http://www.fepl.ca/localhistory/files/original/a92b43b94187056a62f42360dfc2ef8f.pdf 823316869ab64406f1508cf7d94e3bb7 PDF Text Text / ' / •• * * * ..,1.. . -·- -·-·- :O:< ....-·- :;.,'< * * * :ii< >!< * :O:< _._ ..,, ~c * * :O:< * * * THE HISTORY OF * * QUEEN STREET UNITED CHURCH ONTARIO FORT ERIE * * 1974 1875 * * * * • * .. * , * * .,_,_. * ..,_ "" * :ii< * * * :ii< * • * * * * * *' * ... -·- ,,, ...- :.:c :O:< -·' •'- :O:< ·'' •' :;.,'< -·- '•' -·'•' ·'' •'- .-·-.. -·- ' •' :ii< �1. • THE HISTORY OF QUEEN STREET UNITED CHURCH The ' f~rst congregation, formed in 1875, Wesleyan Methodist Church of Fort Erie. was -known as the Their church was constructed on Lot Number 4 on the north side of Bertie Street. The trustees were Thomas Rainey, Ellwood, Thomas Loveridge, Francis Ellwood, William William Dell and Edwin -Atwood. The lot had a mortgage of $200.00 on it bearing interest a;:; 10%. The building was built by Thomas Rainey, contractor, at a cost of about $600.00. • Records of the activities at that time are scarce but we do have a page from a notebook kept by Mr. Rainey listing •' contributions. The Fort Erie Church, Mission. at that time, was part of the Ridgeway In 1875 there was a total membership of all charges of 119 people. Port Colborne, It was made up of churches at Ridgeway, McAffee's, International Bridge (Victoria) and Fort Erie. An early record in 1886 lists the names of 58 members in the International Bridge appointment (Central Avenue), 26 members of the McAffee's appointment and 20 members of the Fort Erie • appointment • �2. • The McAffee's Church, a solid log building, was located two miles North of Fort Erie on the Niagara River. The McAf'fee's cemetery still exists near the historic site marking the point where William Lyon MacKenzie crossed to the United States in 1837. Victoria was the name given to the small community which grew around the West terminal of the railway bridge after its completion in 1873. railway, Also called International Bridge by the the name was officially changed to Bridgeburg in 1916. The McAffee's congregation slowly dwindled till the church was • closed in 1894. _Meanwhile a separate Methodist congregation with their own pastor was formed in Amigari. Amita'rf being the community which grew up around the railway maintenance shops just west of Victoria at the Internaltional Bridge. In 1895 this new congregation replaced McAffee's as a member of the three point charge. In those days the minister lived in a parsonage built in 1890 next to the Victoria Church (now Central Avenue). travelled from church to ' church on horseback. told that the Rev, Edgar Russ used a high whee~ed He generally In 1893 we are bicycle as his mode of transportation in good weather • • In 1895 the Fort Erie (Bertie Street) congregation split. One group became Free Methodists and agreed to purchase the church. The remaining part of the congregation purchased a lot on �3. • Queen Street from Ernest and Julia Cruikshank for a sum of $300.00, on which they had a wooden church erected. Trustees for this new Methodist Church of Canada were Charles Treble, Martin Harvey, John Shepherd, Robert Martin and Edwin W. Finch. The original building on Bertie Street was used as a church till 1918 when it became a school house. used it as their Legion Hall. In 1930 the Canadian Legion Later it housed the Fort Erie Public Library and has presently been converted to apartments. The Queen Street church known as Fort Erie was part of the International Bridge circuit. • Ministers were assigned to the circuit for a thre year period, the Amigari, their salary being shared by International Bridge and Queen Streetfl..oongregationsi In 1923 this was changed when Mr. Van Loon, appointed to look after Queen S~reet a young student, exclusively •. -He was followed in 1924 by J. R. Springer. June 1925 was a crucial period in the life of the Church. It was then that the United Church of Canada was formed. A separate minister served each congregation till Queen Street and Stevensville formed a joint pastoral charge in 1952. the same year, In a manse was purchased in Fort Erie for the minister's family. ,. The congregation had now grown too large for the old original wooden building. Church membership was over 150 and Sunday was - �• 4. Church School attendance was in the region of 180. need for more accommodation; more Sunday Church School space; church kitchen and a recreation area. the minister, There was a a And with the guidance of Rev. John Wood, plans for a new church were prepared. The old wood building was raised and a large basement excavated. Much of the construction work was done by members of the congregation in their spare time. Finally, en December 26, 1954, the corner stone for the new brick building was laid. A brass vial was sealed in the corner stone which contained papers These