From the WGHF Archives 08.13.15

According to Nancy Lillian Maguire in her published history of Ocoee, the Methodists established the first church in Ocoee. Prior to 1868, the congregation met in a small split-board building with shuttered windows. This log building was located on what is now a vacant lot on West Floral Street. 

A second wooden building accompanied the earlier wooden structure and was also used as a school. One side of the building could be removed, and “lightered knot” fires, achieved by burning heartwood pine knots nearby, would generate very hot fires for warming the congregation seated inside.

The church building in the photo was constructed in 1891 and was used until 1954. Groundbreaking for a new brick sanctuary took place in 1957.

Thanks to Joyce Mullins for sharing this photograph of the Ocoee Methodist Church with WGHF. 

The Winter Garden Heritage Foundation, which seeks to preserve our heritage and architecture while creating new cultural experiences, is celebrating its third decade with the debut of its new History Research and Education Center.