Site of First Church in City of Friona

The settlers who built this church were recruited. George Wright, the Kansas City real estate agent hired by the Capitol Syndicate to subdivide and sell part of the XIT, surveyed Friona's townsite in 1906, built his company headquarters there, sent out circulars and hired excursion trains to bring in prospective buyers. By 1908 the new town had its first school, a community church, a bank, two grocery stores, a pharmacy, a photograph gallery and the two-story Friona Hotel, owned by G. P. Owens.

What the plaque says

Site of First Church in City of Friona The city of Friona was founded in 1906 by George G. Wright Land Co., of Kansas City, an agency employed by the XIT Ranch owners to sell their range lands in small tracts. Religious-minded settlers in 1908 organized the Union Congregational Church. Charter members included Mr. & Mrs. C. L. Fergus, Charles Karr, Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Karr, Walter Kell, William McCandlish, Mr. & Mrs. D. W. McMillen, Mr. & Mrs. Ross V. McWilliams, Mr. & Mrs. C. B. Oleson, Mr. & Mrs. John Orbaugh, Mr. & Mrs. Seth Roush, Bert Shattuck, Mrs. Nellie Shattuck, and A. N. Wentworth. George G. Wright donated six lots at this site and the Congregational Church Building Society of New York made a $770.00 construction grant. Friona's first church building, a frame structure with hand-painted, arched windows and a belfry, was completed and dedicated on May 23, 1909. The basement added in 1916 served as center for social activities. After that meetinghouse burned in 1921, this adobe chapel was built. It was used until the congregationalists in 1969 erected a sanctuary on a new site. In 1973, this building was given to the Girl Scouts to be used for their meeting hall and activities and for a "Pioneer Heritage Chapel & Museum". (1975)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Deaf Smith County Historical Museum — 22 mi
  Hereford's county museum in an early Catholic school: the Windmill City's pioneers, a half-dugout and caboose outside, and work by the Italian prisoners held south of town in the war.

More markers nearby

• Friona's First Barber Shop — steps away
• Friona Schools — steps away
• Friona — steps away
• Friona Women's Clubs — 0.4 mi