A New Century 1883-1908

Form 1883 to 1887, Rev. Albert A. King served as pastor. It was he who formed a Young People's Union, later to be known as the Christian Endeavor. The letters "C.E." on one of the church windows refer to this first young people's organization, forerunner of today's' Youth Fellowship. The King family was the first to occupy the complete parsonage. We read that a well was dug on this property in 1884 and that later eight fruit trees were planted.

In those pre-welfare days, a "Poor Fund" --- later called the Needy Families fund --- was put at the disposal of the minister.

Rev. Clarence M. Parlee followed Rev. King in 1888. A Junior Endeavor Society was formed and fortunately for the future financing of church growth, a Ladies' Aid Society began to function. It had evolved from the Sewing Society whose members had met in private homes, arriving at meetings with sewing baskets containing projects for the yearly fund-raising fair.

Rev. Albert DeWitt Mason arrived in 1891 at a time when the church was again passing through a period of depression. Nevertheless, records show that Sunday morning service averaged an attendance of 70, evening service 65. A furnace was installed, an organ fund started. The Ladies' Missionary Society, formed earlier, became more active. The church reached a milestone, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 1893.

The turn-of-the-century pastor was Rev. Alexander McKelvey. Called to the church in 1894, he stayed fifteen years. His name is memorialized on one of the stained glass windows. With the new century came electric lights, paid for by the youngsters of the Christian Endeavor Society. Work on curbs and gutters was begun on Washingston and Grant Streets. The Ladies' Aid financed a metal ceiling for the sanctuary. Best of all, an organ (costing $1,025 installed) was purchased. On the church's 40th Anniversary in 1908, Rev. McKelvey observed of the organ that "its sweetness continues unabated."

A rare photograph of the church shows a white clapboard exterior, a flat-roofed tower somewhat taller than our present one, shuttered windows, and a wire fence --- taken down in 1914 --- around the property. The minutes of those days evoke a picture of a dusty road in front of the church, for we read of the expenses for the church's share of oiling the street. The photograph does not show a driveway or outbuildings, but they were there. The driveway led in off Washington Street, circled behind the building and opened on Grant Street. It had to be closed off when the kitchen extension was added in 1922, and that is when the outbuildings were taken down. Not many of us remember the white clapboard, but we do recall our "old church" with the brown shingle exterior and neat white trim.

A relic of those horse and buggy days still exists on Grant Street --- the metal hitching post, one of the very few remaining in Boonton.