
Pampa’s First Denominational Church Was The First Methodist
In the fall of 1905, John V. Thomas organized a Sunday School in the two-room schoolhouse at 513 East Francis. Rev. Chatfield and Rev. Daisy of the Congregational faith began preaching there, and the idea developed that a Union Church could serve an active membership of about sixty, whereas only a few would represent any one denomination.

Eloise Lane

Eloise Lane
The Union Church thrived for several years before growth of Pampa and fear of losing religious identity caused groups to withdraw and form denominational churches.
The first denomination to organize in Pampa was the Methodist. The five charter members were Oscar and Gertrude Cousins and W.W. and Ella Harrah and their son Lee. The organizing minister was J. A. Laney, pastor at Miami .
With Laney’s help, the charter members secured a vacant building near the Johnson Mercantile Building (location of M.E. Moses at 105 North Cuyler). The first recorded organization of the First Methodist Church was on September 29, 1906, when a Methodist revival marked the initial meeting.
In 1908 a lot was purchased and an additional lot was donated by the White Deer Land Company. At this location, the southeast corner of Foster and Starkweather, a neat one-room building was constructed and painted white. There was a steeple above the entrance cloak room and attractive opaque glass in the windows. A large coal-burning stove stood in the center of the room.
Oscar Cousins was the first Sunday School Superintendent, and Mrs. H.F. Barnhart, who had joined the church with her husband in October, 1906, was one of the first teachers.
In the early part of 1908, Mrs. W.G. (Harriet) Tinsley went about the community in a horse-drawn buggy as she recruited members for a women’s organization. The Woman’s Missionary Society was organized when “there was no other organization in our little town with the exception of the Methodist Church and ‘one another’.”
(The “one other” was the First Baptist Church which had organized on April 6, 1907, with 22 charter members. The First Christian Church was soon to organize on April 4, 1909, with eight charter members).
In 1913, under the pastorate of J.P. Lowry, the one-room church building was expanded by making a L-shape of the original building. The present church site at the corner of Foster and Ballard was purchased in 1924 and a new building was completed in 1928. A major renovation was begun in 1973.
Possibly Oscar Cousins came to the Pampa area in 1903 when his father, became the Carpenter’s House, a non-denominational church.
In the summer of 1940, the W.W. Harrah Class was organized. The name was chosen because W.W. Harrah “was such a very nice man who did lots for the church and for people — including giving Savings Bonds to the young people.”
Lee Harrah, who died at the age of 95 on November 25, 1990, was a life-long member of Pampa ‘s First Methodist Church. No one gave more in time, talent, means and devotion in every area of interest in the church than Lee and his wife, Irene. None were more faithful in attendance.
Modest and unassuming, Lee quietly but firmly influenced the course of the church through all its years of service. His counsel was sought; his advice, though rarely given, was highly regarded. He held many positions of responsibility too numerous to mention.
Irene served in the church nursery from 1928 until 1957, and it was said that she soothed more crying babies than anyone in the church. James “Jimmie” Harrah, son of Lee and Irene, had the distinction of being the youngest baby ever enrolled in the nursery. Irene made out the enrollment certificate before he was born, leaving the name and date which Lee added when Jimmie was only a few minutes old. Irene also spent many years teaching Sunday School classes.
Over 200 Articles, written by Eloise Lane, were published in the Pampa News. These articles may be accessed by clicking on each section below. A list of articles will be revealed that are linked to a page containing the text of the article.
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Articles 1-20
- Origin Of The "White Deer" Name
- The Log House On White Deer Creek
- Obtaining The Land
- The Lands Organized
- Cattle Brands Tell Story
- Ghosts And All
- Southern Kansas Railroad
- Fire Guard Dam
- When The Railroad Came
- The Sutton RR Station
- Post Office At Pampa
- The Bell Family
- J.C. Short
- Pampa 1892-1902
- Pampa Laid Out In 1902
- Crystal Palace Founded
- Gray County Organization
- Organization - Continued
- Gray County - Lefors
- McLean - The Largest Town
Articles 21-40
- Gouge Eye
- The "Mother Road"
- German Family Reunion
- Desks From Hopkins
- Grandview School Begins
- The Oil Money
- History Wall Painted
- Boydston Or Boydstun?
- Ontario???
