FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND THE REAGANS

Jack, Nelle, Neil and Ronald Reagan moved to Dixon from Tampico, Illinois on December 6, 1920. H.C. Pitney, also from Tampico, together with Jack Reagan opened the Fashion Boot Shop on March 19, 1921.

The Reagan family's first home at Dixon was located at 816 S. Hennepin Avenue, now the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home. Both Neil and Ronald attended the South Side grade school from 1920 until 1923. In January, 1923, Neil entered the South Side high school. In March of that same year the Reagan family moved across the Rock River to Everett Street. Since Neil had already entered the South Side High School, he continued to attend at, and ultimately was graduated from, the South Dixon High School in 1926.

Despite moving across the river, Ronald probably completed the already begun semester at the South Central School. In September, 1923, he entered the North Central grade school. In September, 1925, he entered the North Side High School, and was graduated from there in 1928.

When the Reagans arrived in Dixon the Christian Church was holding all their services at the Dixon YMCA, which at the time was located on the northwest corner of Galena Avenue and Third Street. The church had sold its first house of worship, which was located on West First Street, to the Loyal Order of Moose in September 1917. For nearly four years the congregation held all their meetings variously at the First Baptist Church, the Dixon Armory, and the Dixon YMCA.

On June 16, 1921, First Christian Church took possession of the present church structure from the former erectors and owners, the Universalist Society of Dixon and the Universalist Association of Chicago. On June 19, worship services of the Christian Church were held in the basement of the present edifice, this being the first occurrence at the new location.

In March 1921 Nelle was made teacher of the True Blue Sunday school class, a position she continued to hold until her and Jack's departure for Hollywood, California, in September, 1937. Ronald began teaching a Sunday school class in July 1926, a task he fulfilled through the month of September, 1928. Despite the fact that he entered school during the middle of September, he apparently returned to Dixon from Eureka College for a couple of Sundays in September to fulfill his duties.

Rev. Harvey Garland Waggoner was pastor at First Christian Church when the Reagan family arrived in Dixon in 1920. Harvey was called to the Dixon pastorate in October 1919. Rev. Waggoner passed away on May 30, 1922, barely three weeks before the Reagan boys' baptisms. On June 21, 1922, Rev. David Franklin Seyster, long time pastor of Pine Creek Christian Church, baptized Neil and Ronald as part of a group of twenty-five individuals at First Christian Church.

And so, the fundamental underpinnings of Christian Endeavor appealed to the young Ronald Reagan. He obviously was impressed by the work ethic, which is interwoven throughout this adjunct to church and Sunday school activities. Apparently he was so inspired by these thoughts and beliefs that he then carried them throughout his life in the community, his studies at Eureka College, his radio and movie careers, Governor of California, GE spokesperson, and ultimately, President of the United States.

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at Dixon is humbly and respectfully proud to have played some small part in the nurturing and Christian training of a youth who was later to hold the highest office in the United States, and arguably, the most important governmental position in the world!