Recollections For The Commemorative Service

 

 

 

Recollections from Katherine Anderegg (Church member since 29-NOV-1953)

 

Katherine remembers:

 

     The Verona First Presbyterian church was framed with several beautiful tall elm trees.  The elm trees were diseased and fragile in the 1950’s, so they were removed.  The church was in full view then but everyone missed the gorgeous elm tree setting.

 

     Katherine does not remember the exact date when the church steeple was removed, however, she does remember driving on Rock Road and witnessing the steeple being removed.  Everyone felt sad to see it go but it had deteriorated with age.  The lowest section was repairable and a new roof was placed on top of it.  “Time changes everything” as the old saying goes.  There are only a few people remaining that remember the church’s appearance before the 1950’s.

 

     All Verona High School graduation programs where held alternately in the Verona First Presbyterian Church and Methodist Church from 1897 through 1926.

 

 

Recollections from Gloria Deecher (Church member in the 1960s and 1970s)

 

Gloria Remembers:

 

     Walking into Verona First Presbyterian with six children ranging in age from 9 to 15 and being welcomed by many smiling faces – she instantly felt at home.  She believes it was Rev. Clifford Weber who changed her children, from thinking that church was boring, to finding attending was an exciting learning experience.  One of her sons had such happy memories of the church that, even after the Deechers moved and started going to another church, he insisted on being married at Verona First by Rev. Pat Brindisi.

 

 

Recollections from Arlene Jones (Church member since 08-JUN-1947)

 

     “I think the most important thing I remember is what an active Sunday School and Youth Group we had in this church.  We tried to make it to church every Sunday but if we didn’t we were sure to bring our children to Sunday School and to the Youth Group in the afternoon.  Anna Mae and Andy Anderson were wonderful leaders of that.  They even took the Youth Groups to the St. Lawrence River for a trip.

 

     I also remember the hard workers we had in this church.  Many dinners were held to make money – also many dinners for fellowship. 

 

     I remember Myrtle Kenna always being there and [I] have told Sheila [Marmelstein] many times how proud her mother would be of her.

 

     Another thing I remember about the old times is the Dodge family and their activities.  We lived across from Bert Dodge and when Clint was working on our house before we moved in, Bert Dodge came over and asked him not to work on Sunday.  Clint’s reply was that he was just trying to get it ready for his family to move in and the only time he’d have is weekends.  Also I remember how much Clint and his brother in law, George Abel, worked on projects here and when they built the new manse at no cost to the church.

 

     This church has always been known as the friendly church.  I just wish we had more friends here to enjoy it.  I also wish more parents would bring their children to Sunday School.  It is an important part of bringing them up.”

 

Recollections from Clara Meier (Church member since 08-SEP-1957)

 

Clara remembers:

 

     That the old house next door was purchased to host the Sunday School.  Many members helped to fix and redecorate the new purchase to make it a comfortable home for the Sunday School attendees.  Clara became a Sunday School teacher and continued on to become the Superintendent.  Shirley Collins, with Clara's assistance, established the the Junior Choir and Clara worked closely with the Junior Choir to ensure its success.  Shirley Collins used to make special short white robes that the Junior Choir wore.

 

    Rev. John Paust donated the communion cup with Donna Meier's name on it after Donna's funeral.

 

    Rev. Pat Brindisi presented a Silver Cross to Clara in the mid eighties honoring 40 years of church service at Verona First.

 

    An embarrassing moment for Clara was when her son, Rick, then ten years old, yawned outrageously loud during the worship service on a certain Christmas Sunday.

 

 

Recollections from Mary & Jake Scherer (Mary, a Church member since 13-MAR-1960)

 

Mary and Jake remember:

 

    Rev. F. David Pudsell.  It seems impossible that it has been some forty-four years since Dave Pudsell was assigned to Verona First.  We lived directly across the street from Dave and Helen on Rock Road, and we became good friends.  Dave and Helen were a young, vibrant, kind and generous couple who were fun to be with.  Dave was an introspective intellectual, somewhat shy, with an acute dedication to his family, faith and church.  His ultimate goal was to return to college to obtain advanced degrees and then join a college faculty.  Helen was more the outgoing extrovert type who made friends easily and was simply comfortable to be around.  It was heart warming to recently learn that Dave realized his dreams as a faculty member at Fairmont State College in West Virginia.   

 

 

Recollections from Bill & Marion Patrick (Church members since 28-Nov-1938 and 13-APR-1952, respectively)

 

Bill remembers:

 

     That in earlier years the church's regular pews were often full and those arriving later were resigned to sit in the balcony.  At one time there was a shed for horses out behind the church; this structure was torn down to build a parking lot for automobiles.

 

     When he went to church so many years ago, many of the neighbors he passed by while traveling to the corner of Main Street and Rock Road also worshipped at Verona First.  There were the Van Der Walkers, the Chamberlins, (Florence Patrick) Arnott, Charles Patrick, Fred and Agnes Patrick, the Mitchells, the Millers, the Aegerters, and the Rays

 

     During the depression, when money was scarce, Bill can remember pastors receiving services and goods in place of hard cash after performing their pastoral services.

