Elizabeth Memorial Church
A strange but funny story As
you travel up Bridge Road in South Hills, you will see a little stone
church on the right at the first right hand turn. It was known
for many years as the Elizabeth Memorial Church. Obviously a
memorial to Elizabeth. But who was Elizabeth? A woman from the Bible? Hardly....
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Former Elizabeth Memorial Church, now Unity Of Kanawha Valley |
It all started with Colonel Carr... Robert
Stuart Carr was born in Ohio in 1845 but raised in Point Pleasant from
age 10
to
age 20. He had less than 1 year of schooling. Interestingly
enough, Carr had two younger brothers who became doctors.
He came to
Charleston and took several jobs including working his way up to
Steamboat Captain and owner. Carr saved his money but was broke
several
times. At one point he had enough money to purchase most of what
we know as South Hills. Remember, land was cheap in the mid to
late 1800s and there was no way to get to the south side of the river
except by ferryboat. Carr would manage to sell off lots,
and one
of the first people he wanted as his neighbor was Gov. William
MacCorkle. Carr actually promoted MacCorkle to his very first
public office without MacCorkle even knowing it at the time. MacCorkle
would later become governor. What would become "The Sunrise Mansion"
was then
built. As more people started to live on the south side of the
river, it was apparent that a bridge was needed. Carr and a few
investors then built the first South Side Bridge. This really
opened up the South Hills area and the rest as they say... is
history. Carr became a very wealthy man. Carr was on the
city council, a county commissioner, and a state senator.
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It seems that Colonel Carr like to drink a bit, which led directly to the name of the church.... " I saw sixteen women standing on the porch and in an instant I realized that all of those women was my wife". 
* See the description of Asafetida at the bottom of the page |
Robert Carr died in 1925 
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Carr was apparently beloved by all, both rich and poor. And like
many of the day he belonged to the Ku Klux Klan, which here at the time
was more a fraternal organization than anything else. It was looked on
by most no different than the Masons at that time.
( Think Robert C Byrd in his younger days). It IS
interesting to note in the article however that full Klan honors were
afforded him at the grave site. It was also typical for both
local newspapers to post Klan meetings and events for many years. |
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* Asafoetida alternative spelling asafetida, (also known as devil's dung, stinking gum,
asant, food of the gods, giant fennel, Jowani badian, hing and ting) is the
dried latex exuded from the living tap root of several species of Ferula, which
is a perennial herb). The species is native to the mountains of Afghanistan,
and is mainly cultivated in nearby India. Asafoetida has a pungent, unpleasant
smell when raw, but in cooked dishes, it delivers a smooth flavor, reminiscent
of leeks.
This spice is used as a digestive aid, in food
as a condiment, and in pickles. It typically works as a flavor enhancer.
In its pure form, its odor is so strong the
aroma will contaminate other spices stored nearby if it is not stored in an
airtight container: Asafoetida reduces the growth of indigenous microflora in
the gut, reducing flatulence.
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SIDE NOTE:
There were many churches back in the day that were named for the people
who gave money to build them. This would be an eternal memorial... a monument if
you will, to that person. It's my personal opinion ( and many
people wont like it ) that naming a church after a person is downright
vulgar, and why those people who have churches named after them would
allow it is even more sad. Churches should be named after GOD or
something to do with God, and NOT a sinner. For instance:
Church of God, or Saint Matthews, or Holiness Church.
Anything to do with God or the Bible. We are ALL born into sin and even
the people who donated the money to build a church were sinners.
So why name a church after a sinner? Like many things that were
accepted and popular "back in the day", naming a church for a human
being was typical. But think about it today. When was the last
church built and named for a man or woman? There may be one, but
I'm not familiar with any. Hopefully, none will ever be again....
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