Our History
First Friends Meeting originated as Union Street Meeting of Friends in 1865. Mary Ann Rich, a minister, appealed to Honey Creek Monthly Meeting for a meetinghouse to be in Kokomo. Before this, the nearest location was the New London Meetinghouse, which was a ten mile trip by horseback. Because of this, they decided to hold meetings for worship in their own homes, rotating from one to the other. It was in the home of Richard Nixon, northeast corner of Taylor and Market Streets, March 5, 1865, this group became an organized meeting. They decided to hold meetings of worship on the first and fourth days of the week first at the home of Robert Coate on West Sycamore Street (the present-day Eagles Home) and then later held in a building on the northeast corner of Sycamore and Market Streets. The small Quaker meeting was held without a ritual or a minister. Kokomo Monthly Meeting of Friends was established October 19, 1867. Sunday School at the meeting was started in July 1868. On Christmas Day, 1868, land was purchased, and after construction became the Union Street Meeting of Friends.
The meetings for worship originally were conducted quietly and without the aid of musical instruments, or a pastor. Long periods of waiting were sometimes broken by members singing hymns softly with praise. There was Scripture reading, prayer, as well as members who would speak as they felt led. It was the custom of Friends to appoint someone to serve as the “timer” of the meeting: when he shook hands of the one next to him when he felt all minds were free, signaling the end of the service. Later, the meeting became more of a “programmed” type with a paid ministry. The last “timer” ended his position in October 1940. In 1875, Robert W. Douglas of Wilmington Ohio was the first paid Quaker pastor in the history of the denomination in either America or Europe. Through the years, even with a paid ministry, we have continued the Friends custom of “open worship” as a portion of each meeting for worship.
During the years of 1891 and 1892, the first organ was brought into the meetinghouse. At the same time, the first choir was organized. At this time, the organ was only used for Bible School and Sunday evening services, but not for morning meeting. In December 1930, a pipe organ was installed into the meetinghouse. In June 1945, a grand piano was placed in the sanctuary. In addition, 300 new hymnals were added. Thus music in now a part of every service held in the meetinghouse.
In 1982, the decision to relocate to the current building on Zartman Road was decided. This was the fourth time the meetinghouse was moved. Parking was inaccessible on weekdays and downtown Kokomo was beginning to become very commercial. In July 1983, First Friends Meeting was the new name given to the meetinghouse. First Friends Meeting (of Kokomo) was chosen because it was the first Quaker meeting in Kokomo.
