The Congregational Church in Norwood

(The following article appeared in the Wednesday, June 8, 1949 edition of the Potsdam Herald, page ten)

 

 

Back in the year 1858, on the fourth day of March, a meeting was held at the Norwood (then Racquettville) public school house for the purpose of organizing a Congregational or Presbyterian Society. At this meeting, Norman Ashley, Robert Mc Gill and H. E. Holbrook were elected trustees, and J. S. Morgan clerk of the Society.

Later in July of that year at a meeting of the St. Lawrence Consociation held in Norwood the desires of the petitioners were ratified and the Congregational Society became the First Congregational church of Norwood. The following persons presented themselves as candidates for admission to the church at that time: Daniel Morgan, Cynthia Morgan, A. S. Whitney, Abagail Whitney, Laura Beardsley, James H. Edgerton, Marian P. Edgerton, Truxton A. Goodrich, Charlotte O. Goodrich, Forest Morgan, "Widow" Morgan, Almina Morgan, H. E. Holbrook, Clarissa Holbrook, Diantha F. Austin, E. L. Foote, C. E. Foote, Paul P. Doud, E. C. Elms and Betsy Elms.

Shortly thereafter, the first church meeting was held at which the first officers were chosen. H. E. Holbrook and James Edgerton were elected deacons, and Paul Doud was elected clerk. Saturday of each month was designated as the time for the regular church meeting.

In 1861 a church building was erected and dedicated on Feb. 13, 1862. The lot on which the church stands was donated by B. G. Baldwin, early benefactor of the village of Norwood, and a valuation of $225 placed upon it. The cost of the building was $3775.33 thus making the total value of the property $4,000.33. Up to the date of dedication $1,546.02 was raised. On the day of dedication $561.48 was raised thus leaving a total debt of $1,667.73. Any person who donated as much as $25 toward the building was given the use of the sheds which were to be of uniform size and shape. The subscription papers also carried the announcement that on a certain day, the pews would be rented to the highest bidders.

The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Alijah Plumb, the first minister of the newly-formed church. He ably led the church through its first trying years.

It was also agreed that the members of the Methodist church would aid the subscription since they would both occupy the church for half of the time; each society would also support a minister for a half year. The Methodist brethren were also permitted to rent the seating of the church for their own use. The subscriptions were designated as Methodist or Congregational. When the time came for the Methodist Society to build their own house of worship, the trustees were to appoint a committee to make a cash appraisal. The Congregational Society agreed to pay one half the amount requested when the building was actually in the process of being erected and the remainder when the building was completed.

On July 1, 1865, the first Sunday School was organized in the Congregational church with John M. Kinsman as the superintendent.

The old fashioned singing school attracted the young folk of the community. An early school in the church was conducted by Mr. Barnard, father of the late Belle Barnard, former music instructor at Norwood High school.

During the cyclone of 1885, which lasted only eight minutes, great damage was done to the village of Norwood, estimated at $150,000. According to the annals in history, the steeple of the old Congregational church was blown off, and was never replaced.

The present structure, standing on the corner of Main St. and Baldwin Ave., is the original church. It was remodeled and a wing was added in 1907. The room, which today is used as the Sunday School room, was the church proper back in 1861. In 1907, when it was remodeled, the original church was moved until it faced Baldwin Ave., then the new wing added. Dedication services were held April 26-28, 1908 for the remodeled church under the pastorate of Rev. Louis Harold Johnson.

In the year 1914, a Felgemaker pipe organ was installed in the church. Various entertainments were held at this time to raise money for the organ fund, among them a pageant, "Hiawatha," which was presented by members of the church society on the banks of the Racquette River. The present organist is Miss Marion Cranston, who assumed that position in the church in 1924. Mrs. Donald Bidwell, choir director, leads both Junior and Senior choirs.

In 1933 the church celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding and in conjunction with the celebration held an antique show in the church parlors. Rev. Royston Cuddy, who was then serving as minister, wrote a history of the church and distributed it in pamphlet form to the members.

On the wall of the church hangs a plaque bearing the name of Norman Ashley and the date he died, 1890. Each year, on the Sunday nearest April 11, the date on which he died, a ceremony is held when smilax is draped on the plaque to honor the memory of one who was very prominent in the church's history.

Hanging over the entrance to the main church, is another plaque, bearing the inscription "My Peace I Leave With You," Given in memory of Mr. And Mrs. Henry Kinsman, by Mr. And Mrs. E. E. Wright.

The American flag and the Christian flag which stand in the auditorium, were given to the church by Mrs. Hugh Gardner in memory of the Misses Bell and Minnie Oliver.

The communion table which holds the equipment for holy communion, was given by A. L. Yale's Sunday School class.

In 1948 the church was repainted by two of the oldest active painters in Northern New York, Leslie Hydorn, 72, and George Dayton, 77. The townspeople watched with interest as the veteran painters moved nimbly about on their scaffold, about 75 feet in the air, painting the edifice.

The church with a membership of 200, has for its officers for the year of 1949: Deacons, Reuban Yale, William B. Andrew, Clayton C. Bush; Deaconesses: Miss Lucia Yale, Mrs. Blanche Bush, Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett; Trustees: Hoysli Hathaway, William Henderson, Donald Bidwell, Clayton Bush, William Hart; Moderator, Edward E. Wright; Financial secretary, Walter Hydorn; treasurer, Elizabeth Jenner. Mrs. Mildred Hart is president of the Ladies Aid Society.

Ministers who have served the congregation since the founding of the church back in 1858 include: Rev. Elijah A. Plumb, 1858-1864;l Rev. James W. Grush, 1864-1867, Rev. George Hardy, 1867-1872; Rev. Thomas Griffith, 1873-1876; Rev. C. H. Rowley, 1876-1878; Rev. E. C. Evans, 1879-1882; Rev. I. R. Chulmers, 1883-1885; Rev. G. H. Post, 1885-1887; Rev. W. H. Kelly, 1887-1889; Rev. John Pogson, 1890-1895; Rev. James Thompson, 1895-1902; Rev. H. Fay Tyler, 1902-1907; Rev. Louis H. Johnson, 1908-1911; (now in Florida); Rev. Isaac Steenson, 1911-1915 (now in Arlington, Va.); Rev. John P. Marvin, 1916-1917 (deceased); Rev. Joseph Phillips, 1918-1928 (now in Angola, N.Y.); Rev. A. B. Hotchkiss, 1928-1930 (now at Antwerp, N.Y.) Rev. Royston Cuddy, 1930-1934 (now in Endicott, N.Y.); Rev. Harold Freer, 1934-1937 (now at Lakewood, Ohio); Rev. Paul Nelson, 1938-1942 (now at Lavonia, N.Y.); Rev. John Pickens, 1942-1944 ert (sic) Gee, 1945-1946 (died in Norwood in 1946); Rev. Lawrence Haddaway, 1946-1947 (now near Rochester); Rev. David Hayeman, who came in December, 1947, is the present pastor.

These are but a few of the interesting events of the establishment of one of Norwood's oldest churches. They marked the beginning of a glorious and meritorious record of service.

 

(Note: The church celebrated its 150th anniversary on July 13, 2008)

Previous Next