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Author: marthaswaim
Surnames: Allen
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
When I placed my first query about a Bethel Church in Jefferson Twp. at the corner of
N100E and E1100N, Google had not yet placed the current satellite map of that area on
line. The current map is dated 2010. This Bethel Church appears on some historic Plat maps
of Wells county. It also is referenced on this web site of Place Names:
http://www.placenames.com/us/18179/
http://www.placenames.com/us/18179/church/
lists 19 churches, including 2 Bethel, churches,
including the Bethel Church located. At N100E and E1100N:
http://www.placenames.com/us/p430946/
Select the Googel street map and satellite photo from this Place Names page:
http://maps.google.com/?sll=40.90194,-85.20389&spn=0.05,0.05
Zoom in on the Google satellite image, and drag the little orange man into the
intersection of N100E and E1100N and you can see a very attractive little red school house
with brick walls and a lovely slate roof.
You can drag the little orange man around and see the front and street side of the school
from various angles. I had a chance to visit in person in May. It was pouring rain. There
is a sign above the door telling which school it is and who the superintendant was, I
believe. His last name was Allen, but his first name was not Philamon. There is also a
date from the 1890s?
Also facing N100E is a gray woodframe structure, either a church or schoolhouse. It is
visible from the School house. There is an arched panel above the front door which could
have been a window or a sign at one time. Could this be Bethel Church?
Place names lists 12 schools in Wells County, but none are at this location.
http://www.placenames.com/us/18179/school/
So, now I have even more questions. In addition to my original question: does anyone know
anything about this Bethel Church? Is this gray wood frame structure Bethel Church? Where
can I find out what years Bethel was there as a church and if any records survived? I also
want to know why this adorable brick school isn't listed as a place, historic or
other? Coming from the west coast where there are fewer old buildings, both structures
look historic to me.
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