HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

Allentown, N.J. its Rise and Progress (Part 44)

   From C. R. Hutchinson’s journals at the New Jersey Historical Society, a brief history of local churches and a revolutionary-era subscription for a secular school, with notable N.J. government officials pledging support.
The Methodist Church in Allentown is of comparatively recent origin. It was organized in 1810, by John Dickson, John Imlay, Jr., Samuel Lanning, Anthony Borden, Edward Page and Samuel Robbins, and a church building was erected at about that time on the lot where the African M. E. church now is, which appears to be the same; the colored people having acquired it in 1832, when the white brethren built a second and larger church in the present location, on the easterly side of Church Street. This second building remained until 1859, when it was removed, and a third building, with steeple and bell, took its place and still remains. The building which was removed at that time was purchased by "Captain" John Rogers and became a double dwelling house on the westerly side of Church Street and at the southerly side of the lot now occupied by the borough hall, in the southerly part of which I commenced housekeeping in the spring of 1860, and both my children were born there [as was local historian Mary Theoharis Clark]. The northerly part was at that time occupied as the Methodist parsonage. The names of those who have been connected with the history of this church are too modern for the purposes of this record, which is intended to treat more particularly of colonial time.
   The Episcopal Church (known as "Christ Church"), began its actual existence as an organized body in 1845, when a small church (with steeple and bell); was erected on a lot on the westerly side of Church Street, north of the borough hall [now Municipal Annex building]. In this occasional services were held until 1860, when Rev. Edward A. Foggo was settled as rector, but in 1861, he removed to become rector of old Christ Church in Philadelphia. He was succeeded by others until 1894, when the congregation had become so small and the support so inadequate that regular preaching was discontinued, and there is now [1914] only an occasional service. In 1869 the lot and building on Church Street was sold to the Roman Catholics, and a larger and more pretentious building was erected in the present location at the westerly corner of Main and Broad Streets, but is now seldom used, the congregation having almost entirely disappeared.
   The Baptist Church came into existence in 1874 with Rev. Warren Lincoln as pastor, and held its services in the hall over the "Brick Store" until 1879 [18 S. Main St.], when they built there church and parsonage on the historic lot adjoining it easterly [Public Library], the old Newell house being torn down at that time. Rev. Warren Lincoln was my intimate friend. He died here April 3, 1877, and was buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery: and it was my lot to perform the Masonic funeral service over his grave. He was succeeded by Rev’s. James W. Grant in 1877; William H. Burlew in 1878; Samuel S. Cox in 1882; Henry Tratt in 1885; Thomas C. Young in 1888; W.W. Bullock in 1891; Augustus R. Babcock in 1896; Robert Gordon in 1903; B. Franklin Bryan in 1906; A.E. Gilmore in 1908; and C.K. Newell, who in 1914 is the incumbent. This church has prospered, numerically and financially.
   St. John’s Roman Catholic Church was organized in 1869, when the lot and building on Church Street, which had been occupied by the Episcopalians, was purchased and improved. In 1897, this building was removed to its present location, on the northerly side of [126 S.] Main Street, adjoining their parsonage, which they acquired about 1872, and at about the same time established a cemetery in the part of the town.
