First United Methodist Church; Orange, Texas - Library Historical Information

First United Methodist Church
502 Sixth Street; Orange, TX 77630

Historical Information

In the 1950’s the old parsonage was moved and a much-needed education building was erected on the site. This building included classrooms, the Henrijo Gale Coale Library, Emma Moss Parlor, and a recreation room, “Tow Inn,” for the youth which was furnished by Higman Towing Company. (extracted from First United Methodist Church Historical Information)

The Henrijo Coale Library is named after a prominent lady who was an active member of this church. Upon her death on January 5, 1966, the family donated her home and several oil paintings to the church in her memory. This home served as the parsonage for the assistant minister of the church until it was sold.

Henrijo Gale Coale was born at Seven Oaks Farm on August 21, 1898, in Bonham, Texas. Her father was Henry Gale IV and her mother was Josephine Elizabeth Smith. They were members of the Methodist church in Bonham where Henrijo taught a Sunday school class for many years. Mrs. Coale graduated in 1919 with a degree in home economics from the College of Industrial Arts in Denton, Texas. This is now Texas Women's University. She taught Home Economics in Sour Lake, Texas, for many years and later in Orange. In 1935 she earned a Master of Arts degree in Home Economics from Texas State College for Women in Denton. Among the numerous honors bestowed upon Mrs. Coale were the Outstanding Citizen Award by the Orange Chamber of Commerce; Woman of the Year by the Orange Pilot Club; Life member of the Congress of Parents and Teachers; honorary plaque from the Orange Optimist Club. She was active in numerous civic organizations.

Henrijo Gale married Cecil Roberts Coale in 1935 in Bonham. They lived at 908 Sixth Street, Orange, Texas. At that time Sixth Street was paved with oyster shell until in 1941 it was paved with concrete. Their phone number was '102'. Mr. Coale was the Post Master for Orange from 1925 to 1954. In later years he owned the Security Absract Title Company. The Coales had one son, Cecil Roberts Coale, Jr., who in 2001 lives in McKinney, Texas.

® The Cross and Flame is a registered trademark and the use is supervised by the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church. Permission to use the Cross and Flame must be obtained from the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church: Legal Department; GCFA; Post Office Box 340029; Nashville, TN 37203-0029; Phone: 615-369-2334; Fax: 615-369-2330