Building date: Construction begun 1842 with dedication in 1843.
Original use:
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: Harvey Clark
Unique features:
Map views courtesy Google Maps. Address of current church is Google Earth confirmed; 43°13'31.54"N 77°18'05.25"W. Exact location of the no longer existing cobblestone church has not been confirmed.
Town of Ontario and Wayne County Maps.
The Presbyterian Church at Ontario, courtesy History of Monroe County, page 131, W. H. Mc Intosh, Everts, Ensign & Everts, Philadelphia 1877.
The present First Presbyterian Church of Ontario Center was built in 1914 and is constructed of pre-cast concrete block, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presbyterian_Church_of_Ontario_Center). It was built when the congregation needed a larger building. The 1914 church replaced the original cobblestone church (1840s) which was a simple, one-story, gable-roof building with rectangular footprint. That church included the sanctuary on the 1st story and a meeting room on the ground floor/lower level. There are photos of this cobblestone building in several publications (1957, 1972) describing the history of Ontario. My Howk ancestors were involved with the founding of this congregation. My paternal great, great grandfather, Dr. Loammi Whitcomb, MD donated the land for the church, while my paternal grandfather, Dr. Whitcomb's son-in-law, John Crouch Howk (1836-1920) helped, along with others, to gather the stones used in the construction and build the church. The family names of these founding families are included in the large stained glass window located on the façade (north wall) of the present church building. This information, and more about the cobblestone church, is detailed in the church records. Cynthia Howk email 6/30/2020.
Some Background Info
This church and its two buildings have particular interest to me, as several of the founders are my direct ancestors: Dr. Loammi Whitcomb, MD (1798-1875) is my paternal great, great grandfather. John C. Howk (1836-1920) is my paternal great-grandfather/he married Catherine Whitcomb (1838-1915), the youngest daughter of Dr. Whitcomb. One of 5 sons of John and Catherine, Judson W. Howk (1873-1939) is my paternal grandfather. When the 1914 church was built for this congregation, the last names of the founding members (including "Whitcomb" and "Howk") were included in the design of the large stained glass window on the façade (N.) elevation of the church. At the same time, a large, round window was installed in the south gable - over the altar - with the name "Sarah Whitcomb" on the glass. Sarah was the daughter of Dr. Edson Whitcomb, eldest son of Dr. Loammi Whitcomb (which makes her the granddaughter of Dr. Loammi Whitcomb). Sarah Whitcomb served as organist for the congregation (in their cobblestone building) for over 30 years. When Sarah died in 1908 at age 59, her will included a generous bequest to the church, which helped pay for the new building (1914) - thus, the 'memorial window' to Sarah was placed prominently, in the top of the gable, directly above the altar.
Information from 1971 book:
Title of Book: "History of the Town of Ontario"
Edited by: Virginia Stammel Scully & Augusta Trimble, honorary editor (note: Virginia was the official Town Historian, at the time of this publication; while Augusta was the retired Town Historian).
Number of Pages: 186 pages
Date of Publication: 1971
Publisher: Empire State Weeklies, New York
Details: this book was first published in 1957, to celebrate Ontario's Sesquicentennial. Augusta Trimble was editor of the 1957 book. Due to many requests for copies & the large amount of new information, the Town of Ontario Historical Society re-printed an expanded edition of the 1957 - in 1971. It retained the original layout, photos & text ---- but new text was added, where necessary. This included new text documenting the history of the town during the period 1957-1971. The new text, added in 1971, was printed in a somewhat different font style & in 'bold' lettering.
Here is that excerpt from the 1971 book:
Table of Contents:
V. CHURCHES OF ONTARIO
- Ontario Presbyterian Church, Cobblestone structure excerpts pages 65-67 from the book "History of the Town of Ontario 1807-1971", Town of Ontario Historical Society, limited edition revision, September 1971. Reproduced with copyright permission provided by the Town of Ontario Historical Society and Heritage Square Museum.
