| 125 Years of God's Faithfulness Eastport Baptist Church |
A rich history of Serving the Lord . . .
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In the late 1800’s, Eastport was a very active little village with at four churches,
. a public school,a Grange & Macabee Hall, and located on beautiful Torch Lake which
. was named Was-wa-gon-ong by the Indians meaning “Lake of the Torches. It was
. named for the many torch lights on the canoes used for spearing fish at night.
. Sidewalks were on each side of the main street with people walking to the grocery store,
. drug store, hardware, post office, stagecoach stop and two hotels or blacksmith shops.
. There were at least four mills, one saloon, and a doctor who also pulled teeth when
. necessary and later a meat market and funeral parlor.
In 1884, in the General Store and Post Office of Eastport, J
John and Alice Pearl (owners), helped to form a new
church by the name of First Baptist Church of Eastport along with ten other people.
The charter members were: W.F. Chamberlin, Mattie Hadcock, William, Amanda, and
Alice Olmsted, Alice Pearl, Milton and Mary Robinson, Hannah Salisbury, and Frankie
Smith. Three others were baptized and added to the church rolls two months later:
Bertha Byer, Mattie Chamberlin, and Mary Williams.
One acre of land was purchased on East Torch Lake Drive in 1886 from Cyenius &
Maria Chamberlin for $25 and with the community’s help built a parsonage which was
also used for church services. This home was the first parsonage and became Hattie
Arnold’s home.
In 1890, the church and Eastport Congregational church came together and worshipped at the
. Congregational church. They took turns calling a pastor from one denomination and then the
. other. In 1892, First Baptist called its first Pastor, the Rev. Henry Mellon who served with his
. wife Malissa until 1895.
The first minutes we have on record occurred on July 14, 1894. The beginning reads…
The First Baptist Church of Eastport met for regular covenant meeting at the Parsonage,
Saturday July 14, 1894, at 2 o’clock pm with the Pastor as the chair. After singing a hymn,
reading a portion of scripture, and prayer by the Chairman...
Seventeen members were present at this meeting with one visitor.
The collection for State Missions was recorded at $1.07.
During that year a tent meeting was scheduled in which people came
know the Lord and followed in believer’s baptism in Torch Lake. Also
a Baptist Young People’s Society was formed and Dwight Arnold was
Dwight Arnold was elected as president of the society. On November 3rd, it was reported
that the total offering for the quarter was $46.80. The church at this time was a part of the
Grand Traverse Baptist Association.
Robert Wilkinson, a member of the church was licensed to preach and then called as the
next pastor of the church on October 3, 1896 and then ordained in November of that same year. It was voted that he
be paid a salary of $150 per year with the assistance of the State Missions Board. Upon invitation to the council the
ladies made arrangements for a Chicken Pie Social. Robert and Mary Wilkinson served the church until 1898.
In November of 1898 the church purchased the John Pearl General Store and
gave John and Alice free rent in the upstairs rooms. The church paid $3 a month
for the Store. Abe and Hannah Arnold (grandparents to Jackie
Watson) joined the church. From 1900 to 1902, the
congregation called Pastor H.E. and Millicent McGrath to lead
the church.
From 1902 to 1908 the congregation called Herbert and
Grace Gould. Pastor Gould in 1906 added Torch Lake Village
to his preaching schedule. The Ladies Aid Society voted to
give 5 cents per member for the Pastor’s support. Mrs. James
Arnold and Grace Hooper joined the church during this period.
From 1908 to 1911 the church was pastored by Wilber Knight. During the period from 1912-
1919 the Baptist And Congregational churches came together again, this time meeting in the
Baptist Church. From 1912-1918 Philip Hooper served as pastor.
The church building was sold to Frank Hooper,
son of Pastor Hooper for $1500 and the
congregation bought a lot from Thomas Kirdy for
a new church for $200 and a property dedication
service was held May 20, 1928. Meetings were held at the Maple Hill
school house. The Guyer’s house burned down at this time and
along with it many church records. Purchase of a church building
from Alden was made from the Michigan Baptist Convention and
Fred Brooks was contracted to move the church building from Alden
to the present site. The church dedication service was held August
18, 1929. The church became an outstation from the Charlevoix
Baptist Church. Pastors Rouch (29-39), Cruthers (39-43), Petersons
(43-45), and Jackson (45-47)lead the church during this period of time. In 1948, the church voted to become
independent from the oversight of Charlevoix Baptist Church.
