Pearl Memorial United Methodist Church
Pearl Memorial United Methodist Church was a member of the Nebraska Conference of the United Methodist Church that was operated from the 1890s into the 2000s. The former congregation's church is located at 2319 Ogden Street in the Miller Park neighborhood of north Omaha, Nebraska. The church primarily served the Miller Park community.[1]
History
In the 1890s a group worshiping in the "upper room of a drug store" at the corner of 24th and Ames Avenue was organized as a Methodist Episcopal congregation.[2] The first pastor of Pearl was Rev. G. A. Luce. Their first regular church building was constructed in 1905 at N. 24th and Larimore Streets. In 1907, the congregation received a gift of land near the commercial intersection of 24th and Fort Streets, upon which they built the first Methodist church in the community in 1905.[3][4] When Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church moved from its location in the Near North Side neighborhood, Pearl became the only United Methodist church in North Omaha.
Pearl Memorial was long been a home to athletic activities for local children and youth. From the 1910s through the 1950s the church hosted basketball and baseball teams that played in church leagues across the city.[5] From the 1970s through the 1990s the church hosted a variety of sports for youth in the local community, as well.
Today the Church offers a variety to residents in the surrounding neighborhood, including a food pantry,a youth community center and social services to low-income families.[6][7]
The church was involved in a controversial Internal Revenue Service investigation regarding a donation made to an advocacy organization called "Omaha Together One Community". The controversy included threats of losing its 501(c)(3) status.[8] Pearl Memorial is no longer listed as a 501(c)(3) organization, however since its change from Pearl United Methodist Church to Living Hope United Methodist Church its 501 (c)(3) is in place.
The congregation disbanded in the early 2000s.
Building
Originally located at 2519 Ames Avenue, Pearl moved to its current facility in 1914. In the late 1920s the church opened an educational and social wing adjacent to the sanctuary, and finished the basement of the church with a grand basketball court. In the 1980s the church renovated a kitchen in the basement to become a commercial-style cooking area, designed to provide training to local job-seekers.
See also
- History of Omaha
- List of churches in Omaha, Nebraska
References
- ^ Commission on Race and Religion. Nebraska Conference of the United Methodist Church. Retrieved 8/28/07.
- ^ Methodist Episcopal Church. (1940) Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church.. p 480.
- ^ Wakeley, A.C. (1917) Omaha: The Gate City, and Douglas County, Nebraska, Volume 1. S.J. Clarke publishing Company.
- ^ (2005) The Courier. St. Luke United Methodist Church. Retrieved 8/28/07.
- ^ Niebling, D. and Hyde, T. (2004) Baseball in Omaha. Arcadia Publishing. p 28.
- ^ "Final Report to the Nebraska Community Corrections Council: Metropolitan Community Justice Recidivism Reduction Center Study". State of Nebraska. Retrieved 8/28/07.
- ^ Littlejohn, D. "Chef Mike Bringing the Heat", Midstarz. Retrieved 8/28/07.
- ^ http://interfaithpolitics.com/Welcome___/Articles/English_Articles/IRS_Probes/IRS_in_Omaha/irs_in_omaha.htm "IRS Agent: Churches in OTOC May Imperil Tax-Exempt Status"], Menace of the Interfaith Movement and its Religious Political Action Agenda. Retrieved 8/28/07.
External links
- Pearl Memorial United Methodist Church website
- Modern photo
- Historic postcard
- v
- t
- e
- Squatter's Row
- Gophertown
- Benson
- Dundee
- Bemis Park
- Gifford Park
- Gold Coast
- Kountze Place
- Miller Park
- Walnut Hill
- Orchard Hill
- Florence
- East Omaha
- Saratoga
- Scriptown
- Casey's Row
- Near North Side
- Kountze Park
- Omaha Driving Park
- Omaha University
- Redick Mansion
- Logan Fontenelle Housing Project
- Dreamland Ballroom
- Fort Lisa
- Cutler's Park
- Winter Quarters
- Prospect Hill Cemetery
- Fort Omaha
- General Crook House
- Storz Brewery
- Bank of Florence
- The Sherman
- Broomfield Rowhouse
- Carter Lake
- Minne Lusa Theater
- Howard Kennedy School
- Lake School
- Kellom School
- Lothrop School
- Long School
- Tech High
- North High
- Central High School
- Florence Elementary School
- Central Park Elementary School
- Druid Hill Elementary School
- Fontenelle Elementary School
- Monroe Middle School
- Benson High
- Franklin Elementary School
- Hartman Elementary School
- Kellom Elementary School
- Lothrop Magnet Center
- Miller Park Elementary School
- Minne Lusa Elementary School
- Sherman Elementary School
- Skinner Magnet Center
- Walnut Hill Elementary School
- Calvin Memorial Presbyterian Church
- Holy Family Catholic Church
- Pearl Memorial United Methodist Church
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church
- Salem Baptist Church
- St. Cecilia Cathedral
- St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church
- Zion Baptist Church
- North Freeway/US 75
- Eppley Airfield
- North Omaha Airport
- Metro Area Transit
- Florence Depot
- Mormon Bridge
- Dodge
- North 24th
- North 30th Street
- Florence Boulevard
- Fontenelle Boulevard
- John A. Creighton Boulevard
- Lincoln Boulevard