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THE ANSONIA CHURCH as it appeared 50 years ago.KbhLhCHONSAnsonia church celebrates 160 yearsby Betty C. FrazierPart IIThe dedication of the Presbyterian Church ofManhattan was held in September 1840. The Rev M Spaulding of Southport,N Y. officiated The Hon William Dodge and his wife were among those present, along with Dodge’s sister, Mrs E C Steadman, wife of banker-poet Edmund Steadman A poem written for the occasion was published in the Tioga Eagle. Efforts to locate it proved unsuccessfulThe church was repaired and rededicated in 1854 and again in 1886 ^In 1843 and 1844, the members of the congregation became members of the First Presbyterian Church ipWellsboro It was considered for many years to be a branch church However, it has been open to other denominations for services through the ensuing years.Records indicate that the Rev. Thomas Foster served as the first pastor, followed by the Rev. J.F. Calkins in 1844.In 1863 there was a severe diphtheria epidemic. The Rev.Calkins was under great stress as he held 30 funerals in two months in the area. He left to serve in the Civil War as a chaplain. Upon his return he held services in the Tioga County Courthouse for the members of the Presbyterian Church.Active in the community he served as county superintendent of schools and was instrumental in the early planning and building of the beautifbl church that stands on the corner of Norris and Main streets in Wellsboro.When fire destroyed lumber for this venture, his old friend William Dodge came to the rescue, providing money to replace the loss. Memorial stained glass windows were placed in the church in memory of the Rev, Calkins and his wife by his daughters, Calkins Lane off from West Avenue was named as a tribute to this young man who came to serve the early church in Arisbnia.The Rev. A,Ci 'Shaw followed and was a minister for several years, including when the dedication of the First Presbyterian Church took place on Feb. 12,1895.It is reported that Dr. Shaw was deeply interested in the smaller churches of our area possibly due to the fact that Ansonia was among them. In 1910 he became pastor emeritus and was succeeded by the Rev. P. H. Hershey, who served until World War I when he left to serve his country as a'chap-lain.On July 17, 1918 the Rev David Evans was installed The Rev. Omn G. Cocks, was installed on Oct 6, 1922. it is apparent Dr. Cocks had a deep feeling for the little Ansonia Church. He researched and then delivered an indepth report as his sermon on the last Sunday in February 1926 surrounding the history of that church. It was published in its ' entirety in the Wellsboro Gazette on March 4,1926.Mrs. Robert (Laura) Cox, the only surviving child of Dr. and Mrs. Orrin Cocks recalls attending the little church on a few occasions. She remembers her father holding services there, possibly once a month.She also believes she took turns attending with her sister Mary and brothers Orrin and Robert, Mrs. Cox said her father traveled by horse and buggy to serve the small congregation and that whole-famihee attended, including mothers who nursed their infants during the service.Dr. Cocks’ pastorate continued for the next 22 years. He is remembered fondly by local residents as a very dignified and prayerful man whose sermons earned him a devoted congregation.His son Robert also went into the ministry and son Orrinwill be remembered by local residents as a teacher in the Wellsboro High School. His wife was a sister to Robert Myers.The Rev. Robert Marks assumed the pastorate left vacant by Dr. Cocks, and it does not appear that he or any of the ministers who followed held services in the Ansonia Church.It was in 1949 that Ansonia residents John and Eva Conferwere approached by Mrs. Clara Lehman inquiring about the possibility of organizing a Christian Missionary Alliance congregation using the old church for services.An agreement was reached and work was started to restoresome of the dignity it deserved after a few years of being unoccupied. Volunteers got busy and proceeded with the cleaning, painting and replacement of a new roof, along with other minor repairs. In time, a weH had to be drilled as the spring that provided the water had been lost when the new viaduct and road replaced the former ones.Years before a cellar was dug out — the hard way. Strong backs, pick and shovel were put to work to provide a kitchenand dining room.Mrs. Confer confirmed the stoiy that Indians had been there years ago and many Indian artifacts were uncovered during this process. A building next door was used for the Sullivan Township voting place, and the Ladies Aid Society held Election Day dinners in their church facilities.Although Mrs. Lehman was not an ordained minister, she was always referred to as '‘pastor.” A devout Christian leader, she also conducted many Bible schools during her near 20 years at Ansonia. She went to Gaieton for a time and later retired to Florida.The pastors who followed were Michaels, Bushum and McRath. Gary Shaw was the last minister. A house nearby that had once been the Ansonia grade school was used by the minister and their families.(to be continued)
Newspaper Details
Wellsboro Gazette
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Nov 11, 1998
Page 32
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
NA, 30 Jan 2022
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Wellsboro Gazette
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