The living memorial

History is not a room we lock.

The archive will keep growing through photographs, oral histories, church records, family memories, and the work being done today.

Historical portrait study — A portrait, brought into motion. Animated interpretation. Explore the preserved photographs and records below.

Framed portrait of Karl B. Grahn — **Karl B. Grahn**Background cleaned for viewing

Framed portrait of Elizabeth Kirk Grahn — **Elizabeth Kirk Grahn**Background cleaned for viewing

The names behind the memorial

Karl B. Grahn and Elizabeth Kirk Grahn

The church’s written history says it was named in memory of their son. A surviving grave memorial identifies him as Kirk Bates Grahn, 1887–1890, and a 1922 obituary says he died at age three. These portraits remain inside the church and connect the written record to the people who carried it.

Elizabeth’s portrait is the only photograph of her currently known to be publicly available. The original is preserved as the historical record; the copy shown here has been cleaned and straightened for clearer viewing.

Compare the cleaned copies with the source photographs

Source photograph of Karl B. Grahn’s framed portrait — Karl B. Grahn · Source photograph

Source photograph of Elizabeth Kirk Grahn’s framed portrait — Elizabeth Kirk Grahn · Source photograph

Historic photograph of the Grahn Company Store — **Grahn Company Store**Date unknown. An accompanying family-history caption identifies the man on the steps as Elihue Barker.

Faith in a company town

A place for workers and their families to worship.

Karl B. Grahn’s 1922 obituary describes his work in the mines and firebrick industry at Grahn. It also says that he built and for years maintained the Baptist church so his workers and their families could attend Sunday school and worship, as a memorial to the son he lost.

View the surviving 1922 newspaper clipping

Newspaper obituary for Karl B. Grahn dated July 13, 1922 — Newspaper clipping dated July 13, 1922. Newspaper title not yet identified.

1889

The church is formally constituted

Organized by D.F. Lee at Grahn in Carter County. The surviving church history connects its name to the memory of Karl B. Grahn’s son, Kirk.

1890

Kirk Bates Grahn dies at age three

A grave memorial records 1887–1890 and lists his death as August 3, 1890. He is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.

1890

A handwritten record survives

A presentation record dated July 12, 1890, remains with the church and carries the names of women connected to its earliest years.

1922

Karl’s obituary preserves the reason

A July 13 obituary says Karl built and for years maintained the Baptist church at Grahn as a memorial to his son, giving workers and their families a place for Sunday school and worship.

2026

The record remains open

Brandon S. La Voie begins serving as pastor, carrying the church’s memory into its next chapter.

Names in the pews

The memorial is still in the room.

The brass plates on the ends of the pews preserve the names of families who helped pay for the fabric and padding that made the pews more comfortable. Their gifts are still serving the people who gather here today.

Karl and Elizabeth Grahn’s portraits beside the church attendance register — Karl and Elizabeth Grahn’s portraits remain in the sanctuary beside the church register.

Memorial plaque reading Junior & Mary M. Cox — Junior & Mary M. Cox

Memorial plaque reading In memory of Manse & Virgie Phillips — In memory of Manse & Virgie Phillips

Memorial plaque reading Paul & Genevia Frazier — Paul & Genevia Frazier

Memorial plaque reading The Nell Frazier Family — The Nell Frazier Family

Memorial plaque reading The Willie James Family — The Willie James Family

Memorial plaque reading In memory of T. O. Allison — In memory of T. O. Allison

Memorial plaque reading In memory of E. T. & Theora Mobley — In memory of E. T. & Theora Mobley

Memorial plaque reading In memory of B. R. & Martha Capshaw — In memory of B. R. & Martha Capshaw

Memorial plaque reading The Brown Family — The Brown Family

To the best of church knowledge

Pastors and interim pastors

The list follows the surviving church record. Unnamed years are left visible as gaps rather than filled with assumptions.

D.F. Lee1889–1893
Mason Branham1894–1898
D.F. Lawrence1899
T.J. Rigg1902–1907
D.F. Lee1908–1910
J.M. Clay1911
Mason Branham1914–1920
Elmer T. Risenger1921–1922
Mason Branham1924–1926
L.A. Music1928
A.O. Allison1929–1942
Raymond Yeater1942–1949
Mason C. Branham1950–1993
Bill Scott1993
Nick Rice1993–1994
Lowell Elliott1994–1996
Calvin Perry1997–2000
Dallas Sutton2001–2002
Bob Church2002–2009
Clyde Bolling2010–2011
Steven McKenzie2012–2013
John Haney, Sr.2014
James Russell Schmidt2016–2020
Ely Sagansay2023-2024
Brandon S. La Voie2026–present

Contribute a memory

Photos can be paired with names, dates, captions, and the person who provided them.