A Jesuit Mission was established in Cayuga on November 1668, by Father deCarheil. This mission was dedicated to Saint Joseph.
Prior to 1800, there were no resident ministers in Aurelius. Christian Societies were attended, and organized in 1799. Their first resident pastor was the Rev. David Higgins. The Church of Aurelius was dissolved in 1813.
From 1811 to 1819, the Presbyterians were supplied with monthly missionary meetings and worshipped with the Aurelius Society in an old stone building. This was about four miles southeast of Cayuga and about two miles west of the town of Oakwood. On April 26, 1819, a public meeting was held in the rear of the since burned, Davis Hall, on Center Street in Cayuga. The Presbyterian church, located in the village, had a member who had a strong influence for the good of mankind. Her name was Parthenia Foot. She came to Cayuga from Benson, Vt., about 1820. She always had a great vegetable garden. She would share her bounty with anyone that needed it. She also had a beautiful flower garden and would have flowers in church weekly. She also had a love for reading and was responsible for organizing the first Sunday school at the Presbyterian church.
The Presbyterian church was remodeled and enlarged during the summer of 1854 at a cost of $3,000. The beautiful colonial spire was erected, and the bell, which called the people to worship, was hung.
On April 8, 1874, the Ladies of Missionary Society was formed. They would have 40 members attend meetings. However, in 1910, the Ladies Missionary Society dwindled and the Ladies Aid Society took its place.
These ladies would meet weekly to work on projects. Many quilts were made. This was considered by a lot of the women to be their only social time. After each of these meetings, fancy desserts and teas were consumed.
Lightning hit the steeple in the early 1900s. Mrs. Caroline Probst, a member of the church, telephoned her sister Gertrude Warnecke, a singer from Cleveland, Ohio, to come to Cayuga and sing to raise money for a new steeple. She was noted for breaking a glass with her high notes. Enough money was raised from the concert to rebuild the steeple. People from all over the state came to the concert.
Sunday school was held each Sunday morning. James Roe Stevenson, who studied for the ministry, and also ran the Cayuga Fruit Farm, and Benjamin Foster, father of the late Watson Foster, ran the Sunday school. There were about 50 people who attended.
The church closed its doors in 1961, and the members united with the church in Union Springs. The church has since been torn down and all that remains now is an empty lot.
Ruth Probst is historian for the town of Aurelius
From 1811 to 1819, the Presbyterians were supplied with monthly missionary meetings and worshipped with the Aurelius Society in an old stone building. This was about four miles southeast of Cayuga and about two miles west of the town of Oakwood. On April 26, 1819, a public meeting was held in the rear of the since burned, Davis Hall, on Center Street in Cayuga. The Presbyterian church, located in the village, had a member who had a strong influence for the good of mankind. Her name was Parthenia Foot. She came to Cayuga from Benson, Vt., about 1820. She always had a great vegetable garden. She would share her bounty with anyone that needed it. She also had a beautiful flower garden and would have flowers in church weekly. She also had a love for reading and was responsible for organizing the first Sunday school at the Presbyterian church.
The Presbyterian church was remodeled and enlarged during the summer of 1854 at a cost of $3,000. The beautiful colonial spire was erected, and the bell, which called the people to worship, was hung.
On April 8, 1874, the Ladies of Missionary Society was formed. They would have 40 members attend meetings. However, in 1910, the Ladies Missionary Society dwindled and the Ladies Aid Society took its place.
These ladies would meet weekly to work on projects. Many quilts were made. This was considered by a lot of the women to be their only social time. After each of these meetings, fancy desserts and teas were consumed.
Lightning hit the steeple in the early 1900s. Mrs. Caroline Probst, a member of the church, telephoned her sister Gertrude Warnecke, a singer from Cleveland, Ohio, to come to Cayuga and sing to raise money for a new steeple. She was noted for breaking a glass with her high notes. Enough money was raised from the concert to rebuild the steeple. People from all over the state came to the concert.
Sunday school was held each Sunday morning. James Roe Stevenson, who studied for the ministry, and also ran the Cayuga Fruit Farm, and Benjamin Foster, father of the late Watson Foster, ran the Sunday school. There were about 50 people who attended.
The church closed its doors in 1961, and the members united with the church in Union Springs. The church has since been torn down and all that remains now is an empty lot.
Ruth Probst is historian for the town of Aurelius
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.