CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESE

CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THE

SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The information for each church is arranged in alphabetical order within counties. Select a county.

POTTER COUNTY PA

1. Andrews Settlement ME

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Location: PA 244 village of Andrews Settlement
Municipality: Allegany township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Andrews Settlement is 7 miles south of Genesee on PA 244

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1894,81 – successful revival produces 50 conversions

Brief History:
Methodists were active in Andrews Settlement before there was a church building in the community, for the 5/12/1880 Potter Enterprise reported that the Methodists will hold a Quarterly Meeting in Andrews Settlement on May 22nd and 23rd. The place of the meeting was not specified.
The Union Church Society of Allegany was incorporated in 1888. The object was to build a house of worship for the use of the Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Universalists of Andrews Settlement, to be controlled by the Methodists. The building was dedicated January 24, 1889. In 1900 Andrews Settlement, Colesburg and Ellisburg were three rural appointments on the Oswayo charge. The charge claimed ownership of 2.0 church buildings ― but while 1.0 of them was Oswayo, it's unknown how the other 1.0 building ownerships may have been distributed among those 3 rural appointments.

Final disposition:
On October 19, 2008, the congregation voted to change the name to the Andrews Settlement Baptist Church.

2. Burtville UB

[no picture]

Location: village of Burtville
Municipality: Roulette township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Burtville is on US 6, on the Potter-McKean county line.

Historic Conference:
Erie Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
When a church was erected here in 1896, the Sartwell Creek school house appointment and Burtville appointment united to worship here. Two years later a church was erected at Sartwell Creek, and the congregation divided. When the Burtville church burned in 1925, it was not rebuilt.

Final disposition:

3. Colesburg ME

[no picture]

Location: PA 244, village of Colesburg
Municipality: Allegheny township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Colesburg is on PA 49, 8 miles west of the intersect of PA 49 and PA 449 in the village of Gold.

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
In 1900 Andrews Settlement, Colesburg and Ellisburg were three rural appointments on the Oswayo charge. The charge claimed ownership of 2.0 church buildings ― but while 1.0 of them was Oswayo, it's unknown how the other 1.0 building ownerships may have been distributed among those 3 rural appointments.

Final disposition:

4. Costello ME

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Address: Church Street, village of Costello
Municipality: Portage township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
Costello is on PA 872, 3 miles south of Austin [i.e., 12 miles south of Coudersport]. Church Street is parallel to and 2 blocks west of PA 872.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1891,72 – new church building nearing completion

1892,60 – church dedicated 2/14/1892
2015,139 – merged into Austin UMC

Brief History:
The church building in Costello was erected in 1890. Except for the years 1894-1909, during which time it was a station appointment with its own parsonage, the appointment has always been associated with Austin. The last Sunday service there took place October 19, 2014, and the congregation merged into Austin UMC.

Final disposition:

The building was purchased by an adjacent property owner.

5. Cross Fork ME

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Location: PA 144, village of Cross Fork
Municipality: Stewardson township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Cross Fork is on PA 144, 14 miles north of PA 120. From the borough of Renovo, go 2 miles west on PA 120/144. When PA 144 goes off to the north, follow PA 144 for 14 miles to the village of Cross Fork.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
    1895, 64 - ground secured for church and parsonage
    1896,74 - new church erected
    1922,38 - sale authorized
    1923,41 - proceeds from sale given to conference trustees

Brief History:
   The first Methodist class here was organized September 3, 1851 by travelling local pastor John D. Sours. The first church edifice was erected in June 1873, and the second church building was dedicated December 8, 1895.
    Cross Forks was the northernmost appointment on a charge along Kettle Creek. Originally known as the Leidy circuit, with an 1889 parsonage at Trout Run, the charge was renamed Cross Fork after that community became the area's dominant town and a new Methodist parsonage was erected there in 1896. Cross Forks and the entire area went from boom town town to ghost town with the rise and fall of the region's lumber industry. There were five long-standing appointments on the charge: Cross Forks in Potter County, and four in Clinton County (Brooks school house, Leidy, Tamarack, and Trout Run).
    The Lackawanna Lumber Company closed in 1909. In 1913 the Pennsylvania Stave Company closed and the Buffalo and Susquehanna Railroad discontinued service to Cross Fork. The church struggled on for a few years and last reported a membership of 3 in 1918.

