Archive
Addison History
Athens History
The first families met in homes until our first church was built on this present site in 1842.
1844- The First Methodist Episcopal Bay of Quinte Conference was held here. Last Bay of Quinte Conference was 40 years latter at Farmersville.
1853- Constitution for the Sunday school was signed.
1863 Methodist divided with Wesleyan Methodist church building their own church.
(2004 present Christian Reform). They joined back together again in 1884. Their church was latter sold to the Presbyterians. They joined with the Methodist in 1918 so we were a United Church before the Union in 1925.
1867- Tower was erected on church.
1870- A brick Vestry and Sunday School room was added.
1888- land was purchased from Isaac C. Alguire for $2000 to build a parsonage.
1902, April 10: " The old Methodist church built 60 years ago. and last service last Sunday, fell a victim, to the ravages of fire yesterday It was necessary to get rid o f the old tower and it was thought the quickest way was fire. Accordingly it was set on fire, but too late it was found impossible to control that structure and flames spread to the church proper. The roof was pretty well burned off and the interior badly charred before it was brought under control. The organ and church furniture was gotten out and stored in the adjoining vestry. It was intended to utilize the old walls in part for the new structure and it is not likely they have been damaged to as to render them unfit for the purpose."
1902, June 26. There were 600 present for the laying of the corner-stone, all denominations of the village well represented. Copies of Newspapers, The Christian Guardian, Toronto Globe, Toronto Mail and Empire, Brockville Recorder, Brockville Times, Athens Reporter, Montreal Witness and Kingston Whig. together with a copy of the voters list and a few coins of recent date.
1902, Aug some 12 feet of new wall collapsed along with a high scaffold. From the Brockville Paper-" Some of the workmen had gone down with tons of stone and mortar some 40 feet below. The masons were at work on the back gable of the church hurrying to finish It by nighttime and the end of the week, and had built some 13 feet of new wall since Thursday morning. The heavy rain of Friday prevented it from drying out to some extent. On the highest scaffold, some 32 feet from the ground floor and some 42 feet from the cellar bottom ,Mr. Sam Taber and Mr. Edward Tanner, stonemasons were at work on a lover scaffold. Some 10 feet below were Mr. Fred Taber, mason, and Mr. Will Hawkins and Mr. Charlie Hawkins, tendors. Messers. John Wiltse and A. W. Blanchard were seated on the floor on the opposite side of the church and Rev. Mr. Reynolds was standing some where about the middle of the building discussing affairs, while the other workmen were all about the building and grounds performing their different tasks. Suddenly, the workmen on the upper scaffold felt a give and jumped to the wall, which fell into the church carrying with it Messrs. Sam Taber and Tanner. The weight of the stone, etc. broke through the floor and carried Sam Taber with it. burying him beneath the debris. Mr. Tanner, a man of some sixty years, made a jump or spring and landed out on the floor. Fred Taber and C. Hawkins on the lower scaffold, stepped to another scaffold, escaping injuries, while Will Hawkins fell or jumped to the ground below, receiving a bad shaking up and some injuries about his chest and hands. Mr. Tanner got up and walked out into the valid_ badly cut, bruised and bleeding, and immediately willing hands were caring for his injuries, while others were searching for Sam Taber, who was buried down in the cellar under the boards, stone and mortar. He was conscious when taken out, and was placed upon a stretcher and taken to his boarding house at Mrs. Warts where Dr. Cornell was at hand to administer to his injuries. Mr. Tanner was conveyed to the office of Dr. Purvis, and thence to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jeff Hawkins, where he still is. Mr. Will Hawkins was driven to his home at the -west end. He is now seriously injured but suffering from bruises and shock.'"
1903, New Years Day the church was dedicated. after which 500 partook of dinners.
The church had cost about $11,600, with a debt on completion of $4,500. At this service $1,200, was raised. About 50 more than the morning were served after the afternoon meeting. The church was lit by acetylene gas and during the opening prayer by Rev. John Scanlon, the pipes in the generator became filled with air causing a rushing sound. This started the congregation for the doors and it was sometime before order could he restored. A man also fainted during the service. About three hundred more dollars was raised at night.
