Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Good news!
The New York State Preservation Review Board has approved the nomination to list Crum Creek Church on the State and National Registers. The next step involves completing a final draft of the application and having it signed onto the State Register of Historic Places. From there, the application will go to the Park Service for approval as they have a separate process. So more paperwork will follow, but this is an important first step in preserving the church. Keep us in your prayers and many blessing to you this Christmas season and in 2010.
Monday, November 30, 2009
National Register Application
The Crum Creek Preservation Society has been very busy. This is the application that was submitted to get the church listed on the National Register. If accepted, the church will be recognized by the National Park Service. The decision will be make on December 8th so please keep us in your prayers. To view the application, click on the link below.
http://nysparks.state.ny.us/shpo/national-register/documents/nominations/OppenheimandStJohnsvilleUnionSociety.pdf
http://nysparks.state.ny.us/shpo/national-register/documents/nominations/OppenheimandStJohnsvilleUnionSociety.pdf
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
A tale of twin churches
This article appeared in the 3 May 2009 edition of the Leader-Herald newspaper:
OPPENHEIM - The last active service for the Crum Creek Evangelic Lutheran Church was in December 2007, at the funeral of Evelyn Groff Thode and her brother Gerald Groff's mother.
A meeting at the church last Sunday afternoon included Evelyn Thode, Groff, former members of the church and interested people from the community who were there to determine the fate of the church, which is set to officially dissolve in September.
"The Synod doesn't want the building on its rolls anymore," Thode said at the meeting.
She said the meeting, attended by about 20 people, was to see how to preserve the historical structure, attain non-taxable status and still be able to use the building for weddings, funerals and a general community gathering place.
"It's a beautiful, solid brick building," Fulton County Historian Peter Betz said. "Places like this are the backbone of America."
Patsy Glista, representing the Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America said once the dissolution is completed in September, the building and property will "no longer be a church, per se."
Former members who were still being carried on the rolls of membership were told their membership would automatically be transferred to the St. Johnsville Lutheran Church unless they requested otherwise.
According to the ELCA Web site, the last official tally for the Crum Creek Evangelic Lutheran Church was in 1998. At that time 19 baptized, confirmed members were listed with an "average attendance of nine."
Oppenheim Historian Hector Allen said the church was moved "about 40 feet" to its present location in 1906 before it gained its brick facade. He said it had been a "twin sister" to the Methodist Church across the road, both of clapboard and painted white. That building became a grange hall in 1889.
In his "Oppenheim Chronicles," Allen wrote:
"At one time there were two Protestant churches in the hamlet of Crum Creek, practically across the road from each other. A large hill a few hundred yards northeast of the churches is still called 'Twin Church Hill' on our maps. At one time the two churches in Crum Creek were very close to each other, of similar size and painted white, hence the name Twin Church Hill.
The 1868 map lists what is now the Grange Hall as a Methodist Episcopal Church, and the present Lutheran Church as a Union Church. Crum Creek isn't a very large community, but in the 19th century it was at the center of a prosperous farming area.
As far as I know, this hamlet never had a store or a tavern, although for several years it did have its own post office."
Even the Mapquest Web site shows "Twin Church Road" where it crosses County Highway 331 at Crum Creek as the name of the road, also known as County Highway 108.
Allen said the grange hall had been privately purchased and he didn't know it's future purpose.
According to Allen's book, the Lutheran Church building was constructed in 1853, a year after the Methodist Church across the road. In May 1882, the Lutheran Church in Crum Creek was formally incorporated as the Franckean Evangelical Lutheran Church of Crum Creek which merged with the Lutheran Church of St. Johnsville in 1900.
In 1853, the church was called the Oppenheim and St. Johnsville Union Society and Benjamin Groff, ancestor of Evelyn and Gerald, was one of the five listed trustees.
In 1977 a Little Falls "Evening Times" article said the church received a new ceiling in 1972 with stained glass windows and sanctuary repaired in 1974 and 1975.
Various possibilities for the Lutheran church were put forth at the meeting last Sunday.
Stan DeVoe of Willie Road, Johnstown, cited the Peck Lake Schoolhouse historical group who have regular school tours with a nature trail, performing arts and ice cream socials that can all be events as well as fund raisers.
"The most difficult thing will be to get a board of directors to agree," DeVoe said.
As for the historical significance, neighbor Keith Handy of Handy Hill Farms said foundation stones for the church were likely taken from local quarries.
"The stone for our barn was cut from our own quarry on the property," he said.
Betz noted that the dedication names on the stained glass windows were likely the founding families of the church. He suggested old records from the church be preserved as well.
"The records of meetings are usually more interesting than births, deaths and marriages," he said.
Handy offered a prayer at the end of the Sunday meeting. As a seventh generation Groff, one of the founding families of the church, he said he would very much like to see the church preserved along with its history of spiritual guidance.
"In thinking of the breakdown of culture, we need a light in our community," he said. "In our broken world we look to buildings like this in the future."
Richard Nilsen is a general assignment reporter and can be reached at ga@leaderherald.com.
OPPENHEIM - The last active service for the Crum Creek Evangelic Lutheran Church was in December 2007, at the funeral of Evelyn Groff Thode and her brother Gerald Groff's mother.
A meeting at the church last Sunday afternoon included Evelyn Thode, Groff, former members of the church and interested people from the community who were there to determine the fate of the church, which is set to officially dissolve in September.
"The Synod doesn't want the building on its rolls anymore," Thode said at the meeting.
She said the meeting, attended by about 20 people, was to see how to preserve the historical structure, attain non-taxable status and still be able to use the building for weddings, funerals and a general community gathering place.
"It's a beautiful, solid brick building," Fulton County Historian Peter Betz said. "Places like this are the backbone of America."