Final disposition:
The community was depopulated and the exact location of the church has not been determined.

6. Ellisburg ME

[no picture]

Location: 1020 Raghill Road, village of Ellisburg
Municipality: Genesee township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Ellisburg is on PA 244, 6 miles south of Genesee. Raghill Road goes off to the left. The church is at the intersection of PA 244 and Raghill Road.

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1895,77 - church built

Final disposition:
The building now houses the Ellisburg Union Church.

7. Galeton ME

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: galeton

Location: Main Street, Galeton
Municipality: borough of Galeton
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
Galeton is on US 6, 24 miles east of Coudersport. The church is on the southeast corner of Main Street (US 6) and Bridge Street (PA 144)

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
     1901,69 – building enlarged at a cost of $3100 and re-opened February 23, 1901
     1984, 297/298 – merged into Gaines (along with Marshland) to become Pine Creek Valley
     1992,356 – building reported sold in 1988

Brief History:
The first Methodists in the area were James and Deborah Dickinson, who owned a saw mill in the area. They organized a Sunday School about 1853, which included very occasional visits from circuit riders ― perhaps once a year for a two-day meeting with communion. Beginning about 1880, the preachers at Gaines felt a burden for the work at Galeton but could not possibly add another appointment to their already large circuit. In 1883 the circuits were finally adjusted, regular preaching arranged for the school house, and a class was organized. The first church building was erected in 1887 and burned in 1893. A second building was erected in 1894 and enlarged in 1900, but it succumbed to flames in 1916. The building pictured above was erected in 1917. The first and second buildings were almost identical, except that the door for the first building opened to Bridge Street and the door for the second building opened to Main Street. The third building was more grandiose.
Galeton was for many years a booming city, and the church was a station appointment. In 1965 the Gaines and Galeton charges were combined under a single pastor. In 1984 Galeton joined with Gaines and Marshland to form the Pine Creek Valley United Methodist Church, worshipping in the former Gaines building until their new structure 2.5 miles east of Gaines was completed in 1992.

Final disposition:
The building was sold in October 1988, the new owners envisioning the structure becoming a children's center and/or a theater. That dream was never realized, and the building stood in ruins for several years. The structure has been razed, and the site is now a landscaped empty lot.

8. Gold ME

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Location: PA 449, village of Gold
Municipality: Ulysses township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Gold is on PA 49, 5 miles west of the borough of Ulysses, at the intersection of PA 49 with PA 449. The church is on PA 449, just north of PA 49, on the east side of the highway.

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1899,76 - church dedicated at Gold
1899,76 - church building projected for West Bingham

Brief History:
This church was dedicated September 27, 1899, apparently a Baptist-Methodist union effort. In 1900 the Gold charge of the Genesee Conference had 4 appointments (Fairfield, Gold, Keech, and Raymond), but only ownership in 1/2 building (presumably 1/2 interest in the Gold church building, while the other appointments met in homes or schoolhouses). The building projected for West Bingham may have been for the "Keech" appointment, but apparently it was never erected.
Since coming into the Central Pennsylvania Conference in 1962, Gold and Mills were two union church appointments served from Ulysses. At the time of the 1968 Methodist-EUB union to form the United Methodist Church, Gold and Mills had 17 and 32 Methodist members respectively. At that point there was a unanimous motion at Gold to dissolve the Methodist society there in accordance with the by-laws in effect. Gold was not included in The Plan and Basis of Union that created the new Central Pennsylvania Conference. Mills was included The Plan, but not in the new Conference that officially came into existence on January 1, 1970.

Final disposition:
The building now houses the Gold Church, a non-denominational Baptist church.

9. Harrison Valley ME

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: harrison

Location: PA 49, village of Harrison Valley
Municipality: Harrison township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Harrison Valley is on PA 49, 7 miles east of the borough of Ulysses. The church stood on the north side of PA 49, just east of the intersection with Second Street (White's Corners Road).