From the Athens Reporter_" Following his usual custom J. P. Wiser, Prescott distiller, sent a cheque for $25 to each of the churches in the district at Christmas. Following the usual custom Rev. John Scanlon, pastor of the Methodist Church, returned the cheque to him again."
1929, Jan: The church opened with New Electric Lights at the cost of upwards of $1,200, a thousand of which was used from the Alguire Estate to the Church from Mrs. Isaac Alguire,(Judd). The parsonage was also equipped with hydro, work being done by Earl Construction Co..
1938 July 1: The first Induction Service in our church was for Rev. A. S. Cleland.
1952 Golden Anniversary was held with Rev. H. N. Burgess. From the resident members of 1902, 13 were still on the roll: W. F. Earl, George Cainford, Mrs. Wilma (Steacy) Latimer, Stanley Howard, Mrs. Omar Dack who was Anna L. Robeson, Mrs. George Montgomery who was Celetra Bates, Mrs. Wallace Brown, Mrs. P. Robeson who was Ade Howe and her brother Clifford Howe and Delorma Howe.
1960- Amalgamation of Greenbush, Addison and Athens.
1967- Our Christian Education Building was built.
1977: New Organ was dedicated.
1980, Sept. 14- After spending 35 years behind closed doors the bell was finally put back in the tower.
We are proud to have two pictures of 37 men and women who attended the Sunday School here that . went our as missionaries, ministers or doctors. Rev. C. M. Kerr, ( Canada). Rev. Wm. A. Hanna ( Canada). Rev. Burton B. Brown ( Canada). Rev. William Hayes (Canada). Miss Lillie Brown ( United States and Alberta for Indians ). Rev-. N.G. Connelley ( Japan.) Rev. Malcolm S. Lehigh, ( Canada). Rev. Burton Howe ( Canada). Rev. James E. Blanchard ( Canada). George L. Edwards ( Canada). George B. Wiltse ( United States). Thaddeus Wiltse, United States). Dr. Albert Edward Bolton ( Canada). Mrs. Nellie (Blanchard) Bolton (Canada).Claude Kilborn (China). Dr. Chas. W. Service (China). Mrs. Maud (Giles) Raley ( Canada). Dr. O. L. Kilborn ( China). Dr. Jas. W. Hall (Korea). Dr. George E. Hartwell ( China). Ulysses Brown ( United States). Mrs. A. Pierce Chambers ( Turkey ). Rev. T. M. Mott( United States). Rev. Gordon Maxwell ( Canada). Rev. Frank Cornell (Canada). Rev. Joseph Cornell ( Canada). Miss Winona (Wiltse) Massey ( China). Miss Bertina Green ( Egypt). Rev. H. B. Taplin (United States). Rev . W. T. Brown ( Canada). Rev. Charles Augustus Richards ( Canada). Mrs. A. Gillaland Hart ( China). Dr. Sherwood Hall ( Korea). Dr. Marion Hall ( Korea). Rev. H. E. Warren ( Canada). Rev. Samuel Klyne ( United States). Dr. Mrs. L. Howard King ( China)
IN THE BEGINNING:
At least 10000 citizens from the 13 British colonies decided to remain as British citizens after the 1776 revolution.
These loyalist and ministers of various faiths, who were generally attached to the army garrisons, came to Quebec and Nova Scotia after the revolution and were known as the United Empire Loyalist. In 1784 several from the Montreal area migrated by bateau up the St. Lawrence River and settled in the area from the provincial line east of Cornwall to the Bay of Quinte. The first settler in the area was Thomas Sherwood and the first one in the future city of Brockville was Col. Jessup.
The Methodist Church had been active in the American colonies prior to the revolution. After the revolution some moved with the Loyalist to the British colony. The Anglican Church at the time was seen as the Established Church and thus held the opinion that all other faiths were disloyal to the British Crown.
