I realize that history is not appreciated by everyone, but what is fascinating about this book is that it is local and touches most of us in some way. Change is continuous, and in the past decade we have only seen it accelerate with the computer age of today. At the centennial of the Mattawana Mennonite Church 27 years ago, John Drescher reported in his address that someone had found a clay tablet, reportedly written around 3000 B.C. with the message, "Alas, alas, things are not as they used to be."

Over twenty years ago when the high school building at the Belleville Mennonite School burned, the students who experienced the fire and the building they had before the fire were so very appreciative of the new building. Within ten years the students that had not experienced the fire wanted something better. This is a prime example of how people are as a whole. We tend to forget from where we have come. Documentation helps to connect us with our past by reminding us of events and conditions before us. I have spent many enjoyable hours learning about the past from written stories. But even more enjoyable were the hours I spent learning from the stories of the older generation.

Our beginning in this valley goes back to just before the end of the nineteenth century. During the first two-thirds of that century our ancestors were all Amish. A group of Amish-Mennonites emerged from the upper and middle districts to form the Allensville and Belleville congregation, which is now the Allensville and Maple Grove churches. But Bishop Abraham Zook, along with a sizable following, was not ready for the "rapid" changes they were experiencing in the other churches. Thus Locust Grove was started. In spite of the ill feelings among many of the people at that time, I now believe it was a good thing that Locust Grove was started as well as other churches since that time. More churches have provided room for growth.

The Centennial Planning Committee is deeply indebted to Max Zook for being the editor of this book. I can not imagine what we might have done without his help. Perhaps the record would not have been printed. My personal thanks to you, Max, for giving yourself to this project so that it could come into being. We have been blessed by the efforts of many selfless and giving people.

- Sanford King, Historian
Belleville, Pennsylvania
August, 1998

The Centennial Planning Committee includes the following members:

• Sanford King, Chairman
• Marjorie Armstrong
• Ray Byler
• Sara Hartzler
• Sharon Peachey
• Allen Yoder
• Percy Yoder