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
For many years Harrison Valley was the home base of the four-point Harrison Valley charge: Harrison Valley, North Fork, Mills, and Potter Brook ― with the church buildings at the first two locations owned by the Methodists, and the other buildings being union structures. In 1919 this charge was dismantled. Despite a fine church building and parsonage, Harrison Valley was served from Ulysses in 1919 and from Westfield in 1920. In 1921 the Methodists and Baptists in Harrison Valley formed a Federated congregation ― with each society retaining its identity, but working and worshipping together. The Methodist structure was sold to the Harrison Valley Grange in 1928. A modern Federated Church (around the corner on Whites Corners Road) housed the congregations until May 31, 1998 ― when the United Methodist constituency voted to withdraw, with all property continuing to operate as the Baptist-related Harrison Valley Federated Church.

Final disposition:
The Grange eventually sold the property to an individual. The church was razed and replaced by a garage. The parsonage still stands and is privately owned.

10. Mills ME
Mills MP

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: mills

Location: PA 49, village of Mills
Municipality: Harrison township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Mills is on PA 49, 5 miles east of the borough of Ulysses. The church is 1 block south of PA 449, on a long driveway.

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
The Mills Union Church was built on landed deeded to a corporation by that name in 1891. The building was dedicated June 20, 1893. While known as a Methodist-Baptist union, the congregation actually included four denominations (Close Baptist, Free Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant) ― and all four ministers lived in the village.
Since coming into the Central Pennsylvania Conference in 1962, Gold and Mills were two union church appointments served from Ulysses. At the time of the 1968 Methodist-EUB union to form the United Methodist Church, Gold and Mills had 17 and 32 Methodist members respectively. Gold was not included in The Plan and Basis of Union that created the new Central Pennsylvania Conference. Mills was included The Plan, but not in the new Conference that officially came into existence on January 1, 1970. It appears that by 1969 the membership was predominantly Methodist, but the congregation used the formation of the United Methodist denomination and their status as an independent corporation as an opportunity to sever all denominational ties. Methodist Pastor Faith E. Orth, who had submitted her resignation as pastor of the Ulysses charge to the Conference effective June 14, 1970, became the pastor of the independent congregation.

Final disposition:
The building now houses the Mills Union Church, a non-denominational congregation.

11. Mina ME

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Location: village of Mina
Municipality: Eulalia township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Mina is south of US 6, 6 miles east of Roulette ― but there is no bridge across the Allegheny River from US 6 to the village. From Roulette, go 4 miles east on US 6 to Reeds Run Road. Turn south on Reeds Run Road and go 0.5 miles to Back Road. Turn east on Back Road and go 2 miles to the village of Mina. The exact site of the church building, if there was one, is unknown.

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1894,82 - large saw mill burns, weakens the class as persons relocate

Brief History:
Mina was a long-time rural appointment on the Roulette charge, but it appears there was not a Methodist church building there.

Final disposition:

12. North Bingham ME

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Location: village of North Bingham
Municipality: Bingham township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
From the town of Genesee, at the intersection of PA 449 and PA 220, go one block east on PA 220 (School Street) to the T. Turn right on to Academy Street and go 0.5 miles, to the intersection where Hickox Road goes to the right and N. Bingham Road goes straight ahead. Stay on North Bingham Road 6 miles to the village of North Bingham [as this road connects Genesee and Mills, it is also called the Genesee-Mills Road.] The church is at the east end of North Bingham, on the left side of the road.

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
The first religious services in the area were held by the Baptists in 1833. By 1836 both the Baptists and Methodists were meeting in homes and school buildings. In May 1881 a union Baptist and Methodist church was erected. A belfry was added to the building in 1915.
For many years North Bingham was on the Whitesville NY charge, and Genesee was on the Stanards NY charge. In 1962 the Pennsylvania churches in the Genesee Conference were transferred to the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Church, and North Bingham and Genesee became a two-point charge. With the reorganization associated with formation of the new Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1970, Brookfield and North Fork were added to the charge. This arrangement was not satisfactory to the United Methodists at North Bingham ― and they transferred out of the denomination, leaving the former union church with no United Methodist constituency.

Final disposition:
The building now houses the non-denominational North Bingham Community Church.

13. North Fork ME

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Location: North Fork Road, village of North Fork
Municipality: Harrison township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
From the intersection of PA 49 and PA 349 in the borough of Westfield, go 1.5 miles west on PA 49 to North Fork Road. Go north on North Fork Road 7 miles to the village of North Fork. The church is at the north end of the village, on the left side of the road.

