Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Church Records
Old Hebron Church
Annual Reunion to be held Sunday at Old Hebron Church near Penrod
By Marie Vincent
Since the year 1958, the descendants of John and Charity Hunt, with many friends and neighbors have gathered on the second Sunday of August for their annual reunion. This homecoming will be held on August 14, 1966 at the pioneer, log church known as Old Hebron.
This tiny rustic church is located seven miles east of Penrod, Kentucky in Muhlenberg County. A warm welcome awaits all who wish to attend.
For many years the door of this small church remained closed, the lock rusted, dust gathered on the time worn benches, the shutters to the four small windows were unopened, and no voices were heard in this sacred chapel. Occasionally the body of a descendant of John and Charity Hunt, or of a neighbor or friend was laid to rest in the burial ground. But it was not destined to remain forever closed and unkept.
Church Was Restored
With the leadership of the late Clayton Anderson and Granville Stewart, and the help of thos in this and other communities, Old Hebron was restored. Those who cared gave of their time, labor and money to bring life again to the pioneer church. As a result of their love and labor, the door now swings open wide to all who wish to enter. The leaky roof was replaced and all necessary repairs were made. After more than 125 years the hand-hewn benches inside the church are in use again.
Journey of 1806
The Hunt descendants have just cause to be proud of their family history and traditions. On the homecoming day they delight in recalling how in 1806, John Hunt, a Revolutionary soldier, with his wife Charity, their seven sons and three daughters, made the perilous journey by wagon-train through the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky.
They found virgin timbers, rich soil, streams abounding with fish, herds of deer and much small animal life. However all was not pleasure, much hard work was to be done, land was to be cleared, cabins erected, food and clothing provided. Families were to be protected from the dangers of the frontier. A less hardy people would have failed. And a need for a “meeting house” in which to worship and to say the “rites” of the departed loved ones caused them to build Old Hebron and “set aside” a plot of burial ground.
Descendants of these hardy people can be found in every state and on August 14, 1966, many hundred will find their way to Muhlenberg County and gather at Old Hebron for this homecoming. There will be singing by good quartets, a competent minister will preach, and much talking and eating will be done. So, fill the food baskets, put on your comfortable shoes, load the “young-uns” in the family vehicles, and visit with the Hunts on reunion.
Source: Vincent, Marie. “Annual Reunion to be held Sunday at Old Hebron church near Penrod.” News-Democrat [Russellville, KY], 11 Aug 1966.
Updated April 26, 2020