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The Church of Christ at LaPrada Drive in Mesquite, Texas originated
as the Fitzhugh Avenue Church of Christ, located at 3601 Fitzhugh Avenue in the
fair Park District of Dallas, Texas. Previously the church started in 1845 at Long
Creek, East of Mesquite, Texas. The name was Bethany Church of Christ from 1845
to 1871. They moved into the Dallas area and were meeting in their homes until 1888.
They moved to Dallas and Armstrong streets, South of Fair Park, which was still
out in the country and was named Dallas Church of Christ. In 1904 R. B. and Julia
Hocker signed a lien with the Campbell Harris Lumber Company for $28.33 for materials
to make repairs to the building. In 1907 there were three trustees of the church:
C. Williams, G. M. Purcell, and Claude Hocker. From 1907 until 1912 the name of
the street where this particular church of Christ was located changed from Dallas
to Workman and still later was given the address of 3601 Fitzhugh. Therefore this
church of Christ remained at the same location with a different name for forty-seven
years. The State of Texas Historical Society would only go back as far as there
were deeds to a building where the church met. That is why the Historical Marker
goes back to just 1907. In 1912, Bro. Roy Conner remodeled the white wood frame
building on Fitzhugh Avenue, and on July 11, 1912 the congregation met for the first
time as the Fitzhugh Avenue Church of Christ. The charter members, along with their
families, were Roy Conner, Arlie Miller, J.B. Wilder, Van Coats, and R.B. Hocker.
Roy Conner and Arlie Miller served as the first two elders. In 1920, Bro.
C.A. Stark’s family started attending, and in 1922 he was appointed as an elder. Also in 1922, Sisters Lillie Atkins and Zora Vines began attending.
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In 1924, Bro. Claude Session became an elder along with Bro. Nesbitt who had become
an elder in 1923. Another elder who served at the Fitzhugh Avenue congregation,
was Leo Hanley, who was appointed in 1946. In 1950, Bro. William Baxter became an
elder. Together, Bro. Baxter and Bro. Sessions served the congregation until 1951
when they became elders of a new church on Ewing Avenue established by the Fitzhugh
Avenue Church of Christ. In 1954, the Fitzhugh Avenue Church of Christ faced a similar
problem that many congregations face from time to time. The neighborhood was changing,
and they needed more space. Property was purchased on Bruton Road, and that same
year, a new red brick building was built at 8205 Bruton Road in the Pleasant Grove
area of Dallas. For the next 25 years, we were known as the Bruton Road Church of
Christ. Over the years, as Dallas grew, so did the Bruton Road Church of
Christ. In 1977, because there was not enough property available to purchase adjacent
to the Bruton location, a survey of the membership was taken, and we found that
the majority of the members were living in the North Mesquite and South Garland
areas. Therefore, a decision was made to purchase four acres at the corner of LaPrada
Drive and Galloway, directly across from the Dallas Athletic Club. In March of 1979,
the Bruton Road building was sold sooner than anticipated. Consequently, we found
ourselves without a building. Because of an earlier agreement made between
the Mesquite Independent School District and area churches, we were permitted to
meet in the gymnasium of Shands Elementary School adjacent to the property of which
we were to build our new building. We met there for the next 9 months until the completion of our
new building.
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During this time, the school district, Mr. Price (the principal),
and his staff were very gracious hosts, and we will always be grateful to all of
them for the courtesy shown to us. The LaPrada Drive Church of Christ began
meeting at its present location on December 7, 1979, and because of its prior history
it is considered the oldest congregation in Mesquite, Texas. The State of Texas
dedicated an official Texas Historical Marker to LaPrada Drive Church of Christ.
The marker is mounted to a huge stone, that was excavated from Frisco, Texas just
north of Dallas, Texas. The historical marker was unveiled during a dedication ceremony
held on June 7, 1998. The LaPrada Drive Church of Christ always has and always will
strive to follow the pattern that Christ laid down for His children in the New Testament.
We sing, pray, teach, commune, and give of our means as God has prospered us. Our
singing is congregational with out the help of musical instruments. Our prayers
are simple, from the heart, and offered without display by one another. The teaching
is Biblical teaching done by the elders or those whom they appoint. The communion
is open to all who wish to partake. The contribution is a free will offering. None
is taxed and the contributions from visitors are not solicited. No visitor
is coerced at any time in any way. We feel that the church service should be an
opportunity to withdraw from the world into a place of quietness to meditate and
worship God. Friendliness is a natural part of the Christian way of
life. A warm welcome awaits you at the LaPrada Drive Church of Christ. We do not
claim to be the only Christians, but we do claim to be Christians only. Through the years, the following brethren served as leadership at
Fitzhugh Avenue, Bruton Road and our present location at LaPrada Drive:
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Elders:
1907 Claude Hocker
1907 G.M. Purcell
1907 Chester Williams
1912 B. Van Coats
1912 R.B. Hocker
1912 J.B. Wilder
1912 Roy Conner
1912 Arlie Miller
1922 C.A. Stark
1923 Bro. Nesbitt
1924 Claude Session
1946 Leo Hanley
1950 William Baxter
1955 Omer Dement
1964 J.B. Stark
(son of C.A. Stark)
1970 Dale Reed
1979 Gerald Hanley
(son of Leo Hanley)
1998 Tim Hutcheson
1998 Clyde Woody
2006 Robert McFadden
Deacons:
1930 Arthur Atteberry
1940 T.O. West
1944 Leo Hanley
1955 Vance Hunt
1955 Clifford Childers
1959 J.B. Stark
1961 Gene Ewing
1961 Dale Reed
1964 Jimmy Alexander
1970 A.M. Hanley
1970 Clyde Woody
1976 Gerald Hanley
1979 Joe Hanley
1979 Tim Hutcheson
1986 Roy Trantham
1998 Brent Fisher
1998 Robert McFadden
1998 Bruce Woody
2005 Greg Palmer
2007 Shawn Hanley
2007 Michael Baxter
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