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
    Central Pennsylvania Conference
        1995,221 - abandoned
        1996,315 - sold

Brief History:
      The Methodist Church of Harrison township was incorporated in December, 1855, with Thomas Statham, Edwin Statham, Henry Clark, Merrill Sackett and Nelson Gill, trustees. A church house was built by the society at North Fork the following year. The structure is one of the oldest church buildings in Potter County. [The Presbyterians erected a church building in Coudersport in 1850.]   The owner of the property on which the building was erected was not preserved, but the land later came into the possession of Darius Coffin. In 1896 Mr. Coffin deeded the church and land to the Methodists.
     For many years Harrison Valley was the home base of the four-point Harrison Valley charge: Harrison Valley, North Fork, Mills, and Potter Brook ― with the church buildings at the first two locations owned by the Methodists, and the other buildings being union structures. In 1919 this charge was dismantled, and it is unclear exactly what happened to North Fork. Later North Fork was on a two-point charge with Brookfield (which had been on a charge with Troupsburg NY), and eventually a three-point Harrison Valley charge was re-formed with Brookfield, Harrison Valley, and North Fork.
    Gradually the membership dwindled. By the summer of 1994, it became evident that the few remaining members could no longer keep the church going. The church officially ceased to exist as of September 1, 1994.

Final disposition:
The building is now a private residence.

14. Odin ME

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Location: village of Odin
Municipality: Keating township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Odin is just west of PA 872, 4 miles north of Austin.

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1898,76 – church completed
1899,77 – church dedicated

Brief History:
The Methodist building at Odin was dedicated September 27, 1899. This appointment was originally part of the Sweden Valley charge of the Genesee Conference, but the 1904 Central Pennsylvania Conference journal, page 85, reports as follows. "Keating Summit. being crippled by the decline of the lumbering industry, has reached out over the Conference boundary line, preachers and people consenting, and incorporated Odin, where there is a small but beautiful church erected a year ago." [Note, the "a year ago" conflicts with the Genesee Conference account.] The church remained with the Central Pennsylvania Conference, but the membership dwindled as the area depopulated.

Final disposition:
The area has been depopulated and the exact site of the Methodist church has not been determined.

15. Odin UB

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: odin

Location: village of Odin
Municipality: Keating township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Odin is just west of PA 872, 4 miles north of Austin.

Historic Conference:
Erie Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
The Odin class was organized about 1895, and the church was erected in 1898 during the pastorate of L.S. Hayner. A list of pastors from 1900 to 1936 is the closed church files. According to The Religious Telescope 9/9/1908, page 14, Revs. L.S. and Lottie A. Hayner who were instrumental in the development of this charge transferred to Oregon Conference. They apparently lived in Clackamas OR for a number of years, but it appears their transfers were never finalized and that they never served in the Oregon Conference.

Final disposition:
The building is now a seasonal cabin.

16. Prouty UB

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Location: Watson Farm Road, village of Prouty
Municipality: Summit township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Costello is on PA 872, 3 miles south of the borough of Austin. From the village of Costello, go 8 miles north on First Fork Road to Prouty Road. Turn right on Prouty Road and go 100 yard to Watson Farm Road. Turn left on Watson Farm Road and go about 100 yards. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Erie Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
    Central Pennsylvania Conference
        1982,304 – transferred to Central Pennsylvania Conference
        1987,169 – discontinued
        1992,356 – reported sold in 1987

Brief History:
The stone wall for the Prouty church was laid in 1899, and the building was dedicated in 1901. This 26x44 frame structure has been the scene of several significant revivals, and the congregation has sent at least 9 persons into the United Brethren ministry ― including Walter Nelson, Milo Watson, and four from the Reed family (Charles, Alvin, Orpha and Glenn). Prouty was on the Sweden Valley UB charge. Following the 1968 EUB-Methodist union that formed the United Methodist Church, the charge was originally placed in the Western Pennsylvania Conference.

Final disposition:

17. Sartwell Creek UB

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Location: 980 Sartwell Creek Road
Municipality: Pleasant Valley township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
Sartwell Creek Road goes north from US 6 at the Potter-McKean county line, in the village of Burtville. Go north on Sartwell Creek Road for 2.5 miles. The building is on the right.

