Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - April 3, 1983
Vigo County Historical Society

Thompson carved pulpit in 1895

On this Easter Sunday, 1983, the Historical Treasure of the Week is a pulpit adorned with a beautiful hand-carved eagle.

A plaque on the pulpit reads:

"Hand carved eagle pulpit made by A.D. Thompson of woof from the First Terre Haute Methodist Church in 1895. - Presented by Trinity United Methodist Church, November 1971." A small metal plate embedded in the base of the pulpit reads, "Alfred D. Thompson."

The Terre Haute First M.E. Church located at Seventh and Poplar streets was built in 1895. Trinity M.E. Church at 14th Street and Third Avenue originated as the Levering Mission, 13th Street and Third Avenue, in 1895, and the church building was dedicated in 1896. The Trinity United Methodist Church is now located at 1201 N. 19th Street.

The Vigo County Historical Society has no further information about how it came to belong to the Trinity United Methodist Church.

Alfred D. Thompson, an Englishman, was a carpenter and a cabinet maker. He is first listed in the Terre Haute City Directory in 1912 and his address is listed as 1442 Third Avenue until 1956. After that date, he does not appear in local listings.

Elizabeth Pitser, a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, remembers Thompson as a man who always smoked a pipe and always wore a Derby hat and a blue serge suit." The kitchen cabinets in Mrs. Pitser's home were built by Thompson and she recalls the day he came to take the measurements. "He came in, looked around, took a few measurements, scribbled something on a piece of paper, and left. We didn't know what we would get," she says. A short time later, Thompson called and said the cabinets were ready and could someone help him carry them over. They fit perfectly and are still in place.

The Vigo County Historical Society would welcome any further information about the pulpit and/or Alfred D. Thompson.

The pulpit, which is part of our local historical heritage and a fine example of the art of wood carving, is used in the Hulman Meeting Room in the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 South Sixth Street, and may be seen during regular open hours, 1 to 4 p.m. daily except Saturdays and holidays.

The museum is closed today.