Our Churches

Mounain Ranch is one of the few towns in the Motherlode that did not build a church but at one time there was a Temperance Hall.  It stood between the present Senders Market and the Mountain Ranch Dance Hall.  It was made of adobe and stone.  It was built about 1860 and after the roof caved in, the building was torn down in the early 1920‘s.

Paul Lewis said that when he left Mountain Ranch to join the army in 1917 there was a Temperance Hall located next to the dance hall and when he returned from the war in 1920 that building
 was a saloon.

It had a large mulberry tree and a 20 foot hitching rail in front that was removed at the same time.  The picket fence has long ago vanished also.  At one time in the early days, Mountain Ranch was known throughout the county for its picket fences.  Most every  house and lot in town was bordered by these unusual fences.  You can still see some of these old fences today around the old Mountain Ranch hotel, at the Domenghini house and in old photos of town.

Ira Sanford, a relative of Mrs. Francis Devoto, held Devotional services in the schoolhouse in 1915.  This was the beginning of the Mountain Ranch Community Sunday School.

 Later a lay-minister, a Mr. Wilely, would help hold services.  During the 1920‘s Mrs. Babcook, Mrs. Devoto (then Mrs. George Hatch) and her sister, Mrs. Joe Josephsen held Sunday School classes.

When Mrs. William Kidwell came to Mountain Ranch, she at once took an active part in the work.  Mrs. Carl Howard, a long-time supporter of the Sunday School was then Superintendent.

The Gipsons moved to San Andreas, the Wolfes to Rail Road Flat, so Mrs. Kidwell and Mrs. Howard, though feeling very inadequate at times, carried on.

Later Mrs. Viola Lindsay and Mrs. Bradford joined in and these four ladies continue to give their time to our children.

The benches came from the old Catholic Church in San Andreas.  The piano and hymn books were from a Stockton Church.

Not many things in this world are for certain, but always there is Sunday School... in Mountain Ranch on Sunday morning, and still is today.


A Brief History of Mountain Ranch Community Church

 In 1948, a Reverend Jackson started what became known as MRCC (Mountain Ranch Community Church).  Mrs. Howard related that Rev. Jackson had the folks build a small building near the intersection of Mountain Ranch Road and Sheep Ranch Road.  The building was completed and services were held there for a short time.  Then, as Mrs. Howard related the story, folks showed up for church one Sunday morning and the building and the Reverend were nowhere to be found.  Even with the shock of the leadership disappearing and the loss of the small building, the faithful nucleus moved into the Mountain Ranch School House.  Sunday School was regularly held and taught by Thelma Howard and Thelma Thompson.  Both of these women were instrumental in establishing the church where it is today.

The School House was sold in 1955 and the ladies moved the Sunday school to the small house across from Sender’s Market known as the Tisher Building.  In 1967, the group enlisted the leadership of Wes Andahl.  Services for the members of MRCC were held at various facilities within the community.  The Town Hall was utilized at times, especially for special holidays and events, as well as other local facilities.   But the little building across from Sender’s was to be their prime location until Easter Sunday, 1981, when they held services for the first time in the new facilities on the corner of Whiskey Slide and East Murray Creek Road.  The site of two acres of land that was donated by Ralph and Mary Norris, and re-zoned so the building could begin.

The Mountain Ranch Community Church building was dedicated November 21, 1982.  It is the first building in Mountain Ranch built specifically for worship services.  It was completed by volunteer labor and money raising projects.  Mrs. Elda McLaughlin of Mountain Ranch was appointed chairperson of the building fundraising projects, and was assisted by many church members and local residents.

Mr. and Mrs. Norris planned and directed a steak dinner fundraiser on January 14, 1977.  Mr. and Mrs. Mayo generously offered their Ranch Kitchen Restaurant for the dinner.  Many others gave of their time, talents and treasures to make the dinner a success.  Local news reported over 250 people attended the dinner.  As preliminary work began on the church building site a spaghetti fundraising dinner was planned on April 7, 1977.  Entertainment included a popular Modesto quartet called the Gradual Spread.  Many other fundraising events and individual sponsors helped in raising the funds necessary to complete the building debt free.

