Methodist.—The early Methodists held their meetings in a school-house, which stood for many years at the Corners, but in 1830 erected the present building on a knoll in Canterbury. It has been almost rebuilt and modernized, and now is a very handsome church. The first pastor was the Rev. Phineas Rice, who had charge in New Windsor, and what is now Vails Gate, Salisbury and Mountainville. In 1863 it became self-supporting, and was detached from the other missions, and the Rev. J. H. Gregory was appointed by the Conference. It has always since had a resident pastor and the present incumbent, Rev. Angelo Ostrander is justly popular and has been returned by the unanimous request of the congregation three successive terms.
Episcopal.—Previous to 1858 there was no separate organization of the Episcopal Church in Cornwall. Those who could do so drove to New Windsor, and those who were unable, joined in the worship with other religious bodies. Many of the strangers coming here at that time were of that faith, and in conjunction with some of the residents took the necessary steps for the incorporation of a parish. On July 17th, 1858, a meeting was held and officers were elected to serve until the following Easter. Alonzo Alvord and William Bayard were chosen wardens, and N. P. Willis, Thos. Cummings, Daniel Birdsall, James Crissey, Nicholas Chatfield, Jr., Francis Barton, Chas. H. Mead and John Chatfield were elected vestrymen. A lot was purchased and a contract for the building made with Messrs. Shaw & Sons, of Newburgh, and on May 10th, 1829, the corner-stone was laid by the Right Rev. Dr. Potter. By the 20th of November of the same year it was opened for divine service. Until 1864, the services were conducted by the resident minister at New Windsor, but in November of that year the Rev. John Webster was installed, who was succeeded in January, 1866, by the Rev. W. G. French. In 1869. the tower and spire was completed, one of our wealthy residents who was a vestryman, Mr. Sherwood, contributing $2,000. The ladies' auxiliary, an organization that has shown the greatest success in collecting funds for church purposes, contributed the clock. Mr. Snowden was the next minister, who died in office. The Rev, Mr. Huntington succeeded him, and was succeeded by Mr. Cleveling, who gave place to Dr. Page, who has charge at present.
The Catholic.—Previous to 1857 the members of the Catholic Church met for service in the home of Mrs. McQuade, in Canterbury, and at the corners in what was then known as the Weaver house. Three gentlemen, John Diffendale, Daniel O. Callahan and John McClean started a building fund, each contributing one hundred dollars. The next on the list was a non-Catholic, Mr. Henry F. Chadeayne with fifty dollars. Mr. Stephen Gillis gave 50,000 bricks from his yard. But a few weeks elapsed before there was money enough to justify their purpose of building a church, and a lot was purchased at the top of River avenue, which commanded a magnificent view of mountains and river. The building was erected by Messrs. Little Brothers & Co., of Newburgh, and would seat about 150. About twenty families represented the entire congregation. But only a few years elapsed when it was found wholly inadequate to accommodate the resident population, and the summer visitors would have filled one three times as large. It was supplied from St. Patrick's, Newburgh, a priest driving down on Sunday morning, and returning after service. After A. E. Mattheissen and the Harvey and Sherwood families settled here, steps were taken to build a larger edifice. The present lot was purchased for $1,000 and nearly $2,000 more was in the savings bank, when an application was made for a resident clergyman, and in 1870 Father Ambrose Keogh was sent by the Archbishop of New York. His health was very delicate, and at first it seemed a task beyond his strength to attempt to erect a church, but the present fine building is a monument of his perseverance and energy. The corner-stone was laid in 1871 by Bishop McQuade, of Rochester, and the following year services were held in the basement. A handsome rectory was built and furnished at the same time. It was connected with a mission at Washingtonville. After five years' service Father Keogh was transferred to Tuckahoe, and was succeeded by Father Mackin. There was a mortgage of $13,000 on the property and Cornwall prosperity had begun to wane, and the churches were among the first to feel it. Meeting the annual interest and current expenses were nearly all that was attempted at that time, with the exception of the purchase of a cemetery for $2,000. At the end of five years Father Ward succeeded to the pastorate, and immediately took steps to complete the upper part. This he did, at a cost of about $8,000, without increasing the mortgage. He was succeeded by Father Gordon, who paid $8,000 of the debt during the five years of his incumbency. His promotion to a large city parish was followed by the Rev. Phillip Ahearn, who was in turn succeeded by the Rev. James Curry. A heating plant, electric light and village water were installed at this time into both church and rectory. Two handsome side altars were built with three costly statues. In 1901 he was appointed to St. James' Parish, New York, and was succeeded by the Rev. James S. Fenton. Under his management the remainder of the mortgage has been paid and plans drawn for a parochial school to be erected on the grounds in the rear of the church. A large Sunday school has always been an important part of the work. In 1907 Father Fenton went abroad for his health, and the Rev. Father Brosan has charge.
FIRE PROTECTION.
