History of the Calistoga Seventh-day Adventist Church

I am the voice of the old pulpit, built in 1887 from solid redwood.  Erastus Banta fashioned me for the first Seventh-day Adventist Church in Calistoga on Berry Street across from the elementary school.  There were just five families of those old-timers.  Charles H. Little, the Cooks, the Hayes, and the Banta brothers, who built the church with the help of O. D. Fellows, who donated the land.

For sixty years they had no resident pastor, but visiting ministers such as Elders Loughborough, St. John, W. M. Healy, H. A Washburn, and W. C. White, came to preach from time to time.  That put more responsibility on the local elders.  Among these were George Woodroff, A. K. Phillips, and later Floyd Fowler, who came in 1939.  He found 14 members and served as an elder for 29 years.

In the 1940's I remember the first pastor who arrived, Elder V. B. Watts.  Others followed:  E. H. Games, who in 1958 with the help of Floyd Fowler and others enlarged the front of the little redwood church.  The were joined by Bruce Shaw, E. E. Nelson, R. J. Borrowdale, and Ervin Sorenson and our congregation grew to 65.  The worshipers filled the benches and occupied chairs in the

aisles.  Today known as a fire hazard! 

A new church was needed.   Floyd Fowler and his wife gave one and a half acres of land on Grant Street where we are now.  The old church was sold, and we met in the Presbyterian Church for about a year, thanks to the courtesy of Pastor Volkman. Elder Paul Alderson came, and during his time this new church was built.  His skill may be seen in the stone work that adorns the Fireside Room and the Foyer.

When the old church was sold, our people kept me apart.  The buyers asked, "Doesn't the pulpit go with the church?"

I was proud to hear them answer, "Oh no.  Ellen White has stood behind that pulpit."  Of course, I recalled the times when that respected leader had firmly grasped the side of my stand and spoken as God inspired her.

Mrs. White was a familiar sight in the town of Calistoga.  On a Saturday night she would sometimes have Miss McInterfer drive her over in her buggy from her Elmshaven home.  They would tie the horse to a tree by the river across from where Dr. Von Pohle had his office. Then she would stand up in the buggy and deliver a temperance lecture in her clear, ringing voice. In later years when she wasn't feeling up to the drive to Woodland, Santa Rose, or Healdsburg, she would choose to visit the near-by Calistoga Church.

Although church members would not leave me behind when they moved from the little church on Berry Street to the new one on Grant, they found me rather lain and old to be used in the new sanctuary, so I was replaced.  No matter.  I am currently in retirement near the Fireside Room for meetings when needed.  Although I am no longer on the platform, I hear that the church now has 100 members.

Chester and Wilma Westphal saw the church grow to 166 members, and with much perseverance the indebtedness paid up so the building could be dedicated in 1972.

Harold and Glenna Jewkes remember that the communion table was made and bought while he was pastor, and a lovely embroidered cloth for it was donated.  Also flags were given to the church and a stand was made for the guest book.

Garold and Phoda Keehnel were her three years. During that time he invited evangelist John Klim and his wife Ellen to conduct an evangelistic campaign.  Rhoda Keehnel was a talented organist and often played duets with pianist Pat Trumble.

While James and Lola Pogue were in charge there were repairs made on the roof, a well was dug in order to provide water for the landscaping that had been recently completed.  The Dorcas room was enlarged ad the library and church office were added.  Evangelistic meetings were held and also cooking schools and Five-day Plans to stop smoking.

John and Ellen Klim worked hard to refurbish the church in preparation for the centennial celebration in October of 1987.  The church pews were brought into the fireside room, torn apart, reupholstered, and put back together again.  The floor covering around me was also renewed.  New carpet, new drapes, stained glass in the sanctuary, and renovation of the rest rooms and Sabbath School rooms added to the beauty of God's house of worship. So October in 1887 was my hundredth birthday.

Several pastors have come and gone since my 100th birthday.  I am now the oldest member of the Calistoga Church.  My memories are fond of these years since 1887.  It is my prayer that Jesus will return soon and I will no longer be in retirement.

Helen Lund

Barbara Westphal

Others