Patsy Glista, representing the Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America said once the dissolution is completed in September, the building and property will "no longer be a church, per se."
Former members who were still being carried on the rolls of membership were told their membership would automatically be transferred to the St. Johnsville Lutheran Church unless they requested otherwise.
According to the ELCA Web site, the last official tally for the Crum Creek Evangelic Lutheran Church was in 1998. At that time 19 baptized, confirmed members were listed with an "average attendance of nine."
Oppenheim Historian Hector Allen said the church was moved "about 40 feet" to its present location in 1906 before it gained its brick facade. He said it had been a "twin sister" to the Methodist Church across the road, both of clapboard and painted white. That building became a grange hall in 1889.
In his "Oppenheim Chronicles," Allen wrote:
"At one time there were two Protestant churches in the hamlet of Crum Creek, practically across the road from each other. A large hill a few hundred yards northeast of the churches is still called 'Twin Church Hill' on our maps. At one time the two churches in Crum Creek were very close to each other, of similar size and painted white, hence the name Twin Church Hill.
The 1868 map lists what is now the Grange Hall as a Methodist Episcopal Church, and the present Lutheran Church as a Union Church. Crum Creek isn't a very large community, but in the 19th century it was at the center of a prosperous farming area.
As far as I know, this hamlet never had a store or a tavern, although for several years it did have its own post office."
Even the Mapquest Web site shows "Twin Church Road" where it crosses County Highway 331 at Crum Creek as the name of the road, also known as County Highway 108.
Allen said the grange hall had been privately purchased and he didn't know it's future purpose.
According to Allen's book, the Lutheran Church building was constructed in 1853, a year after the Methodist Church across the road. In May 1882, the Lutheran Church in Crum Creek was formally incorporated as the Franckean Evangelical Lutheran Church of Crum Creek which merged with the Lutheran Church of St. Johnsville in 1900.
In 1853, the church was called the Oppenheim and St. Johnsville Union Society and Benjamin Groff, ancestor of Evelyn and Gerald, was one of the five listed trustees.
In 1977 a Little Falls "Evening Times" article said the church received a new ceiling in 1972 with stained glass windows and sanctuary repaired in 1974 and 1975.
Various possibilities for the Lutheran church were put forth at the meeting last Sunday.
Stan DeVoe of Willie Road, Johnstown, cited the Peck Lake Schoolhouse historical group who have regular school tours with a nature trail, performing arts and ice cream socials that can all be events as well as fund raisers.
"The most difficult thing will be to get a board of directors to agree," DeVoe said.
As for the historical significance, neighbor Keith Handy of Handy Hill Farms said foundation stones for the church were likely taken from local quarries.
"The stone for our barn was cut from our own quarry on the property," he said.
Betz noted that the dedication names on the stained glass windows were likely the founding families of the church. He suggested old records from the church be preserved as well.
"The records of meetings are usually more interesting than births, deaths and marriages," he said.
Handy offered a prayer at the end of the Sunday meeting. As a seventh generation Groff, one of the founding families of the church, he said he would very much like to see the church preserved along with its history of spiritual guidance.
"In thinking of the breakdown of culture, we need a light in our community," he said. "In our broken world we look to buildings like this in the future."
Richard Nilsen is a general assignment reporter and can be reached at ga@leaderherald.com.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Pictures from the Past
Some old photographs of Crum Creek from the 1940s. At this time, the property was owned by Ralph and Mary Groff. 
Crum Creek Grange Hall on the left. Across the road in the back ground is the St. Marks Evangelical Luther church. Across the road, behind the row of tress is the home of Ralph and Mary Groff from 1941.
Home of Ralph and Mary Groff from 1941, Crum Creek, NY
Crum Creek Grange Hall on the left. Across the road in the back ground is the St. Marks Evangelical Luther church. Across the road, behind the row of tress is the home of Ralph and Mary Groff from 1941.
Home of Ralph and Mary Groff from 1941, Crum Creek, NY
The Future
Our history committee is collecting church records, photos, bulletins, articles and other materials relating to the history of the church and the community, including the grange and school. Perhaps you have some information that would be of interest.
A Crum Creek Church reunion service will be held each year on the first Sunday of June, followed by the annual meeting of the society and time for fellowship. We are also considering possibilities for other services and activities, which will be announced as they are planned.
As we continue with the process of forming a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation, we welcome your input and expertise.
A Crum Creek Church reunion service will be held each year on the first Sunday of June, followed by the annual meeting of the society and time for fellowship. We are also considering possibilities for other services and activities, which will be announced as they are planned.
As we continue with the process of forming a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation, we welcome your input and expertise.
Our History
Atop Twin Church Hill, our church was founded in 1853 as a Union Church of the Franckeon Synod. In 1882 the church became associated with the United Lutheran Church in America, and the Rev. John Young was installed as pastor.
When the church was renovated in 1906-1907 and moved 40 feet west to its new and present location, it became known as St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Subsequently the current name was adopted.
The renovation saw the addition of a metal ceiling, wainscoting, the new chandelier, a new furnace, and brick veneer, among other improvements.
The many ministers of this rural church usually served at least one other congregation as well, including at times Lassellsville, Oppenheim, St. Johnsville, and Starkville.
Now, in 2009 we find it necessary to complete the first chapter of our history and continue into the future.
When the church was renovated in 1906-1907 and moved 40 feet west to its new and present location, it became known as St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Subsequently the current name was adopted.
The renovation saw the addition of a metal ceiling, wainscoting, the new chandelier, a new furnace, and brick veneer, among other improvements.
The many ministers of this rural church usually served at least one other congregation as well, including at times Lassellsville, Oppenheim, St. Johnsville, and Starkville.
Now, in 2009 we find it necessary to complete the first chapter of our history and continue into the future.
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