At Ordnance Depot

Ancient Baptist Church Being Moved

By Bill de Lancey

An ancient landmark in Seneca County east of Kendaia, the First Baptist Church, is being carefully leveled at its site on the Seneca Ordnance Depot grounds, and will be re-elected northwest of Watkins Glen. It will become part of the restoration of Old Irelandville.

G. L. FREEMAN, Watkins Glen, publisher of books on antiques and Americans, was the successful bidder on the 50 x 40-foot structure and is personally supervising the work.

Several husky college and high school youths swarmed over the second floor meeting hall, lowering the huge axe-squared beams. The roof and top story of the 60-foot-high church had already been moved to Watkins.

Pieces Marked

Mr. FREEMAN re-nailed boards of the front door frame which had become loosened in removing it, and marked all the pieces for future re-assembly. The new owner explained that he lives in the original home of John IRELAND, a pioneer land owner. This house is three miles northwest of Watkins and one-half mile off R. 14. Mr. FREEMAN said his plans are not sufficiently complete to be announced, but that he expects to restore the area near his home into a village of the pioneer period in this region. He considers the Baptist Church a fine example.

On the ground a few yards from the edifice lay its four 20-foot, white doric columns. These appear to be in good condition.

"The church was started in 1795," Mr. FREEMAN said. "It stood a few feet east of where it is now. In 1820 it was moved to this site, raised slightly, and the portico added."

Good Condition

Inside, on the ground floor, the plaster finish is in good condition. The one remaining original seat, or bench, stands in the hallway.

According to Mrs. Dr. Claude SMITH, Geneva, whose family have been associated with the church for generations, the building was given careful consideration by Col. Arthur Dana ELLIOT when the property became included in the ordnance depot grounds. The Colonel is said to have done as much as he could to put the church in good condition, rather than have it meet the usual fate of tearing down or burning.

Improvements included a hardwood floor on the meeting hall, and arrangements to have the old benches copied at a nominal sum if the members wished to make a memorial, Mrs. SMITH explained. The latter plan fell through.

Names Noted

The cemeteries on each side of the church have been well maintained and fenced off from the working areas of the depot. Within the older cemetery we noted such names as: SMALLEY, TOWNLEY, CORYELL, MCGAFFERTY, WILCOX, MCWHORTER, SCOBEY, PARKER, DENNISTON, BARTLETT, SAYRE, STANLEY, BALDRIDGE, WATRUS, HOTRUM, FOLWELL, TORREY, and GILLETTE.

During early construction days at the Depot, the building was used variously as police headquarters and as a "break house" where workers could have shelter, tables and a stove while eating their lunches.

Mr. FREEMAN pointed out that most of the pioneer-hewn beams are in good condition, but that a few of them show areas that have rotted.

The original church glass was plain, we heard. The later memorial windows, and some other similar mementos of the historic church are said to be in the possession of church members still residing in the neighborhood.

Mr. FREEMAN said, "By next spring I may be able to give you a good many more details on what our plans are for Old Irelandville."