On Monday, November 25th, a momentous occasion occurred in the Clark Lake Cemetery.  For the first time since 1912, the original bell from the first Clark Lake church rang out.

The Clark Lake Spirit Foundation’s Build the Bell Tower project is almost complete.  In this video, watch the Foundation’s Mike McKay and M-R Builder’s Todd Haskell carefully place the bell on the pillar.  But not all went according to plan.  Mike explains in the video.

The bell is a gift from the former members of the Clarklake Community Church.  The project moved forward with the collaboration of others, including Columbia Charter Township, owner of the cemetery.

What’s next?  Three plaques are being created to be mounted on the pillar.  The one on the east face will tell the story of Clark Lake’s first church, founded in 1868.

Bell Tower

This bell rang from the spire of Clark Lake’s first church, founded in 1868.  Then on a spring day in 1912, a passing train changed history.  A cinder from its stack ignited brush that spread to the church.  As flames engulfed the wooden structure, the bell fell to the ground, cracking it.  No longer would the bell signal the beginning of services.  But the church would live on for more than another 100 years.  Here is its history.

May 2, 1868: “Resolved, that we the undersigned do hereby for the Service and Glory of God form ourselves into a body to be known as the Clarklake Baptist Church of Columbia, adopting for our creed the work of God and the Declaration of Faith and Covenant recommended by the Baptist Convention of Michigan.”

The ten signers of the resolution were: Sether Dean, Miranda Dean, Alfred Russell, Helen Russell, Benjamin Reed, Betsy Reed, Jefferson White, Angalect White, Lydia Reed, Mary Reed Hill.

Seven days later on May 9, 1868, another meeting was held and an invitation was extended to those wishing to join the new church. They could do so by baptism. The invitation was accepted by ten people: James Towner, Byron Hill, Jay D. Reed, Rose Towner, Miranda Dean, Sofia Reed, Francelia Preston, Emma Towers, Amy Griffin, Alice Towner

Clarklake Baptist Church’s first building was located on the northwest corner Jefferson and Hyde Roads.   Subscriptions, socials and donated materials covered the $2000 cost. Byron Hill contributed labor and lumber.

The first church building was dedicated on February 2, 1871.

The church’s size was 31’ by 41’ and constructed entirely of wood. The spire, on the front, held this bell. The church seated 200 and had an organ.

Early settlers built this church as they carved out an existence in this new country.  They worked long after dark, clearing land, planting and cultivating crops. Yet, in all this, they found time to band together to worship God and to care for each other.

In 1895, the Clarklake Church’s Board of Trustees gave the Cincinnati Northern Railroad the right to lay tracks closely adjacent to the church.

The Brooklyn Exponent, May 9, 1912: “The Clarklake Church burned last Thursday afternoon during the high wind. The fire was discovered about a half-hour after the passing of a freight train, and as the structure had previously been on fire from passing engines on the nearby track, it is thought this was the source of the conflagration.”

The bell fell, silencing it forever.  Three days later, members decided to rebuild the church and purchased two lots from Charles Vining on the southwest corner of North Street and Hyde Road.  They would install a new bell.

In 1954, the congregation, recognizing that summer residents represented many Christian faiths, voted to replace the denominational name “Baptist” with “Community.”

Facing the same decline in membership as many other churches, the Clarklake Community Church closed after 152 years, holding its last service in December 2020.  The building remained and reopened as a Montessori pre-school in October 2024.

The south face will recognize the donors who made possible the almost complete straightening and cleaning of the headstones, the first part of the Clark Lake’s Memory project. Here’s how their names will appear on the plaque.

Clark Lake’s Memory
Restoration of the Cemetery
2024

Chas & Pat Timberlake

Walter Reed

Joan Ambs
Richard Preece Belcher
John & Jackie Calhoun
Mike & Teresa McKay
Raft-O-Rama
Bill & Ann Searles

John, Dotty & Johnny Karkheck
Nancy & Mike Ligibel

Angela Anderson
C. J. Cox
Ronald & Sue Crawford
David & Sandy Gaunt
Stacy Harrison
Delores Jackson
Ron & Beth June
Lauri & Steve Lambert
Chuck & Tina Newman
Carolyn Nichols
Barbara Owings
Terry & Cris Reed
Archie Sconochia
Andrea Steible
John & Elaine Stewart
Brenda Weidner
Carolyn ZaderVicki & Dennis McGaffigan

Tom & Marcia Babcock
Linda Z. Gregory
Adam McKay

Willbee Transit Mix
M-R Builder

The north face will acknowledge the primary supporter of Build the Bell Tower project, the Michael Ibold Wilger Foundation.

Michael Ibold Wilger Foundation

Michael Ibold Wilger always held a deep affection for all things Clark Lake.  For him, that began with spending summers in the 1950’s when his grandparents, Lee and Walter Ibold, purchased a cottage on South Shore Drive in 1955.  He especially loved Clark Lake history, and took great interest in it.  In 2016, at age 59, Michael us left too early.

In keeping with Michael’s deep connection with Clark Lake, the charitable organization that bears his name, the Michael Ibold Wilger Foundation, was the primary supporter of Build the Bell Tower.

Clark Lake’s Memory Update #5 – Clark Lake Spirit Foundation