Grove Hill New Mission Church

Grove Hill New Mission Church (also known as Omena Presbyterian Church) is a historic church located at 5098 North West Bay Shore[4] (M-22) in Omena, Michigan. It was constructed in 1858, designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971,[3] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.[2]

Grove Hill New Mission Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Michigan State Historic Site
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Location	5098 N West Bay Shore (M-22), Omena, Michigan
Coordinates	45°3′27″N 85°35′10″W
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1858 (1858)
Part of	Omena Historic District[1] (ID100000534)
NRHP reference No.	72000631[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	June 29, 1972
Designated MSHS	October 29, 1971[3]

History

In 1839, the Presbyterian Board of Missions sent the Reverend Peter Dougherty to the Grand Traverse area.[5] He founded a mission located at what is now called Old Mission, Michigan. He organized a church, including both European and Native Americans, in 1843.[3] In 1852, Dougherty and his mission moved to what is now Omena, establishing a "New Mission" there and constructing a mission and boarding school.[6] In 1858, Dougherty commissioned three local carpenters to build this church, based on traditional New England church design. The church was used by the congregation until 1871, when financial difficulties forced the mission to close.

In 1885, the church was re-opened as a Congregationalist church.[3] Since 1925, it has been used primarily in the summer months. It is still used as the Omena Presbyterian Church.[6]

Description

The Grove Hill New Mission Church is a rectangular frame front-gable structure sided with white clapboard.[3] The roof is covered with shingles, and is capped with a square steeple. It measures approximately 35 feet (11 m) by 48 feet (15 m), and has a shed-roofed addition at the rear. The front entrance is covered with a triangular pediment supported by two pillars.

References

1. Buehler, Marsha C. (March 26, 2016), National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Omena Historic District.
2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
3. "Bingham District No. 5 Schoolhouse". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
4. "Omena Presbyterian Church". Presbyterian Church (USA). Retrieved January 25, 2014.
5. "History". The Dougherty Historic Home Site. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
6. Deby Disch. "Crakers, Aghosas and early Omena Presbyterian Church days". Leelanau Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2014-01-25.

Further reading

• Amanda J. Holmes (2003), Omena: A Place in Time : a Sesquicentennial History, 1852-2002, Omena Historical Society
• Ruth Craker (1979), The First Protestant Mission in the Grand Traverse Region, Rivercrest House