Sylvanus Keeler ,who was raised in the Brockville area, commenced his traveling ministry in 1795 in the Bay of Quinte area. Separation from the American Methodist movement occurred in 1828. The new group called themselves the Canadian Wesleyan Methodist Church. There was also a Espiscopal Methodist Church(M.E. Church), Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Presbeterian Church.
During this early period a Methodist Missionary was quite a curiosity since the preaching of the interant Minister attracted congregations from miles around.
An old stone building on the Greenbush road just outside the village was used on alternate Sundays as a church by both the Episcopal Methodists and Wesleyan Methodists while the Wesleyan Methodist church was being built (approximately 1870). This building, which later became the Addison school, was located across from the current Anglican Church. The Episcopal Methodist started a building fund and by 1880 were ready to build a new structure
which would be located on the east side of County Road 29 in the Village of Addison. The Addison Church was built in 1881 of colored red brick which was unusual at the time since most churches of the period were constructed of stone.
Before 1884,the Addison congregation was part of the Farmersville circuit. The Churches of this circuit were Athens (Farmersville), Addison, Greenbush, Glen Buell, Towriss( a former community near Glen Buell),New Dublin,
Rocksprings, and Moore and Washburn Corners. The circuit covered an extensive area, and hence "Circuit Riders" were common in ministering to the needs of the parishioners.
The Union of the Episcopal and Wesleyans occurred in 1884 and the old Methodist Kirk became a school which (as indicated previously) served the village center for 75 years. The school was abandoned on school consolidation.
As part of the union, a separate Addison Methodist Circuit was set up consisting of Addison, Greenbush, Rocksprings, New Dublin, and Mooreís Corners.
The United Church Union of the Methodist, Congregationalist, and Presbyterians occurred in June 10,1925 at which time Addison became a United Church charge.
The old Church at Moore's Corners was eventually abandoned. The remaining Churches in the Circuit carried on until 1960 when Greenbush and Rocksprings moved into the Lyn Circuit and Athens - Addison become a two point Charge as it is today.
The Addison Manse erected in 1885 was a large frame structure adjacent to the Church. It remained as such until 1960 when it was purchased by Carl Percival, a descendant of the pioneer Percivals who once farmed large tracks of land in the area. The home is currently owned by Robin and Charlotte Hoy. In 1960,the United Church manse was moved to Athens, which itself was sold in 1993 when the minister at the time Rev. D. Blair purchased a home in Brockville.
The approximate number of families in Addison in 1882 was 110. Today the number is approximately 50.
A key feature of the Addison Church is its stained glass window (which will discussed more extensively in the section on the glass windows) were installed during the ministry of Rev Burnett who came to the charge in 1903.
Because the early transportation was by horse and buggy, drive sheds were erected adjacent the Addison Church.
The smaller shed was a horse shed while the larger one was open at the bottom so the horses could be ridden or driven to the stalls. The second floor of this shed was finished off as a meeting place. In approximately 1921 the bottom section of the large shed section was converted to a hall. George Rowsome laid down the floor of the downstairs portion of the Church hall when the congregation converted the old drive shed into something more
useful. A kitchen and washrooms were added later.
MINISTERS OF ADDISON:
1882 Rev. T.C. Brown,assisted by Salam Bland
1884 Rev. Service
1887 Rev. Sanderson
1889 Rev. Oliver
1892 Rev. Knox
1895 Rev. Pimlott
1897 Rev. Shortt
1900 Rev. James Lawson
1903 Rev. Burnett
1906 Rev. Curtis
1910 Rev. Weese
1912 Rev. Meredith
1916 Rev. Charles Baldwin
1918 Rev. William Wells
1921 Rev. D.D. Eliot
1925 Rev. James Leach
1929 Rev Robert Barbour
1933 Rev. Whiteside
1936 Rev L.B. Smith
1945 Rev. Harold Frair
1954 Rev. Charles Judd
1957 Rev. Gordon Hoult
1960 Rev. Fred Price
1963 Rev. George Richardson
1966 Rev. A Simmons
1974 Rev. J. Gilchrist
1979 Rev Paul Hacker
1982 Rev Tom Lanceley
1987 Rev Doug Blair
1998 Rev. Sally Caniff
2003 Rev Dolly Dikens
The first major structural change was made in 1903(1905??) . The windows were replaced by 12 stained glass windows. These arch shaped windows were placed there in memory of the following families:
Wiltse Brown
Taplin Moore
Stowell Boothe
Mullen Ducolon
Empey Burnett
Lewis Arnold
Several of the windows were re-leaded in the 1940ís . Storms were added at that time.
