In 1876 land was purchased to build a Methodist Episcopal church which became known as Ridge Chapel. Several years later it became a Congregational church with Parker Hurless as its pastor. In this capacity it served the spiritual needs of the Ridge and surrounding area for nearly fifty years and in 1914 the ladies of the ridge took over the maintenance of the building turning it into a community center in 1921. It stayed that way until the early 1960's when a group was formed calling itself the Hilltopper's that renovated the chapel, rededicating the building in 1968. Unfortunately I couldn't find any information on when it closed, perhaps one of my followers might share that with us?
The adjacent country school also has a long history. Classes started before Illinois even became a state, the first class meeting in 1837 in a log cabin that stood North of the present building. By 1860 a larger, better building was constructed and rebuilt even larger in 1875. Jeff Daves was the first teacher there but during it's lifetime there were many more. Dora Larson, Anna Hallberg, Alice Lomax, Bernice Clark, and so many more. The last teacher was Grace Stuber who presided over the schools closing in 1947 when it consolidated with the school in Bureau Junction.
Today both the school and the chapel are boarded up with No Trespassing signs posted but you can still visit the cemetery and see the buildings as they now stand in silent testimony to an earlier age when Education wasn't seen as a chore but as a Privilege. And as you stand there, eyes closed, you can almost hear the peal of children's laughter and the ringing of the bell as the students are called into class.
I visited the Searl Ridge probably 3 years ago and actually walked around inside the old school.It still had the old blackboards up and gave you the feeling of an old country school.The floor was badly deteriorating though and there were other major issues.Still the school looks great from the exterior and hopefully someone in the future will get the "itch" and save this beauty! The old church,not so much-it is pretty much a wreck.Great info John!
ReplyDeletethe church burned down a couple years ago from a lightning strike. this is my back yard practically. As a veteran I volunteer my time to clean up the cemetery and the veterans graves that tend to be over grown with brush and weeds. A am also a seasoned paranormal investigator with and have a team "spirit recon". I have made contact via electronic voice phenomena and or e.v.p. as well as captured shadow figures and anomalies in the old church and school house. I spend a lot of time out there and do my best to hear the history first hand from those that lived in the time period. you wouldn't believe the intelligent responses I have received here its been mind blowing...
ReplyDeletePerhaps you have seen my husbands great-grandfathers grave. Barstow Litchfield. Civil War Veteran. His wife Margaret Moffitt Litchfield.
DeleteI'd be Fascinated to listen to your material some day. I'd heard about the church burning down & I'm glad I got some photo's before it happened. I'll have to get back there soon to photograph Searls Ridge again
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where I can find out information about the Searl family when they landed in this area? I'm researching the Chaney Family and Anna Chaney, a widow married a Timothy Searl who died and is supposedly buried in Searl Ridge. She moved north with her children and settled in our township of White Rock. I'd love to find more about her second husband, Timothy and find out if he is one of the brothers here.
ReplyDeleteTimothy Searl born 1774 his son Timothy born 1801 father was Reuben Searle born 1/17/1747 in CT - his father John Searle born 5/6/1711 in CT - his father Ebenezer Searle was born 1/9/1680 in MA - his father John Searle Jr born 5/30/1641 in England his father John Searle Sr was born in 1610 also England his father was Thomas Searle born in 1585 also England
DeleteDon't know if it will help but it's part of my family my great grandma was a Searl. Blessings in your search
I am the great grandson of Jacob Charles Luchsinger whose remains are interred in the cemetery. His son (my grandfather), also named Jacob Luchsinger, and his wife (my grandmother, Florence) had 4 children. Charles, Richard, Dode and Jack. For many years my father, Jack and his siblings, Charles (Chuck), Richard (Buss) and sister (Dode) made small donations to a group in Depue, IL that maintained the cemetery (Mostly mowing, pruning trees and shrubs and tending to the gravesites). That annual donation responsibility was passed down to the children of these folks, I, Jory Luchsinger, being one of them. We continued to make annual donations to a lady whose first name was Jeanne, I believe. She lived in nearby Princeton, IL as I recall. I have somehow lost her name and address over the course of three moves of my home and family, and I would like to make more donations. Does, anyone happen to know who I might be talking about and, if so, could you please forward that information to me at: joryl@earthlink.net. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteJory D. Luchsinger
Hello Avra,
ReplyDeleteA few years back (maybe ten) I located after some effort Brush Creek Cemetery in your county, It was July, and hot, but with my elderly father and my sister, we almost crawled through the underbrush and located my 2 GGFathers head stone, we could not find his wife, my 2GGmother, she should have been there. However, I did learn that she was a member of this church for quite a while, maybe she ended up here. Do you know if there are photos of the Searls Ridge Cemetery?
thanks for your great photos here
If you mean individual photo's of every marker, I doubt such a thing exists. However, with the persons name it would be possible to go thru the cemetery and photiograph the appropriate marker for you.
DeleteDo you know the story behind the school house being burnt down many many years ago? The property is actually haunted. Also, the school house is no longer there. It was broken into so many times that the township tore it down and there is now just a concrete slab there.
ReplyDelete