1880 History of Ulster County New York - Saugerties Section

TOWN OR SAUOERTIES. 51
owned by Solomon Roosa. Thc congregation was received
into the Lutheran Synod of the State Sept. 5, 1859. The
sncccssive pastors have been Revs. R. Adelberg, 1859-61 ;
William John, 1861-63; Cour Stoffler, H. E. 'Fisher,
1863 ; J. Davis Haeger, 1866-68; J. Phil Litchenberg,
1869-71 ; Fr. C. Kaehler, 1871-74 ; J. Phil Litchenberg,
1874.
The society have a neat parsonage, a suBciently convenient
house of worship, and an active membership. The
value of the church property may be estimated at $5000.
The present organization (March, 1880) is. as follows :
Rev. C. Kuehn, settled in 1879 ; Henry Seaman, A. H.
Kanoust, Louis Tacke, Elders; John Bruckner, Charles
Hensehel, John Spahr, Deacons ; Charles Quase, Herman
Peters, John Long, John Keller, Andreas Jacobs, Trustees ;
Louis Locke, Treasurer; A. H. Kanoust, Clerk.
REFORMED CHURCH, BLUE MOUNTAIN.
This church was organized in 1851. The membership
was then only 15 ; but likc the othcr numerous Reformed
Churehes of this town much determination and energy was
developed. They erected a suitable house of worship,
adapted to their wants; at a cost of about $2600. The
first pastor was Rev. A. C. Hillman.
The Reformed Cl~urch of Bluc Mountain, a branch of
the old church at Kaatsbaan, was organized, in 1851, by
a committee of Classis consisting of Rev. V. M. Hulbert,
D.D., of Flatbush (now of RIarbletown), and Rev.
M. L. Schenck (deceased), of Plattekill. The names of
the first o5cers were: Elders, George Young (deceased),
Simeon P. Rlyer (deceased), Jeremiah Snyder (deceased),
Peter Becker; Deacons, John H. Freligh, Nelson Myer
(deceased), Abram Wolven (deceased), Cornelius Minkler.
Hence only three of the original consistory are yet living.
The house of worship was also built in 1851, the cornerstone
being laid by Rev. Henry Ostrander, D.D. (deceased),
of Kaatsbaan, and the dedication sermon preached by Rev.
C. Van Santvoord, D.D., of Saugcrties (now of Kingston).
The church building and lot are worth $3000 ; parsonage
and lot, $1000. The ministers of the church have been
Alexander C. Hillman, 1852-58; Cornelius J. Blauvelt,
- 1859-62 ; William D. Buckelew, 1864-71 ; A. P. Freeze,
1872-74 ; George W. Labaw, the present incumbent, 1874.
All are yet living except Mr. Hillman, who died in 1876.
The present officers of the church are : Elders, John H.
Freligh, William S. Myer, Jacob Carn, Washington Myer ;
Deacons, William Schoonmaker, Jacob Spellman, Peter T.
Minkler, James W. Cole.
Mr. John H. Freligh has been in the consistory, first
as deacon and then as elder, since the organization of the
church.
The membership of the church at this date is 253. It
has two Sunday-schools, and consequently two superintendents.
The superintendegt of the school in thc church
is David W. Hommel. The superintendent of the school
at West Saugerties is James W. Cole. The church has
been entirely self-supporting almost from the start; it has
had no debt in the past and none now. During the
months of Janpary, February, and March, 1875, the
church enjoyed a very extensive and powerful revival,
1 when more than 140 members were added to the church,
thus greatly increasing its strength.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ULSTER.
This church was organized May 16,1853, and was recognized
by a Council June 16th of the same year. Rev. Ray
Palmer, D.D., Rev. R. 8. Storrs, Jr., D.D., Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher, and others were present at the Council and
took part in the services. This organization grew out of
differences arising in the Reformed Church over the build:
ing of a new house of worship and the sale of the old
- propcrty.
A Lutheran Church having disbanded about that time,
the Congregational Society obtained the use of their house
of worship for a few months, and also received an addition
of members from the same source. The work of building
a church edifice was, however, entered upon immediately,
and the corner-stone laid the same year of the organization.
The finished church is ir beautiful structure of
brick, tastefully arched and wrought in the exact likeness
of granite. It opens into a fine chapel in the rear, and is
fronted with a hi~ndsome tower, which is supplied with a
rich-toned bell of 2400 lbs. weight and a clock. The main
edifice is lighted by ten heavy arched and mullioned windows
with colored glass, and has a richly paneled and
stuccoed ceiling, with elaborate pulpit and columnar recess.
It is warmed by furnaces beneath, and has a seating capacity
of 600. Its cost was nearly $14,000. It has a
pleasant site at the head of Bridge Street. The dedication
took place Oct. 16,1855, the discourse being delivered
by Kcv. J. I?. Thompson, D.D., of New York City.
Pastors.-Various ministers served as supplies during
thc first two years, while the church edifice was in process
of erection. On the same day of the dedication, Rev. S. B.
Goodenow was installed as the first pastor. Including him
the succession has been as follows : ltevs. S. B. Goodenow,
1855-58 (now preaching at Roseville, Ill.) ; L. C. Lockwood,
1858-59 (now residing in Brooklyn); Edward A.
Collier, 1860-61 (now pastor of the Reformed Church of
Kinderhook) ; George H. Coffee, 1861-65 (now practicing
law at Hackensack, N. J.); George W. Fisher, 1865-68
(now pastor of the Congregational Church of Peacedale,
R. I.) ; George W. Martin, 1868-69 (died in Colorado in
1872); Joseph Danielson, from June, 1870, to February,
1877 (now pastor of the Congregational Church, Southbridge,
Mass.) ; John M. Wolcott, from March 8,,1877, to
July 8, 1880.
The present officers are as follows :
Advisory Committee.-AIonzo Walter, Wells Myer,
Michael Fiero, Examining Committee; Abram J. Suderly,
Benjamin Myer, Benjamin M. Gillespy, Deacons; Benjamin
M. Coon, Clerk ; Peter J. Rightmyer.
Trustees.-Peter J. Rightmyer, Nelson Myer, J. K. Merritt,
Dr. D. Chipman, Benjamin M. Coon, Bryan Finger.
The Sunday-school superintendent is J. I