RECENT ADDISION UNITED CHURCH HIGHTLIGHTS (Prepared Ina Blanchard and Helen Kilborn)
1959: our Charge consisted of Addison,Greenbush,Rocksprings,and New Dublin.
1960: it changed to Athens(70%)-Addison(27%) ñGreenbush(3%).
The Addison Parsonage was located next door to the Church.
1960: a new kitchen which had been part of the woodshed was built. Cupboards were build by Walter and Edith Blake.
1961: Infra red electrical heating was installed in the Church and Hall.
Cedar plank entrance doors were installed in memory Mrs Frank Johnston. ( These doors were replaced in 2005.)
1962:WMS and WA joined to form the UCW
UCW catered for the first time to the Teachers Federation and Brockville Rotary Club.
1963: a silver chalice was purchased. The first Congregational and Sunday School turkey supper was held.
1964: a new carpet was purchased to cover the Church aisle and the front of the Church. The pews and front doors were varnished. The UCW started packing Christmas cheer baskets for the sick and shut-ins.
1965: a walkway was constructed between the Church and Hall. The outside of the Hall was painted. The steeple was re-roofed.
1967: a family church picnic at Short Point with approximately 80 people in attendance.
1968: with assistance from Rev. Simmons a HI-C group was formed from the young people of Addison and Greenbush. This group was still active in 1970.
1972: a well was drilled. A holding tank was installed. A new washroom was built.
1973: the UCW prepared and sold a cook book. Approximately 150 pepole attended the Congregational supper 1974: repairs were made to the Church hall. A new floor was laid in the kitchen.
1975: a gestener was purchased.
1976: the Church steeple was repaired. Hot and cold water was installed in the kitchen.
The hall floor was refinished.
1977: UCW made several quilts and sponsored two members to attend a UCW weekend at Quin-Mo-Lac.
The first UCW Christmas party was held.
1978: Cecil Ross installed a metal siding on the Church hall and kitchen($9500). The UCW held Hobo Teas during the summer,chicken barbecue and auction sale to raise funds for the Church. UCW started picking Secret Pals.
1979: There were 19 in the Nursery class. 170 attended the Sunday School and Congregation turkey dinner. The UCW held a Daffodil tea which became the Mothersí Day Tea.
Projects for 1979 were line fence repair, new door on the hall , new cement steps and wrought iron railing for the Church entrance , Church steeple renovation with a new type of ventilation for the steeple, new choir gowns, and the repainted Church sign.
1980: For preparation for the 100 years anniversary in 1981,many preparations were completed. One consisted of repainting the Church interior and exterior. Several bricks were replaced on the exterior. The Church roof was repainted. Church windows were cleaned and repaired. New heating and wiring system was installed in the Hall.
A blue velvet drape was hung at the front as a backdrop for the cross from the Greenbush Church.
Athens-Addison Charge welcomed a refugee Vietnamese family,Cam,Nhat, and four children. An apartment was furnished and rented for them in Athens.
1981: For the 100th year anniversary, John Kirkland compiled the history of the Church.
Church plates and mugs were sold. The Church moderator, Rev McClure helped the Church celebrate its 100th anniversary.
1982: UCW purchased choir collars and music books for the junior choir. The foundation on the east side of the Hall was repaired. Funds were raised by holding a strawberry social and chicken barbecue.
