This quiet spot has been the home of Mt. Tabor Methodist Church for almost two centuries. A log cabin was erected here in the mid-1820's, and served as a house of worship until it was destroyed by fire in 1850. A brick structure was then built, and stood until being severely damaged by a July 4th storm in 1873. The present building was dedicated in August of 1874. As one of Dearborn County's oldest churches, the site was without the benefit of running water for more than 160 years, until an educational wing was added in 1989. The adjoining cemetery contains stones dating back to the 1830's.
The following appeared in the August 13th, 1925 edition of The Lawrenceburg Press, in an article detailing the church's 100th anniversary celebration. The verses are adapted from the work of American poet Robert McIntyre.
Old Mount Tabor Church
Oh, old Mount Tabor church, on the old country road,
Encircled with wagons, when each brought a load
Of the farmers, who came when the calm Sabbath day
Put the plow and the reaper and the planter away!
I can hear "Coronation" flow out from the choir,
Bubbling over the building and up to the spire;
Where one pair of bluebirds on Sunday did perch
Just to join in the hymns of old Mount Tabor church.
Oh, old Mount Tabor Church, down its unpainted aisles
How the river of song broke in ripples of smiles,
As the bride drew her robes from the altar to door,
Through sunshine that sweetened the old oaken floor;
And tears often flowed, for the whole village wept,
When the bonnie wee babe in its white coffin slept;
While the good pastor told how Death, in his search
For the Good Shepherd's lambs came to Old Mount Tabor church.
Oh, old Mount Tabor church, I can see it in the spring,
When the orchards enfold it in sweet blossoming;
And through the long summer it basks in the heat,
Where swift swallows swim the waves of the wheat,
To the tone of its bell, on the still autumn morn;
The quail whistles also far off in the corn;
And in winter the snow wraps the cedar and birch,
Keeping watch o'er the graves by old Mount Tabor Church.
Oh, old Mount Tabor church - where the oak ever waves
Its mantle of gloom o'er my ancestors' graves,
Where my father and mother were long ago laid;
and whippoorwill mourns in the numerous shade,
When my time comes to say a farewell to the earth,
I would like to return to the scenes of my birth;
Shake off the old life, leave the world in the lurch;
For heaven is not so far from old Mount Tabor church.
This cache has lots of goodies for trade....along with a log sheet and pen, I started it off with a small flashlight, a miniature lock and key, an old dollar token from Ceasar's Palace in Atlantic City, and a few other treasures. There is a special First-to-Find prize also....a mini-bison tube to use in placing your own microcache. Happy travels to all who seek this cache....and happy caching, as well!