Friends of Harshaw Chapel
Tax deductible
Want to join us in making a difference? We're raising money for First United Methodist Church of Murphy and the Harshaw Chapel and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.
More information about First United Methodist Church of Murphy, Inc.: The Harshaw Chapel, built in 1869, is the original home of the Methodist church in Murphy, NC. It is listed on the National Historic Register and is desperately in need of structural renovation so it can again be used for community and church events in Cherokee County, NC.
THE HISTORY OF HARSHAW CHAPEL:
The beginnings of the Methodist Church activities in Murphy are vague. We know from the records of the Holston Conference, the first pastor was assigned in Murphy in 1858. Even though the time was just prior to the War Between the States, the work of the Methodists progressed.
Around 1835, Joshua Harshaw, son of Abraham Harshaw, came to this area. He was a wealthy first settler and purchased a considerable amount of land in the first land sales. In 1844 a grant of land is recorded from Joshua Harshaw to Morris K. Taylor, Sutton Talley, John R. Black, Trustees, on which to erect a place of worship for those of the Methodist faith.
Eleven years later, May 1, 1869, after construction had been completed, Joshua Harshaw presented to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the meeting house which was to be known as Harshaw Chapel.
Harshaw Chapel was built of locally made brick. It still stands on the original site on Church Street. And it is one of the oldest church buildings in Cherokee County, the oldest building in Murphy and the oldest brick structure in the county. It is said that the original furnishings were far more elaborate than any earlier place of worship in the area.
The cemetery which surrounds the Chapel contains graves of many recognizable names, including that of Abraham (Abram) Enloe who is believed to be the father of Abraham Lincoln. Joshua Harshaw and his family are buried there as well as many other well known settlers. A walk through the cemetery reveals some beautiful Victorian markers – some dated as early as 1840.
The Harshaw Chapel provided for the needs of the Methodists for many years, but soon Murphy grew and the Methodists grew in number, and the Harshaw Chapel was not adequate. On February 19, 1919, land for the present location was purchased for $2,500.00, which was considered a good purchase as there was a house on the property. A payment schedule shows $500.00 due on June 10,1919, $ 1,000.00 due on February 10, 1920, and $1,000.00 due on February 10, 1921.
In 1922, after the land had been paid for, plans were made for securing a loan and the construction of the present neo-classical modified Akron Plan church on Valley River Avenue was begun.
The Harshaw Chapel has been perched on the hill overlooking downtown Murphy for 149 years. There have been numerous efforts to revive this beautiful structure and this campaign is our current goal for making those repairs and improvements possible!
HISTORIC MOUNTAIN CHAPEL NEEDS NEW STEEPLE & ROOF: (by Wally Avett)
Here in the extreme western tip of North Carolina,south of the Great Smoky Mountains, is the seat of government for Cherokee County.
Murphy is home to the classic blue marble Courthouse, a bright new Indian casino and also the oldest brick building in the county – the 150-year-old Harshaw Chapel.
The steeple is leaning badly, the steep roof is sagging and a recent inspection by builders found that wood timbers in the attic and bell tower are rotten beyond repair.
Don’t ring the bell, they said, the shifting weight may bring it down. And pray that we don’t get a big heavy wet snow this Winter to collapse the roof.
PLANTATION OWNER GAVE CHURCH,CEMETERY
Many local Cherokee were removed in the tragic “Trail of Tears” in 1838. North Carolina immediately claimed the vacant lands,had large tracts surveyed and offered at auction.
Wealthy planters from mid-state bought up the best river-bottom acreage and flocked to the Murphy area, among them several members of the Harshaw family.
Joshua Harshaw provided materials and labor to build the little church, first brick structure in the area, and donated it to the Methodists in 1869. A few years later he gave the surrounding six acres for use as a town cemery , all in his words “to advance the cause of Christ and His kingdom…”
The donor, his wife and son are buried in a walled enclosure here. Also the rich and the poor from the entire area,regardless of religious beliefs.
FATHER OF “HONEST ABE” LINCOLN BURIED HERE
Among the tombstones, some fancy, some plain field rock, is a marble shaft for Abram Enloe.
Also a slave-owning plantation owner, Enloe lived in nearby Swain County at present-day Cherokee. He apparently fathered a number of children by his wife but only one by his servant-girl Nancy Hanks,who named her little boy Abraham.
Enloe reportedly paid Tom Lincoln the sum of $500 to marry her in Kentucky,where Enloe had business interests. The Methodist clergyman recalled later that the bride “had a small, dark-haired boy who played” around their feet,not uncommon at the time.
REPLACED BY LARGER CHURCH
Local Methodists worshipped at the little chapel for about 50 years, then built a handsome new brick facility downtown in the early 1920’s.
The First United Methodist Church is nearing its 100th birthday and its aging congregation is scrambling to get it ready for the centennial celebration. Only to find out recently that the chapel itself is in bad shape.
A busy local contractor has given an estimate of about $125,000 to replace the roof and steeple, and refurbish the bell. He can start on the job March 1. But the Methodists have less than a third of the money needed on hand to renovate the iconic chapel.
You can help ---First UMC is a tax-deductible charitable organization. We desperately need your donations.
And you’re cordially invited to visit us this coming Summer –see what we did with your money. Thanks.
