|
|
"The little white chapel's bell is silent now. But its only sleeping. Will you help us wake it up?"
-Patrick Daily, Executive Director
|
Historic Houk's Chapel
(1888)
"The Little Church on the Hill" |
- Houk's Chapel, a lonesome but majestic symbol of a time long ago in Hickory's history.
- “There it sits, weak with age, sort of on one ear” among the graves and ghosts of that old time religion.
- German pioneers built the little white chapel. You can see it in the siding and stone piers.
- These same people helped to build our great city of Hickory. Hard working, dedicated, religious, our ancestors of long ago.
- Five church congregations (Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran) were formed at Houk’s Chapel. Four are in existence today.
- The spirit within Houk's Chapel lives on today.
|
|
Restoration Underway: How Can You Help
- Please review your charitable giving plans.
- Make a donation to support the restoration of this important local historic landmark.
- Make checks payable to the "Hickory Landmarks Society" in care of the Houk's Chapel Fund.
- Credit cards are also accepted.
- Donations are tax deductible.
- Questions can be answered by calling (828)322-4731
or E-mail us.
- Click here to download copy of HLS form for the Campaign to Restore Historic Houk's Chapel.
|
Restore Historic Houk's Chapel for
Future Generations to Enjoy!
In 1887, Hickory Tavern was 2 miles away to the East, but growing fast. Nothing here yet, but farms, fields, trees, and rolling hills...the majestic Blue Ridge on the horizon. Nestled on the hills were such early settlers as the Fryes, Winklers and the Basses. The one-room schoolhouse on James Monroe and Emiline Winkler Frye's land seemed like a good enough place in 1887 to host a visit by a young, recently ordained Methodist minister from Morganton. Who was this William Kelly Houk? Can he give us words of hope and joy? AND HOW!!! More people came than could fit in the school A brush arbor was quickly built to house the revival for the next 9 days. With a commitment from Reverend Houk, James and Emiline Frye allowed the little white chapel to be built on their property the next year. In 1892 they gave the building, along with the acre it sat on, to the Methodist Church. Preacher Houk came back weekly to his flock...again and again...and when the church was "decommissioned" in 1929, he still came. For sixty years of Sundays! First by horse, then by train, then by car from Morganton. He outlived everyone who was at that schoolhouse in 1887. Preaching stopped at age 92. He died in 1950 at age 95. The congregation so inspired by this man who helped to build their little white chapel, moved on to bigger and better churches. Yet the spirit within Houk's Chapel lived on. The spirit was in three independent Baptist congregations that occupied if for the next 40 years, in those students from Lenoir-Rhyne College who held gospel study meetings there in the late 1940's, and in the heart of grandson Hubert Frye, who guarded and watched out for the chapel like it
was his child. 
Want to see Houk’s Chapel? contact HLS
542 Second Street North East
Hickory, NC 28601 or call 828-322-4731
E-mail Us
|
|