First Presbyterian Church Hammondsport
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Hammondsport, NY
14840
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History of the First Presbyterian Church of Hammondsport, NY
The Presbyterian Church was established in Hammondsport in 1831. The present church building was built in the early 1840’s and dedicated in 1847. It was built by Jesse H. Poster, who also built Elm Croft, the former House of Travel on Main Street, and the former C.D. Champlin house on Route 54. According to a newspaper article after the steeple fire, “The church, when constructed had a square bell tower which was replaced in 1868 by the pointed spire, Hammondsport people recalled.”
In 1882 an extensive, three year revision of the exterior and interior was completed, including greater structural support for the steeple. The pipe organ was installed around this time. The building was electrified in 1901.
During a severe lightening storm in the early morning hours of June 13, 1953 lightening apparently struck the church and smoldered until it burst into a fire that raged up through the steeple. The steeple luckily toppled onto the tile roof of the brick bank building next door causing little damage there. The slate roof and metal ceiling fell into the sanctuary leaving only the walls standing (virtually untouched on the outside). The sanctuary furnishings, including the old pipe organ, were a total loss. (The wooden piece over the Dossal curtains and pieces of the pipes were salvaged from the organ.) Most of the Tiffany stained glass windows were destroyed or badly damaged. The window in the St. John’s room in the back of the sanctuary and the small window over the front door are the only remaining original windows. (The dedication on the large window is to Rev. Chinchester, pastor from 1869 until his death in 1876 and Rev. Bosworth, pasor from 1876 until 1888.) The church was rebuilt and dedicated in 1955 with a bell tower, but no steeple due to the prohibitive cost. The old bell was left in the tower but not hung to ring.*
In 1993 a fund raising campaign was launched to replace the steeple. A great community effort raised the funds and a pre-built, 50 foot aluminum steeple with a 7 foot gold plated cross was put on in October 1993. A crowd of residents and school children gathered around the park to watch the installation The steeple is less massive than the original, but rises to almost the same height. The old bell was re-hung and rang for the first time in 40 years. The original steeple had a clock face on all four sides. The old clock works were found in the bell tower, restored and given to the Curtiss Museum. The steeple was dedicated in October 1994.
