~by Denise Van for the Greene County Historical Society
The history of Pleasant Hill Church will be described at a June 6 Greene County Historical Society program at the Grand Junction Community Center, 212 E. Main St.
The white frame church, built in 1881 on a hill east of the Raccoon River and north of Squirrel Hollow Park in Grant Township, was founded by Greene County pioneers and remains in use,
Beth Rasmussen, Peggy Semke and Leah Thompson, all of rural Jefferson, will tell the story of how the church was founded and had an active congregation until 1952, when it was closed. In 1966, the South Iowa Methodist Conference deeded the site, which includes a cemetery where a dozen Civil War veterans are buried, to the Pleasant Hill Corp., a non-profit group.
The three women are all members of the Pleasant Hill Corp., which has kept the church in good repair and opened it for special services for the past 60 years.
The free 12:45 p.m. program follows a noon lunch at the community center. Cost of the lunch is $12. To reserve a place at the table, call 515-386-4408 or a Historical Society community contact by Tuesday, June 3.