Title: "Presbyterian Church by Helen Payne"
Text:
"In 1833 under the leadership of Rev. Bliss a meeting was held in a 'Brick Schoolhouse' situated on the Ridge Road in Ontario village and an organization of a Presbyterian Church was started. The names of the seven members constituting this Society were: MR. and Mrs. Richard Sutpin. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Curtiss. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Mack Mack and Wilhelmus Decker. Meetings were held at the schoolhouse during the year and the membership was increased to eleven. In June 1834 the Society changed from the Presterian form of government to a Congregational Society, with a membership of 38. In 1842 or there about the project of building a church was under way. The lot for the Church site was donated by Dr. Loammi Whitcomb and Walter Cone, who owned a farm on the Ridge, said that he would give them all of the stone that they wanted. The members of the Congregation had a 'bee' and drew the stone. The cobblestones for facing the wall and the sand for mixing the mortar were drawn from the lake."
"The Church was ready for occupancy in 1843. In the summer of 1851 during a severe storm one Sunday afternoon, the Church was struck by lightning. In 1857 which was then running on an independent basis, was taken under the care of Lyons Presbytery and it has bee known as a Presbyterian Church since that time."
"In the early days Dr. Whitcomb accompanied the choir by playing a bass viol. Later a melodian (sic) was loaned to the Church by Mrs. Hiram Harrison. Then in a few years a Mason and Hamlin organ was purchased and was used until 1893 when Edson Harkness presented an organ to the Church. In 1868 the first Elders of the Church were elected and they were: John C. Howk, Andres Fries and Will Cramer. During the early days of the Church a Sabbath School was established and has always been maintained. A Woman's Missionary Society was started in 1875 and is still active. In 1898 the Church purchased the Parsonage, the house which is now owned by Issac Massielye at Ontario Center."
"In 1907 the Church celebrated its 74th anniversary at which time Rev. Henry C. Millard was Pastor. IT was during Rev. T.C. Bell's pastorate (1913-1918) that the old cobblestone building was torn own and the present one erected and dedicated on July 15, 1915. During Rev. G. McChesney's pastorate in 1920 the new manse on Ridge Road was purchased from Mrs. Osborne. In 1924, Rev. Millard was again called to become Pastor of the Presbyterian Church and he remained until September 1945. The following achievements were attained during his pastorate: the building of a Community Hall., land added to the Manse, water installation in the church kitchen, the Church mortgage paid and burned, and the purchase of a new Kohl pipe organ, which was dedicated in May, 1946. On April 5, 1933 the Church celebrated its 100th anniversary under the leadership of Rev. Millard."
"The following is a list of Pastors of the Church in the order in which they served: Rev. Bliss, organizer; Revs. Merritt, Judson, Eddy, Burbank, Manley, Holcomb, Young, Dunning, Bosworth, DeLong, Dade, Snashall, Kingsley, Page, Pollock, Hodgeman, Hallock, Dyke, Newman, Mason, Funnell, Baker, Millard, Searles, Bell, Phillips, Van Slyke, McChesney, Millary, Talman, Childs and Spicer. Our membership has grown to 173 and under the capable leadership 9f the present Pastor, Rev.Raymond Tennies, this Presbyterian Church continues to serve the community."
"Rev. Raymond Tennies remained with the church until the fall of 1962, when he left to assume the leadership at a church at Campbell, New York. In 1963 Rev. Ronald Sloan became pastor. Under his leadership the membership grew to 272. The McCrea property adjoining the church was purchased and a new manse was built in Evergreen Village. In 1970 Rev. Sloan left for further study at Princeton University. Rev. Fred Coffman is the new pastor of the Ontario Presbyterian Church."
(note: all of the above text - with the exception of the last paragraph - dates from the 1957 edition of the book; the last paragraph - in bold - was added in the 1971 edition of the book and appears 'in bold' in that book). Cynthia Howk email 4/30/2021.
