New Hope Church and Cemetery
(See listing of members appearing in this photo below)
The New Hope Church and Cemetery are located on County Road 295, 1.6 miles north of Hwy 96, just east of the town of Wetmore, Colorado.
According to the history handed down to descendants of the original Hardscrabble Park, New Hope Church was built as a community house of worship by all the people of the community.
An initial meeting took place on May 13, 1871 at the school house near Ira Porter’s home in Hardscrabble Park. The purpose of this meeting was to organize the creation of a Baptist Church for the community. Articles of Incorporation, drafted by Stephen J. Tanner, Ira R. Porter and William R. Crouch, were filed on September 11, 1873. This makes the Church 153 (as of 2026) years old and is the second oldest Baptist church in Colorado.
The first church list consisted of 110 members, and Elder S. B. Chastine served as the first Pastor.
Ira Porter donated the land, and the church was built by the congregation. Construction was completed in 1873. The wood frame is assembled by mortised joints and wooden pegs. No nails were used in the construction. The floor joists are hand hewn lodge poles and pine logs with tongue and groove assembly. Square nails were used to attach the roof and siding. The pulpit and pews were handmade by the members. Vinyl siding was put on in the early 1980’s to help preserve it.
Services were discontinued when the New Hope congregation started attending services in the new Wetmore Community Church completed in 1917. Currently, the church and cemetery are maintained by the donations and volunteer work of family members and the community of Wetmore.
It wasn’t until November 1873 that the members voted to lay out ground for the cemetery. However burials were made there at least three years prior. Burials were free and neighbors and friends hand dug the graves. The earliest known grave is of Jason P. Vaughn, born November 24, 1869 and died February 7, 1870. (2 months and 13 days old).
Records were not kept of those buried in the cemetery. However, a record book was compiled by the late Dorothy Breece who used old newspaper articles and obituaries in her research. Some graves listed as unmarked have had a rock, wooden cross or something identifying the site. Several of these sites have since been identified by relatives and metal markers have been put on these graves. There are many handmade markers, some with just a rock set at the head and nothing more. Some are cement markers, now hard to decipher due to erosion. There are still many graves that may never be identified, but at least the names of those who are known to be buried there are listed in the record book.
Today, there are 582 known buried in the cemetery. Of those, 49 are Veterans who served in the Civil War, Mexican War, WWI, WWII, Korean Conflict and Vietnam War.
New Hope Church and Cemetery were featured in the November 2019 Colorado Genealogist, published quarterly by the Colorado Genealogical Society.
Carolyn Thomson organized and transcribed church records that are found on microfilm in the Denver Public Library, Western History/Genealogy Department Manuscript Collection.
Peggy Martin, WHG&HS member, and New Hope caretaker and Secretary/Treasurer, helped with the transcription.
She was enlisted to help confirm the spelling of the church member names.
She also contributed additional invaluable information from her research and records.
List of church members taken from church rolls and business meeting minutes are listed for the years 1871-1876 and 1913-1926.
Also, a listing of those appearing in the above photo is included:
Listing of the people who appear in the cover photo.
From an article from The Record about 1974 held by the church archives:
“It looks like everybody in the Wetmore area turned out for this 1898 picture. It was loaned by C. L. Jennings, who was age 3 when it was taken. The identification was provided by Mrs. Raymond Kempner, a long-time resident of Wetmore, prior to her death some eight years ago. In the list are many of the pioneers of the Wetmore area.
Judging from the coats and heavy clothing, this was taken during winter, perhaps at a Christmas service or, it may have been a special program or even a wedding at the historic church, which is now 101 years old. Those in the photo were, left to right:
Front Row: Will Bernard, Bob Royster, Will Funderburk, John Sikes, Orvil Jones, George Fuller, Mrs. Fuller, Watt Bernard, Mrs. Bernard, Jack Sutton, Mrs. Sutton, Euretta Jones, Ethel Sikes, Mrs. Sikes, Mrs. Betts, Mrs. Crouch, Elton Hall, Edd Karsh, Carlton Hall, Harry Sikes, Calvin Sikes, Roy Jennings, Lester Jennings, Mildred Fuller, Grace Bradshaw, Ann Allen, Jessie Coleman, Mrs. Royster, Mrs. King, Emmett Jennings, Mr. Sylvester Allen, Michael Jennings, Billy Smith and Billy Benson.
On Fence at right: Alva Jones, Max Smith, Jay Bernard, Berry Eason, Elmer Sikes, Earl Bernard, Johnnie Gable.
Back Row: Mamie Bernard Yost, Edna Drake, Edith Betts Hall, Mary Hall, Jessie Jennings Dickson, Kate Porter, Mrs. S. Allen, Grandman Kelly, Ira Porter, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Watson, Mr. and Mrs. Tigue, Dave Westheifer, Chas. Hill, Fred Walters, Robert Jones, Charles Smith.
Middle Row on porch: Eva Hall, Nellie Sutton, Rose Funderburk, Lula Sutton, Nora Sikes, Luella Allen, Maud Bernard, Guy Jennings, Mamie Sutton, Georgia Fuller, Ruby Sheffield.”
The complete edition of the Colorado Genealogist can be found here in a pdf format.
New Hope Cemetery, Wetmore, CO
New Hope Cemetery at Sunrise
New Hope Church
It stands upon an emmenence
This friendly church with open door,
And truly welcomes all who come.
Oftimes a sad and lonely one
Finds strength to sin no more.
It’s bell rings out tis true, tis true,
That Jesus bore the strifes for you.
Atone, come home.
And as within it’s sacred walls,
I bring my burdens to His feet.
I seem to lose all earthy cares,
I find a peace that is very sweet.
I seem to hear the angels sing,
Tis true, tis true, that Jesus bore
The strifes for you.
Atone, come home.
Written by Ethel May Heath Verrier Fast
(born February 20, 1878)
unedited by WHG&HS