Bibletown

• • evangelical conference center founded in 1950 by Dr. Ira Lee "Doc" Eshleman (b. 1917 Manor, Lancaster, PA - d. 2005 West Palm Beach, FL), commended by three South Florida assemblies, and involved until 1967 when he became chaplain of the NFL, and founder of the pre-game chapel services that characterize the sport.
    • From his obit in the Palm Beach Post, Dr. Eshleman grad Moody. He also pastored Conley Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, MI, served as Worlds Fair Parson in NYC producing sacred concerts at the RCA Pavilion. He was also considered a pioneer of the city of Boca Raton, responsible for developing several hundred acres surrounding Bibletown of residential development, as well as the Paradise Palms community (1960). He founded Sports World Ministries to help pro athletes share their faith, and over the past 20 years over 15 million young people have heard these athletes speak.
    • Doc was a son of Reeder H. Eshelman (b. 1881 Highville, Lancaster, PA - d. 1980 Lancaster, PA) & Annie Frey Shenk Eshleman (b. 1879 Manor, PA - d. 1966 Conestoga, Lancaster, PA). Reeder was employed +1910-1942+ by the Penn RR.
  • Later supported by Harold Walter Buirkle (b. 1920 Jersey City, NJ - d. 2014 Boca Raton, FL) of Boca Raton Bible Chapel, as well as Camp-of-the-Woods. Part of the grounds now owned by Boca Raton Community Church, an independent Baptist gathering. Harold was a son of George Buirkle (b. 1881 Brookly, N.Y. - d. 1953 Jersey City, NJ) & Anna M. Jensen Buirkle (b. 1886 Norway - d. 1966 Jersey City, NJ), married 1907 @ NJ. His paternal grandparents were Frederick Buirkle (b. 1853 N.Y. - d. 1910 NJ) & Louise Kauffinger Buirkle (b. 1864 N.Y. - d. 1956).
  • known initially as "Boca Raton Bible Grounds", rebranded as Bibletown in 1960 by Billy Graham, rebranded again as Boca Raton Community Church by Jonathan Burnham in 2003.
  • John C. Ewing (1900-1973 Chicago, IL) attended Avondale assembly and Woodside in Maywood. Served on the boards of Pacific Garden Mission, as well as Bibletown.
  • Wayne Sorensen (1885-1986) was an elder many years at Norwood Gospel Chapel in Chicago, then in 1951 relocated to FL to help start Bibletown, and later the New Smyrna Beach Bible Chapel.
  • Tom Gray was the contact in 1964 for the nearby Boca Raton Apartments, then in 1969 were founded the presently existing Starlite Condominium Apartments, adjacent to Bibletown, by Anthony R. Lite.
  • Anthony R. Lite (1906-1979) was in fellowship at Ebenezer Gospel Chapel in Montreal, QC and the Boca Raton Bible Chapel. Trustee @ Stewards Foundation 1964-1979, also involved with C.B.M.C., Christian Direction, Park of the Palms & Bibletown.
  • Robert Lyndon Conlon (b. 1890 Jersey City, NJ - d. 1969 Hollywood, FL) moved to Miami in 1911, and lived 1927-1969 in Hollywood where he assisted in establishing the assembly there. Active as a Gideon, CBMC, and a director of Bibletown. Successful real estate developer. Interested in the work of Florida Gospel Pioneers.
  • Martha Zander (1889-1978) saved in 1911, mother of Ray Zander, lived in Boca Raton.
  • C. Ernest "Ernie" Tatham resided in Boca Raton thru 1959, when he started ministering half-time July-Dec @ Leaside Bible Chapel in Toronto, returning to Bibletown to minister in that season. When Emmaus moved from Toronto to Chicago, Ernie moved his family to Florida, and may have been among the founders of Bibletown.
  • In the 10th anniversary conference season (Jan-April) in 1960 the speakers included: Dr. Robert A. Cook, Dr. Vernon Grounds, Norman Townsend, Sherman Williams, Dr. Edward Simpson, Floyd Ankerberg, James G. Humphrey, Joe & Marion Talley, Dr. Paul Bauman, Dr. Alva McClain, Jacob Stam, Theodore McCully, Dave Breese, Dr. Andrew Telford, Harold Wildish, C.E. Tatham, Dr. Allen Redpath, Wendell P. Loveless, Eddie Martin, Dr. William Culbertson, Robert Constable, Robert Little, Dr. Ted Engstrom, Rev. Malcolm Cronk, Dr. Lehman Strauss, Dr. David Allen, Dr. Elmer Palmer, and Ira Lee Eshleman. Musical director was Neil Macauley.
    • "Florida Assembly Conference" was Feb. 8-14, 1960 @ Boca Raton with principal speakers of Ernie Tatham & Harold Wildish, with daily round-table discussions led by Robert L. Conlon & James G. Humphrey.
      • 1962 Assembly Conference Feb. 5-11, 1962 with Harold Wildish, Svend Christensen & Theo McCully as primary speakers. Jack Rose was the contact.
  • Lord's Supper held each Sunday at 6:30 p.m. 1951-1960+
  • Boca Raton Bible Chapel started at temp rented quarters at 4181 N.W. Third Ave., on Jan. 12, 1969 with 55 Christians present, with initial correspondent of Harry Emms of Deerfield Beach.
  • Mary Ross Magee (Mrs. O.E. Magee)'s brother Donald W. Ross resided at Boca Raton in 1968, both raised at the Troost assembly in Kansas City, Missouri.
  • 2nd South Florida Women's Missionary Conference on April 4-5, 1972 in Memorial Hall at Bibletown. Contact was Mrs. Anita E. Walker, Lauderdale Lakes. The 3rd was April 13-14, 1973 with Anita Walker again. The 5th was April 18-19, 1975, contact was Mrs. Margaret Chapman, Ft. Lauderdale.
  • James Humphrey served as chairman of the board at Bibletown for several years, and cofounder of the assembly.
  • James Crawford (1886-1967). Boca Raton 1957-1967. Dallas, TX 1953-1957. Addison Road & Gracemount assemblies in Cleveland, OH +1903-1953. "Deeply interested in the spiritual growth of young men in the assemblies."
  • David T. Harvey was an associate editor of LOI in 1963 and living in Boca Raton.
  • Byron T. Bjork (d. 1991 Greensboro, NC) served as an elder many years in the Sea Cliff assembly in Long Island, N.Y., then at Shannon Hills Bible Chapel, while wintering at Boca Raton.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Michael Young resided in Boca Raton in 1989.
  • Douglas Traxler was commended by the Boca Raton Bible Chapel to full-time work at Victory Christian School in St. Louis until 1989.
  • Rex Major was a Bahamian evangelist and TV speaker (1961-1991) in 1991, with Ted Seymour who served as president of his board of directors, who lived in Boca Raton.
  • Donald R. Parker, chairman of the board of Stewards Foundation in 1970 was an elder at Bethany Chapel in Yonkers 1935-1970, then Boca Raton Bible Chapel in the winter and Greenwood Hills in the summer.