{Click On The Picture To Go To The Altamont Living Museum Website}
The information below is derived from the original information in the
Altamont Quasquicentennial Book. Click on the picture above for current information.
A German Reformed Church had been organized in Altamont in 1872 and a building erected.
On July 8, 1908, a group of citizens, some of them members of the German Reformed
Church, petitioned the Mattoon Presbytery to be organized as a Presbyterian Church.
A committee of three ministers and two elders was appointed, and on July 14, 1908, they
met in Altamont with the Rev. G.W. Wessinger. The First Presbyterian Church of
Altamont was declared organized with the congregation of 30 charter members including Mrs.
Elenora Rhodes, Mrs. Millie Custer, and Mrs. Myrtle Hinger.
For a time, services were held in the German Reformed Church.
Not all members joined the newly-organized Presbyterian Church so in December, 1908, the
Presbyterians vacated the German Reformed building, and services were held thereafter in a
local hall until the new church was built.
Ground was broken for the new church June 10, 1912, the cornerstone
placed September 11, and plans were made for the dedicatory services, February 16, 1913.
From its beginning, the church maintained an active Sabbath School, and the Junior
and Young Peoples' Societies. At that time, they had an enrollment of sixty-seven
members. Some of the officials of the church were William Moorhead, Clinton
Morrison, Archibald Sutherland, Sam Thompson, H.C. Chapin, and Robert L. Beach.
On February 17, 1963, the congregation observed the fiftieth
anniversary of the dedication of the church. Members present at the dedicatory
service February 16, 1913 were recognized and presented the Celtic Cross Pin, a symbol of
the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.
In March of 1994 the congregation disbanded and a group consisting
of Dan Lutz, Gerald White, Bruce Kessler, Jeanne Wolff and Vicky Milam purchased the
building, organizing the Altamont Living Museum Ltd. to promote local and area art,
talent, music, etc.
Current Board members include the organizers named above plus Linda
Smith as the recording secretary. Membership can be purchased by all in the
community.
