All About The Oysterville Church -- Hot Off The Press!
September 9, 2011 by Sydney Stevens
The Summer/Fall 2011 issue of The Sou'wester (semi-annual publication of the Pacific County Historical Society) is devoted in its entirety to the Historic Oysterville Church. The history of its beginnings, its construction, the pastors who served it, and the important events that have occurred there during the past 120 years are all documented "for posterity," according to the magazine's guest editor, Sydney Stevens.
"Until this publication," says Sydney, "the history of the church could only be found by bits and pieces - in the references made to it in old documents and letters, in the yellowing pages of family correspondence, or in the long memories of the old-timers who still live in the area. Gathering all of that together took me on a wonderful journey back in time."
In addition to excerpts from historic sources, the issue contains dozens of photographs of the people and events associated with the church from its earliest days. Included, too, is all the information currently available about the mysterious drowning of Mrs. Crouch, an early preacher's wife. Was Pastor Josiah responsible for her death? Or not? It is a "ghost story" long associated with both the church and the old parsonage across the street.
The Sou'wester is available at the Oysterville Store and from the Pacific County Historical Society at P.O. Box P, South Bend, WA 98586.
Fantastic story, I can't wait to read more!