‘God’s house’ damaged in fire
Cedar Grove Church, built in 1883, has long history of vandalism and thefts
Acentury-old Miller County church was heavily damaged by fire Friday afternoon.
Cedar Grove Church’s interior and ceiling sustained the most damage, said Gail Hacker, who helps to maintain the building and cemetery in the Genoa area.
The building, on Miller County Road 266, had no utilities, she said.
Calls to fire officials were not immediately returned.
The fire started on top of a table and then spread to the ceiling, Hacker said, whose relatives founded the church.
A young man saw the smoke and turned his video camera on at 2:04 p.m. Friday.
“It was an odd time,” Hacker said. “Vandalism usually happens at night, but this happened in the middle of the day.”
The church has existed since 1883 and is used now for special events. It has served a variety of religious denominations from Baptist, Methodist to Episcopalian, Hacker said.
The Damage
The church has been vandalized numerous times, and several items—from the podium to the rose bushes out front— have been stolen.
Thieves also helped themselves to the church’s sign, copper wiring, well bucket and pulley. Even the cedar trees are gone, Hacker said.
The lights have been busted with rocks. “We removed the rest of the globes and stored them to prevent the others from being broken,” she said.
“We’ve had to replace the front doors four times,” Hacker said.
“A four-wheeler went up the steps of the door to hit the doors. All they had to do was open the door. The doors weren’t locked. They were just being destructive,”
“So many churches suffer. They disrespect the church. It’s God’s house. How can you do that?” —Gail Hacker, volunteer
she said.
People have been found sleeping in the church. “People have been found doing things in the church they shouldn’t do,” she said.
Small tombstones have been damaged, and some have been left in the road in front of the church.
“God’s House”
“There is so much stuff going on anymore. Our church is failing, parents are failing,” she said.
“So many churches suffer. They disrespect the church.
It’s God’s house,” Hacker said. “How can you do that?”
No one was hurt in battling the fire. Volunteer fire departments helping to extinguish the fire included Genoa, Booker Bridge and Boggy Creek.
“The departments are all volunteers and they did a great job. I give them a thumbs up,” she said.
“The wood was dry and the fire could have gotten out of hand,” Hacker said.
“The location of the church is so peaceful. It means a lot to a lot of people. But there is a generation that could care less about it,” she said.
“They’re messing with our family and we can get irate,” Hacker said.
Stacy Laxton, president of the church association, asks anyone with information to call Laxton at 903-826-2310 or Hacker at 870-653-2235.