• Sunday-What'sUP November 5 - 03:33 am

It was 1907 when the congregation of Calumet's First Baptist Church undertook to erect a new building. In the years following, the area would see the continuing rise and fall of the mining industry, two world wars, and a worlwide depression. In spite of struggles and adversity, the church continued its ministry and managed to pay off the original mortgage and expand with two major additions.

Though there have been many pastors, the major part of the last century have been under the leadership of Pastors John Rader and Charles Hart (both in the third photo above) and Pastor Bruce Nolen (in the middle of the bottom photo). Significant developments through the years have included the founding of Camp Gitche Gumee in 1930 and helping to establish Copper Country Christian School in the '80's.

The service was a pleasant one today, with music and reminiscing, catching up with some old friends and meeting some new ones. It was a special treat to chat with Pastor Charles Hart - fast approaching the century mark himself. The third photo with his family was taken in 1950, and in the final group portrait - taken today by Jon Soper - Pastor Hart is the only one seated (with the cane in the front row).

Congratulations to the leaders and the members of FBC, and may your next century be as blessed.

Have a good week :o)

Congratulations to all the present members of the First Baptist Church. And good memories of those past members. God bless you all. What a lovely building!

Well worth the wait today. And it looks like you had beautiful weather for the event also. Congradulations!

Congratulations. I think I even recognize a few people from a
family wedding I attended a few years ago.

I third the congratulations!!! Great pictures today.

Congratulations to all at First Baptist Church !Keep spreading the word and God bless!

I believe that's the neatest, most unique architecture I've ever seen of a church.
FBC, congratulations on your first century of service.

This is great Charlie. I wish my dad were alive to see these pictures and pasty cam. He would have loved looking at all the pictures from 'up home'. This is the church my parents were members of when I was born MANY years ago now. Rev. Marvin Turner was our pastor then. My mother Ruby Paull is still living at 92 years of age. I will show her this when she comes to AZ in Dec. She will love the memories. Like 'Just Me' said above, keep spreading the word First Baptist Church. Thanks Charlie for memories.

Charlie or Jon, what year was the first picture taken?

Not sure about the exact year, but it appears to be about 1957.

I'm glad to see the pictures of my home church and to read the update on their celebration that I missed. I have great memories in this church: crawling around under the pews after church as a kid, Christmas plays, Awana, poplucks, etc. Praise God for His faithfulness at 1st Baptist!

What good memories this series of photos creates for me. As a teen I went to Gitchee Gumee several times. I spent a year at Tech in the 60s and went to Calumet First Baptist during that year. I have great memories of Pastor Hart from both places. May God continue to bless the church.