Rices Landing church installs memorial brick garden
Engraved with messages of remembrance, the memorial brick garden is a serene and elegant place at Hewitt Presbyterian Church in Rices Landing, Greene County.
“It beautifies our building,” said The Rev. Geoff Rach, pastor. “It’s good for former church members to be remembered.”
The memorial brick garden is positioned against the outside wall of the red-brick Hewitt Church, located at 1206 Crucible Road. The garden is in the back of the building near the sanctuary.
Donors purchased bricks in a variety of sizes that were voluntarily laid this fall by Bob McMillen, a member of the church, and employees of McMillen Consulting. The bricks — most red and some white — recall deceased family and friends as well as honor families and special events, such as baptisms. Some have added touches — a butterfly, heart or cross.
A focal point of the garden is a memorial bench on a pedestal dedicated to the late Ivan and Adelaide Guesman, who were members of the church. Made of Indian black granite and inscribed “With eternal gratitude for blessings bestowed by Ivan and Adelaide Guesman,” the bench rests in the back, left corner of the garden, drawing attention but unobtrusive.
A native of Rices Landing, Ivan Guseman grew up in Hewitt Presbyterian and the couple were active in the church, having served as Sunday school teachers while Ivan Guseman was a long-time elder. The couple, who lived in Jefferson, also made financial donations to Hewitt Presbyterian. Most memorable was their gift of more than $100,000 a few years ago to pay off a loan for an addition made to the church that included offices on the first floor as well as a nursery and handicap-accessible restrooms downstairs.
The Gusemans were educators, both graduates of California University. Adelaide Guesman had taught in the Jefferson-Morgan School District. Ivan Guesman started teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, eventually served as superintendent of the West Greene School District before joining the faculty at California University. The Guesmans, who had no children, made many donations to charity, including California University, Waynesburg University and Southwest Regional Medical Center in Waynesburg.
“I think they made donations to almost every church in the county,” said Rach. “They were very generous with their time, their money – all their gifts. We have a sign outside our office that Ivan built.”
The church decided to honor the Guesmans in the brick garden that is also a venue for the members of the congregation and the public to pay respects to anyone associated with Hewitt Presbyterian.
“When the addition was built, this space was landscaped with river rock but the church wanted to do more,” explained Rach.
The church raised enough funds to pay for the bench and pedestal in 2013. The Guesmans were able to see it before they died. Ivan Guesman passed away in January at age 97 and Adelaide Guesman in September at age 98.
The memorial bricks were added this fall, honoring many who have made contributions and been part of this church that can trace its roots back to 1871.
Hewitt Presbyterian was founded on property donated by Adam Hewit. The original building was a wood-frame structure. The current brick building was dedicated in 1909 and includes the property donor’s name in one of several beautiful stained-glass windows in the sanctuary. Three large stained-glass windows were restored this year, including one known as Good Shepherd window that is lit at night to call attention to Jesus’ parable.
Hewitt Presbyterian offers worship Sundays at 10 a.m., along with several opportunities for people to become involved with the church, including Sunday school, a choir, youth group, Agape7/Hewitt Church Women, a dartball team and Vacation Bible School. The church sponsors Cub Scout Pack 1168 and serves as a meting place for the Town and Garden Country Club. It also supports the ministry of Pine Springs Camp in Jennerstown, Pa.
The memorial brick garden is another way for Hewitt Presbyterian to touch the community.
Rach said, “I think it’s good as we move ahead to know where we’ve been and remember people who served in the past.”