February 25, 1862 Baptist Church at Farmer Dedicated

There are close to 100 boxes of archives and artifacts at the Historical Society. Among the artifacts in a box labeled “Interlaken Baptist Church” was a booklet published in 1904 when they celebrated their 85^th anniversary. (A snippet for October).

Pages 20 and 21 discuss the new building, and the following quotes are taken from there.

In 1860, Rev. J. B. Smith assumed the role of Pastor for the church. He was noted as “earnest, watchful, skillful leader of this people.”

His first step was repairing the parsonage; “the next step was to build a new house of worship.”

At a meeting held on January 27, 1860, “Our pastor, J. B. Smith, gave notice that he had a subscription of six thousand dollars and upwards he had raised for the purpose of building a new house of worship which subscription he wished to present to the church.”

The committee “on plan” were L. Hinman, Jacob Boorman, B. E. Bassette and William Longstreet. Misters Hinman, Boorman, and Bassette were joined by Joseph Sniffin and J. P. Rappleye as the building committee.

“The committee on plan reported in favor of the plan of a church in Syracuse.” The report was accepted, with alterations.

Architect for the project was H. N. White of Syracuse who drew up the plan. John Smith of Farmerville was the contractor for construction.

First step, remove the old building, and during construction, church was held at the school house.

July 5, 1861, the corner stone was laid. Participating in that event were several local community members from outside of the church itself. A list of the papers deposited in the corner stone included: Records of the Baptist Church, prepared by J. P. Rappleye; information on the Reformed Church prepared by Rev. B. Basslar; James C. Knight on the Reformed Church Sunday School; Pastor Scott Boughton on the Universalist Church, Lyman B. Parshall on the public schools, Ira Almy on Farmer Village, J. C. Knight on the Cemetery Association, Charles Kelly on the Masonic Lodge, and P. H. Hinman on the Town Hall. 

At the dedication on February 25, 1862 Rev. Smith spoke from several Bible passages, including Psalms 72, Daniel 2, Matthew 13. The narrative does not include any other particulars from the day.

The building is only one part of this Church. Its people and the Gospel message that it brings each week to the community have been here since 1819, just two years after the founding of the Town of Covert.

I know as a youngster we were often at the church for Vacation Bible School, and other community events sponsored for the youth.

Color Postcard, collection of the Interlaken Historical Society

In the postcard photo above, the building in the background on West Avenue was the parsonage. It was torn down in the early 1980s. After serving as home to the pastors it was used by the Interlaken American Legion Auxiliary for their “Clothing Center.”

Dewitt’s Diary Sunday, February 25, 1962

Temperature 15 Cloudy and then the sun came out. A nice day, sunny out, the snow did not melt only on the eaves of the house

Buried Earl Wilson today. I was bearer at the funeral.

Drove down to George Townsend's a while this evening.

A good eight or nine inches of snow on the ground now, more in the woods.