1983: The Church organist,Nelda Greenhalgh retired. The repair of the east wall of the hall was completed. Funds were raised through a ham supper, strawberry social, and fall smorgasbord.
1984: New windows were installed in the Hall. A youth group was started. Mrs H. Kilborn retired after 25 years as Sunday School superintendent. Mrs. Lillian Maud replaced Helen.
1985: A new cupboard for choir gowns was built. New fluorescent lights were installed in the hall and kitchen. New book racks were placed in the choir loft. A new carpet was laid in the choir loft.
1986: A new new roof was put on the Church. Rev Charles Judd was our guest speaker for the anniversary. He had been a student minister in the Addison Charge in the late 50ís. Two church windows were releaded. The Church hall was repainted 1987: Extensive repairs were completed on the Athens Mainse in July in preparation of the arrival of Rev Doug and Chris Blair.
A new organ was purchased for the Addison Church. Sharon Adams gave an organ recital. With this recital along with funds raised by two smorgasborgs and many generous donations the organ loan was paid off in October.
1988:The kitchen floor and foundation were repaired. The roof of the Hall was repaired. A telephone was installed in the kitchen 1989:As a result of a bequest from Helen Rowsome, there was an auction sale in May and a yard sale in June.
Four stained glass windows were repaired. The Church floor and entrance were painted.
1990: A new piano was purchased for the Hall. Insulation was purchased for the Hall and Church.
1991: A stained glass window was installed over the front entrance in memory of Helen Rowsome. The Church trim was painted. A steel door was purchased for the Hall. Property at the back of the Hall was surveyed and re-zoned.
It was purchased from John Male. The hallway connecting the Church and Hall was painted.
1992: Church hall was insulated. New electrical heaters were installed in the Church hall. The kitchen floor was repaired and vinyl flooring laid. A new vacuum cleaner was purchased. Athens and Addison hosted Presbytery in November.
1993:In April ,the Athens mainse was sold. Rev Doug and Chris Blair purchased a home in Brockville. The Church sanctuary was redecorated with the removal of the velvet drape over the bible mural. This had been covered up since 1980. The three pulpit chairs were repaired and upholstered.
1994: A Memorial Wall was started with the large cross from Greenbush Church. New mini blinds and toppers were purchased for the hall windows.
1995: The kitchen roof was repainted.
1996: The adjacent parking lot was asphalted and parking area to the north was graveled.
UCW purchased a new flag for the Church.
1997: An oak floor was installed in the Church hall. Voices United hymn and Choir books were purchased. New choir gowns were purchased.
1998: Kingston Presbytery was hosted in Athens by Athens-Addison. Eavestroughing was repaired on the Hall. A sound system was installed in the Church. A Christmas Contata was presented by the Choir.
1999: The washroom was renovated. An exterior light was installed to illuminate the secondary graveled parking lot.
UCW started catering to the VON seniors dinner once a month as an outreach project.
2000: A larger water heater was installed in the washroom. The Sanctuary doors were rehung to comply with fire regulations. A framed picture containing previous ministerís photogragh was dedicated. Athens and Addison prepared a picture directory for the 2000 celebration. A new illuminated Church sign was erected.
2001: A programmable thermostat for the Hall heaters was installed. The lightening rod system on the roof was upgrade to conform to the insurance guidelines. Brass hand rails at the alter steps were donated by Mr and Mrs. Allan Hayes.
To raise funds, an organ recital was held featuring Sharon Adams with Vanessa London as soloist.
2002: The exterior trim on the Church windows was painted. The hall floor was refinished.
2003: New choir chairs were purchased. A pencil sketch of the Church by Henry Vyfinkel was dedicated.
2004: Monies from the Hattie Taplin estate were used to purchase new light for the Church interior. The Hall roof was repainted. A fully decorated nine foot artificial Christmas tree was purchased. A bottled water cooler was installed in the kitchen to comply with the Provincial health rules. This was a result of the Wakerton water health issue. A new vacuum cleaner was installed. A plaque for inscribing the names of deceased Church members was dedicated.