Restoring History in Pine Forest
In 1907 the Pine Forest Church of Christ congregation, which consisted of the families just to name a few, of Maddox, Bradford, Fausett, Rettman, Trapp and Watkins were meeting in the Woodmen of the World building. They wanted to build their own building so the solicited the help of William J. a German member of the group, who volunteered to draw plans for a buildi
ng. Also being conservative, Rettman suggested that the congregation pay for building materials as they went, with no indebtedness. The rough lumber for the building was sawn and hauled by wagon from a sawmill in the Pine Hill community. Finished lumber was purchased in Jefferson and hauled by train to Pickton, where it was picked up in wagons and brought to the site. The bricks for the chimney were donated by George Washington Allen, who owned a brick kiln in the northwest part of the community. Allen also built the chimney without charge. The pews and communion table had arrived but the speaker’s podium did not. Rettman spent the Saturday before the first service, building a podium from scrap lumber and preparing it for the service. On Sunday morning Jacob Foster, preached the first sermon in the new building, in Pine Forest. During the following years the congregation had a membership of over one hundred members. The 1940’s began a decline in membership, as young men went and served in WWII and did not return to their family farms. The 1950’s saw another decline as the young people left the community to attend college and found jobs in the cities. But it wasn’t until 1992 that the small group decided to close to this house of worship and attend in other congregations. Now the building has been restored to be used by the community for events, such as reunions and worship services etc..
