In Feb. 1893, the church members purchased a parcel of land from J. J. Jenkins for the
purchase price of $10.00. This land was recorded on deed in the county of Caldwell to
the then trustees of the church, L. R. Goodacker, R. M. Tyrie and Thomas Tyrie and
Fairview Baptist Church.
A new church was then started near the old one. Members and friends cut trees and hauled
the logs to a near-by sawmill. The costs of materials and the labor was a free will offering.
In 1897 the Fairview Baptist Church was completed and officially organized.
They received membership at that time into the Little River Baptist Association.
In 1924, the Caldwell County Association of Baptist Churches was formed into an organization,
and in August, 1925 a letter was submitted to the Little River Association requesting dismission in
order to join the Caldwell Association. It remained a member until 1968, at which time it's membership
was dropped for failing to report.
In May, 1982 after much prayer and with the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the church decided it could
better serve the Lord and much more and better work could be done if they reunited with the Caldwell-
Lyon Association. A letter was written to the Association asking for readmission to the Association.
A new Pastor was called, Bro. William Graham, new church officers were elected, needed positions and
committees were filled. This was the beginning of the reorganization of the Fairview Missionary Baptist Church.
In September 1982 the church was reunited with the Caldwell-Lyon Association.
Bro. Olen Sisk was ordained by Fairview in 1926, he was born in 1896, died 1982.
He remained a friend and father-like figure to Fairview until the end.
At the time of his death he was one of the oldest living ministers of the Association
Rev. Sisk was married to my great aunt Stella Pugh Sisk.
Many times at the begining of his ministery, his pay was milk and eggs if he got that.
Several years before her death my great aunt Eva Pugh Stallins who was born in 1896 and died 1995
related to me many stories about Fairview Church. She remembered her mother talking about the ladies
selling eggs or chickens to help pay the building costs. She told me about in the very early days how the
women entered the church through one door while the men entered through the other door and there were
two doors at the front to the building before renovations were done several years ago.
In her younger days there was a wood stove for heat in the winter and coal oil lamps to read by.
Quilts were spread in the back for the babies and children to nap on when services got long.
Aunt Evie recalled how men had loaded her organ in a wagon and with mules to pull it, they took
it to the church so they would have music. She was the song leader and played the organ.
It wasn't uncommon for someone to "get happy" and start shouting all over the church.
There was a book with minutes of meetings and treasurer's reports telling of paying for coal oil for the
lamps and other things. I saw this book in 1982 but it has disappeared and no one seems to know
who has it. If anyone knows anything about it, please contact me. Peggy Gilkey
(c) 2004
All of the information found here is my work and is copyrighted.
It must not be used in any form with out my permission.
Peggy D. Gilkey
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