**************************************************
This is the third time for placement of this cache. The previous
times they were regular caches (ammo can and a large plastic
container) muggled by unknown visitors. This time it is a
nano-cache, log only - bring your own pen/pencil.
***This is a VERY SMALL nano-cache***
*The difficulty rating has been changed to reflect the size of
the cache.
DON'T LOOK FOR A JUG OR AMMO CAN!
No room for Travel Bugs or Coins. The only reason the size has
been changed is to stop the evil mugglers!
***************************************************
THE CHURCH IN THE WILDWOOD
There's a church in the valley by the wildwood
No lovelier spot in the dale
No place is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale
Words & Music: Dr. William S. Pitts, 1857
This song inspired the name for the cache (although the church is
white).
DIRECTIONS: Northbound on I-5
1) Exit I-5 at Lebec and follow the frontage road to the bridge and
cross.
2) Turn RIGHT (North) onto Lebec Rd. and continue for a 1/2
mile.
3) Look for Lebec Community Church on the right.
4) Park on the south near the street on the south side of the
church.
*** Note ***
In the planter near the large oak tree, in front of the southern
most building, is a NGS Benchmark! Make it a two-for-One find while
your here. >
_______________________________________
The church has an interesting history for the Lebec area. Below
is a letter (edited for space) written some time ago by an unknown
author from the 1920's or 30's.
_______________________________________
Early History of the Lebec Sunday School and Church. The Lebec
Sunday School was organized on September 29, 1926 with 37 members.
This was the first Sunday School in Kern County to be organized by
the American Sunday School Union.
In 1932 Mr. Boynton held daily Vacation Bible School in the
Salvation Army Camp near Lebec and in 1936 he held three months of
weekly bible classes. During the hard years of the depression it
seemed at times as if we could not continue and sometimes we had to
stop for a little while, but there were always those who were
determined not to let die the work of the Lord in our
community.
Many of us remember some of those good soldiers of the years
gone by, The Bests, the Hills, the Jepsons, the Bakers. The Bakers
came all the way up from Bakersfield to help us. Both of them
taught classes in the Sunday School, never seeming to become
discouraged if there was only a handful present. Good Samaritans
indeed. But the time came when the Bakers had to leave us as so
many others moved or passed away. But new ones moved in to help
keep the Lord’s work going in our little community.
Then the new El Tejon School was built. For a time Sunday School
was held in the old barracks of the Fire Department at Lebec. Then
we moved to the new school. There Perry Woods help was greatly
appreciated. He kept the building warm and cleaned after Sunday
School. He went into the service in 1943. Then Paw Borden took over
and was a big help and an inspiration to all.
About that time Rev. Schearer came to us for a short time,
December 1947 until June 1949. Then with the help of prayer and
determination to have a church in the community, this little church
was built. It was finished in 1948. Rev. Schearer came back to us
in June 1951 and we feel very fortunate to have such a faithful and
competent man for a leader.