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.
Adams | Bedford | Blair | Bradford | Centre | Clearfield | Clinton | Columbia | Cumberland | Dauphin | Franklin | Fulton | Huntingdon| Juniata | Lackawanna | Luzerne | Lycoming | Mifflin | Montour | Northumberland
| Perry | Pike | Potter | Schuylkill | Snyder | Sullivan | Susquehanna | Tioga | Union | Wayne | Wyoming | York
WYOMING COUNTY PA
Bardwell EV
Location: village of Bardwell
Municipality: Tunkhannock township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
The village of Bardwell is six miles
east of Tunkhannock on U.S. Rt. 6. The
old church, however, is on the other side of the creek from Saddle Lake Road,
but the old bridge was removed more than 20 years ago. To reach it, travel on
Rt. 6 about a mile east of the Saddle Lake Road intersection. After crossing
the creek, make a sharp left onto Bunker Hill Road. At the stop sign, continue
straight across the intersection onto Bardwell Road and the old church is a
mile ahead on the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical
Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This building was erected
by the Evangelical Association in 1891 and claimed by both factions following
the 1894 denominational split. The
Evangelical Association maintained possession of the building, but the
congregation did not survive until the 1922 reunion. The property was listed as unused until about
1960, although a Union Sunday School was held during some of those years. In 1965 the Methodists briefly considered
re-establishing preaching services but decided they had neither the interest
nor the proper jurisdiction to do so.
Final disposition:
The building is privately owned and operated as a
garage/repair shop.
Beaumont ME
[aka Monroe ME]
Location: Graveyard Hill Road, village of Beaumont
Municipality: Monroe township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Beaumont in on PA 309, about 5.5 miles north
of Dallas. At the north end of community
of Beaumont, turn east on Graveyard Hill Road and go about 300 yards. The cemetery is on the right, and the church
building is on the left.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1894,31 – church building dedicated
last May
1955,1873 – declared
abandoned
1958,673 – sold to Monroe township for
$450; $400 to Beaumont Cemetery Association
Brief History:
The class purchased this lot in 1866, but
the church building was not erected for many years. It was dedicated May 28, 1893, as a union
church building.
Final disposition:
Bunnell Hill ME
Location:
Municipality: township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation worshipped in the school
house for many years until its church building was dedicated June 20,
1902. Worship serves here were
discontinued about 1938, and the congregation merged into the Meshoppen church.
Chaffee’s 1904 History of the
Wyoming Conference, page 77, states that Wyalusing District Methodist camp
meetings were held at Bunnell Hill from 1871 to 1874,
before the Dimock campmeeting site was selected.
Final disposition:
Crooked Lake [Lake Winola] ME
Location: Church Road
Municipality: Overfield township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Tunkhannock, go south on PA 92
for 3.5 miles to PA 307. Go east on PA
307 for 2 miles to a “cross road” where the main road PA 307 bends south and
Dalton Road continue straight. Continue
straight on Dalton Road for 100 yards to Church Road. The church stood in the sunken field on the
southwest corner of Dalton and Church Roads, across from the cemetery. If you miss Dalton Road, go another 200 yards
and make a hard reverse left on to Church Road and go north 100 yards to Dalton
Road.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Crooked Lake [later called Lake Winola] merged with Mill City to erect the present Lake Winola UM Church on the other side of the lake.
Final disposition:
The church was torn down. Only the
cemetery, across Church Road from the church site, remains. The last burial in the cemetery was in 1979
Keiserville ME
Location: community of Kaiserville
Municipality: Washington township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Tunkhannock go west 3 miles [or
from Russel Hill go east 1 mile] on US 6, to Keiserville
Road. Go north 2 miles on Keiserville Road.
The cemetery is on the right. The
church building stood across the road from the cemetery and slightly to the
north.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1969,77 – declared abandoned, sale authorized, proceeds to Meshoppen charge
Brief History:
This appointment/building has also been
known as Kaiserville and Vose. The community was originally called Witch
Hazel because of the witch hazel shrubs growing in the area. It was named Keiserville
for Michael Keiser who came from Philadelphia and bought the property along the
creek. After 1866 it became known as Vose because the post office was located in the Vose mill building that Keiser owned. With the closing of the mill and the post
office, the name reverted back to Keiserville, but
now the spelling Kaiserville prevails.
The Methodist building here was dedicated
July 17, 1853. For many years the
services were held Sunday evenings at 8.
In 1960 a student pastor was assigned, and the services were moved to
Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. so that he could return to his school each
week. This change was not well received,
and the attendance dropped to the point where the congregation was no longer
viable. Most of the members were
transferred to Russell Hill.
