The Way We Were

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian.

With gratitude to writers Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch, and songstress Barbra Streisand.

Memories
Light the corners of my mind
Misty watercolor memories
Of the way we were….

Our Essex Place location was home for 70 years.

First Universalist Church, Cincinnati: Essex Place Building
First Universalist Church, Cincinnati: Sanctuary on Essex Place
First Universalist Church, Cincinnati: Signboard at Essex Place. It reads, “Our Enduring Memorial”. Reverend Karl Bach was the minister.

From Essex Place, our congregation moved to Salem Road and renamed itself Salem Acres Community Church.

Scattered pictures
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were….

Salem Acres Community Church building
Bell at Salem Acres Community Church
Salem Acres Community Church sanctuary
Rev. Doak Mansfield lighting the chalice at Salem Acres Community Church
Salem Acres Community Church, Connie Booth at the organ
Salem Acres Community Church. From the left: Rev. Doak Mansfield, Bob Booth, Sandy Gaither.
Salem Acres Community Church, retreat attendees. Picture includes Rae Jane Araujo (front and center), Rev. Doak Mansfield (front right), Russ Araujo (second row, center), Connie Booth (to left of Russ, face partially covered), and Bob Booth (third row, in white shirt).

Our congregation temporarily met at the H.D. West Center on Beechmont Avenue after leaving Salem Acres.

Salem Acres Community Church, cleaning out from the H.D. West Center
Salem Acres Community Church, group cleaning out from the H.D. West Center. Starting second from left: Rae Jane Araujo. Cindy Haynes, Dick Haynes, Bob Booth, and Russ Araujo.

We bought land and built our current church building on Newtown Road.

Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we?
Could we?

Sign on Newtown Road, for Future Home of Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church
Heritage UU Church: Preparing to move in. On the left is Muriel Steelman.
Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church: Celebration of building opening in December 1985. From the left: Clara Hasemeier, Muriel Steelman, Rev. Elinor Artman, and Florence Angus.