Pastor Andahl was pastor of the church for 18 years.  During that time the church grew and even opened a private school for a brief period of time.  Pastor George Arnold assumed the leadership of the small flock until his retirement in the early 1990‘s.  For several years the church had an interim pastor, Barry Carrol, until they interviewed and voted on their new permanent pastor, Al Hass and his wife, Ann.  Pastor Al has served with the membership for 18 years now.  During this time the church attendance grew and the congregation went from one service on Sundays to two services.  Discussions regarding a new facility or expanding the present facility led the congregation to start a new church in San Andreas, Cornerstone Community Church of the Sierras pastored by Len Nicholson and his wife Karen.  They are presently in a facility on Main Street in San Andreas and growing.  Part of the plan was to relieve our crowded facility by having as many members join the new church as wanted.  Thus, the members in Mountain Ranch were able to go back to one service on Sunday and start filling the church sanctuary again with new families.  In all of that process a new school was established as part of the church’s mission statement and purpose.  Kingsway Learning Center is now finishing up it’s fifth year in operation.  Through the efforts of the congregation, the support of the community, and God’s blessings, many lives continue to be touched.

From the foundation’s early years to the present day, the learning curve has been at times gentle and other times very steep.  Mountain Ranch Community Church remains a place open to all in the community.  It remains a place of hope where all of the community can come for assistance, to be encouraged, to find people struggling with life just like they are.



Brief History of the Mountain Ranch Lutheran Church

This structure, which houses the Mountain Ranch Lutheran Church, is known to be the oldest “wooden” building in Mountain Ranch.

Soon after locating near  Mountain Ranch in 1965, Bernie Carroll, a native of Cambridge, Mass., spotted a “half house” in the heart of downtown Mountain Ranch.  It reminded him of the “Flounder” houses he had known as a boy.

In Phil Albert’s  “A History of Mountain Ranch” (1967) the half house is plainly evident on the stoop of the Mountain Ranch Community Club.  This building is described as the old Devoto Building located on the corner of Washington St. and Blacksmith St.  Benidito Devoto came to Calaveras County in the 1860‘s from Italy around the horn in a clipper ship.  With the help of his sons Joe and Cuneo, the residence/post office was built which became son Joe Devoto’s home.  Joe also became postmaster in 1894.  The sons exchanged work for lumber from Wiggins Sawmill on Jesus Maria Creek.

The history of the Mountain Ranch Lutheran Church began when three Lutheran families purchased properties southwest of Mountain Ranch.  Later on, Faith Lutheran Church in Murphys shared their pastor for early Sunday a.m. services.  These services were first held in the basement of the Bendix home, then for a very brief time they met in the old Tisher house.  After another move to the Mountain Ranch Community Club, the Church moved again to Phil and Florence Albert’s new wareroom, which became our “church room” for many years.

We used what was available... like Florence’s mother’s picnic table for an altar and heavy cardboard boxes that were crafted into a lectern.  Wooden folding chairs and old hymnals were provided by Faith Lutheran Church in Murphys.  A bread basket was used for offerings.  And last but not least, the Conn organ was loaned to the church by the Bendix Family.  And so it was, Mountain Ranch Lutheran Church.

In 1984, several pieces of church furniture made by a local cabinetmaker appeared.  A light-oak altar replaced the picnic table and an oak pulpit replaced the portable lectern.  A cabinet for hanging paraments and vestments from Rev. Gary Bendix’s congregation in Idaho.  An oak baptismal font was a gift from the Carroll family.

Later on and until we moved into the remodeled and restored Devoto residence, an assortment of gifts crafted from Oregon myrtle-wood were given to the Church in memory of Florence’s mother, Alice Rilea who passed away in 1986.  The hymn board was hand made by Bill Foster and the altar Bible is a gift from the Idaho congregation of Rev. Gary Bendix in memory of his father.  The keyboard that we now enjoy was a gift from Lloyd and Lillian Bechtel of Stockton, associate members.

Above the altar is a stained glass window created by Florence Albert’s daughter, Marlene.  The stained glass window in the back of the nave was crafted and contributed by a former member, after he moved to Arizona.

Erich Youhiem was interim pastor for 2 years.  It was January of 1998 when George Massingill accepted the call to serve as our minister.  After alterations the old Devoto building lent itself remarkably well to our needs and soon became our chapel for worship services.

Max Bendix departed from this life in January 1998.  His wife Olga followed soon after.  We cannot forget that they were the founders of our congregation.  After Olga’s demise, the property was deeded over to Mountain Ranch Lutheran Church.  we pray that the cluster of white crosses depicting the Holy Trinity, installed by Art Bjorge, Leroy Dodge and John Grizzel, will serve as a call for many to come and worship.

Rev. Douglas Merritt was installed in November 2001. We assure the community that the old half-house - Mountain Ranch’s own Flounder - has been well taken care of and with your help will be preserved as a historical and architectural curiosity for years to come.  It stands in the heart of Mountain Ranch and reaches out to all.

These histories of our churches was written together by Pastor Al Hass, Evelyn Carrol and Phil Alberts.