Final disposition:
The property was sold in 1969, with the
condition that the building be razed.
The altar and bell were taken to Russell Hill.
Mill City ME
Location:
Municipality:
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Mill City merged with Crooked Lake [later
called Lake Winola] to erect the present Lake Winola UM Church on the other side of the lake.
Final disposition:
Noxen MP
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality: Noxen township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church
Journal references:
1888,7 – deed for a
church lot [on Bowman’s Creek] secured and placed in hands of the treasurer
1900,28 – property purchased for church
purposes
1910,16 – concrete block church building
under construction
Brief History:
Final disposition:
Stull ME
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality: Noxen township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Wyoming
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Local preacher James
Phoenix began holding services in the schoolhouse in the 1870’s. When he became too feeble to continue, the
Methodist Protestants took up the week.
In 1892 the Methodist Protestants discontinued the work and the pastor
from Center Moreland, upon appeal from the Stone family, took the appointment
under his wing and saw that it was supplied from Center Moreland and/or by
Wyoming Seminary students. The church
building was dedicated October 29, 1899 – the lot being a gift from the Albert
Lewis Lumber Company, which “built the church and contributed largely to the
success of the enterprise.”
Final disposition:
Thurston Hollow ME
[no picture]
Location: Thurston Hollow Road
Municipality: Eaton township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
From Centermoreland,
go north 3 miles on Creamery Road to Margaret Hollow Road. Turn left onto Margaret Hollow Road and go 1
mile to Thurston Hollow Road. Turn left
onto Thurston Hollow Road and go 2.5 miles (when you pass Greenley
BBQ on the left, you are about half-way there.
The site is on the right, unidentifiable. The site “Thurston Church” noted, with
coordinates, on various maps and websites and assumed to mark the location of
the Methodist building.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1965,64 – abandoned;
permission to sell the property
Brief History:
There was Methodist
preaching at Thurston Hollow at least as early as 1860, when the appointment on
the Centermoreland charge. In 1882 the appointment was moved to the
Eatonville circuit. This land was deeded to the Methodists January 7, 1907, and
the church has generally been associated with the Centermoreland
charge. Regular services at the site
ceased about 1940, but services were held there from time to time by various
religious groups until the building was destroyed by fire on November 22, 1964.
Final disposition:
Tunkhannock EV
Location:
Municipality: borough of Tunkhannock
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical
Association
Journal references:
East Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Association|
1900,21 – permission to solicit on Allentown District rather
than sell part of the lot
1896,27
– permission to solicit in the Reading District to liquidate debt
1897,20
– permission to take out a mortgage rather than sell off the rear of the
lot
1903,29
– permission to sell, if necessary
Brief History:
Final disposition:
Union Hill ME
Location: Grist Flat Road
Municipality: Mehoopany township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
Going south on PA 87 through the town
of Mehoopany, turn left onto Sugar Hollow Road and cross Mehoopany creek. Follow Sugar Hollow Road 1 mile (sharp right
turn and up a hill) to the cross roads (by the orchard) at the top of the hill. Turn left onto Grist Flat Road and go 0.5
miles to the Tarus Service business. The cemetery is on the left, immediately past
Tarus Service.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
In 1886, Union Hill and Sugar Hollow were
taken from Mehoopany circuit and, along with Thurston Hollow and South Eaton
from Centermoreland circuit, placed with Eatonville
to form the Eatonville circuit.
Final disposition:
The church building is
gone, and only the associated cemetery remains.
Vernon ME
[aka Greens Wood ME]
Location: village of Vernon
Municipality: Northmoreland
township
County: Wyoming
State: PA
Directions:
The village of Vernon is on PA 292,
2 miles north of Centermoreland. The building stood at the end of the Beaumont
to Vernon Road, 40 yards west of PA 292, across from the cemetery.
Historic Conference:
Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1939 (special session),15
– authorization to sell
1940,668 – authorized to sell
1945,17 – discontinued and abandoned. Conference board of trustees directed to
sell.
Brief History:
This church was on the Centermoreland
charge. The class was formed before 1860
and called Green Woods, local preacher Samuel Harrison doing most of the early
preaching. They worshiped in a school
house until a church building was erected in 1874 and dedicated January 13,
1875. The 1939 entry states that it “has
been abandoned for several years.” The
building was torn down in the 1950’s, and a sawmill
(now also gone) was built in its place.
Final disposition:
The site is now an empty field.
Vose ME [see Keiserville]