HISTORY OF OGDEN

A church comes to life

At the fifth session (September 19, 1885) of the Barker and Chenango Sunday School Association (held in the Glen Castle Methodist Episcopal Church) the following resolution was passed:

"That an invitation be extended to the Town of Fenton to join the above named towns in this Association."

Thereafter the minutes of the Association refer to the "Barker, Chenango and Fenton Sunday School Association". Meetings were held quarterly in various churches-the Methodist Episcopal Churches in Kattlellville, Glen Castle, Castle Creek, North Fenton, Chenango Forks, Port Crane and the "Hyde Street M.E. Church" and "Adams Street M.E. Church"; the Congregational Church in Chenango Forks; the Baptist Churches in Port Crane and Castle Creek; and in the "Hall" in Chenango Bridge. Later the Presbyterian Church in Whitney Point was included and still later the churches in the Town of Triangle

The first mention of Ogden (October 3, 1889) in the minutes of the Sunday School Association notes a Sunday School "average attendance of 30". Individuals mentioned in the minutes are not usually identified by their Sunday School affiliation, so it is difficult to indentify Ogden participants. Elias Beckwith was a frequently mentioned participant in the Association's meetings.

A report for the quarter ending March 31, 1892 shows "Ogden M.E." (written over "Ogden Dist SS") with J. Smethurst as Superintendent and Mrs. W. Amsbry as Secretary. The Sunday School had 6 officers, 6 teachers, 36 pupils enrolled, a total of 48, an average attendance of 28, an average collection of "30 cents". The minutes of March 10, 1894 note Mr. Beckwith reporting on the Ogden district: "Favorable accessions to Church total membership 55-average 46. Col. 75 cents av."

A school house for the Hillcrest community had stood across from the entrance to Nowlan Road where the Chase Lincoln First Bank now stands where formerly stood Colwell's Texaco Service Station. Besides its daily use as a school (Ogden District School), religious services were held there irregularly for many years. For a number of years a Sabbath School was held during the summer only. In 1885 a Sabbath School was formally organized with Roger w. Hinds as Superintendent. From january 2, 1887 to January 1, 1897 Joseph Smethurst served as Superintendent E.W. Beckwith followed him in this post.

In the spring of 1893 theRev. H.N. Crydenwise, Presiding Elder (Superintendent) of the Chenango District of the Wyoming Conference, organized a Methodist Charge in the area. This was made up of the Methodist Churches of Glen Castle, Chenango Bridge, and Ogden. Chenango Bridge was to be the center of the Charge with Glen Castle and Ogden as out-lying appointments.

Between 1885 and 1893 Ogden was served by a number of ministers including the Reverends Kinney, Alexander, Severson, Bennett and Hill, most supplied from the Chenango Street Church.