Building date: 1844
Original use: Newfane Methodist Church
Corner structures:
Mortar application and content:
Types and uses of stones:
Types and choice of windows:
Structures with similar masonry details:
Masons who worked on building:
Unique features:
Map views courtesy Google Maps. Address is Google Earth confirmed; 43°17'02.58"N 78°42'31.32"W. Current owner of record, Newfane Methodist Church as of the 2019 Tax Roll.
Town of Newfane and Niagara County Maps
Newfane Methodist Church originated in 1832 with meetings held in a school house near Eighteen-Mile Creek, south of the village at Adams Mills. This spot is now known as Tompkins Mills. The first permanent church building was erected in 1844 on the same site of the current building at the corner of Main Street and Charlotteville road (East Avenue). Due to structural problems it was demolished and replaced in 1905. The second building burned in 1931. The current church school building was erected in 1956. Richard Palmer email 190608.
The first Newfane Methodist Church was erected in 1844. It was a cobblestone building 40x50 feet, and seated 250. In 1905 it was torn down [due to structural] problems and replaced by a more modern up to date one. The second one burned down on Feb. 12, 1931. The third edifice was dedicated on January 3, 1932. (Excerpt from article in Niagara Falls Gazette, January 2, 1932) Richard Palmer blog.
Brief History (Scroll down page) by Newfane United Methodist Church.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. (Excerpt)
The Methodist Episcopal church at Charlotte was organized April 22nd, 1844. The first class was formed at Adam's Mills, with James Mathews as leader, in 1832. There was preaching at this place every two weeks, in the old log school-house that stood where Mrs. Tolen's house now stands. The records do not give the names of preachers until 1835, when S. Judd and W. D. Jewett were on this circuit; in 1836, W. O. Jewett and John Johnson; in 1837-38, D. Nichols; 1839, 1840, J. B. Lankton; 1841, A. P. Ripley.
In 1842 the place of preaching was changed to Charlotte, with W. D. Buck preacher in charge, followed in 1843-44 by William B. Cooley, under whose administration the society was fully organized by the election of the following board of trustees: James McKinney, George Steele, Walter Shaw, Reuben Godfrey, Samuel C. Brown, Oliver Lewis and Daniel Shaw.
The present church edifice was built in 1844,of cobblestone, at a cost of $2,000, Hon. George R. Davis of Troy, N. Y., giving a deed, free of cost, for the lot upon which it stands. The size of the church is 40 by 50, and it will seat 300.
In 1845 Rev. J. W. Vaughn was the pastor; in 1846, S. H. Baker; 1847, W. B. Slaughter; 1848, 1849, R. C. Foote; 1850, J. McEwen and J. Latham; 185 1, F. H. Conable and James Watts; 1852, 1853, William B. Cooley; 1854, J. Kennard and J. Latham; 1855, H. May; 1856, E. P. Clark; 1857, 1858, William Seism; 1859, W. H. Kellogg; 1860, 1861, C. D. Burlingham; 1862, S. M. Hopkins; 1863, 1864, G. W. Terry; 1865, Z. Hurd; 1866, B. Van Benschoten; 1867, 1868, B. N. Leake; 1869, 1870, Asa Staples; 1871-73, C. W. Swift; 1874-76, J. McClelland; 1877, 1878, E. J. Whitney.
The Sunday-school connected with this church was organized in 1836, with about forty scholars, and Oliver Lewis superintendent. The present school numbers one hundred pupils. The average attendance is seventy-five. Walter Shaw is superintendent. "History of Niagara County, N.Y.", Sanford & Company N.Y. 1878, p. 19, courtesy Cornell University Library.
 Early Methodist 1844.jpg ¹ |  Newfane Methodist 1905-1931.jpg ¹ |
¹ Images courtesy William Clark, Newfane Town Historian, historian@townofnewfane.com. Thanks to Richard Palmer for contacting William Clark to obtain information and images for the Cobblestone Info Base.
