History of BLUE SPRINGS CHURCH OF CHRIST

Mt. Vernon, Kentucky

 

 By: Zade McClure

 

The Blue Springs Church of Christ had its beginnings with another congregation, the Highdry church of Christ. Highdry Church was established in 1930. Joe McClure (uncle of Zade McClure) started having services under a big oak tree at the home of Nathan McClure (great grandfather of Zade McClure) on the Highdry Road. Several were baptized, and a church building was built for their services. The land was given to the church and a wooden frame building was built. It had one door at the front of the building, 3 windows on each side of the building with 1 window, in the back of the church. No electricity vas available for the church. It was lighted with kerosene lights and heated with a potbellied stove. The pews were wooden benches with backs. The congregation had approximately 25 members. The church vas called: Highdry Church of Christ.

 

Joe McClure, Henry Rowe, Jim Haug Cromer, and Henry Cromer were some of the teachers.

Johnnie Green Thomasson, Ovie Smith and Flynn Parrot were the first preachers to preach at the new church. Some of the early gospel meetings were held by E.H. Miller, Ovie Smith, and Flynn Parrot.

 

The road to the church was an unpaved county road. Everybody walked to church. The WPA Works Progress Administration) was a project established by Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1935-1941. This project was responsible for building roads, schools, and public works during the years of the depression.

This project was responsible for building a graveled road into the Blue Springs area. Cars and trucks could now use the new road (County Road 1249). The Highdry Church congregation moved to a new building next to the new road in 1948. The land was donated by Swan Bullock. The building was a wooden frame building with weatherboard painted white. Electricity became available for lights and the heat was from a warm morning coal stove. There were approximately 50 members. This church was named for its new location--BLUE SPRINGS CHURCH OF CHRIST. This is the current location of the church. Renovations to the church began about 25 years ago when brick was added to the exterior of the building; 10 years later-bathrooms and the baptistery were added; and 12 years later (2001) city water became available. The average attendance is 110.

 

Some of the gospel meeting preachers were: E.H. Miller, Edwin Morris, Miles King, J.W. Karnegay, Paul Nichols, Richard Nichols, Arthur Wade, Ronny Wade, Don King, Barney Owens, Irvin Barnes, Ron Alexander, Joe Hisel, Don Pruitt, Ron Courter, Alton Bailey, Kevin Presley, and Doug Hawkins.

 

Doug Hawkins now has Blue Springs as his home congregation. In addition, there are 4 other teachers-Zade McClure-, Gary Reppert, Coy Cromer, and Marcus Reppert.

 

Descendants of the early members--Swan Bullock, who donated the land for the current congregation, has several descendents that are members (1 daughter, 2 sons, and 2 granddaughters).

Joe McClure, one of the founding members, has 2 daughters, 1 son, 3 granddaughters, 3 grandson, 4 great granddaughters, 1 great grandson, 1 nephew, 2 great nieces, 2 great great nephews, and 2 great great nieces who are members. Henry Rowe, a founding member, has 2 granddaughters, 2 great granddaughters, and 1 great great granddaughter who are members.

 

Three of the current teachers are descendants of the early teacher Joe McClure. Zade McClure-nephew; Coy Cromer-grandson; and Marcus Reppert-great great nephew.

 

Approximately fifty percent of the congregation are in their teens to forties. This gives us much hope for a bright and lasting future for our congregation.

 

 

 

				BIRTHDAYS
MCFERRON	BONNIE	January	06	CROMER	FREDDIE	August	05
WELLES	BRANDON	January	11	MCCLURE	CLINTON	August	06
EVANS	BURGESS	January	12	ROBBINS	JEANETTE	August	06
MILLER	CURTIS	January	17	BARRON	MARY	August	07
BOONE	CLIFTON	January	18	MCCLURE	NELLIE	August	07
CROMER	RUBY	January	18	BULLOCK	HOWARD	August	08
EVANS	ALMA	January	18	REPPERT	GARY	August	09
THOMAS	BETTY	January	19	BOONE.	DANIEL	August	13
BULLOCK	FLOYD	January	24	MINK	MATTIE	August	15
SHARP	DANNY	January	28	WELLES	TERESA	August	20
TAYLOR	CASEY	January	29	HAWKINS	BRADEN	August	24
RIDDLE	RACHELLE	February	05	SHARP	BOREING	August	27
EVANS	MAUDIE	February	09	MCFERRON	WALTER	August	31
LOVELL	BRENT	February	09	CROMER	TERESA	September	01
MCCLURE	LINDA	February	13	LEWIS	LISA	September	01
MCFERRON	BERTIE	February	15	LOVELL	MARCELLA	September	02
BARRON	RHONDA	February	17	BULLOCK	BOBBY	September	05
CROMER	SHARON	February	26	CROMER	CHRISTEEN	September	09
MILLER	HOLLY	March	07	MCCLURE	HANNAH	September	12
GOODWIN	JEANETTE	March	10	CROMER	HANK	September	16
MCCLURE	HOWARD	March	20	BOONE	RENA	September	20
MCCLURE	EMMETT	March	21	CROMER	ORVILLE	September	25
CROMER	GLENN	March	24	MAYS	SCOTT	September	25
ROBBINS	LESLIE	March	24	TAYLOR	PAMELA	September	25
WELLES	BRYAN	March	25	BOONE	BRENT	September	28
HAWKINS	ZADE	March	26	MINK	VERNIE	October	01
RIDDLE	CONNIE	March	27	NAVARRE	BRIAN	October	13
CLARK	JIMMIE	March	31	SHARP	PHILLIP	October	15
RIDDLE	JACOB	April	04	SHARP	VICKIE	October	18
RENNER	MELISSA	April	07	MCCLURE	ZADE	October	19
MCFERRON	DEWEY	April	10	BOONE	JAMES	October	20
GRAVES	VERNA	April	13	CROMER	JUNE	October	21
PHELPS	JONETT	April	14	RIDDLE	JESSICA	October	22
BOONE	VERNA	April	15	CROMER	GAIL	October	26
CROMER	DAVID	April	15	REPPERT	GENIEVEE	November	01
ROBBINS	JERRY	April	18	MCCLURE	REKEL	November	03
MAYS	BECKY	April	25	WHITAKER	LIZ	November	08
PAYNE	KAY5	April	25	SHARP	ANGELA	November	16
RENNER	RANDY	April