Saturday, May 4, 2024
The locally known “Leon River Dutch Oven Gang” will be providing some down-home cooking to benefit the ongoing restoration process of the historic Eagle Springs Baptist Church located in southeastern Coryell County.
The event will take place on Saturday, May 20. The gang will begin serving lunch around noon, and provided on the menu will be pulled pork, potatoes, baked beans, peach cobbler, and dump cake – all cooked on-location in genuine old-time Dutch ovens. The meal can be paid for by simply making a love donation to the church restoration.
Charlotte Weiss, a member of the Leon River Dutch Oven Gang said, “we love helping out as well as teaching about Dutch oven cooking.”
Dr. Eric Moffett of Coryell Community Church in Gatesville will address those assembled with a short message at 11 a.m. followed by lunch served at noon. Gospel music will also be on the agenda.
The Eagle Springs Baptist Church, an offspring of the Onion Creek Baptist Church, was built in 1878 in the community of Eagle Springs. The church was constructed primarily from cypress wood, which was hauled to the location by oxen-drawn wagons from Galveston. The small, one-room church is considered to be a rare type of architecture due to the two front doors – one for the men to enter through and one for the women. Very few of these historic churches are still in existence in Texas today. The inside of the church remains much the same as it did when Governor Pat Neff attended there as a child. The church pews, pulpit and pulpit chairs are all original to the building.
About 17 years ago, the Historic Eagle Springs Baptist Church Association was formed in order to raise funding to have the church repaired and restored. Repair work remains continuous on the soon to be 145-year-old structure. Although funds were recently raised to have the floor of the church professionally leveled, the building continues to slant to the east. The siding, windowsills, and parts of the eaves of the church need to be replaced, and the building needs to be painted.
Association member Martha Deeringer said, “The Leon River Dutch Oven Gang is a group of amazing folks who can cook up culinary magic in Dutch ovens.”
Deeringer said the church will be open to visitors who can see how their ancestors worshiped nearly 150 years ago.
The public is strongly encouraged to attend this worthwhile fundraising event.
“Don’t miss your chance to taste some delightful cooking, have a great lunch, and help out a historic Coryell County church at the same time,” Deeringer said.
The historic Eagle Springs Baptist Church is located at 14225 FM 107, a few miles from Mother Neff State Park.