have been recovered. commemorating the event. They give the names of those committee members active in the church at that • time, a brief history of the church, and ,a page from the Times Review containing an announcement of the dedication ~ervice. In the years that followed, Queen Street United Church continually found it difficult to remain solvent, pay their bills each year. on the church mortgage. but somehow they arranged to In 1965 the last installment was paid However membership slowly declined, active members passed away. as Not enough new · members were coming into the church to balance attrition. Costs were rising and con- tributions could not meet the demands placed upon the budget. July 1974 it was regretfully decided to close the church. So in Members transferred their membership to Central Avenue United Church. • One hundred years after the church so bravely started in 1875, the Queen Street United Church building was seld to the Town of Fort Erie, to be used as a recreation center for Senior Citizens. �• 5• THE MINISTERS who served Queen Street United Church The Methodist Church of Canada Years 1898 • 1899-1900 1901-1904 1905-1907 1908-1910 1911-1914 1915-1917 1918-1922 1923 1924 1925 Ministers Thomas T. Campbell James Mooney, George Turk " James Mooney, W.G.Wilson " James Mooney, John Joslyn " Robt. J. Elliott, D. W.Snidei " Wellington Bridgeman Victoria u James H. White John W. Sifton " John W. Sifton " Thomas J . Brown Thomas J. Brown Int'l Bridge Thomas L. Kerruish " H. G. Livingston "" J. Edgar Russ Thomas H. Orme, G.F.Morris Bridge burg J. Parker Bell, " D. B, ·Neeley u J. Parker Bell, A. W. Shepperson J. Parker Bell "" George E. Honey Edwin L. Flagg " Char! es·'E. Stafford "" William Smythe Charles Hackett "lt Arthur 0. W• . Foreman Geo. I. VanLoon (superviset Fort Erie C. R. Crail (to above : " A. Lloyd Thompson " Conference Pistrict Circuit Ridgeway Niagara 1874-1875 London 1876 " tt 1877 " " 1878 " " 1879 " " 1880 u " 1881-1882 " " 1883 " " Niagara Welland 1884 1885 " " 1886 " " 1887-1889 " u 1890-1892 " " 1893-1895 " " 1896 Hamilton " 1897 " ti " " " tt " " " " " n " " " " " "" " " " " " The United Church of Canada 1926-1927 Hamilfon Niagara Presby. Queen St. It 1927-1928 " " "" 1928-1931 " " " It If 1931-1936 " " If 1936-1938 " " " 1938-1942 " " " "" 1942-1944 " " " 1944-1952 " " " " 1952-1956 " " " " 1956-1961 " "" " " ·It 1961-1968 " " ff 1968-1974 " " " • Lloyd Thompson George E. Honey F. ,, R. Hendershot .n.. W. Thomson R. A.. Facey A. G. Love c. J. Beckley Henry s. Fiddes John M. Wood Harold Watts Roy T. Burgess E. Ralph Ingleby ri•... �LOng eXte1lsive HiStory • of Queen Street Ch Urch . ( • •• i �I , I , ·' · ,·- CORNERSTONE CEREMONY Sunday, December 26th was an eventful day for the members of the Queen Street United Church when two cornerstones were laid by several members of the congregation. Left to right are Paul Bloomfield, chairman of the building committee, W. Tape, the oldest male member of the church, Miss M. Duckworth, treasurer and the oldest woman member of the church; Rev. J. D. M. Wood, pastor; Henry Allender, masonry contractor; Warren Finch, member with most years of service. Mr. Finch has been Sunday School superintend.~nt for~~ ~ast~!~Ce·~l?! {?'~&Reichelt ~ • • v -·,.. • • �. . The chapel of the Queen Street United Church was dedicated at a special service on Sunday May 4 at the Central Avenue United Church. The chapel was located in the old Queen Street United Church, which is now a senior citizens centre. The church was recently purchased by the town for use as a senior citizens centre. · The histocyof the Queen Street United Chur~h is long and extensive. Some of tbe history was found inside a brass vial, found inside the corner stone of the building. 'When the congregation was fitst !ormed in.J,8'lULwas.:;la>.o)VD a~ ·the ·Westeya'ii'·.;Mettiodtsf . ~~~h of For~e;•The ~h,urch; bililding was located on Lot No. 4' on the nol,'th si<te of Bertie Street. TI?-e building was built by Thomas Rainey, contractor, at a cost of a a~ut~. . ·. . At tliat time the Fort Erie church was part of the Ridgeway Mission and in 1875 the total membership of ali charges" was 119 eeople. The congregations were located in Fort Erie,. Ridgeway, Port Colborne, McAffee's and International Bridge.· ... in 1886, aD early record lists the names of 58 members in ·the, International Bridge ap·pointment (Central Avenue), 26 members of the McAffee's appointment and 20 lnembers of the Fort Erie appointment. .The McAffee church was a solid log building located two · miles north of Fort Erie on the Niagara River. McAffee cemetery still exists near · the ·Jlll$toric site marking the p0int where William Lyon MacKenzie crossed to the U.S. in 1837. The McAffee's congregation slowly . dwindled until the church closed The Fort ·Erie, Bertie Street, congregation split in 1895. One group became the free Methodists and agreed to purchase the church while the remaining part of the congregation purchased a lot on Queen Street from Ernest and Julia Cruikshank for a sum of $300, on which they had a wooden church erected. The original building on Bertie Street was used as a church until . 