   The Allentown Academy appears to have been founded in 1783, and to have been the successor of a school which had previously existed under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church, on whose land the building was located. It was a two story frame building, about 20 X 30 feet, and stood in front of the present brick chapel, which took its place in 1856. A subscription list, dated January 20, 1783, which I found among the Montgomery papers [also with N.J. Historical] at Eglinton, recites that:
   "The undersigned, Inhabitants of Allentown and the Neighbourhood, perceiving the great Necessity of Encouraging and Promoting the Education of youth; have at a Considerable Expence Erected a House for that purpose Called the Allentown Academy, which not being finished and the Trustees being desirous of compleating the same, We do hereby promise to pay the several sums annexed to each of our names for the purpose abovesaid: John Imlay, L6; Peter Imlay, L3, Samuel Quay, L2; James Newell, L3; Elisha Lawrence, L3; Robert Montgomery, L3; Charles Hay, L1, 10 [shillings]; William Patterson, L1, 15, 0 [pence]; Joseph Bloomfield, L1, 10, 0; Joseph Ball, L1, 15, 0: John Burrow[e]s, L1, 15, 0; William Houston, L1, 15, 0; William Livingston, L1, 15, 0;Robert L. Hooper, Junr., L1, 15, 0; Ren[sellea]r Williams, L0, 15, 0; David Forman, L3; Peter Covenhoven, L1, 10,0; Michael Mount, L1, 2, 6." Not all lived in this locality: William Paterson was a New Brunswick lawyer and member of the Legislative Council; and was Governor of New Jersey in 1790-92. Joseph Bloomfield was at that time Attorney General, and was Governor Chancellor of New Jersey in 1801 and 1802. "Major" John Burrowes (of Middletown Point [Atlantic Highlands]) was sheriff of Monmouth County. He married Margaret Forman. William Churchill Houston, Robert Lettis Hooper, Junr. and Rensellear Williams were all notable citizens of Trenton. "General" David Forman lived at Freehold. William Livingston was Governor of New Jersey from 1776 to 1790. Peter Covenhoven and Michael Mount lived in the vicinity of Imlaystown. [This subscription was most likely solicited by former Allentown resident, David Brearley, Jr., N.J.’s first bona fide Chief Justice.] Among the teachers of this school subsequent to 1850 were Irving Z. Smith, Rev. John H. Pratt, Benjamin Carter Spaulding, Josiah S. Robbins, John W. Long, and Henry Brewster Willis, who was the last, and who was also the first principal of the present (graded) public school in 1876.
   The "Eight Square" School House stood for many years on the northerly side of West [South] Main Street, just beyond the Trenton Road. It was torn down about 1855. Among its later teachers are mentioned: Cornelius Vanderbeek, Jacob Forsyth, John Simpson, and Mrs. Betsy Thomas was the last. A school house was stood on the Imlaystown road, at the westerly corner of what is now the Peter Wikoff farm [Galloping Brook], and my mother as a child attended there when it was taught by James B. Stafford and later by his daughter Sally. Its last teacher was William I. Brown, Esq. It was gone before 1850. In 1820, and afterward, Miss Mary Taylor had a school in a one story addition to the present dwelling of John S. Hulse (now removed) [47 S. Main St.], which had previously been the office of Doctor [and Congressman] George Holcomb[e] and was afterward that of Doct. Joseph Milnor. Miss Elizabeth Holcomb[e], daughter of the Doctor, later, also had a school in the building that stood where Miller Coward’s store now is. As early as 1829, the daughters of Richard L. Beatty, Esq. conducted a young ladies school in the brick house [20 S. Main St.] belonging to the brick store property, now owned by E.B. & B.F. Rogers, in which perhaps a dozen or more years later, my sister was a pupil, the principals then being Miss Mary and Miss Kate. They afterwards removed to Trenton, and carried on their school there successfully as a boarding school for many years.
   In 1848, the Methodist society erected a two story building on the westerly side of [24] Church Street, opposite their church, the first floor of which was occupied as a school, and the upper one as a sunday school room and public hall, being the first public hall in the village. About 1858 this building was sold to Anthony W. Kennedy, who occupied the lower part for the manufacture of rush bottomed chairs. In 1872, Benjamin Robbins purchased the property and converted it into a dwelling, in which he lived until 1882, when he removed to Franklin, Ohio. It is now owned by Albert H. West, and occupied by Edward Dilatush as a dwelling. The school above mentioned was removed to a building on the easterly side of [15] Church Street, belonging to old Madison Lodge of Odd Fellows, which disbanding about 1863, sold it to Samuel W. Fidler [who continued George Sinclair’s, and now Peppler’s, undertaking business there], who thereafter occupied it as a dwelling. It is now owned and occupied by J. Edgar Wilson.
Historically Speaking is a regular column presented by John Fabiano, MA, designated historian for Allentown Borough.