It seems appropriate to start a series of articles on the churches of Weedsport with the oldest one first. As we have noted in a previous column, the First Presbyterian Church of Weedsport actually started as a splinter group from the First Congregational Church of Sennett (now the Sennett Federated Church).

In 1825, several members of that church from the Brutus, Macedonia area decided to break away and start their own church in what would later become Weedsport. On July 9, 1825, they asked for and received letters from the Presbytery to form a new church. After worshiping in the one-room school for some time, a rough timber church was built where St. Joseph's Catholic Church now stands. The church was originally called the First Presbyterian Church of Brutus. There was no heat and foot stoves, hot water bottles and soapstones kept the parishioners warm during the lengthy services. Eventually, two iron box stoves were installed along the sides, with long stove pipes running to the chimney in the rear.

The Rev. Justis S. Hough was the first regular pastor, installed on Oct. 28, 1825. In 1855, carelessly discarded ashes from the box heaters totally consumed the church, including the new pipe organ which had been crafted locally. After considerable discussion, the land where the church had stood was sold to a group of Catholics who were, by that time, in the process of establishing a church. The congregation voted to purchase land at the corner of Watson and South Seneca streets. An old hotel on the site was demolished and two members of the congregation, Moses Dixon and Peter Douglas, paid for the property. Douglas was also one of the founders of the Auburn Seminary.

An architect was hired and construction went along rapidly. In September of 1856, the church was ready for a dedication service. Unfortunately, a severe storm blew up with rain, sleet and snow and their architects folly was soon apparent. The church had been constructed with a “battlement,” or parapeted wall all around the roof, which retained water and snow on the roof. This caused it to back up under the slate shingles and into the building. One report was given that the minister at the time, the Rev. George Washington Warner, went out on the roof and shoveled snow over the battlement. He later came back into the edifice looking like a drowned rat and cried out “oh, what shall we do?”

Eventually the problem solved itself, the timbers holding the steeple rotted from being continually wet. In 1871, it toppled into the street, injuring no one and leaving the bell exposed in the belfry. A new steeple rising 116 feet was erected and finally, the parapeted roof was removed. The longest serving pastor was the Rev. Almon R. Hewitt who came to preach as a guest speaker in 1866. He served an incredible 39 years. Electricity was installed in 1900, and in 1904 a huge beautiful “electrolier” was installed in the center of the sanctuary ceiling. In 1908, an electrically powered pipe organ was installed at a cost of $2,500 of which $1,000 was paid by Andrew Carnegie.

W.G. Adams was the appointed organist which sounds logical, since he manufactured and sold pianos and “Oriole” phonographs in the village. We have a couple of these Oriole's in the museum and they still sound fine. The church (at that time) also had a full orchestra, which was also directed by Mr. Adams. In 1916, another fire was extinguished by the fire department with little damage. A new kitchen was built in 1928. The beautiful memorial windows have been added over the years, at various times, to honor dedicated members of the church. The spire which attracted lighting strikes was removed in 1944.

In 1947, yet another devastating fire hit the church. A coal gas explosion in the furnace room started a fire which completely gutted the church, destroying the pipe organ and the beautiful chandelier, as well as the rest of the contents. Most of the stained glass windows were saved, although they needed much repair.

For the next 16 months, the congregation met in the Baptist Church Fellowship Hall which had been kindly offered to the Presbyterians. A difficult time ensued for the congregation, with only modest insurance and more than $60,000 out of pocket loss.

A committee was formed consisting of Edward Robinson, Donald Bibbens, Winthrop Hamilton, Harold Hawley, Stuart Parkman and Fred Kinney to coordinate the reconstruction of the church.

Local contractor and church elder Ross Marshall, worked as supervisor, and in September of 1948, the church was reopened for services and has not looked back. The church hall was expanded; a large parking area was created and just recently, a new lit sign was erected on Seneca Street in commemoration of its 180th anniversary. Over the years, the Presbyterian Church has been a vibrant part of the Weedsport community with special support going to the Boy Scouts and the Red Cross. Through the kindness of the Presbyterians we have in the museum, the huge and beautiful “Electrolier,” the chandelier which was nearly destroyed in the fire.

We have had it professionally restored and it in the assembly room at the museum. Again as a bit of humor which was not evident at the time, it went to the restorers in several boxes and came back fully assembled and we couldn't get it in the building! It had to be taken apart and brought in pieces, then reassembled.

Denny Randall is vice president of the Old Brutus Historical Society