Congregants of the First Universalist Church in Eldorado celebrated the church’s 175th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 21, with a historic plaque donation by the Preble County Historical Society. The church was built in 1909.
ELDORADO – The First Universalist Church in Eldorado is celebrating 175 years in Preble County, and on Saturday, Sept. 21, the Preble County Historical Society honored the congregation with a historic plaque dedication for the church located at 150 N. Monroe St. in the village.
PCHS Executive Director Lisa White, highlighted the significance of the building, noting its dedication in 1909 and its enduring presence due to the congregation’s leaders and faith.
“I am here on behalf of the Historical Society’s Board of Trustees, as well as our history director, Brittany Corwin, to first congratulate you on your 175th anniversary. What an accomplishment. Your entire congregation should be so proud,” White told those in attendance.
“As I was preparing for this presentation, I read through the application for the historic plaque program, which you will be getting in a few months, reading the details about this building, like the stained-glass windows and the architecture — and now seeing it in person, it’s really come to life,” she continued. “This particular building was dedicated in 1909. In 1909, Miami University celebrated 100th anniversary. In 1909 the United States military purchased its first airplane. In 1909 the first race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 1909 the first speed limits for automobiles were put into place with just 12 miles per hour. You see, we have all come a long way since the dedication of this building.”
“Let me remind you that you are all here today, that even though the building is celebrating — or the congregation is celebrating — 175 years, it’s because of people like you, the leaders, that this place still stands,” White said. “We at the Preble County Historical Society would like to say thank you for caring for this beloved place in Preble County. Thank you for preserving history, and we look forward to placing the beautiful bronze plaque on this building soon to commemorate this milestone.”
PCHS plans to place 25 historic plaques across the county over the next two years, with a map and QR codes for visitors to explore, utilizing funding from a grant from the America 250 program.
Visitors can scan the QR code outside the church to read about its history, enhancing the educational experience, according to PCHS officials.
White also thanked Preble County residents Mike and Judy Raymond for their role in initiating the PCHS Historic Plaque program.
Pastor Derek Parker expressed pride in the congregation’s community engagement and outward-looking approach.
“I have been this church’s pastor now twice,” Parker said. “I was a student minister from the Earlham School of Religion. I’ve been back here again since 2020, and it’s been one of the greatest privileges of my religious vocation, to be able to serve alongside the group of people that call this church their home. I’m proud of the way that you keep an outward looking face into the community, you engage in ministry, even though we’re not a huge church, and actually we never have been, but we journey onwards being good and faithful neighbors to the people around us and trying to live in peace and build lives of integrity within these walls and beyond these walls.”
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
