Agree that the picture certainly looks like Tater Bug or Zion United
Brethren Church on Detour Road.
Since DePauw library has the archives of the U.B. church in Indiana, I
asked them to search for any existing records of this church, which was
still active in 1945. Here's the response I got:
Sept. 7, 2000
Dear Mr. Jones:
Enclosed is all of the information that we could find on Zion United
Brethren Church. It was likely on the Laughery Circuit 1843-1891, when
the Vevay Circuit was formed with J.J. Goodner as its circuit rider.
Paul Byard was the last minister assigned to Vevay Circuit in 1950. From
1951-53 the circuit was under the care of the South Indiana Conference
Superintendent, and in 1954 it disappeared from the conference minutes.
You are correct in assuming that Zion never had a resident minister, as
it was on a circuit throughout its history. For that reason and the fact
that the circuit was disbanded a half century ago with no surviving
churches, we fear that all of Zion's baptism, marriage, and death
records have been lost....
Sincerely,
John R. Riggs, Archives Researcher
The researcher sent me copies of the Conference Minutes for 1903, 04, 05
and 1907. They listed a few names (initial and surname) for Zion Church
-- I assume members of the congregation. If anyone would like the list
of names, I'll be glad to send them.
Does anyone else have any more details on this church?
Phil Jones <pkjones(a)indy.net>