Unquiet spirits of the dead will be raised every Saturday night in October when the Bouton and Perry firefighters associations host a Haunted Church fundraiser at 204 Luther St. in Bouton.
The holy hauntings will start Saturday, Oct. 1 from 7-10 p.m. and continue weekly through Saturday, Oct. 29. Admission will be $5, and all proceeds will support the local fire departments.
The Luther Street location is the former site of the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, and spirits of the quick threatened to raze hell Saturday when the Haunted Church event was announced on Facebook. A worshipper at the former church spotted the announcement and objected to such a profane use of the old church, where the name out front still reads, “Christ Ev. Lutheran Church.”
The original church building was erected in 1892, with an unattached fellowship hall added in 1950. The Lutheran congregation relocated to a new sanctuary at the Four Corners in 2007, and the Bouton property was eventually sold in 2011. Karl Harris of Bouton bought the property in 2022.
Through it all, the “Christ Ev. Lutheran Church” sign still graced the face of the old church.
“This is disgusting!” said Sherrill Phillips of Woodward when she learned to what pagan purposes the old church was to be put in October. A former congregant in the Bouton church, Phillips now worships at the altar at 2298 141st Dr., Christ Lutheran’s current location, where the Rib restaurant and the Flame lounge used to raise spirits once upon a time.
“As a member of this former church, this is a very bad use of the building,” Phillips said on Facebook when the Haunted Church event was announced. “The name of our church must be removed before you engage in this.”
Harris, who not only owns the former church property but is also the assistant fire chief of the Bouton Volunteer Fire Department, said the Haunted Church event is intended as “a benefit for the community, and the proceeds are going to help the fire departments provide better service to our communities, so I think the Lord will understand.”
Phillips said she fully supports the fire department, “but please take the name of our church off the front of the building. If you don’t, I will be over soon with a ladder to do it myself. If you do, I would be happy to make a donation to the fire department.”
Harris appeared open to compromise, and an agreement was soon reached.
“I spoke to Pastor Phillips,” he said, referring to the Rev. Max Phillips, pastor of the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church and husband to Sherrill Phillips. “We will be removing and returning the church name plates to his congregation! The haunting will continue as it will benefit both Perry and Bouton.”
Mrs. Phillips seemed mollified by the news but also rather wistful for the days of fundraisers that did not involve devils and witches and blood and death.
“What happened to chili suppers and Bouton breakfasts to support the fire department?” she asked. “I’m just not a fan of any ‘haunted house event.’ That’s just my bias.”
Brenda Briley Leach of Alburnett, Iowa, courteously pointed out to Phillips the struggles that many fire departments endure in finding innovative ways to raise money for new equipment, especially in fire districts with a slender tax base.
“They try to accomplish this by appealing to the majority,” Briley Leach said. “While your opinion matters, you have expressed it, so why not let the people who will enjoy this safe and friendly venue, which will benefit a couple of communities, enjoy it, and you can just ignore and choose to not participate?”
Phillips again voiced her support for the firefighters, “but a public statement of disfavor for this usage of a church building is not out of line,” she said. “I will always take a stand for reverence for God.”
Harris promised a scary time for all at the Haunted Church next month.
“We’re not responsible for spirits following you home or anything else,” he warned, “so enter at your own risk!”
It’s too bad it wasn’t demolished when the congregation moved to the Rib location. It’s only going to become more dilapidated and run down as the years go by. The old church deserves to be ‘put to rest’ in a manner befitting its long service to the many members of the community it served over the years. The congregation should buy it from Mr. Harris and have the venerable old building demolished.
I grew up across the street from this church. My step-father was the mayor and both he my mother dedicated time to being on the fire department. I have been to the pancake breakfasts (they were amazing and Jan and Ardell could really flip some pancakes!) and events that the community used to raise money, and I personally think this is amazing. I rarely visit Bouton. I now live in Bondurant, so I’m not far but it pains me to see the town I grew up in. My heart holds tight the memories of Sauerkaurt Days and watching slow-pitch softball games. The town has become a ghost of what I recall it being as a child. Of course, this is me reflecting on my vision as an adult vs a child’s possibly buffered lens, but I think the community could use Harris’ creative idea as inspiration on other projects for this sweet little town. I can’t wait to visit this event with my sister and our children! Maybe we will even walk across the street and see if the family in 101 are home, and maybe Brandy will let us take a peek 😉