The newly arrived missionary of the American Unitarian Association held the first open air meeting Sunday evening, May 27, 1855, on the brow of the Oread hill. From these meetings came the organization of the church, and a subscription was started Sunday, September 2d, for a building. But the border warfare delayed preparations. It was no time to build churches, but forts and intrenchments. Early in March, 1856, the excavation was begun and the corner-stone was laid on the 26th. The basement walls were well up, when on the night of September 15, 1856, they were used as a fort to guard against the invading army of 2,700 which came as far as Franklin. On March 29, 1857, the first meeting was held in the basement, and the dedication took place in July, 1859. High school was convened in the basement in the winter of 1857-58, with Charles Edwards as Principal. In after years the building became unsafe, was abandoned, and was torn down in May, 1893. The site was on Ohio street north of Berkley [10th]. The new church, at the corner of Vermont and Hancock (12th) Streets cost $5,000, and was dedicated Wednesday, May 13, 1891. The pipe organ was presented by the church of Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Rev. C. G. Howland, the present minister [1898], had served for many years. Dr. Howland was called here April 1, 1881, and has served his people acceptably ever since.