Church: Providence Presbyterian Church, 1846: Wyoming County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan Carter White Pieroth.
 pieroth@ix.netcom.com

USGENWEB NOTICE:  In keeping with our policy of providing
free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by
non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on
all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be
reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other
organizations.
___________________________________________________________________

             Providence Presbyterian Church, 1846


	The organization of the First Presbyterian Church of Providence has
already become so much a matter of the past that but few persons
living can testify in relation to it and its history must mainly be
gathered from the brief minutes recorded by hands long since at rest
from earthly labors.

	On the 27th day of July, 1846, the citizens of Providence village
assembled "to take measures for building a meeting house". It was at
that meeting voted that such house should be built; that it should be
under control of some one denomination and that such denomination
should be the Presbyterian.  Previous to this, school-houses had
served for religious gatherings and there was no regularly organized
Church in Providence.

	At a meeting held August 10th, 1846, an offer of N. Cotrill to give
a lot 70x100 feet and ground for a road from the Carbondale and
Wilkes-Barre road to the front of the church lot, and also ground for
a road from the Turnpike at the corner of Wm. M. Champin's lot to the
land of Leopold Von Storch, was accepted.  At this meeting a draft
for a "meeting house", presented by a committee previous appointed,
was adopted; the proposed building to cost about $2,000.00.  An
application for a charter, signed by J. R. Wint, S. Estabrooks, Wm.
M. Champin, W. W. Winton, N. Cotrill, S. Grant, James Anderson, Ira
Tripp, F. Fuller, A. Corson and J. Marion Alexander, was granted
January 5th, 1847, and, in compliance with its provisions, on April
19th of the same year, at the first regular meeting of the church and
congregation, Asa Corson, Sylvanus Estabrooks, Joseph Charr, J. R.
Wint and Wm. Champin were elected Trustees, who, at a meeting for
organization, elected J. R. Wint, President and S. Estabrooks,
Secretary.  The house was dedicated July 25th, 1849.  The first
Pastor was Rev. Joseph Barlow, long since gone, through a literal
fiery ordeal to his reward.  There stands no record of the amount of
his salary but we find that the first rental of pews realized but
$121.52, much of it paid in various merchandise, and we can conclude
that this amount was very near the sum total.  After Mr. Barlow came,
the Rev. Samuel Whaley, who's salary at first was $500.00 (although
$100 of this amount was from the Home Missionary Society), who after
a pastorate of nearly twelve years was succeeded by the Rev. James B.
Fisher in February 1869, who remained nine years.  The present Pastor,
the Rev. George E. Guild was called March 1879.

	At a meeting of the church and congregation held October 14th, 1862,
in consideration of the amount of $200.00 pledged by Mr. George
Salmon, a friend of the Pastor, Rev. S. Whaley, it was "resolved that
the Society attempt to build a parsonage.  Lots were offered by
Messrs. H. B. Rockwell and W. W. Winton and the one offer by H. B.
Rockwell accepted.  One year from above date, the committee,
appointed to superintend the erection of a parsonage, reported the
building completed at an expense of $1,413.08, with a debt of only
$72.00.

	A Lecture and Bible Class room was added to the church building
October 8th, 1869, during the pastorate of the Rev. J. B. Fisher,
costing $900.00.  Since that time very little has been done to the
Church Edifice.  From time to time various plans looking toward the
erection of a new House of Worship have been discussed and discarded
until in October 1882 the Trustees, acting for the Ladies Aid Society
purchased the lot (from Ira Tripp for $2250.00) upon which the new
Church is now being erected.

	In 1884, the parsonage built in 1869 was sold and with the proceeds
a commodious house was built upon a portion of the newly purchased
lot.  At a meeting of the church and congregation July 24th, 1885,
the Trustees were instructed to proceed to the erection of a new
Church Edifice, adopting the plans submitted by Mr. L. G. Perry, of
Binghamton.  In October of that year, the  contract for the
foundation was awarded Mr. John Snaith - consideration $3,000.00 -
and in July of that present year they contracted with the same
builder to erect the exterior of the Church for $8,300.00.  The Board
of Trustees serving at time of awarding contract:

	J. B. Farries, President
	W. D. Kennedy, Secretary
	H.  Pennypacker, Treasurer
	W. J. Lewis
	A.  Simpson


Notes compiled by Mrs. W. D. Kennedy, September 1886.


******************************************* This is one of Amelia
Maria Carter Kennedy's documents passed down to me through her
daughter's son. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1844, the
daughter of Pulaski and Olive Ingalls Carter. The wife of William
DeWitt Kennedy, she died July 23, 1923.

Susan Carter White Pieroth pieroth@ix.netcom.com