READ BY MRS. MARTHA A. PAYNE - OCTOBER 13, 1935 at Woodland M.E. Church Evening Service        When my husband and I with our infant son came to Akron 48 years ago, we lived within walking distance from the old First Methodist Church on Broadway. We brought our church letters with us, and went right into the church which was so famous. It was known to be one of the most beautiful churches in this country. The pews and all the woodwork was black walnut, was beautifully carpeted, had rep cushioned seats. Had steam heat, a beautiful large choir loft, and always excellent music. The Sunday School room was built like a round tower, Was designed by Lewis Miller a famous man in Akron. It was he who founded Chautauqua. The classrooms were assembled around this room on the lower floor as well as a balcony, arranged likewise. In the center of the room was a fountain always throwing a cool spray over palms, ferns, and flowers in profusion. On opposite sides of the wall were plate glass mirrors about 6 ft. wide and stood from floor to ceiling to reflect the beauty of the room. When new churches were being built throughout 1the country, men came hundreds of miles to see this one for ideas. There is one built in Atlanta, Georgia, copied from this church.                I joined the Ladies' Aid and Missionary Society, for that is one way to get acquainted and into the work. We worshipped there seven years, made many friends and dearly loved it. I am mentioning these pleasant associations to show you how hard it was to make up our minds to sever our relation with such a church, to worship in a little one-story building heated with stoves. Leaving a palace for a cottage "seemingly." We built a home on Beck Avenue and found we could not go back and forth. There were no automobiles. Never even thought of such a thing, As this was in the horse and buggy age. We did not possess that either. The streetcars could not make the grade up West Market half of the time. We had been asked by several people to help to build a Methodist Church on the hill. We felt that we must have a church home where we could worship and be able to go back and forth conveniently. So Mr. Payne and I cast our lot with the few. The men had an option on the lot at the corner of Woodland and Balch Streets. In a very short time with the help of Rev. Whittaker (who was pastor of the North Hill Methodist Church) had the one-story frame building finished. The chairs were placed and we started a Sunday School, I can still see Mrs. Stottler assembling the little tots in one corner, and trying to teach the sweet story of Jesus in an understanding way. And Miss Patterson with her class. A little later came Dr. and Mrs. Bowman. I had a letter from a sister in Toledo a few days ago. She said "I remember when I joined Woodland Church 41 years ago. Does not that sound a long time ago? I was in Mrs. Bowman's Sunday School Class. You remember she was always having pageants. I was in one called The Ten Virgins, Mable Gordon sang and placed a wreath of rosebuds on my head. I recited Gethsemene in repose. This was Easter Sunday and Mable Gordon is now Mrs. Hamlin. We were faithful attendants at every service, Mr. Payne would start out early to open the church or build the fire and place the chairs. The weather had no effect on us. Sometimes we went through the cornfields and across peoples' gardens to take a shorter route as there were very few houses on Crosby Street and the streets south,        Sketch by Mrs. Martha A. Payne - 2                that led to the church. We always seemed to have an urge to go. Must have been God leading us. Each of us had so much to do. At one time I was treasurer of the Sunday School, treasurer of Ladies' Aid, taught a Sunday School class, and 3rd vice-president of Epworth League, and on the calling committee. How we did these things and accomplished so much I cannot see. For we kept house, cooked three meals a day, canned fruit, etc. We were so happy we felt God's presence. Like the girls who went to Lakeside, we had so much fun planning how to make money to pay the bills as they came due. Of course every one of us sacrificed. Then Mrs. Davis and her family came and they meant so much to us. Then there was Salem Kyle and family sent to us. With their Christian Spirit and generosity and intuition we planned this new structure at the corner of Crosby and Balch. I could mention many more whom we grew to love as we worked together. We seemed like one big family all striving and reaching for a richer and fuller life with God. Many of our loved ones have passed on. The beautiful church on Broadway burned to the ground a few years later. All Akron mourned. But what we thought at the time to be such a sacrifice to leave the beautiful church proved a blessing, for I never had such a happy church life anywhere as in Woodland and I am most happy to see our church progressing and the young people taking an interest and trying to carry on.                May God bless you and the Church.                /S/ Martha A. Payne