By all accounts, June 10 began as quite an ordinary day for Nancy Jevnikar, administrative assistant at First Congregational Church of Claridon, who arrived shortly after 2 p.m. to prepare Sunday’s worship bulletin.
By all accounts, June 10 began as quite an ordinary day for Nancy Jevnikar, administrative assistant at First Congregational Church of Claridon, who arrived shortly after 2 p.m. to prepare Sunday’s worship bulletin.
Despite dealing with several delays that afternoon — including a paper jam and unexpected search for a book of hymns — Jevnikar went about her day as usual, only faintly noticing some strange noises in the building, at 13942 Mayfield Road in Claridon Township.
“At the end of the afternoon, I was responding to emails and noticed creaking sounds, but it seemed like they were in the room where I was typing,” she recalled. “Around 5:30 p.m. as I was about to walk out of the church, I heard a loud noise, like bottles clanking together. I didn’t turn around to investigate because I just felt the need to leave.
“Just as I got over to my car in the east parking lot to unlock the door, I heard a loud boom,” she added. “I wondered what the startling sound was and thought maybe something happened at the intersection.”
Nevertheless, Jevnikar drove home, seeing no nearby accidents.
“About an hour later, I received phone calls from (Choir Director) Aubrey Woods who was at the church to lead bible study and Pastor Mary Ellen to ask me if I was okay and if I noticed anything unusual because the sanctuary ceiling collapsed,” Jevnikar said.
Church Trustee Susan Vokoun said the timing was “incredible.”
“It fell after 5:30 p.m., when our administrative assistant (Jevnikar) left, and 6 p.m., when our choir director arrived,” she said, adding the center portion of the ceiling — which was built sometime between 1895 and the early 1900s — fell on top of the pews.
The cause of the collapse appears to be a failure of the nails to support the wooden suspended ceiling, Vokoun said.
“The blessing is no one was in the church when it fell,” she added.
For Jevnikar, her brush with death June 10 holds even deeper meaning.
That day marked the birthday of her late mother, with whom she was very close. She would have been 91.
“I truly believe Mom was my guardian angel that day, as I felt her presence and sense of urgency,” Jevnikar said. “Thank you, Lord, for sending your angels to watch over us. Our God is an awesome God.”
A 190-Year History
A decision was made in 1827 to get permission to start a church in Claridon.
“The mother church, Burton Congregational, gave permission to start a church in Claridon due to difficulty of getting to Burton in inclement weather,” said church member Dianne Kellogg. “We all know what that means in Geauga. Remember, in those days, missing church was cause for excommunication.”
The church was completed in 1831. According to its history, Rev. Luther “Priest” Humphrey donated a towering whitewood tree for use in the church. It is said the backs of all the pews are made from this tree.
“We discovered the wooden ceiling was added later,” Vokoun said. “We found two layers of plaster and even very Victorian wallpaper.”
In 1848, a bell was added and in 1874, the church was refitted — with walls papered, seats cushioned and a new chimney and roof installed.
In 1955, the congregation raised the church and built a basement underneath. Ten years later, the sanctuary was rebuilt.
“Today, it remains a fine example of Greek Revival Architecture,” Vokoun said.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and remains a pinnacle of community and fellowship.
Pre-COVID-19 pandemic, members hosted an annual Harvest Bazaar each October with a craft show and a homecooked Thanksgiving dinner.
“This tradition attracted over 300 guests a year and was a community mainstay for 65 years,” Kellogg said.
The church also put on a play by poet and historian Dwight Ladd called, “Splinters from the Whitewood Board,” based on the founding families and the fact the church’s pews were constructed from one enormous whitewood tree, as well as “Patriotic Women,” by Liz Marquard, honoring women veterans as far back as the American Revolution.
Additionally, it held a Claridon Cemetery walk, teaching about the people buried there and their contributions to the community. In more recent times, members hosted a multi-denominational vacation bible school.
“We are known for our worship music and our mission-outreach work,” said Kellogg, whose husband’s family goes far back in Geauga history with Cotton Kellogg as a founding father.
Jevnikar’s parents, Dean and Betty Peck, joined the FCCC in 1970 and were active members.
“Mom taught Sunday school, served as clerk and enjoyed participating in women’s fellowship — a group that served dinners for various functions,” Jevnikar said. “Dad served as trustee and head usher over the years and enjoyed participating in men’s fellowship.”
Throughout the years, Jevnikar participated in Sunday school, youth group and choir, and held various church officer positions.
“My husband Rick and I were married June 24, 1989, in the church sanctuary and our children, Nick and Ashleigh, were baptized there,” she said.
Jevnikar’s father passed away in 2015, just three days before his 88th birthday. Her mother, who had suffered from Parkinson’s disease, contracted COVID-19 in December of 2020.
“Our Heavenly Father called her home on Dec. 16,” she said.
Church Restoration
While mounds of insulation and splintered wood still fill the FCCC sanctuary, at least one bible neatly awaits in its place on a shelve by a window, catching early afternoon sunlight.
Since the pandemic, the church has held services via Zoom and outside, which continue.
Insurance may not cover all the restoration, Vokoun said.
“We feel an obligation to recognize the historical value and restore it so it still stands in another 190 years,” she said, adding they are accepting donation checks, payable to the First Congregational Church of Claridon, to help with the rebuild.
Vokoun asked people to add “Building Fund” on the memo line and mail checks to 13942 Mayfield Road, Huntsburg, OH 44046.
Burton Congregational Church UCC, 14558 West Park St., in Burton, is holding a concert by worship group Spirit Bound at 4 p.m. Nov. 7 to benefit the building fund for FCCC.
