There's a reason today's seniors are christened "The Greatest Generation." There's no slowing them down. "It can't be done" is a foreign language to these World War II survivors.

Adding substance to that assertion, you're invited by the Des Moines Historical Society to the IOOF Hall, South 225th Street and Seventh Avenue South, on Wednesday, April 11, to hear "History of Des Moines Early Churches."

You're invited there again on May 23 for "Ship Builders, Sea Captains and Fishermen." Both presentations will be at 7 p.m., and will help you learn more about how this town became the city that today's folks love to call home.

Church representatives from these historic churches will speak: Des Moines United Methodist, Midway Covenant, First Church of Christ Scientist of Des Moines and St. Philomena Catholic.

A special guest and amazing lady, Peggie Nishimura Bain, a 98-year young, author and pioneer, will sign her recently published book, Walk With Me Through My Life.

At age eight, she single-handedly drove a team of horses pulling a wagon on and off a ferry from Vashon Island to the dock at South 227th Street in Des Moines.

During WWII, her family was sent to an internment camp for people of Japanese descent.

Pioneer and author Melanie Draper identified early Des Moines residents' priorities in her book, Timber Tide and Tales:

"When families begin to gather together into a community several elements are uppermost in their minds: schools for children, churches for those who desire them, and books to read as well as other social activities. In the building of Des Moines the beginning of the church and schools were almost simultaneous, although the actual school building was first."

Draper noted it was 1889 when the people of Des Moines built a one-room school at South 219th Street and Sixth Avenue South to serve both as a school and church. A new schoolhouse was built in 1897 on the same site Des Moines Elementary School now occupies. In 1910, high school subjects became part of the curriculum.

The first graduate was Josie Beardemphl Latimer. A ceremony was held in Daddy Draper's "Opry House" and all of the 200 residents of town attended. "It was a great celebration."

Church services were often held in private homes until 1904 when the United Methodists built their church at South 223rd Street and Ninth Avenue South. Private donations of land and skillful corralling of beach logs for lumber, together with a "shingling bee," enabled a determined work force and the church was born again.

A pipe organ was installed in 1965. Every Sunday the bell still rings announcing morning services. (I wish they'd ring it everyday at noon - as a community tradition.)

The first Mass at St. Philomena's Catholic Church was in 1927 at the IOOF Hall with 45 communicants attending. Father John Daly officiated. A Mass was also held at the Des Moines Theater. St. Phil's was elevated in 1952 to a canonical parish and built at their present site.

Midway Community Church organized in 1942, later combining with Des Moines Calvary Covenant Church to form Midway Community Covenant Church on South 224th Street.

Jim Langston, a historical society board member, said, "As a kid I attended summer services at Covenant Beach Park and every time we sang 'Heavenly Sunshine' it seemed clouds parted and sunshine appeared."

The First Church of Christ Scientist Des Moines held Sunday school in a small building at Sixth Avenue South at South 223rd Street. A chapel was erected later near what is now QFC and homeport to the "USS Minnow" boat.

For information about Des Moines Historical Society meetings, call 206-878-7205.

This column would not be complete without mentioning Grace Lutheran Church and my pleasure at recognizing Pastor Edward Markquart upon his retirement after 32 years.

Pastor Markquart strikes me as one called to serve. In recent years, even lingering on the edge of death, he came back. The Rev. John O'Neal is now lead pastor of the congregation.

A farewell service for Pastor Markquart will be held Sunday, May 20, at 9:30 a.m. Call 206-878-2640 for information.

If the "Greatest Generation" was still in charge, we might not find ourselves in such a pickle of unrest in this world.

Thought for the Day: "Personality has the power to open many doors, but it's character that keeps them open."