Presbytereian Church
10 North Cayuga Street
“For a time Presbyterian services were held in the stone store house on south side of canal.”1
“The Presbyterian Church of Union Springs has long been organized; but the present edifice was
moved to the village from the north part of the town, in 1840. It will seat three hundred people, and
cost about three thousand dollars. There are one hundred members of the Church. Rev. Mr. Clark
was first pastor, and Rev. N. A. Prince the present. Albert W. Allen is the Superintendent of the
Sabbath School, which has nine teachers and one hundred scholars.”2
“The present edifice was built by in 1840 when the stone church at Cross Roads was abandoned. It
was said to seat three hundred people.”3
“Presbyterian Church - - "The first church building erected was of gray stone and was north of the
old burying-ground at Thompson's Mills. The first meeting held in it was June 29th, 1817. The
church was built in 1816, used until 1837, and torn down in 1851. A few of the old residents can
still remember attending service in this church when it was first built. The interior of the edifice
was exceedingly plain and severe. At first the seats were long benches, afterwards came the high,
square pews. No music save vocal, was allowed, but afterwards the base viol was introduced. People came to meeting from many miles around. They all brought their dinners and after the morning
sermon and Sunday School, in the summer they sat on the benches outside and lunched and visited.
In the afternoon there was church again."4
“The present building occupied by the First Presbyterian church of Union Springs was erected
some time previous to 1840, and many improvements since have been made.5
“The early records of the Presbyterian Church show that in 1801 Gilbert and Abigail Weed, Josiah
and Rebeccah Mix, Samuel and Jacob Shaw came to this area bringing letters from churches in
New England and New York. In 1802 they organized a church which was called The First Congregational Church of Christ in Aurelius, and called Rev. David Higgins as pastor. A stone church was
built at Crossroads. This religious group eventually evolved into The First Presbyterian Church of
Springport and built a house of worship on Cayuga Street in Union Springs. The church became
Presbyterian in 1822. The present building was erected in 1840 for $2,650.00. A review of church
records reveals that on May 28, 1840, the Session authorized funds for what was apparently a thriving ‘Sabbath School’. Since the American Sunday School Union was not established until 1824, we
assume that this Sunday School was one of the oldest in the country.6
“The building was built by Erastus Myers on land given by George Howland.”7
- H’s Reminiscences, author unknown.
- Brigham’s Directory – 1863.
3
- Brigham’s Directory - 1863.
4 - The Indian & the Pioneer by Rose N. Yawger, pub. Syracuse, NY 1893 by C. W. Bardeen. Vol. II, Page 78 - 82.
5
- The Indian & the Pioneer, by Rose N. Yawger, pub. Syracuse, NY 1893 by C. W. Bardeen .Vol. II, page 82
6
- Bicentennial Historyof Springport & Union Springs 1976 – Page 80.
7
- Bicentennial History of Springport and Union Springs NY 1976; page 80.
1
2
The Windows are not of the “Stained Glass” type; but rather are recognized as the prized type of
“Opalescent Glass” A visitor to the building saw the windows and recognized the fact that they
were composed of Opalescent, rather than Stained Glass. Inquiry was made of Kokomo Opalescent
Glass Co., Inc., Kokomo, IN. The reply of Tom Giles of that company on May 27, 2003 read as
follows:
“Stained glass is a clear glass that has sprayed or painted on chemicals to color it. Our glass (colored glass) the chemicals are added to the raw batch. This way the color is part of the glass, not just
on the surface. Opalescent glass also has a light defining quality that we can control how much
light passes through the glass. Dense opalescents are used in lamps to help hide the bulb. Lighter
density opals are used in low light areas to let more light through. We also make cathedral glass
that is colored (not stained) that appears to be tinted clear glass. One advantage to this is the weather & UV rays. Some stained glass’ color will fade with time. With our glass, being colored
throughout, will last for generations.”
When the Methodist Church suggested that there be a joining of the Methodist with the Presbyterian congregations due to reduced patronage, consolidation followed. At first services were held in
each of the sanctuaries. Later, it was agreed that services be conducted only at the brick building at
the corner of Chapel and South Cayuga Streets. With that decision, the building at North Cayuga
Street fell vacant. It was soon after that that the President of the Frontenac Historical Society, Connie Talcott, suggested that the Historical Society be allowed to purchase the building for the price
of $1.00. Decision was made by the officers of the Presbyterian Church to accept the offer, provided it met with the approval of the then living heirs of George Howland, the donor of the land on
which the building had been erected. Marjory Gibbs, a member of the Presbyterian Congregation,
spent hours of effort to locate and contact those individuals, a task which required well over a year
to accomplish. With unanimous approval by the heirs, the contract for transfer was made. Through
the ensuing years, the building has become a vital part of the community, with display rooms in the
addition that had been made to the eastern end of the building. The former sanctuary is used as a
meeting room as well as a museum focus. The building has been partially restored to its former
condition and improvements are ongoing under the capable and qualified direction of Patricia
Kimber, the present Frontenac Historical Society President. 8
“The First Presbyterian Church of the village was built in 1840 (see page 43) by Erastus Myers on
land given by George Howland that adjoined the Chase house. This is the oldest church in the village. Founded in 1801, the original church was built at Cross
Roads in 1817. In 1926 an “Historical Pageant” was given during the pastorate of Rev. George Davies to commemorate the 125th anniversary.”9
8
9
- Lydia P. Hecht Notation, 2003.
- 1948 Centennial Program – A History of Our Village, Page 15. Picture Page 43, by Margaret E. Getman.