"The History of the First Presbyterian Church, Ontario Center, New York"
Author of document: None listed; the only citation regarding origin of this document is at the very end of page 4, which has the following:
(This manuscript was given to me, Rev. Raymond Tennies; by Mr. William Augustine on March 11, 1960)
Historic background on the history of this congregation, via a four-page typewritten essay, a copy of which was given to me September, 1999 by Virginia "Ginny" Loomis, a long-time member of this congregation and, at that time, on the Capital Campaign Committee. Publication date for this 4-page document: between 1936 and 1954 (I've estimated these dates, based on names, dates, events described in the text). I'm sending excerpts from this 4-page document, which describe the original cobblestone church, its construction, etc. There is impressive detail about the gathering/sorting (a "bee") and construction process - as you'll read/below. This might be one of the more detailed descriptions of a cobblestone process, particularly as it names many of the individual craftsmen/specific task they completed. You'll see the name of Walter Cone mentioned (owned a farm on the Ridge - donated the stone for the first church). The Cone family still own this farm, in 2021. Cynthia Howk email 4/26/2021.
Excerpts from text:
Pages 1 & 2 -
"For several years meetings were held in the school house at Ontario Center. There are no records of the society from 1838 to 1842. Perhaps, during that period, it had not been very successful in keeping up meetings, as; in 1842 it was deemed necessary to effect a new organization." "At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Ontario, held agreeable to a public notice, the 20th of May 1842, Richard Sutphin was appointed moderator and Southard Harkness clerk. Whereupon it was resolved that we proceed to organize ourselves into a society to be known as the Congregational Society of the town of Ontario, New York. Resolved that Southard Harkness and Loammi Whitcomb be a committee to report a constitution and by laws at our next meeting. Adjourned to meet at school house next June 4th at 6 P.M."
"These two meetings were held in the Ontario Center school house. No further records of these meetings have been found; but at this time, the project of building a church was under way, and a stone edifice was decided upon. The following subscriptions were made and they probably represent all the money that was raised for the purpose. The lot for the church was donated by Dr. Loammi Whitcomb and hye headed the list with a subscription of $30.00. Richard Sutphin gave $20.00, Scotter Whitcomb $10.00, George Preston $15.00; Loren Whitcomb $50.00; Southard Harkness $12.00; Harvy Clark $5.00; Thomas Kingman $30.00; Theodore Curtiss $5.00; Ruth Chapman $10.00; Mary Whitney $5.00; Armina Whitney $2.00; and Orril Sage $2.00; making a total of $209.00 Of this amount, $20.00 was paid for shingles $23.00 for pine; $30.00 for windows and $40.00 for paint. The balance of $96.00 was probably all that was available to pay for incidentals and for expert mason work."
"Walter Cone, who owned a farm on the Ridge, said he would give them all the stone they wanted, if they would pick them up and draw them. The members of the Congregation decided that the best way to get the stone in place was, to have a bee. So one morning a large number of men and boys with teams started in to see what could be done with the stone. They soon got interested in the work, and as the most of them seemed to have imbibed the idea that he individually could do a little more work than his neighbor they soon got to racing and work went off lively. But before they were able to decide the important of who was the champion, they found they had picked and drawn enough stone for the body part of the church. The cobblestones for facing the walls, and the sand for mixing the mortar, were drawn from the lake. Harvey Clark did a large part of the mason work."
"When the masons and other workman were laying the walls, Mrs. Loammi Whitcomb boarded them without compensation, so as to make the money go as far as it could."
"The seats in the church which were used for 75 years, were made of butternut lumber and were contributed by William A. Fuller who did the greater part of the carpenter work on the building."
"The church was ready for occupancy in 1843. When completed a long porch ran across the front, from which there were two doors, for entrance which opened into a hall about four feet wide, that extended the whole length of the north side. Two doors opened from it, into the audience room. As you entered this room, a raised pulpit stood on the north side. The congregation when seated faced the north. There was a raised platform on the south side for the choir."
"In 1857, this church, which was then running on an independent basis was taken under the care of the Lyons Presbytery, and it was virtually a Presbyterian church from then on."
"About 1869 the basement, which had never been plastered, was done off by the Ontario Center Good Templar Society, who wished to use it for their meetings. Nelson S. Main did all the plastering and Oscar F. Whitney and John C. Howk mixed the mortar and carried it to him. This work was done nights and without compensation."
"In the early years of the church Dr. Loammi Whitcomb helped out the choir by playing a bass viol. In 1866 Mrs. Hurun Harrison loaned the church a melodian. This instrument was used several years and then a Mason and Hamlin organ was purchased. In 1887 Peter Freer presented the church with the pulpit chairs which are still in use."