It was at this time that Milford and Marian Tyrrell, Maude Ayotte, and Hattie Arnold joined the church. A parsonage
fund was started. Rev. Clare Gleason served as pastor in 1948-1949. There was also a vote to convert the church
from coal to oil heat. Bill and Alma Armstrong became members of the church.
From 1949 to 1952 the church called and ordained John Brubaker as their pastor.
Effie Powell (mother of Joe Powell), Anna Smith, and Ken and Jackie Watson were taken
into the membership. All joined the church August 13, 1950. The church also voted to
remove themselves from their membership with the American Baptist Convention in 1951.
From 1952 to 1958, Pastor Al Northrup served the church. Chester and Shirley Farrell joined
the church October 29, 1953. and Joe and Velma Powell joined, July 8, 1955. The church was
remodeled along with the East Wing added to the auditorium. A balcony was added to the main
sanctuary with a cry room in the East wing. The Eastport school house was purchased for a youth
center. The church also had a 15 minute radio program which aired at Noon on Saturdays. Jay
and Jean Nauta were added as missionaries for $10 a month. The church joined the General
Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) in 1955. In 1957, Vacation Bible school was
cancelled due to a measles outbreak.
Pastor Paul Bone ministered from 1958-1963. Pastor Bob White (63-66) was the first to live in the
church parsonage that was converted over from the Eastport School. The swing set to the West of
the home is from the old school. The church worked to help start a Baptist Church in Elk Rapids . The church
supported the work for some time under the work of Pastor Paul Glick (Jesse Glick’s father). The Marots were added
on as missionaries for $5 a month. The West side addition was added on at this time as well. Jake and Joy Koens
joined the church in January 1964 and Jeri Aenis (Watson) in September 1965.
From 1967-68 Pastor Jim Downey lead the church and Sheila Essenberg (Farrell)
joined the church in 1968. John Bell served as Pastor from 1968-1973. The garage
for the parsonage was built and a new kitchen was added to the basement o the
church. Jim Seifert (74-75) ministered as Pastor and
the church changed its name to Eastport Baptist Church. Awana Clubs were started.
We were club number 1346. Don Reidel was ordained and pastored from 1976-1981.
Because of the growth of Awana clubs the church built the gymnasium in 1978.
The church celebrated its centennial under Pastor John Gillette (82-90). Ed Cramer
joined the church in 1985. Property between the church and parsonage was acquired
and that home was leveled to increase parking. The church stepped away from its
membership with the GARBC. The church also participated in helping to start the Baptist church in East Jordon.
The church called Pastor Jerry Mack (92-96) to Eastport. During his time
the church joined the Adopt –a –Highway program to help keep part of M-88
clean. Major renovation was also done at the parsonage.
Pastor Jerry Troyer answered the call to Eastport in 1997. The church has grown, so the auditorium was remodeled
to accommodate a larger attendance. The front entrance was reworked as well with a new parking lot and entrance
along with a new church sign. The parsonage was remodeled fully with the call of a youth Pastor Dave Furst (2006-
07). A new organ was given to the church in memory of Dave Ray. The parsonage garage was converted to a youth
annex. In 2009 the church voted to join the association of churches called Converge, formally known as the Baptist
General Conference.
The most important history of the church, however has come person by person and family by family as people have
been shown the love of God through deeds and words of God’s people who have been a part of this church’s
fellowship. Many people have come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, have been baptized, and taught
the teachings of Christ through the sacrificially giving and service of God’s people. God’s people have been
encouraged to live for Him, and taught the whole council of God through the systematic teaching of His word by its
Pastors and Teachers this church has been privileged to have over the years. These are our most important jewels
of history and we will celebrate together throughout all eternity what God has done in our midst. We are here
because of the faithfulness of God and by His grace we will continue to faithfully proclaim His love and message to
each and every generation. To God be the glory, great things He has done. We look forward to what God will do
through this fellowship until the return of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
125th Anniversary Committee
| First Church building John Pearl General Store and Post Office |
| Pastor Henry Mellon Malissa Mellon |
| Congregational Church |
| Alice Pearl, founding member John Pearl, owned general store Herbert and Grace Gould Myrtle Pearl, daughter of John and Alice Pearl |
| Grace Gould Herbert Gould Pastor 1902-08 |
| Church building moved to Eastport |
| American Baptist |
| Second Parsonage Home in 1948 |
| Centennial Church Choir 1984 |