As early as 1830 means were taken for fire protection in Canterbury, and each man who contributed $2.50 could become a member. The names of the first trustees were Nathan Westcott, Elias Hand, W. T. Cocks, Geo. Marriott and John M Gough. Soon others joined it, and it was created a body corporate under the name of the Canterbury Fire Company. A hand engine was purchased at an expense of $125. About 1836 a second-hand suction engine was purchased in New York, but as the population increased they realized how important it would be to check any serious conflagration, so in October, 1869, a meeting of property owners was held, which made arrangements for purchasing a lot and engine house. A committee was appointed who finally bought the premises where Hunter & McClean had their market for $2,000. A new engine was bought and called Highland Engine No. 1. During 1905 a very tasteful brick building costing $5,000 was erected. There were sixty members in good standing and many applications for membership when a vacancy occurs. The same year, 1869, that the engine was purchased in Canterbury, a similar project was started at the Corners, and a subscription paper was sent out, but failed to get any definite pledges, each person approached being unwilling to be the first to sign. A public meeting was called, and thirty-five young men responded, each promising to give five dollars. In a few days nearly $700 was secured, and Messrs. Titus, Wiley and John McClean went to New York to see what could be obtained for their money. Steamers had been introduced into the New York and Brooklyn districts, so they found an article that suited them in Engine Goodwill 4 of Brooklyn and it was bought and shipped on the Orange County for Cornwall. They had no house, but procured the use of Carswell's barn. A company had been organized with Wm. J. Quigley, foreman, John K. Oliver, assistant and John McClean, Jr., secretary. A charter was procured in 1870, March 30th, in which A. E. Mattheissen, Stephen Gillis, Hamilton Salmon, David Clark, Jas. Hitchcock and E. H. Champlin, constituting themselves a body corporate, under the name of the Storm King Engine No. 2. Another subscription was solicited, which met with such a generous response that a lot was purchased and a two-story building erected on Duncan avenue. The dues of members supplemented by entertainments, furnished their rooms and met their expenses, but in 1900 they surrendered their charter to the village corporation and were henceforth a public charge. A lot was bought on Main street and a handsome building costing $6,000 was erected. They have a reception room, pool room, and public meeting room, and a large space down stairs for their engine house. Their charter allows only sixty members, and there are always candidates waiting for any vacancy. A company was organized at the Landing and some hundred feet of hose purchased, but it soon disbanded. Last year a hose company was formed on the heights for fire protection.
SCHOOLS.
Public schools were established soon after the Revolutionary War, and each village had its schoolhouse and teacher, for at least the winter months, and as the instruction was confined to the three R's several private schools were started, but were only moderately successful. The earliest of these was that of Madame Rutkai, the sister of the famous Hungarian, Louis Kossuth. Mr. Alfred Roe taught one in Canterbury for a time and in the spring of 1853 purchased the Fowler Griggs property, where he conducted a boarding and day school for young men. It was very successful, but in 1863 he gave it up, entered the ministry and joined the army as the chaplain of the Eighty-third Volunteers. In 1877 he again came to Cornwall and opened a school for young ladies, following the Harvard standard, but the patronage did not warrant its continuance and it was closed in the third year. Dr. Ledoux succeeded in founding a permanent institution. While he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church, he was taken very sick with typhoid fever, and at times was delirious, and then spoke only French, it being his native language. Mr. McCreery, the New York merchant, who was boarding in the neighborhood, was looking for a school for his sons, and after the Doctor's recovery arranged with him to receive his boys into his family. He soon had as many as he could teach, resigned his living, purchased a tract of land on the Heights, and began a most successful career. He sold out to Mr. Cobb, who after a few years sold in turn to the present proprietor, Rev. Charles Stone.
Down to 1869 our public school was taught just long enough every year to obtain the public money, and then some one would continue it as a private enterprise for three or four months. But in that year, some of our summer residents, including E. A. Mattheissen, Chas. Bellows, Mr. Solomon, Stephen C. Gillis, James Dunn, Mr. Hitchcock, James Couser, John McKibben and Dr. Vail, formed a board of education. A lot was purchased from Mr. Hitchcock near the Corners, and a substantial building erected. The school was opened on May 24th, 1869, with Mr. Williamson as principal, Miss McClean and Miss Frances Marvel as assistants. There were then about 80 pupils. In 1896 it was found an addition was needed and a large building was erected across the front at a cost of $8,000. There are fourteen teachers in the building now, and one in the annex on the Heights, and the census of this year shows 500 children of school age. The training school under Mr. Aldrich, turns out wonderful work for boys and girls, and the sewing class in charge of Miss Murray, which has only been established a year, shows how little hands can be trained. The present board of education consists of Mr. Townsend D. Wood, president; Mr. P. Bevins, J. J. Hall, Louis Velton, Carlos H. Stone, George Mailler, Jas. H. Ward, John Noe, and Harris Cox.
VILLAGE OF CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON.