Harshaw Chapel
Feb 06, 03:23 PM
The Harshaw Chapel stands today as Murphy's oldest intact structure and the county's oldest remaining church building.
Records indicate that construction of the simple Greek revival church began in 1857 when the first corner stone was set. It was completed around 1869 when it was dedicated to the Methodist Episcopal Church South by Joshua Harshaw. Note the inscription above the door.
Nine years seems like a long time to build a building like this, but you must remember that construction may have been interrupted by the Civil War (1861-1865).
Prior to this brick building, the church had a wood building on this lot, which was lit with tallow candles. Methodists have been worshipping on this land since 1842.
This Chapel served the First Methodist congregation for more than 50 years. As the congregation grew, the need for a larger church became apparent.
In 1922, the construction of the present-day home for the church began. The beautiful new 2-story neo-classical church on Valley River Avenue was dedicated in 1929 and this old chapel fell into disuse.
In the 1940's another Methodist congregation, the Free Methodists, leased the chapel for a while until their own building was constructed.
Other than this short revival, the building has remained largely unused for nearly a century.
In 1965 the deteriorating building was deeded over to the Archibald D Murphy Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in hopes that it would be restored and maintained. Some restoration work was done, but the building was largely neglected.
In 2013, the building ownership was returned to the First United Methodist Church. Efforts are currently underway to fund the extensive restorations needed to preserve this treasured piece of our history.
The chapel is included on the National Register of Historic Places which is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance.
Records indicate that construction of the simple Greek revival church began in 1857 when the first corner stone was set. It was completed around 1869 when it was dedicated to the Methodist Episcopal Church South by Joshua Harshaw. Note the inscription above the door.
Nine years seems like a long time to build a building like this, but you must remember that construction may have been interrupted by the Civil War (1861-1865).
Prior to this brick building, the church had a wood building on this lot, which was lit with tallow candles. Methodists have been worshipping on this land since 1842.
This Chapel served the First Methodist congregation for more than 50 years. As the congregation grew, the need for a larger church became apparent.
In 1922, the construction of the present-day home for the church began. The beautiful new 2-story neo-classical church on Valley River Avenue was dedicated in 1929 and this old chapel fell into disuse.
In the 1940's another Methodist congregation, the Free Methodists, leased the chapel for a while until their own building was constructed.
Other than this short revival, the building has remained largely unused for nearly a century.
In 1965 the deteriorating building was deeded over to the Archibald D Murphy Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in hopes that it would be restored and maintained. Some restoration work was done, but the building was largely neglected.
In 2013, the building ownership was returned to the First United Methodist Church. Efforts are currently underway to fund the extensive restorations needed to preserve this treasured piece of our history.
The chapel is included on the National Register of Historic Places which is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance.