The following are from undated/unidentified clippings regarding anniversaries of the Dexter Methodist Church. The first is by Marion H. Evans, a Watertown Daily Times correspondent, who consulted my grandmother, Mrs. Minnie Gladwyn Conklin, in preparation for the article. These articles were found as clippings in the Conklin Family Scrapbook, the text of which can be found on this website.

(by Shirley Farone)

The first clipping calculates out to have been written in 1949:

Dexter, Nov. 5 -- The Dexter Methodist church celebrates two anniversaries this month, the dedication of its first building in November, 1874, and dedication of the present building Nov. 22, 1899. The accompanying pictures owned by Mrs. Eva Dunn show both of these buildings.

(photos not reproduced here)

On the 22d of this month, these anniversaries will be noted when the new basement facilities of the church will be dedicated with appropriate ceremonies.

According to a paper in the trustees’ book in the handwriting of Rev. Sanger Dewey, dated 1876, “The M. E. Ch. was the first of any religious denomination in Dexter, a class being organized about 18--, when the place was known as Fish Island. It existed but a few years when the S. S. was substituted by a Union school and the class experienced reverses and was finally disbanded.”

“Preaching for many years was in Limerick 1-1/2 distant.

“In 18(69) it was restored to Dexter when Rev. S. M. Warn was pastor who occupied the “Good Templars Hall!” as a place of worship.

“In 1874 under the pastorate of Rev. S. F. Danforth an organization was effected, a lot purchased from Peter LaRock and church erected at a cost of $1,750, which was nearly paid for before dedication and the balance of about $50 in 1876.

“In 1877 a fine shed extending quite across the lot was built at a cost of about $175, and paid for at once leaving the society free from incumbrance.”

The incorporation of the Methodist Episcopal church at Dexter took place on Aug. 10, 1874, the paper being signed by S. F. Danforth and O. L. Kane, notarized by Farlin Ball, justice of the peace. The first trustees were Farlin Ball, Henry Binninger and A. T. Knox.

The pastors in the first years of the church served both the Brownville and Dexter churches. As nearly as can be determined from the trustees’ book, the early pastors were Rev. S. F. Danforth, 1874; Rev. Sanger Dewey, 1876; Rev. Carlton N. Higby, 1879; Rev. Samuel M. Warn, 1882; Rev. A. Cheeseman, 1887; Rev. C. E. Beebee, 1889; Rev. George Ernst, 1892, and Rev. F. G. Severance, 1897.

It was under Rev. Mr. Severance that the church membership had increased to such an extent that a larger church was deemed necessary. At a meeting of the quarterly conference held March 31, 1899, in Brownville, a motion was carried that a new church be built in Dexter, provided $2,000 in good subscriptions could first be secured.

F. G. Severance, Wallace Bigwood, Walter Calkins, John McAfee, F. D. Seeber, Nelson Dingman, W. R. Gladwyn and E. F. Birmingham were on the building committee.

Mrs. Minnie Gladwyn Conklin, Dexter, Route 2, has loaned the church for the present celebration, the original copy of the plans her father, William R. Gladwyn, drew for the new building. It shows a front elevation sketch and a drawing of the corner stone on one side and the floor plan of the building on the reverse side of the paper.

Mr. and Mrs. William Congdon, Watertown road, have a copy of the program for the dedication of the building on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 1899. The front page states, ‘The Dexter Methodist church was organized in August, 1874, I. S. Bingham, presiding elder and S. F. Dansforth, pastor. In November of the same year a neat little church was dedicated. Under the blessing of God the Society and Congregation outgrew the accommodations of this church and the 1st of April, 1899, it was decided to build a new and larger edifice. The work was commenced at once. The new church is finished and you are cordially invited to attend the dedicatory services.’ Rev. A. D. Webster, presiding elder and Rev. F. G. Severance, pastor, signed it.

Reminiscences and greetings were given at these services by former and guest pastors, Rev. Sanger Dewey, Rev. S. M. Warn, Rev. M. M. Rice, Rev. Chamberlin Phelps, Rev. C. H. Guile and Rev. S. F. Danforth.

The Congdons also have some of the old account books of the church, which list the contribution of members and the donations of cash or produce made to the pastor. There are expenditures for lamp wicks and chimneys and oil. In 1896 Rev. Mr. Severance received $325 from the Dexter church toward his year’s salary.

Mr. Congdon had a Bible presented to him as a boy, inscribed, “From Mrs. Polly Ball, his first teacher in the Methodist Church Sunday School, 1874.”

William Congdon, who will be 87 on November 24, is probably the oldest living person and continuous membership in the church, which he joined in 1883. He has served as trustee for many years and was secretary of the board for some time.

Edson Gould, who was 92 on Sept. 4, has been a Methodist church member for 74 years, but he was first a member of the Pillar Point church, which he joined in 1875. He did not come to Dexter until 1902. He was for a number of years secretary of the board of trustees and is still one of the stewards of the church.

Mrs. Minnie G. Conklin joined the Dexter church before any one now living, for she became a member in October, 1877, when she was not quite 10 years old. She will observe her 82nd birthday on Nov. 17. However, she transferred her membership to the Brownville church upon her marriage. She was baptized, with other members, in the Black River near the present sulphite mill.

Mrs. Conklin remembers Paul Amon and Mrs. Farlin Ball, who did much financially to help in establishing the first church and Henry Denny, Rufus Day and James Bigwood. Mrs. Lucinda Knapp were some of the singers whom she recalls. Mrs. Conklin was organist of the church for a number of years. She remembers very clearly as a little girl attending the revival services conducted by Misses Barker and Anderson. Her father started the Epworth league in 1892 and was for many years superintendent of the Sunday school.

Some interesting items are found in the trustee’s book. Electric lights were installed in the church at a cost of $90 and were first used on Oct. 16, 1904, when Rev. W. H. Bury was pastor. A new 830 pound bell was placed in the tower and rung for meeting for the first time on Sunday, Nov. 14, 1904. Mrs. C. G. Clark was the first lady pastor this charge had when she came in 1926. Mr. Chapman was paid $4 for watching the church at Hallowe’en in 1934.

The first parsonage owned by the Dexter church was the G. R. Penny house next to the church, which was purchased in 1917 for $2,000. It was sold for the same amount to Charles Shaver in 1926, and the John Bellinger house at 638 William street was bought for $3,900. Mrs. C. G. Clark was the first pastor to occupy it, moving in May 8, 1926. It still serves as the parsonage.

Rev. A. E. B. Blundon was pastor of the Methodist church when plans for a new fellowship hall were first begun in 1945. After investigation it was decided that a new addition would be too expensive and the plan for enlargement and remodeling of the basement for classrooms, dining room, kitchen and heating facilities was adopted. The work was completed last month at a cost of over $22,000.

The building committee for the new project was headed by Chester Lee, with Ray Leonard, Mrs. Ray Leonard, Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Dingman, Mrs. Floyd Kitto, Mrs. B. C. Adams, Mrs. Fred Heise, M. R. Lee, Mrs. Frank Fetterly, Mrs. Gilbert Chapman, Edward Miller, Theodore Fetterly, Charles Avery, Oren Banks, William Congdon, Glenn Dillenback, Julius Dingman and E. R. Smith.

The present pastor of the church is Rev. Kenneth D. Jones, who came here in 1947. The trustees are Charles Avery, Oren Banks, William Congdon, Glenn Banks, William Congdon, Glenn Dillenback, Julius Dingman, Lewis Dingman, Chester Lee, Milton Lee, and Everett Smith.

Milton Lee is a lay teacher and Mrs. B. C. Adams, recording secretary and president of W. S. C. S.; Mrs. Earl Baker, treasurer, Ray Leonard, treasurer of the Aldersgate permanent fund. Julius Dingman, reserve district steward; Mrs. Ray Eveleigh, communion steward, assisted by Mrs. Dewey Hilts; Mrs. Anna Timmerman, financial secretary; Miss Pearl Congdon, treasurer of benevolences; Oren Banks, president of men’s brotherhood; Isabelle Kirch, youth fellowship, and Robert Diefendorf, young adult fellowship.

NOTE: The following article was also pasted into the Conklin Family Scrapbook. There was no date on the clipping. It also may have been written in 1949. There are no headers on the article and one corner is illegible:

“In 1869 Rev. S. M. Warn, pastor of the Methodist church at Brownville, began preaching at Dexter, holding services in the Good Templar hall. The work grew so that in 1874, under the pastorate of Rev. S. F. Danforth, also of the Brownville charge, the Dexter society was incorporated and began work as a separate church. Soon after a lot was purchased and a chapel erected costing $1,750.

In 1887 came the great revival when Rev. E. S. Cheeseman was pastor. He had the Misses Barker and Anderson to assist him in this special work. The membership was so increased that it was not long before the people were talking of a new and larger church. Extracts from the diary of William R. Gladwyn tell how this building work was accomplished. We will start quoting from the diary with January, 1899.

“Jan. 9, 1899, Evangelistic services at our church this week conducted by our pastor, Rev. F. G. Severance.

“Jan. 20, Brother Severance appointed the committee for the building of the new church. The members are E. F. Birmingham, Walter Calkins, Nelson Dingman, F. D. Seeber, Jared Knapp and my father.” (W. R. Gladwyn is printed in ink in parenthesis - the “father” part makes for confusion in that the diary was supposedly written by W. R. Gladwyn, but this entry was possibly written by Minnie Gladwyn Conklin.)

“April 12 -- Went to Hope chapel, Watertown, and other places with Brother Severance. Am drawing plans for the church building.

“April 30 -- Last service in the old church. God bless the memory. We are to use the Grange hall for our services.

“May 6 -- The church where we have worshipped for 25 years was sold this week and is being moved away.

“May 13 -- Staked out the cellar for the new church.

“June 4 -- The church job was let to Leonard & Gilmore for $2,326.

“June 15 -- The cornerstone to the church was laid this afternoon.

“July 4 -- Orders for the art glass windows has been given to Davis of Utica.

“July 14 -- Mrs. Comers, a church seat man was here. He wants $385 for seats. Will accept if the committee agree.

“Aug. 6 -- Presiding Elder Webster preached an excellent sermon, Eph. 3; 16, 17.

“Sept. 7 -- Putting on the steel ceiling at the church. Methodist are holding a New England supper at Grange hall tonight.

“Sept. 30 -- The great Dewey reception in New York city today to honor Admiral Dewey on his return from Manilla.

“Oct. 11 -- Working on the church. Inside finished.

“Nov. 9 -- They are putting in the church pews.

“Nov. 17 -- Was at the church painting inside. Chickenpie social tonight at Grange hall.

“Nov. 19 -- Rev. S. F. Danforth preached today and a good sermon. This was the last service in the Grange hall.

“Thursday, Nov. 22 -- The Methodist church was dedicated. The services continued all day. The trustees reported that the church cost $4,200, all of which has been pledged to be paid within one year. May our church be a beacon light.

“Dec. 31 -- This is the last day of the year and the last day of the century -- the great 19th century. We are standing tonight on the threshold of a new age. What the future holds, I know not. But this I know, in His care I place all our interests.”

NOTE: Also pasted into the Conklin Family Scrapbook was another version of the preceding article. There is a heading and other introductory comments. Those follow:

DIARY NOW OWNED BY MRS. HERBERT CONKLIN, OF DEXTER, WAS KEPT BY WILLIAM R. GLADWYN AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY -- ENTRIES DESCRIBE PLANS LEADING UP TO THE NEW BUILDING, WHICH STILL SERVES CONGREGATION.

Dexter, Aug. 9 -- Mrs. Herbert Conklin, of Route 2, has in her posession (sic) an interesting diary that has to do with the building of the present Methodist church in this village. The diary was kept by Willian (sic) R. Gladwyn, of this village and a few extracts from the record is (sic) of interest as the church society nears its 75th anniversary. The building that the diary tells about is not the first chapel the society used, but the present church, as the record states. A portion of the entries follow. (What followed is a duplication of the previous article, but in a slightly different format - as though from a different newspaper. For the entries - see above text.)

NOTE: The Conklin Family Scrapbook has photos of the new church, a picture and a letter from Rev. F. G. Severance, an Epworth League certificate, dated 1892, and a Sunday School Merit Certificate issued to Minnie Gladwin (sic) by Mary L. Winn, dated Jan. 28, 1880. None of the items was photographed, however. The whereabouts of Mr. Gladwyn’s diary for this period is unknown. If anyone knows of its whereabouts, I would be happy to hear of it, so that I might make arrangements for copying same. Please contact me at [email protected] - Mrs. Shirley Farone.

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This concludes the clippings I have available about the Dexter Methodist Church. (by Shirley)