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                  First church was built, moved twice and still stands
                  by David Mason

                  "Ojai - Church of the Nazarene (formerly
                  Presby-terian) 1884 - a Queen Anne colonial revival
                  church, with a central-placed, small-paneled
                  palladian window, a group of oval windows and broken
                  pediments - certainly a building from the hands of a
                  gifted designer."
                  - Architecture in Los Angeles and Southern
                  California, David Gebhard and Robert Winter, 1982

                  The newly built town of Nordhoff, now Ojai, was like
                  so many western towns of the time.
                  The business district was built with false    [Image]
                  fronts on the stores and the sidewalks were
                  made of boards. The church services were being held
                  under the spreading limbs of a majestic oak tree.
                  The preacher was well-known in the valley. He was
                  Thomas K. Beecher, brother of Henry Ward Beecher, the
                  man who was famous for his work with the temperance
                  league and the abolition of slavery. His sister was
                  Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of "Uncle Tom's
                  Cabin."
                  Thomas Beecher was born Feb. 10, 1824, and had come
                  to the valley to bring his knowledge of the Bible to
                  the early families. In 1852, he returned to Brooklyn,
                  N.Y., to become a full-time minister to the city. In
                  1854, he was called to Elmira, N.Y., to minister to
                  that town and quickly became one of the city fathers
                  by being elected mayor several times, while
                  continuing to preach the gospel.
                  In the Ojai Valley, church services moved to the
                  Sagebrush Academy, the small wooden schoolhouse at
                  the foot of what is now Dennison Grade to the Upper
                  Valley.
                  When the brick schoolhouse was built on Matilija
                  Street, now Moon's Nest Inn, services moved to that
                  location.
                  When Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nordhoff came to the valley
                  for a visit, it became evident that the town needed a
                  formal place of worship. Mrs. Nordhoff had insisted
                  that any respectable town must have a proper church.
                  Soon after the Nordhoffs returned to the east, Mrs.
                  Nordhoff sent architectural plans for a beautiful
                  church and a sizable donation to the town of Nordhoff
                  for its construction. The architect was the
                  well-known - J. Cleveland Cady (1837-1919).
                  Cady was born in New Jersey and received his
                  architectural education in New York. As a draftsman,
                  he was employed successively with some of the leading
                  architectural firms in the city until 1870, when he
                  opened his own office.
                  His office became identified with the design of
                  several public buildings, one outstanding example
                  being the Metropolitan Opera House.
                  The Nordhoffs were undoubtedly impressed with the
                  work of the young architect, for they had him design
                  the Nordhoff estate in Alpine, N.J. in 1865.
                  Following the end of the Civil War, a number of
                  wealthy New Yorkers donated a substantial amount for
                  the construction of a new church in Alpine and Cady
                  submitted two sets of plans. One was a stately stone
                  building, the other a wooden Victorian design.
                  Mrs. Nordhoff cast the deciding vote to build in
                  stone by offering to pay the architect's fees. The
                  Victorian plans were sent to the town of Nordhoff.
                  The church in Nordhoff was built as a Presbyterian
                  Church and was east of town on the main street, a
                  short distance from the Soule Ranch. The building was
                  constructed so substantially that it was able to
                  withstand being moved twice. It had a magnificent
                  belfry and in it hung a bell that could be heard all
                  over the valley.
                  Thacher students and teachers rode their horses to
                  town on Sundays to take part in the services - an
                  impressive sight to see, this large group of men
                  arriving at the little church.
                  The men eventually would be scattered across America,
                  influencing the nation with the high thinking and
                  noble living that they learned in this, their home
                  church.
                  The church was moved in 1899 to the southeast corner
                  of South Montgomery Street to be nearer downtown and
                  was joined with the Congregational Church building to
                  form one large meeting place.
                  The Congregational Church came to the Ojai Valley in
                  1888 and was built at the corner of main street and
                  South Ventura Street where the library is today. When
                  the two church buildings were merged, the
                  Congregational Church building was turned into Sunday
                  school rooms. This union created a much larger and
                  stronger church.
                  Sherman Thacher, founder of The Thacher School,
                  wrote: "Although the number of churches in a
                  community is not always an accurate indication of its
                  welfare, it was typical of Nordhoff to have three
                  churches and no saloon."
                  In 1930, with the construction of a new Presbyterian
                  Church on Foothill Road, the old building was sold to
                  the Nazarenes and moved to its present location at
                  Montgomery and Aliso streets.
                  The Nazarenes held their services in the beautiful
                  old building for 50 years.
                  Today, this building that did so much for the
                  development of the Ojai Valley is empty, although
                  over the last few years, the building has been used
                  by another church and a fitness center.
                  This stately building, with the few minor changes it
                  has gone through, awaits a new life. The intricate
                  Victorian ceiling and the stained glass windows still
                  bring a feeling of serenity to all who enter its
                  doors.

                  © 1999 The Ojai Valley News

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