February 10, 1850 The Universalist Church

Over the course of the year there will be Snippet items for most of the Covert churches. Today, we look at the Universalist Church which stood on Main Street, near the Reformed Church. Wayne Morrison in his volume Town of Covert, Seneca County, NY Early History & etc.. gives a very detailed history of the church, the building, and the eventual loss of the building by fire.

The First Universalist Church and Society of Farmer Village was formed on February 10, 1850, with forty-two members. It was the only society of this denomination to be organized in Seneca County.

Photo from Morrison’s volume, page 85

The first pastor was the Rev. Harvey Boughton, who preached the sermon of dedication in February, 1853, and remained with the society for eleven years. Mr. Morrison notes that after Rev. Boughton left in 1861, the church was supplied by Rev. Lydia Jenkins, Rev. P. H. Batterson, Rev. Dolphus Skinner and Rev. M Whitney until 1874. Rev. C. C. Richardson then occupied the pulpit for a year. Following Rev. Richardson, Rev. O. M. Hilton of Auburn’s Universalist Church lead services, and then it was in the care of the District Secretary of the New York Universalist Ministerial Convention. After which time services were discontinued.

The wooden church building was built in 1852 by Thomas G. Fritts and cost $2,500. On August 14, 1896, George C. Torbert purchased the building for $350. The Farmer Review, Saturday, July 24, 1897 commented on the building and its former lot, “…Torbert has moved it away and converted it into a bean elevator, and its site is occupied by the handsome house now [being] built for A. V. Minor.”

As part of the sale, the trustees reserved the right to remove the bell, pulpit, lamps and carpet. The Farmer Review, August 29, 1896 notes: “The trustees gave the old bell to the fire company and it will be put up at the engine house and used as a fire alarm. It is of cast steel and made in 1859. There are two cracks in it which give it a tone that is not likely to be mistaken for any other bell. There was considerable speculation as to its weight—all the way from 600 to a ton. The scales told the story at 1,540 pounds.”

1900 post card, Main Street Interlaken Historical Society photo #96

The Fire Bell is in front of the first fire house, now 8377 Main Street. The bell, which first called members to services and then rang for fire emergencies eventually went to one of the scrap drives during World War II.

Saturday evening, July 23, 1904, after being moved from its Main Street location, and given several improvements, the end came when the building burned, “reduced to a charred mass of ruins.” 

You are encouraged to read Mr. Morrison’s article in total, page 84 and 87. Many old family names are noted among the members and leaders within the church.

Dewitt’s Diary 1949, 1950

Thursday, February 10, 1949 Cloudy and temperature 20. Working in the woods. The sky looked like snow this afternoon. Went to town this afternoon and got some feed ground. Big circle around the moon tonight.

Friday, February 10, 1950 Mostly clear and temperature is 25. Working on chair. Drove down to the foot of the lake for a ride. It was a beautiful day. Temperature 40 most of the day and clear. There was a little ice on the foot of the lake but not thick enough for safety.

See Snippet January 13 for more on the fire house.

See Snippet January 29 for more on the Scrap Drives.