If you're looking for a true fundamental Pentecostal Church that preaches the full Gospel of Jesus…read moreChrist. Then you owe it to yourself to come visit this great church. The love of God is manifested thru the singing and preaching.

I love a historic church and I discovered this century old gem in downtown Okeechobee. The First…read moreEpiscopal Church has long been an influential presence in Okeechobee. The genesis of First United Methodist Church of Okeechobee began over 100 years ago in the back of Scharfschwerdt Bros. store on Park Street as the Union Church. In May, 1915, Reverend William Troutman and seven original members started their own church. These included Dr. and Mrs. Francis Thompson, owners of Okeechobee Drug Company, Lillian Thompson, George T. Rice, owner of the first newspaper, the Okeechobee Call, R.B.Walters; and Capt. Tom Bass, who was instrumental in the large scale commercial catfishing industry on Lake Okeechobee. In 1916 forty new members joined the church and they were given three lots by the Okeechobee Company, a real estate branch of the Florida East Coast Railroad owned by Henry Flagler. The first church building in Okeechobee was constructed as a small wood frame building that served as both the church and parsonage. In 1917, under the leadership of pastor, Rev. F.L. Crowson, a building committee was formed and plans were made to build a new church. Proceeds from a lecture given by William Jennings Bryan provided the first $160 to build a new brick church. By the end of 1924 the church building was completed and free of debt. An addition was later added at the northwest corner of the church and an annex building was added on the north with room for classes and a kitchen. The laying of the cornerstone and dedication took place in February, 1926. Some of the unique features of this red brick Gothic Revival church include replacement stained glass windows installed in original rose window frames and a 1944 Reuter pipe organ. In the ensuing years the congregation grew as the church served Okeechobee by hosting graduations, weddings, funerals, music programs, and events. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 2015. Worship is held every Sunday at 10 AM. The First Methodist Episcopal Church is a historic site that is part of the Florida Historical Marker Program. This program is one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular and valued public history programs. It raises awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The blue historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of schools, roads, archaeological sites, battlefields, historically important buildings, and churches like this one. Historic marker F-921 commemorating the founding of the First United Methodist Church was added to the church grounds in 2016 by First United Methodist Church of Okeechobee, Florida and the Florida Department of State.

This beautiful, red brick Gothic Revival church with stained glass windows is nearly 100 years old…read more(built in 1924). The church was established in May 1915 in the back of Scharfschwerdt Bros. store on Park Street and from then on, grew. Land was given to them by The Okeechobee Company, and a church was built with the help of Mr. F.W. Zander, a builder and congregant of the church. In 1989, it was listed in "A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture," published by the University of Florida Press. In August 2015, it was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, as the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South. It is now called the First United Methodist Church.

The Florida Historical Marker Program is one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular…read moreand valued public history programs. It raises awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The blue historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of churches, schools, roads, archaeological sites, battlefields, and historically important buildings. I love a historic church and I discovered this historic marker in front of the Okeechobee Primitive Baptist Church. Sometimes the humblest of buildings bring the most glory to God. That is definitely the feeling this simple, white, wooden building evokes. The Okeechobee Primitive Baptist Church was established on May 24, 1919 with eleven founding members. Dan Wilkerson was the first pastor of the services held on Connor's Highway. In 1923 the church was built by Barney Blum on land donated by Peter and Louisiana Raulerson, the first settlers of Okeechobee who had a home nearby. The church was part of the Pilgrim's Rest Primitive Baptist Association founded in 1875 in Alabama. A primitive church is one that is a stripped down form of Calvinist Christianity that has had all non biblical practices removed. Church services were held until 2015. The building was acquired by the City of Okeechobee in spring of 2022 for the purpose of preserving it as a museum. The church is a Florida Heritage Site and historic marker F-1223 was installed in 2023 by the City of Okeechobee, the Okeechobee Historical Society, and the Florida Department of State.

This is spectacular mission minded congregation that has fine outreach program. Dynamic Pastor…read morethat has energy and new thoughts on Jesus's discipleship ministry in community. Very friendly congregation in a nice town. They made us feel like family within a week or two. God Bless. Geo.

The Florida Historical Marker Program is one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular…read moreand valued public history programs. It raises awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The blue historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of churches, schools, roads, archaeological sites, battlefields, and historically important buildings. I discovered this historic marker in front of the Raulerson's former cabin near downtown Okeechobee. Peter Raulerson was born September 1, 1857, in Bartow, Florida. In 1874 when he was 17, his family moved to Basinger where he met and married Louisiana Chandler in 1877. In October 1896 the couple traveled by covered ox cart with their children to a wilderness area three miles north of Lake Okeechobee known called the Bend along Taylor Creek. The area was chosen because it was high and dry, with water nearby and good quality soil. The Raulerson family was the first white settlers in this area where Peter worked as a cattleman. He fenced in 30 miles from Onoshohatchee River all the way to the Kissimmee River. The first building the family erected was a barn to protect there livestock from wild animals and they lived on the second floor for three years. Later friends arrived from Basinger and helped the family build a log home in three days. Peter and Louisiana lived in the cabin with their children. In 1916, the family built a larger house directly east of here where Peter lived until his death in 1947. Elements of the original log cabin are preserved within the structure of this home that was built for a descendants family in the 1920's. Members of the Raulerson family lived in the home until 2016 when the Okeechobee Historical Society purchased it to preserve it as part of their collection of historic buildings that include the Tantie Schoolhouse and the Primitive Baptist Church. The Raulerson family were an integral component of the development of early Okeechobee. In April 1902, the Raulersons helped establish the first post office in a suitcase under a bed. At that time the community was known as Tantie, in honor of Tantie Huckabee, a popular school teacher. The Raulersons daughter, Martha, served as the first postmaster followed by Peter in June 1902. Peter established a Star Route, a privately-contracted mail route, between Tantie and Fort Drum. In October 1911 after the railroad arrived it was decided that Tantie was not a proper name of a town and it was renamed Okeechobee. Peter established the first school in a palmetto shack 1898. In 1909 he helped build the Tantie School, which was School #14 of the St. Lucie County School System. Peter was a trustee of the first brick schoolhouse built in 1916. When the City of Okeechobee was chartered in 1915, he served as the first mayor appointed by Florida Governor Park Trammel. He also served as the first county commissioner from the area in St. Lucie County. He was instrumental in the establishment of Evergreen Cemetery where he and Louisiana are buried and he donated the land for the Primitive Baptist Church. Peter Raulerson passed away in 1947 at the age of 90 and Louisiana died one year later. The couple were survived by their children Lewis, Adline, Harmon, Melville, Faith, Ada, and Cornelius, 22 grandchildren, 48 great grandchildren, and four great-great-grand-children. Many of the historic buildings in Okeechobee have a Raulerson family connection. In 2000, Peter was designated as a Great Floridian with a plaque in his honor placed at the Okeechobee City Hall. Historic Marker F-1028 was erected in 2018 by the Okeechobee County Historical Society, Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners, City of Okeechobee Descendants of Peter and Louisiana Chandler Raulerson, Generous Community Members and Businesses, and the Florida Department of State.

This is my first visit to mass at Sacred Heart church. I was very impressed with the priest and the…read morechoir!! Will be attending Christmas mass later today!!