*******************************************************
MURPHY LANDMARK – Will 1869 chapel fall in under heavy snow? Donations needed to fund new roof structure. Surrounded by town cemetery. Monument at left foreground is that of Abe Lincoln’s real father, Abram Enloe.( CHEROKEE SCOUT Photo/BEN KATZ )
More information about First United Methodist Church of Murphy, Inc.: The Harshaw Chapel, built in 1869, is the original home of the Methodist church in Murphy, NC. It is listed on the National Historic Register and is desperately in need of structural renovation so it can again be used for community and church events in Cherokee County, NC.
THE HISTORY OF HARSHAW CHAPEL:
The beginnings of the Methodist Church activities in Murphy are vague. We know from the records of the Holston Conference, the first pastor was assigned in Murphy in 1858. Even though the time was just prior to the War Between the States, the work of the Methodists progressed.
Around 1835, Joshua Harshaw, son of Abraham Harshaw, came to this area. He was a wealthy first settler and purchased a considerable amount of land in the first land sales. In 1844 a grant of land is recorded from Joshua Harshaw to Morris K. Taylor, Sutton Talley, John R. Black, Trustees, on which to erect a place of worship for those of the Methodist faith.
Eleven years later, May 1, 1869, after construction had been completed, Joshua Harshaw presented to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the meeting house which was to be known as Harshaw Chapel.
Harshaw Chapel was built of locally made brick. It still stands on the original site on Church Street. And it is one of the oldest church buildings in Cherokee County, the oldest building in Murphy and the oldest brick structure in the county. It is said that the original furnishings were far more elaborate than any earlier place of worship in the area.
The cemetery which surrounds the Chapel contains graves of many recognizable names, including that of Abraham (Abram) Enloe who is believed to be the father of Abraham Lincoln. Joshua Harshaw and his family are buried there as well as many other well known settlers. A walk through the cemetery reveals some beautiful Victorian markers – some dated as early as 1840.
The Harshaw Chapel provided for the needs of the Methodists for many years, but soon Murphy grew and the Methodists grew in number, and the Harshaw Chapel was not adequate. On February 19, 1919, land for the present location was purchased for $2,500.00, which was considered a good purchase as there was a house on the property. A payment schedule shows $500.00 due on June 10,1919, $ 1,000.00 due on February 10, 1920, and $1,000.00 due on February 10, 1921.
In 1922, after the land had been paid for, plans were made for securing a loan and the construction of the present neo-classical modified Akron Plan church on Valley River Avenue was begun.
The Harshaw Chapel has been perched on the hill overlooking downtown Murphy for 149 years. There have been numerous efforts to revive this beautiful structure and this campaign is our current goal for making those repairs and improvements possible!
HISTORIC MOUNTAIN CHAPEL NEEDS NEW STEEPLE & ROOF: (by Wally Avett)
Here in the extreme western tip of North Carolina,south of the Great Smoky Mountains, is the seat of government for Cherokee County.
Murphy is home to the classic blue marble Courthouse, a bright new Indian casino and also the oldest brick building in the county – the 150-year-old Harshaw Chapel.
The steeple is leaning badly, the steep roof is sagging and a recent inspection by builders found that wood timbers in the attic and bell tower are rotten beyond repair.
Don’t ring the bell, they said, the shifting weight may bring it down. And pray that we don’t get a big heavy wet snow this Winter to collapse the roof.
PLANTATION OWNER GAVE CHURCH,CEMETERY
Many local Cherokee were removed in the tragic “Trail of Tears” in 1838. North Carolina immediately claimed the vacant lands,had large tracts surveyed and offered at auction.
Wealthy planters from mid-state bought up the best river-bottom acreage and flocked to the Murphy area, among them several members of the Harshaw family.
Joshua Harshaw provided materials and labor to build the little church, first brick structure in the area, and donated it to the Methodists in 1869. A few years later he gave the surrounding six acres for use as a town cemery , all in his words “to advance the cause of Christ and His kingdom…”
The donor, his wife and son are buried in a walled enclosure here. Also the rich and the poor from the entire area,regardless of religious beliefs.
FATHER OF “HONEST ABE” LINCOLN BURIED HERE
Among the tombstones, some fancy, some plain field rock, is a marble shaft for Abram Enloe.
Also a slave-owning plantation owner, Enloe lived in nearby Swain County at present-day Cherokee. He apparently fathered a number of children by his wife but only one by his servant-girl Nancy Hanks,who named her little boy Abraham.
Enloe reportedly paid Tom Lincoln the sum of $500 to marry her in Kentucky,where Enloe had business interests. The Methodist clergyman recalled later that the bride “had a small, dark-haired boy who played” around their feet,not uncommon at the time.
REPLACED BY LARGER CHURCH
Local Methodists worshipped at the little chapel for about 50 years, then built a handsome new brick facility downtown in the early 1920’s.
The First United Methodist Church is nearing its 100th birthday and its aging congregation is scrambling to get it ready for the centennial celebration. Only to find out recently that the chapel itself is in bad shape.
A busy local contractor has given an estimate of about $125,000 to replace the roof and steeple, and refurbish the bell. He can start on the job March 1. But the Methodists have less than a third of the money needed on hand to renovate the iconic chapel.
You can help ---First UMC is a tax-deductible charitable organization. We desperately need your donations.
And you’re cordially invited to visit us this coming Summer –see what we did with your money. Thanks.
*******************************************************
MURPHY LANDMARK – Will 1869 chapel fall in under heavy snow? Donations needed to fund new roof structure. Surrounded by town cemetery. Monument at left foreground is that of Abe Lincoln’s real father, Abram Enloe.( CHEROKEE SCOUT Photo/BEN KATZ )
Organizer
N. J. Willis
Organizer
Murphy, NC
First United Methodist Church of Murphy, Inc.
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
