780974325101
- Ruth Craker (1979), The First Protestant Mission in the Grand Traverse Region, Rivercrest House