Will County's Historic Landmarks

Will County Rural Structure Surveys

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This church building is located in Wesley Township. According to the History of Will County (1878), Wesley Township was initially part of Wilmington Township prior to Wesley’s establishment in 1851. Settled by John Williams, the township was largely influenced by the Methodist religion and named after the English Methodist leader, John Wesley.

Established in the late 19^th century though never incorporated, the Hamlet of Ritchie was named after John Ritchey, a Wesley Township Justice of the Peace and also a director for the railroad. The Ritchie community is one of nine hamlets within unincorporated Will County. According to the locals, Ritchie’s earlier “ey” spelling was changed to “ie” during the early 20^th century after the Ritchie Railroad depot was constructed. According to local historian and Wesley Township resident, Sandy Vasko, the spelling of the name is still disputed among local residents.  Other names for the community were Wesley and Ritchey Station.  At its peak, in addition to the church, Ritchie had a general store, several gas stations, a community hall for dances and plays, a grain elevator, a doctor’s office, and the depot.  The railroad depot was designated a Will County Landmark on October 17, 2002. When the railroad decided to move its operation to Ballou Road, Ritchie began to decline.

Prior to the church’s construction, church services were first conducted in a schoolhouse. The church history attached to the nomination form indicates that there was an earlier church that was constructed, but additional research conducted by the applicants indicates that the Ritchey United Methodist Church was the first church constructed. Additionally, in the written church history, the record indicates that the building was constructed in 1884; however, local newspaper accounts from the Wilmington Advocate in 1882, suggest that the building was constructed in 1882.

The Ritchey United Methodist Church was designated a Will County Landmark on October 18, 2007.

 

Common Name: Ritchey United Methodist Church

Historic Name: Methodist Episcopal Church of Wesley 

Location: Wesley Township

20785 HWY 102, Wilmington, Illinois 60481

 

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