Page 2 -
"In 1898 the Society purchased the parsonage. About 1901 Mrs. Cobus by will $50.00 to the church. This was used to make a payment on the parsonage."
"In 1868 was the first time the Elders were elected for the church: John C. Howk, Andres Fries, and Will Crammer were chosen. Some others who served as elders are: Loammi Whitcomb, William Wall, William Hooker, Thomas Lolley, Oscar F. Whitney, William Fries, Edward Alborn, William Payne, Jacob Thomas, and Glen Cone."
"The office of church organist has bee held by Sarah Whitcomb, Mrs. BIgslow, Ray Nash, Edna Fries Purvis and Clara Pye. Sarah Whitcomb served more than 30 years."
"During the early years of the church a Sunday School was established and has always been maintained. John C Howk was superintendent from 1867 to 1897 Others that served in that office are William Fries, Ray Eddy and Glen Cone."
"A Women's Presbyterian Missionary Society was started in 1875 and has always been in active work, holding meetings monthly. The following persons were members twenty years or more :Mrs. Whitney, Sarah Whitcomb, Mrs. John C. Howk, Mrs. Horton, Mrs. Fries, Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Harrison. Mrs. Whitney, Mrs. Howk, and Sarah Whitcomb joined when the society was first organized."
"In 1889, a Christian Endeavor Society was organized by Mr. Hodgem, the pastor; who was its first president. It was I good running order and until the young ones became conversant with its management and then it was reorganized as a Young People's Society and turned over to them. Eveard Russell was then chosen president. In 1901 a Junior Endeavor Society was instituted with 14 charter members. The first superintendent was Edna Purvis, followed by Mrs. Funnell, Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Millard."
Pages 3 & 4:
"In 1907 there was a membership of 145 and 25 new members added that year. The Sunday School had a membership of 160, including teachers and officers. -------Always since the church was built regular services have been maintained either by a pastor, students from Auburn Seminary, or by the reading of sermons by the Elders. Midweek Prayer meetings have been held."
"During Rev. Bell's pastorate the old cobblestone church building erected in 1843 was torn down and the present one erected on the site and dedicated July 15, 1915. On the Building Committee were: Chairman Dr. J.S. Brandt; secretary, R.O Brundige; treasurer Glen Hopkins; M. Risiely, Isaac Van Hall, Wallace Williams, and Thomas Payne. The total cost of the building was $8,000.00."
"The building of the new church was encourage by the will of Sarah Whitcomb, a long, faithful member who left the sum of $1,200.00 towards a new church building fund. The piano now in use in the church was also a gift from her. The following Sunday School Classes gave furnishing for the new church: The G.C.L. (Golden Cross League) Class installed new pews and the northwest art window; The Brotherhood the new furnace; the Sagowash (We Serve) Class new carpet runners in the aisles of the church, art windows by the Gleaners Class; other were purchased by the G.C.L. Class in memory of Mr. and Mrs. E. Harriso, E.F. Alborn, J. Albright, Sarah Whitcomb. The Missionary Society placed the one in the front of the church in memory of the Freers; Whitcomb; Lanora, Boynton, Howk, Whitney, Parnell, Hopkins and Fries."
"During the pastorate of Rev. McChesney the manse was purchased from Mrs. Osborn for $5,200.00 This was made possible by the sale of the old manse for $2,500.00 and the sum of $2,675.00 being left to the church by Mrs. Oscar Whitney, many years an Elder of the church. Two years later a new garage was built on the same property."
"In 1924 Rev. H.C. Millard was given a 're-call' to become pastor of this church... . Some of the items of interest during this pastorate are... . the building of the Community Hall costing $5,000.00 and furnishing this with piano and chairs, etc."
"...April 5, 1933, a special celebration of the one-hundreth anniversary of this founding of the First Presbyterian Church at Ontario Center, New York was held. The celebration took place in the Community Hall. A supper and program were planned for the occasion. Many came and others sent greetings. Congratulations were received from the following people: Mrs. Bertha Bell, wife of the former pastor; Mrs. Selden Brown of Rochester, Indiana; E.T. Searls, son of a former pastor; Mrs. Susie Dare, who attended the little old cobble stone church nearly fifty years ago; Alice Adams who was in Buffalo at the time; Rev George Miller at Warsaw, New York; Rev. Charles W.Kerr who was Moderator of General Assembly; Mrs. Lewis Whittleton and family; Dr. C. Stewart Nash. Also reetings were sent from the Congregational and Baptist Churches. Mrs. Selden Brown said in her greetings: 'There will always be a warm spot in my heart for the little old church.' "
(There are 6 additional paragraphs in this essay, but their information refers exclusively to the events/people/etc. that occurred after the 1933 centennial of the congregation, so I haven't included them here).
ADDENDUM
I have special interest in the history of this congregation, due to a number of Howk ancestors who were among its founding members. While I knew some of this ----- it wasn't until meeting Ginny Loomis in the late 1990s, that I heard the 'whole story' of my family's involvement with this congregation. It was really exciting to hear these details!
You might have noted the name "John C. Howk" listed in the above text. He is my paternal great, grandfather (1836-1920); the third of his five sons is my paternal grandfather: Judson W. Howk (1873-1939). John C. Howk came in the 1840s to live in Ontario, NY from S. Granville, Washington Co. - on the Vermont border - when just a small boy. His autobiography describes traveling via Erie Canal to Lyons, where his father's elder half-sister, Electa Howk Whitney (died 1861) & her husband, Loren (died 1858) met little John. This childless couple had offered John a home - as his mother had died & his father had his hands full trying to maintain both his farm & the needs of his other children (including a new-born child). amThe Whitneys had a farm on Ridge Road, in the western part of the town of Ontario. While John helped them with farm chores - he also had the opportunity for extended education, graduating from the local one-room school, then traveling into Webster, where he boarded with a local family from Monday-Friday, during which time he attended Webster Academy - as Ontario didn't have a 'high school' until 1895.
As noted in the text of the four-page essay, John C. Howk became involved with this Presbyterian congregation from its earliest time. His aunt & uncle Whitney were among the original members. In 1868, John C. Howk was one of the first three Elders elected by the congregation. The next year, 1869, he & his uncle Oscar F. Whitney helped with the renovation of the church basement (with his uncle, Oscar F. Whitney, he mixed the mortar and carried it to Nelson S. Main, who was plastering the walls).
It was through his membership in this congregation that John C. Howk met his wife, Catherine Whitcomb (1838-1915), the second youngest child (of 8) of Dr. Loammi & Deborah Whitcomb, founding members of this congregation; Dr. Whitcomb donated the lot for the cobblestone church building. Dr. Whitcomb (1798-1875) is my paternal great, great grandfather. His granddaughter, Miss Sarah Whitcomb (daughter of Loammi’s eldest son, Edson) was organist for this congregation for 30 years. As mentioned in the text, when she died in 1908 (age 59), her bequest of $1,200 was towards the construction of a new church (which was built 6 yrs after her death).
The family names of these founding members are included in the stained glass windows in the current church (1914). The large, Gothic-arch stained glass window on the church façade includes the last names of founding families - including HOWK, WHITCOMB & WHITNEY. Sarah Whitcomb has her own memorial window: a round, stained glass window located directly above the altar - in the south gable - where her name, SARAH WHITCOMB is featured prominently in the design of the window.
John C. Howk was superintendent of the Sunday School until 1897, when the family moved to the village of Caledonia, Livingston County (where he became very active with the First Presbyterian Church there). However, two other members of the Howk family continued as members of Ontario's First Presbyterian into the 1950s: Mrs. Edson (Nina) Howk (died 1954), who was married to one of J.C. Howk's sons and Luther Howk (died 1959), only child of Edson & Nina.
 Ont-14 First Presbyterian Church 1.jpg ¹ |  Route 414 1646, 2002.jpg ² The 1914 church replaced the original cobblestone church (1840s). |
¹ "History of the Town of Ontario, 1807-1971", Town of Ontario Historical Society, 1971. Courtesy Cynthia Howk.
² Image courtesy Cynthia Howk.
