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Information provided by Wally Ohles.
For more information he has written a book on the subject. |
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Estrella Adobe Church
Airport Road
Paso Robles, CA 93446
MAP
(Just north of airport on airport road)
California registered historical landmark No. 542.
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Want a wedding that's historical
as well as traditional? The church is available for weddings. |
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Follow the signs towards
the airport off Highway 46, then keep driving past the airport. |
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On August 20, 1887, a circuit preacher named
John McMillan came into the Estrella area from Cambria to
bring Christianity to the local settlers. As practicing their
faith was important to the early settlers in this area, they
worked together to build this church where they could regularly
meet and worship. John Fortney was the leader, and he along
with F.M. Stovall, John Marden, William Guffy, J.P. Moody
and Dwight Reynolds (and I'm sure their families) invested
the majority of finances and effort into establishing a church
in this community.
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The locals
who had shared this small church started separating and going
their own ways. By 1898 a Mennonite group had taken it as their
own. But they were only to stay 5 years.
By 1912 the church had been abandoned as the various denominations
developed separate facilities. |
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By the fall of 1950,
a desire to preserve this piece of history had personified itself
in the History & Landmarks Commitee of the Paso Robles Women's
Club. In response to their calls for help, money was raised
and Jess Crettol Sr. and his sons were brought in. In their
time their the supervised the making of over 5,000 adobe bricks. |
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The site was dedicated on May 25, 1952. On
November 6, 1976 the first wedding was held here. The grooms
mother was so happy, she donated 10 sets of crystal and wrought
iron lamps.
The management group is proud of the efforts
of the people involved in the church, and would like to see
the church continue in the celebration of life as a wedding
chapel. Other than that, it is open once a year on Memorial
day for a service, or on request for tours.
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The organ is a real
pump organ. It, the pulpit, and the bench on the right side
are all from about the same era as the church. |
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