Onalaska First United Methodist Church
Onalaska, Polk County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This church was established in 1908 on land deeded by William Carlisle, the owner of the Carlisle-Pennel Lumber Company which organized the community of Onalaska. L.O. Jackson, superintendent of the lumber company, oversaw the church building and aided in the growth of both Methodist and Baptist congregations in Onalaska. The community and congregation thrived until the area's lumber industry declined following World War I. Nearby Lake Livingston was built in 1968 and by the 1970s, the church once again experienced substantial growth. Today, Onalaska First United Methodist Church continues to serve the community as a spiritual leaders. (2008)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Onalaska grew up around the Carlisle-Pennel Lumber Company, and in 1908 the company's owner deeded land for this Methodist church, with a company superintendent overseeing construction and nurturing local congregations. The community thrived until the region's lumber industry faded after World War I, draining away much of its population. Fortunes turned again when nearby Lake Livingston was completed in 1968, and by the 1970s the church saw renewed growth.
Why it matters
The church mirrors the boom-and-bust life of a Texas company sawmill town, where an industry's rise and fall—and a later lake—dictated the fate of the whole community.
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Related people
- · William Carlisle
- · L.O. Jackson
Themes & tags
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