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- [S106] The Mountain Press, 4 Jun 2012.
Valley View Baptist Church has had colorful history
By CARROLL McMAHAN
When a Baptist church was established there in 1910, Elkmont was the second largest populated place in Sevier County. The arrival of the Little River Lumber Co. had transformed what was once an agrarian mountain valley at the junction of Little River and Jake’s Creek into a thriving logging community.
The church roll included familiar Smoky Mountain family names such as Ownby, Walker, Whaley, Trentham, McCarter, Ogle and Clabo. Between 1910 and the time of the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934, church members gathered for revivals, funerals and homecomings along with regularly scheduled services.
By 1935, the building stood vacant as church members sold their property and moved away. Several of the families leaving Elkmont chose to relocate in Wears Valley.
In early 1938 a group of families living in Wears Valley, which included some of those who had moved there from Elkmont, felt the need to establish a new Baptist church in the community. They met in homes to worship and make plans until a place was secured in an abandoned store building which they converted into a crude meeting house.
The old store building was built in 1911 by William Bryan. Following several owners, the building which had at one time been used as place to store apples, was owned by Walter Crowson.
On April 17, 1938, about 30 people along with a deacon and 15 ministers representing various Baptist churches convened to officially organize the new church which they named Valley View Baptist Church.
The Rev. Ezra Ellis Adams, who attended the organizational meeting as a representative of Old Chilhowee Baptist Church, was called to be the first pastor. Baus and Mittie (Whaley) Ownby graciously donated land for the church. The old store building was dismantled and rebuilt on the property as a temporary house of worship.
William B. ‘Will” Bryan Sr., James F. “Jimmy” Bryan and John Ownby volunteered to serve on the building committee, which was formed within a month of the time the church was organized.
Although the Rev. Isaac L. Ogle, who was the last pastor of Elkmont Baptist Church, wanted to move the original building to Boogertown, John Ownby was successful in persuading the park service to allow Valley View to have the old church.
Work on dismantling the structure began immediately. Plank by plank the old church came down. It was loaded onto trucks and hauled to the foot of Cove Mountain, where it was rebuilt. The property where the church once stood is now part of Elkmont Campground
With a combined effort of Pastor Adams, who conveniently was a skilled carpenter, and the members who volunteered numerous hours of hard work along with the use of their equipment, the first worship service was held on Sunday, July 3, 1938.
Russell Whaley, who once led the singing at Elkmont, became the church’s first choir director. Uncle Russell, as he was often called, was an avid shape note singer and often conducted Old Harp singing concerts in the church. For several years the church hosted a special singing called “Uncle Russell Day.”
On Aug. 16, 1942, James F. “Jimmy” Bryan attended church and taught a Sunday school class. He died two days later. Baus and Mittie Ownby had assured the church that they would provide land for a cemetery when the time came.
Upon learning of Bryan’s death, they gave permission for a grave to be prepared in what was then a cornfield. The cornstalks were cut and the grave was dug.
A major renovation in 1951 included the installation of new oak pews and the application of beautiful white pine paneling on the interior walls. Later a belfry and steeple was built.Over the years other amenities such as Sunday school rooms, a fellowship hall and a basement was added to accommodate the growing congregation.
In the early 1990s, under the leadership of Pastor W.A. Galyon, the membership decided to move forward with the construction of a new sanctuary and fellowship hall. A building committee and finance committee were formed and planning began. A groundbreaking for the new project was held in March 1993.At the conclusion of the first phase, a cornerstone service was observed. The congregation gathered in front of the new structure as the pastor, the Rev. Jeff Hickman, and deacons placed historical documents in the vault and sealed it with the cornerstone.By performing much of the work themselves like a previous generation before them had done the new building was completed and the first worship service held Christmas Day, 1995. Dr. Euel Ownby and Revis Bryan are the only two charter members who attend the church today.
Although greatly altered, the old Elkmont church stands today by the new building. Now called Elkmont Chapel, the rebuilt building is located in front of the church cemetery. The cemetery contains graves of many of the charter members some who attended the original church when it was located in Elkmont.
Interestingly, Lem Ownby chose Valley View Cemetery as the final resting place for his beloved wife Jemima when she died in 1967. He refused to move from Elkmont when the national park was established and remained on his farm with a life-lessee agreement until his own death in 1984, when he was buried beside his wife.
Dr. J. Preston Joslin, who has roots in the community, is the current pastor of Valley View Baptist. He authored a history book about the church for its 50th anniversary in 1988. To celebrate the 75th anniversary next year, Dr. Joslin plans to write a another book chronicling the rich, unique history of the church.
— Carroll McMahan is the special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a column or have comments, please contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or email to cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or email to ron@ronraderproperties.com.
- [S112] Census, 1930.
Name: Baur Ownby
Event: Census
Event Date: 1930
Event Place: District 11, Sevier, Tennessee
Gender: Male
Age: 30
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Birthplace: Tennessee
Estimated Birth Year: 1900
Immigration Year:
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Enumeration District Number: 0014
Family Number: 76
Sheet Number and Letter: 4B
Line Number: 82
NARA Publication: T626, roll 2271
Film Number: 2342005
Digital Folder Number: 4547919
Image Number: 00885
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Baur Ownby M 30 Tennessee
Wife Mittie Ownby F 26 Tennessee
Son Euel J Ownby M 7 Tennessee
Daughter Stella L Ownby F 5 Tennessee
Daughter Edna V Ownby F 2 Tennessee
- [S77] Rawlings Funeral Home Records 1911-1995, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 10 Sep 1972.
Ownby, Baus 72 Sep 10, 1972 R7 buried Valley View Cem
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 10 Sep 1972.
Ownby, Baus Dec 29, 1899 Tn Sept 10, 1972
Spouse: Whaley, Mittie
Father: Ownby, Newton
Mother: Kear, Polly
Sons: Euel
Daughters: Mrs. Stella Clabo [Charles], Mrs. Agnes Hatcher [Avery], Mrs. Eva Myers [Lynn], Mrs. Mattie Pass [Paul], Mrs. Doris Thompson Earl]
Cemetery: Valley View
Brothers: John, Eldridge
Sisters: Mrs. Bernard Whaley, Minnie, Lillie
- [S34] In the Shadow of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (1993), 674.
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