Historic Conference:
Erie Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:

Brief History:
Sartwell Creek church was organized in 1872 and worshiped in the school house for 24 years. When a church was erected in Burtville in 1896, the Sartwell Creek school house appointment and Burtville appointment united to worship there. Two years later a church was erected at Sartwell Creek, and the congregation re-divided. When the Burtville church burned in 1925, it was not rebuilt and the congregations re-united at Sartwell Creek. When the conferences were reorganized in 1970, following the Methodist-EUB union, this congregation became part of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church and is included in this listing “unofficially.” When the membership and attendance dwindled, the church was closed by the Western Pennsylvania Conference in 1993 – and the records are housed in the archives of that Conference.

Final disposition:
The building is now home to the Sartwell Creek Union Church.

18. Sunderlinville ME

Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: sunderlinville $Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: X:\image\closed_churchs\potter\sunderlinville.jpg$

Location: Foster Road, village of Sunderlinville
Municipality: Hector township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
From the intersection of US 6 and PA 144 in the borough of Galeton, go 3 miles east on US 6 to Phoenix Run Road. Go north on Phoenix Run Road 6 miles to Foster Road in the village of Sunderlinville. Turn left on Foster Road and go 50 yards. The church stood on the left, across from a mobile home with a fountain in the yard.

Historic Conference:
Genesee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1937,244 – declared disbanded; sale of property authorized

Brief History:
The Methodist class here was reportedly organized by the efforts of C.P. Kilbourne, one of the area's early prominent settlers. The first regular Methodist circuit to meet with the congregation appears to have been Theodore McElheney, while he served the Knoxville mission in Tioga County 1840-41. The date of the first building and/or the building pictured above at the right is not known.
In 1883 the large Methodist circuit at Gaines was divided, and Sunderlinville was placed on a four-point charge with 3 no-longer-existing Tioga County appointments: Lansing, Potter Brook and Lansing. The last several years of its existence the church was served from Galeton. The appointment appears to have dwindled down to less than 10 members and was abandoned about 1912.

Final disposition:
The building was later used as a school and then converted into a g house. At some point, a rectangular addition across the rear of the building gave it a T shape. Only the back 25% (i.e., one window) of the original structure and the later rear addition remain.

19. Sweden Valley Faith UB

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Location: Faith Street, village of Sweden Valley
Municipality: Sweden township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Sweden Valley is on US 6, 4 miles east of the square (where US 6 and PA 44 meet) in Coudersport. In the village of Sweden Valley, go north on Faith Street 100 yards. The church is on the left.

Historic Conference:
Erie Conference of the United Brethren Church

Journal references:
    Central Pennsylvania Conference
       1982,394 - transferred to Central Pennsylvania Conference
        1999,217 - merged into Sweden Valley (former Methodist)

Brief History:
The class at Sweden Valley was organized in May 1892 and attached to the Odin charge. The erection and dedication of the church building is described in The Religious Telescope 2/2/1900, page 277. As populations shifted, the charge became the Sweden Valley charge. Following the 1968 EUB-Methodist union that formed the United Methodist Church, the charge was originally placed in the Western Pennsylvania Conference.

Final disposition:

20. Wharton ME

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Location: PA 872, village of Wharton
Municipality: Wharton township
County: Potter
State: PA

Directions:
The village of Wharton is on PA 872, 5 miles south of Costello.

Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church

Journal references:
1905, 80 - sold parsonage at Nelson Run, erected new parsonage at Wharton

Brief History:
The Wharton circuit was established in 1873 and included about 8 preaching appointments along the First Fork of Sinnemahoning Creek. The parsonage was located at Nelson Run, which was the largest appointment on the circuit, until a new parsonage was erected in Wharton in 1905. For several years in the late 1800's, annual camp meetings were held in a grove along the banks of the Sinnemahoning.
There is a tradition that a Methodist structure existed by the cemetery pictured above, but there is no documentation that any appointments on the Wharton circuit ever had a church building. The Nelson Run and Hull appointments met in school houses, and other appointments met in homes. The 1915 conference journal lists the Wharton appointment as meeting in a school house. The Wharton circuit was eventually attached to the Austin and/or Costello charge. The last reported memberships were 2 for Wharton in 1917 and 4 for Hulls in 1920, and by 1921 none of the original Wharton appointments remained on the records.

Final disposition: