Building date: 1843 - Palmer and History of Monroe County, p 192, 1877, 1846 - Roudabush and Schmidt. Construction started 1843, completed 1846.
Original use: Church
Corner structures: Concrete pilasters
Mortar application and content: Vertical heavy. Vertical pyramids
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°13'27.96"N 77°10'50.14"W. Current owner of record, Williamson Baptist Church as of the 2019 Tax Roll. Note the tax roll property address of 4210 Ridge Road. Website lists 4212 E. Main Street which will not provide an accurate Google Maps hit.
Town of Williamson and Wayne County Maps.
First Baptist Church, 4212 Ridge Road. Built 1843. Richard Palmer blog.
"The Cobblestone Houses of Upstate New York", compiled by Dorothy Wells Pease. Research done in collaboration with Hazed B. Jeffery, supplemented with material furnished by Carl F. Schmidt, 1941. Reference the eighth paragraph on page 33.
"The First Baptist Church of Williamson", History of Monroe County, page 192, Everts, Ensign & Everts, Philadelphia 1877.
Under the date of Feb. 7, 1843 we read the following record which is, as Mrs. Cogswell says, pathetic in its briefness: "Our meeting-house burnt down." How it happened we do not know, as the record is absolutely silent about those brief words. However this catastrophe did not cause any discouragement, and the work went on as before. The meetings for several months were held in private homes, in the Hoagland school-house and in the Eddy school-house. That same month at least fourteen were baptized and within three months at least thirty-five had united with the church by baptism.
Eight days after the fire, Feb.15th, 1843, a meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church, to consider the subject of rebuilding. It was voted to rebuild and a committee appointed. After several meetings and many changes, it was finally decided that the building should be cobble-stone, 28 by thirty six feet, on a foundation eight feet from the ground, and that the eves should be twenty feet from the floor. The work of building evidently went rather slowly, for in January 1846, we find a resolution passed ordering the trustees to proceed to finish the building as far as means would warrant. It was also ordered that the choir gallery be lowered, a baptistry be placed under the pulpit, and the desk be moved to the south end of the building. In May of that year we find that it was voted to have a day of fasting and prayer preceding the dedication sermon. The date of the dedications is not given, and no further record is to be found, but was presumably within a month or two of that time. Excerpt from "The Williamson Sun and The Williamson Sentinel", Williamson NY, 4/8/1926.
"Faith of Our Fathers Williamson First Baptist", by photographer Fred Powers and historian Arch Merrill, Democrat and Chronicle 1/12/1964.
Fire, Restoration and Rededication
On June 1, 1973 in less than thirty minutes the original cobblestone structure was completely gutted by fire. It was a major event in many folk's lives, and many members still recall where they were and what they were doing when they first heard that the church was on fire. Under the leadership of Rev. Clint Barlow a meeting of several members met that same day and resolved to begin rebuilding immediately. Eighteen months and 100,000 dollars later the sanctuary and basement were completely refurbished. The church building was re-dedicated on Thanksgiving Sunday November 24, 1974. Excerpt from Our History on the website of the First Baptist Church, Williamson NY.The First Baptist Church of Williamson, NY, courtesy the Tom The Backroads Traveller blog.Baptist Church Fire Loss Set At $150,000
Williamson's First Baptist Church suffered a $150,000 fire loss Friday morning. The 127-year-old East Main Street structure was hit by fire at approximately 10:30 a. m., destroying the vestibule and heavily damaging the sanctuary, floor and basement. Quick and efficient work by several local fire companies kept the cobblestone walls and the roof intact. Hit with only water and smoke damage were the classrooms and pastor's study housed in a recent addition to the rear of the church.
According to reports efforts to rebuild the church are already underway. Coordinators of this work are D. Gordon Walker, Randy Beck and Rev. Clinton Barlow.
Chairmen of all the initial committees tacking immediate work are Mrs. Russell Storms and Mrs. George Moore, clearing of the smoke and water-damaged useable rooms in the Education Building; Mrs. Lindy VanKouwenburg, inventory of church possessions, personal effects, and bequeathed articles; and Mr. Walker, restoration.
Concerned community residents may contact any of the above-named persons to aid in the work or to forward and contributions to the First Baptist Church Treasurer, Kenneth Morgentbaler.
Baptists joined the First Presbyterian Church congregation for services last Sunday. This Sunday, June 10, there will be a combined worship service with the Presbyterians at Forman Park at 11 a. m. This will be followed by a picnic for both congregations concluding their weekends of group meetings. In case of inclement weather, this program will be held at the Presbyterian Church, West Main Street. Courtesy The Williamson Sun and Sentinel, Williamson NY, 6/7/1973.Restoration Documentation: Rebuilding Committee Report, 1974 Annual Report; Press release, "Historical Society Sponsors Tour of Church Restoration, March 5th"; and Tour of Church Restoration public flyer announcement.
Give Thanks, To The Editor - The First Baptist Church of Williamson would like to express sincere appreciation to the volunteer fireman for their efficient efforts in fighting the fire in our church on Friday, June 1. The speedy and coordinated efforts of all fire companies involved were truly remarkable. At this time an unofficial survey indicates that the basic cobblestone structure and frame addition appear to be sound. We are most grateful that the fire was extinguished quickly enough to save these portions to make restoration possible. Sincerely, First Baptist Church of Williamson. Attribution not provided.
Rededication Sunday, November 24, 1974.
Wayne Historians Organization (WHO), Historic Sites Inventory First Baptist Church (cobblestone)
- "Cobblestone Masonry", 1966, Carl Schmidt: Name reference, First Baptist Church
- Page 201
¹ Image courtesy Cobblestone Museum.
² Photography courtesy Martin and Sheila Wolfish.
³ Photography courtesy Richard Palmer.