1918 when it became a school house and in 1930 the Canadian Legi9n used it as their hall. Later it housed the Fort Erie ·public library and has.presently been converted to apartments. The Queen Street church known as Fort Erie was part of the International.Bridge circuit. Ministers wer~ assigned to the <!i:t'cuit for, a· three year period with their salary being shared by the .Amigari, Jnternational ·. Bridge ' and Qo~en Street congregations. This changed in 1923 when~. Van Loon, a young student, .was appointed to look · •after Q,ueen Street exclusively. . He was foll9wed in 1924 by J. R. Springer. . . . · · During ·tlie'~ly aays of tlie .mission the°cmiiliSter lived in a. ··parsonage built in 1890 neXt to the· Victoria Church; ·now Central · · Avenue cliurch: minister generally· · The travelled from·. church to church on horseback. In 1893 the: ·minister, Rev. Edgar Russ, ~ i.~p~~ux...vstld .. Ii :&J»sh ..·.. . wl\,eele.d ,"1ri~leo;as· ~~. of -iran,:,~~~Um~ g~~llierj -· · · ..June,'1925\\filfa~cial period · ·in the life~ of the •church as this was .when the Uil.it~tt ·Church of Canada was formed,• A separ~te . minister served each church until Queeri Street · and Stevensville tormed a joint . ·. 1894. . .. . pastoral charge in 1952. A manse .;After .the completion of the · was purchased· in Fort Erie the. railway.. bridge in 1873 a small same year for tbe minister and .•.·JIµllUnity grew around the west · ·· his family. J~p:µinal, which became known ,With church membership over ),ffVictoria. The railway called it 150 people the congregation had temational Bridge, and the become too large. for. the wOoden name was officially changed to building. There was· a need for Bridgeburg in 1916. acc~mo<fation,_ ·While McAffee church was closing, a separate Methodist ongregation ·was forming in · igari, with their own pastor. This community grew around the maintenance shops just west of Victoria at the International Bridge~ This new congregation replaced McAffee's as a member of the three point charge in 1895. • • 0 Sunday School space, a chtw.ch kitchen, and recreation area. · :E>1ans for a new church were ~ ~pared under the guidance of Rev. John Wood, with the old building being raised and a large basement excavated. Members of the congregation did much of construction in their spare time and the corner stone was finally laid for the new brick building on December 26, 1954 . In the following years the Queen Street United Church coµtinually found it difficult to' · remain solvent but managed to. pay their bills somehow. The last installment on the mortgage .was ~<tin i!}GS but w,ith membership 1 . . · , . J~in!id·Mir1; membership,: CQtild not batan~ " ~ttritfon, ; i:1siiig costs · and ., ···~ongr~gation contr;ibutions could ;; .11ot meet the. demarids placed ' upon the budget. and the churcli was closed·~ 'July, 1974. Mem1.{bers transferred their mem..J~~rships to the Central Avenue Uriited Church. Qne hundred years after the · · cllurchstarte4 in 1875, the Queen c·s~t Ch~c,h b,ujlding was sold • to the •Towq.")~ort · Erie but· a .cb~pel commemorating that .;C~UJ."Ch 'is located iii the Central .~yenµ!! churcl1. ~;,,;~ '7 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Louis McDermott Collection Subject The topic of the resource Local history, Fort Erie and surrounding area. Description An account of the resource A collection of historical documents, photos, news clippings, letters, and writings, assembled by local historian, Louis McDermott, and donated to the Fort Erie Public Library. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Louis McDermott Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived FEPL-LH -Louis McDermott Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Included in this collection are writings, historical documents, news clippings, images, maps, and more. They were written and compiled by Louis McDermott into a series of binders. The digital collection has been scanned from these physical copies. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Fort Erie Public Library and Louis McDermott Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The History of Queen St. United Church Description An account of the resource Listed here is a document pertinent to Queen St. United Church and it's history in the Greater Fort Erie area, complete with newspaper articles, service records, and a historical overview. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Louis McDermott Collection 1920s Fort Erie Louis Mcdermott Collection Queen Street united church