 

Marion remembers:

 

    Being transferred from the Oneida Presbyterian Church to Verona First in the 1952 where Rev. Samuel Southern was the Pastor in service.

 

    When Bill and Marion's youngest child Chris was being baptized at six months, Art Stook was assisting with the ceremony.  Not only was baby Chris up in front of the church body - the other 2 children William and Connie scurried up front also.  They didn't want to be left out of the festivities. 

 

    An embarrassing moment for Marion was one Sunday when she rushed off to church worship after cooking some chicken.  Immediately after Marion had the children and herself seated, she remembered that she may have still left the chicken cooking.  Just as hurriedly as she arrived, and to those amazement of those attending, she left with the children in tow to get home most fast.  Sure enough, the chicken was still cooking in the kitchen.

 

 

Recollections from John & Jean Hallagan (Church members since 03-JUL-1960)

 

John and Jean remember:

 

     That the house which stood between the church and the old Fire House, which would come to be known as the Christian Education Building, was purchased to provide additional rooms for the classes.  Classes could then be separated by grades and the building provided an office for the pastor.  Sunday school classes recessed for the months of July and August, concluding with a year end picnic.  A two week long Bible School was conducted each summer - which helped maintain contact with the youth during the summer.

 

     Parents took turns providing a nursery during the church worship service.  The only room available for the nursery was the small kitchen; nevertheless, this was a very important service.

 

     The church bell tolled every Sunday morning reminding the community that "The First Presbyterian Church" was very much a part of the village.

 

     Jean was very fortunate to have gained guidance and wisdom from the female "Pillars of the Church".  These community minded church ladies taught new members how to successfully set up public dinners, monthly pot luck suppers, and the annual ice cream social.  When Jean and John joined the church, at the risk of failing to name someone, the following female members were highly considered: Shirley Collins, Myrtle Kenna, Ethel Bushey, Mina Janes, Esther Roman, Nina Agan, Eunice Stook, Elizabeth Anderson and Viola Dodge.  Elizabeth Anderson furnished the music for church services and special occasions; Shirley Collins seemingly always provided, and then arranged, the floral contributions.  The following male members where held in high esteem:  Ken Collins, Paul Anderson, Clift Janes, George Agan, Clint Jones, Ken Kenna, Seward Dodge, and Art Stook.  These men were counted on to perform carpentary, masonry, painting, and overall repair work, and general maintenance planning.  The members chores increased after obtaining the Christian Education Building. 

 

 

More Recollections from Katherine Anderegg

 

Katherine remembers:

 

     In the 1920’s, she attended the Sunshine Sunday School class at Verona First.  It was taught by Mrs. John Evans, who endeared herself to all.  Mrs. Fred Patrick was in charge of the Children’s Day and Christmas programs which were so enjoyable.  Alice Stellwagen Merry was the pianist.  Primary to adult classes were held in the annex, the church and the balcony.  Florence Jones was Sunday School Superintendent for the years 1922 through 1949 – she was also a Junior High teacher for that period at Verona High School.

 

     Luella Greene Egger was church organist and choir director for many years.  Elizabeth Evans Anderson was the next church organist and served over 50 years, eventually receiving a special plaque in the 1980’s for that continuity.

 

     Many families including parents and their children filled every pew in the church.  They came from all surrounding areas: Spring Road, Tilden Hill Road, Rock Road, Old Oneida Road to Blackman’s Corners and to Willow Valley and Route 31.  The church was doing well until the early 1970’s when church membership declined.  Younger people left for jobs elsewhere and older members where passing away.

 

 

Recollections from Margaret E. Dodge Hillman (Church member in 10-JUN-1956)

 

Peg remembers:

 

     Spending many weekends as a young child on her grandparents’ farm and riding to church with them on Sunday.  Peg cherished her grandparents.

 

     Her grandfather, Bert J. Dodge took such and interest in the Verona Church from early childhood.  He was a member of the church from 1883 until his death on October 9, 1956 at age 95.  He maintained a close association with the pastors, and was honored numerous times and ways by the church and Presbytery.  Bert wrote the 40 year history of the church which was published as a 23 page pamphlet.  The first pastors Bert remembers is Civil War era pastor Rev. Abel S. Wood and his successors, Rev. David Biggar and Rev. Charles F. Janes.  In April 1951, Bert J. Dodge, on his 90th birthday, was honored by the church as the oldest living member of the church and 11 year old Peg made a presentation to him during the worship service.

 

     Bert and Cora married on March 16, 1886.  Cora L. Beecher Dodge was a church member since 1881, and a very active member at that, until her death in 1949.  Peg was just a couple weeks shy of her ninth birthday when Cora passed away at age 84.  Cora was actually Peg’s babysitter earlier in the day on the night that Cora passed in her sleep.  Peg remembers what a shock this was to an almost nine year old granddaughter!  She believes this was the first time she saw tears in her father’s eyes.    

 

     One last memory, Peg recollects standing up in front of the congregation to speak a memorized “piece” on Children’s Day.