Out our way: Longbranch Church centennial and salmon bake coming soon

Colleen Slater

Out our way

Longbranch Community Church will celebrate a century of continuous religious service in Longbranch at its eighth annual salmon bake on July 26.

The first church in Longbranch, built by and for the early German and Scandinavian settlers, fell into disuse with new people and younger generations wanting an English-speaking congregation.

A devout Englishwoman, Elizabeth Curl, began a Sunday School in 1900 that included adults. Curl was superintendent, and she and a sister-in-law were the main teachers for many years. Building a church was a topic of conversation.

Talk became action when Stephen Penrose, Whitman College president, began spending summers at Delano Beach, where he later purchased property that’s now part of Penrose Point State Park.

He encouraged the community to build a congregational church.

In 1908, organizational meetings were held, land was donated, and, with the help of some congregational church funding, local volunteer labor and multiple fundraising events, a building was constructed on the hill overlooking Filucy Bay.

The congregation held the first service in the lower floor, called Penrose Hall, on Easter Sunday, 1909. Penrose conducted the dedication of the building that summer, and he preached when he stayed on the peninsula.

Various pastors served the community, including traveling or itinerant preachers, when they happened to be in the area and no permanent pastor was in place.

William Major Upcraft became the first permanent pastor in 1909.

In the mid-1930s, the hill where the church stood started to slide, and the building began to break apart. The congregation quit their beloved church and held meetings in the schoolhouse and community hall. Planning began for a new building in a new location.

In 1940, Longbranch Community Church was incorporated from former congregational members and others who had joined the community. Abel and Leda Rickert donated a half-acre for the building, and they later gifted the church with additional property to add a social/education hall.

Community folks, including non-church members, gave money, donated materials and offered their services to build. The new church, dedicated in 1948, was free of debt.

The stained glass windows, steeple bell and pulpit Bible, salvaged from the previous church, were contributed to the new one by Charles and Ivanell Glasson, who bought the first church property and dismantled the building.

Handmade mahogany pulpit furniture, an organ, a gold cross, candelabra, flags, memorial windows and other items were given by church members. Names noted in history records include August Anderson, Mr. & Mrs. Carl Jacobson, Mrs. O’Gust Johnson, Mrs. Louise Ostling, Mr. & Mrs. Joe Dorfner, Mrs. August Shellgren and daughter Ellen, Mr. & Mrs. Art Summerfelt, Mrs. Philip Smith, Ingolf Reiten and Eloise Paul.

John Smircich became the first pastor of the new church.

Elizabeth Curl’s granddaughter, Marguerite Curl, became the first bride in the new church when she married Raymond Bussard. She is still active in the church.

In 1960, a house, free for the moving, came across Filucy Bay on a barge at high tide. It was used over the years as a manse, office, classrooms and the first peninsula health clinic.

One hundred years of community spirit will be included in this church’s anniversary celebration.

Salmon Bake tickets

The salmon bake, held at the Longbranch Improvement Club from 2 to 6 p.m. July 26, will feature Chef Oliver Coldeen’s famous grilled salmon, corn on the cob, strawberry shortcake, hot dogs and more.

An eBay-type silent auction, Christian-based musical entertainment, a fully stocked trout pond with contests for various ages, hay rides with an accordion player and non-profit community organization booths will also be held.

Pre-sale tickets are $12 and $14 the day of the event. Tickets for children 12 and younger are $5 each; children younger than 5 get in free.

Tickets are available at Charboneau Construction, Sunnycrest Nursery, Home Store, Dave Ahrens Coast to Coast Hardware and the Longbranch Marina. Call 253-857-5184 for more information.

Colleen Slater writes a monthly column for the Neighbors page. She can be reached at cas4936@centurytel.net.