- Laketon - Early Farming
- Laketon - Continued
- First Couple To Marry
- Hoover
- Water Well Drilling
- Kingsmills Visit Pampa
- George Tyng Left
- Tragedy In Utah
- T.D. Hobart - Manager
- M.K. Brown Arrives
- Rider Livery Stable
Articles 41-60
- The Pioneer Cottage
- Pampa's First Doctor
- Doctor Makes House Calls
- A Red Cross Nurse
- Pampa's First School
- Hobart Went To London
- Cemetery Began In 1904
- First Business District
- C.P. Buckler Arrives
- Five Barrett Brothers
- Influence Of The Santa Fe
- Trains Still Roll
- John V. Thomass - Teacher
- Cattle-loading Center
- Rolla J. Sailor & Arrowheads
- A.H. Doucette Arrives
- Lands Are Advertised
- The Holland Hotel
- Wheat Left Pampa
- First National Bank Begins
Articles 61-80
- Pampa News Begins
- First Denominational Church
- 2nd Office Of WD Lands
- J.N. Duncan Arrives
- Nels Walberg Sells…
- Dormer Simms
- Fourth Of July Celebrations
- Pampa's First Cars
- Pampa In 1907-08
- J.S. Wynne Family Arrives
- Gray Count State Bank
- Baptist Church Organized (Under Construction)
- Joe & Lizzie Bowers
- Threatened By Prairie Fire
- Library Began In 1907
- J.R. Henry
- Sir Gordan & Lady Cunard
- Three Vicars Brothers
- Dodd Grain And Produce
- December 29, 1991
Articles 81-100
- D.C. Davis Family
- Long Christmas Celebration
- First Christian Church
- Facts About Pampa
- Buster Brown
- The Last Hanging
- Bones Hooks
- The "Red Brick" Is No More
- The Purviances Family
- The Dr. E. von Brunow Park
- Boards Of First Headquarters
- Mary Jane Purvis
- Cook - Adams Addition
- Nativity Scenes
- Clyde Carruth
- The Mine Tragedies
- Additions To Pampa
- Third Family In Pampa
- Frank Dittmeyer
- Bricklayer Indian Jim
Articles 101-120
- A.A. Tiemann
- First Movies And Lights
- Pampa Incorporated
- Mark And Sara Fletcher
- Annie Baker Daniels
- Pampa's Business District
- Birthday Tea Of 1919
- Former Pampa Minister
- John Mack Patton
- The First Brass Band
- Early Graduating Class
- "How We Met"
- F.P. Greever Is Assassinated
- George Tyng's Father
- L.H. & Lula Greene
- John & Lena McKamy
- Robert & Mary Yeager
- "Dear Old PHS"
- Supt. Believed In People
- William A. & Ruth Green
Articles 121-140
- Jason A and Alice Poole
- Wayside School
- Pampa Football Begins
- The Pampa School Building
- Rev. C. E. Lancaster
- Panhandle Lumber Co.
- Will Wilks & Mora Hughey
- An Unusual Valentine
- Charles A. Tignor
- O. A. Barrett
- Poppies In Flanders Fields
- Barnard & Williams Families
- 4th of July Celebrations
- Cuyler Street Underpass
- The King Family
- Kretmeier and Baer Families
- Stephen B. Oates
- Phebe Worley
- Organization of Gray County
- First Courthouse
Articles 141-160
- Pampa Laid Out in 1902
- Pampa in 1902
- W. R. Kaufman
- The Pampa Country Club
- Living In Pampa in 1902
- Pampa Buildings of 1902
- May Foreman Carr
- Scaffers - Early Residents
- Nita Luna
- Former Sub Debs Reminisce
- PHS In 1932
- PHS Appreciated
- The Forth Worth and Denver
- From Pampa to Childress
- The Origination Of "Taps"
- The Warners
- J. C. Studer
- Floyd, John and Otto
- Our American Flag
- Stories and Memories
Articles 161-180
- Museum in Pampa?
- The Franklin Farm
- The Franklin Family
- Beryl Wayne Vicars
- Historian Made Cookies
- The Pioneer Cottage
- The Orginial Swastika
- Library Clerk
- Women's Clothing Store
- Jon and Pat McConal
- Whitey Walker Gang
- How Rudolph Began
- Gwendolen Avenue
- Jerry Kerbow
- Two Paintings
- Second Part - Paintings
- Bones Hooks
- Original Nativity Figures
- Why "V" Instead of "U"
- Pampa Incorporated