Our Story
History of the Church and LeRetilley
James LeRetilley moved to Roscoe Village in 1825 when the town was known as Caldersburgh. He was an active businessman, became the village's first postmaster in 1826, associate judge of Coshocton County from 1835-1842, and one of the first trustees and an active proponent of the church in Roscoe. An original inscription of J. LeRetilley (and C.B. Smith) from October 28, 1883 can be found on one of the original wood posts on the lower level of the church. The church originally met in the dining room of a tavern in Roscoe Village, then in the nearby home of Preacher Samuel Barcus. In 1853, the congregation raised money to build a 40'x60' brick and stone building on the corner of West and Center Streets and purchased a bell from the Troy Bell Co. in New York. In 1874, the church caught fire from an overheated coal furnace pipe and burned to the ground. Pieces of the bell were picked out the ashes and sent back to the factory in NY to be melted, recast, and returned. In 1883, the congregation was able to rebuild the church and the bell, which had once announced the death of Abraham Lincoln, again rang out from the bell tower. In 1964, Roscoe United Methodist Church moved to its current location on High Street where the bell now resides behind the white slat walls.
How It Started For Us
In May of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, our daughter was scrambling to find a venue for her upcoming wedding after her original venue closed due to state protocols. The church became available for purchase, and although it was in great disrepair, we bought it, cleaned it up a bit, and the happy couple was married three weeks later. Two days after the wedding, Zach began renovations with the intention of renting the building to a congregation. As time went on, an amazing transformation was happening, and our thoughts began shifting to the possibilities that this beautiful building was presenting. In June of 2023, after countless hours of hard work, LeRetilley Event Center was finally completed.
Painstaking Renovations
Over 170 years old and left untouched for years, the church was in poor shape when first placed in Zach's hands. White plaster covered the rich red brick walls, and maroon carpet hid stunning original hardwood floors. Slowly but surely, Zach restored the church to its original beauty, and LeRetilley unfolded before us. We are thrilled to be share the wonder of this space with you!
