Flooded church weeks from final ceremony

Flood waters rose above the front doors of Cedar Rapids' Salem United Methodist Church during the Flood of 2008. In the weeks and months following the historic flood damaged the building, items started to disappear.

Chuck Scott has been with Salem United Methodist Church in downtown Cedar Rapids since 1952. That's before I-380 cut through, one block from the church's west entrance on 3rd Street SW. Also before the need for two sanctuaries, one for traditional service and one for contemporary service. Of course, it's also before the Flood of 2008 that changed the church and congregation forever.

“It's shocking,” said Scott, 82, as he walked through dusty floors and debris, even 26 months after the flood drenched the bottom level and halfway through the main level. “There's no doubt about it. Total devastation.”

In June 2008, the entire lower level was underwater, knocking out electrical rooms, boiler rooms and a classroom. The water rose to the main floor as well, filling both sanctuaries and finally settling in a full six feet high. “The total expense of coming back here to renovate would have been more than to build a new building,” said Scott.

What church leaders also discovered was that items started leaving on their own. Copper wiring in the ceiling. Air conditioning units. Scott even pointed out a glass door that had been cut out but, for whatever reason, left behind. “Whoever did this took whatever they wanted and stripped away what they needed,” said Scott, nodding to a hole in the ceiling of one of the sanctuaries.

These are the final weeks until a September 12th de-commissioning ceremony at Salem to mark the official end of the building's use. Scott said former pastors and members are welcome to return to the church for what he called a “short” ceremony. “That will be a sad day but I think we've healed since that point and have recognized that it was going to happen,” said Scott. “That's why we are having the service. We are going to give up this building and move to something we hope is bigger and better than before.”

That new location is 3715 33rd Avenue SW in Cedar Rapids, past Westdale Mall. In December, Salem leaders accepted at $700,000 buyout offer from the city. Scott said the challenge for the congregation is to keep growing, even with a new location miles away. He said he hopes the new location will attract families living nearby. “People come from all sections of the town and even the outlying cities as well,” said Scott.

An earlier plan had been for the church to start services in the 33rd Avenue location by September. Scott said they are looking to open the doors sometime in the fall.