Methodist Church in Oak Hill - Historical Sketch
Transcribed verbatim by Mary Ellen Kunst, written by Rev. Ezra O. Morgan, 1919
Oak Hill was originally part of the Town of Chemung, becoming it's own town at a later date known as North Chemung, and more recently known as Baldwin, NY
Oak Hill was originally part of the Town of Chemung, becoming it's own town at a later date known as North Chemung, and more recently known as Baldwin, NY
The section of the country known as Oak Hill was in all probablility opened up and settled along with Chemung or very soon after. In the early days of the nineteenth century this little section was covered with a virgin growth of choice oak timber and was probably the only oak of any consequence in the whole country. It is evident that this timber induced the pioneer at an early date to settle in this ridge of hills. It is also quite evident that these splendid oaks, standing out in sharp contrast to the hemlocks and pines on every side, gave their names to the section where they grew. Oak Hill, beyond all question, was named after its famous trees. And Oak Hill has the distinction of being the only point on the Circuit that still retains its original pioneer name.
The details of early Methodism at Oak Hill, down to 1860, are very indistinct. Many of the people who could tell us of these days lie today in the little, sunken graveyard just beside the school house church. So very little is known about Oak Hill religiously during the first half of the nineteenth century. It is known, however, that the revival of 1819, that so influenced Buckville, reached the settlers living at Oak Hill, and a class was organized there in 1820, just one year after the first class was organized at Chemung. This first methodist class held their meetings in the old log school house, which at that time stood on the same site of the frame school house which followed it. Mr. Giddeon Griswold was probably the first class leader of this class. And from what we know of the religious character of the people at Oak Hill since 1860, we have every reason to believe that this log school house witnessed many an old time Methodist meeting, with the power of the Lord bursting forth in song, and prayer, and shouts and amens. Some time before 1850 this log school house was pulled down and a frame building erected in its place. This building was later moved and the present frame school house built. All three school houses have stood on the same spot. This first frame school house, that so often beheld the glory of the Lord at Oak Hill, still stands on a nearby farm, where it was moved to be used as an out building. On this first frame building some of early Methodism's ablest circuit preachers have preached. There are some living today who remember Rev. Dutcher and Billy McKinster, who seldom used a Reverend before his name. Billy McKinster was one of the last century's flaming heralds, the horse back circuit rider. Oak Hill was fortunate enough to be one of the points on is big circuit.
Israel Griswold, Jacob V. Scott, Timothy Doolittle and John Doolittle are just a few of the many names associated with the early history of Methodism at Oak Hill. In 1860 John Doolittle and Jacob V. Scott, father of Mrs. Thomas Shelford, wee led to pray for a revival. And, they began to hold special meetings in the woods a short distance from the school house. After much prayer the power of the Lord came down and one man, named William Harrington, was converted. This was the beginning of the greatest revival Oak Hill has ever seen. Under the influence of this revival, Jaco V. Scott, one of Oak Hill's ablest class leaders, in 1860 was led to start meetings at Rose Valley. This venture proved successful and Rose Valley later became a regular point on the Circuit, but was finally transferred to the Wellsburg charge, which has in late years let the point go down, so that services if held in the school house at all, are held very irregularly. We had class leaders in those days who were as capable as the pastor. That revival of 1860 was the beginning of a great new day for Oak Hill religiously, and that day did not begin to wane until about 1895. In those days very little of a special nature was needed to start a revival. And never was the modern musical equipment of today's revivals even approached. It has only been in the last few years that Oak Hill has had an organ. And it is said since the organ came into the school house the singing has been of a poorer quality. But the old school singers have nearly all passed on to join the Eternal Chorus, and something had to be done, so the organ came. Oak Hill had singing school once every week, and even the children were taught to sing by note and to get the pitch from the tuning fork. There are a few singers left on Oak Hill today who learned to sing in that school. An organ would have spoiled the melody of those old school house song services that one time shook the hill top. But today we do not have time to learn how to sing, w=so we might have an organ.
It cannot be denied that Oak Hill has declined in strength in the past twenty years, until today it is the weakeest point on the Circuit. But this is by no means the fault of the character of the society there today. It must be remembered that there is no oak timber there now and that the first values have been taken from the soil, and that the call to the city has been very strong during these past twenty years. And the saints of yesterday are passing one by while Oak Hill faces the inevitable. If there is not an influx of population there will be a day not far distant, when there will be neither worshippers nor tillers of the soil at Oak Hill.
This past year Oak Hill faced a crisis in its history and for the first time questioned whether to continue the services. A vote was taken at the close of a meeting in August, 1919, with the result that everyone present voted to continue the services, and also pledged $125.00 a year toward the Pastor's salary. At the following Quarterly Conference it was decided to transfer Oak Hill to the Wellsburg charge. So the future history of this faithful little point may take a turn for the better. This plan was tried in 1913 but was not worked out successfully, largely, however, because of the Wellsburg pastor's ill health.
We shall never forget that the Oak Hill point, only one year younger than the Chemung point, was for about seventy years nearly as strong as the Chemung point itself. Along with good oak timber, it has turned out some of the very best kind of religious timber. But Oak Hill, like many other churches where the the experience has been deep, has suffered from much hair-splitting and difference of religious opinion. There was a day when the Chemung Circuit could ill afford to be without the Oak Hill point. But time as brought changes and whatever may be done next year we hope it will be for the betterment of the Oak Hill point.
The details of early Methodism at Oak Hill, down to 1860, are very indistinct. Many of the people who could tell us of these days lie today in the little, sunken graveyard just beside the school house church. So very little is known about Oak Hill religiously during the first half of the nineteenth century. It is known, however, that the revival of 1819, that so influenced Buckville, reached the settlers living at Oak Hill, and a class was organized there in 1820, just one year after the first class was organized at Chemung. This first methodist class held their meetings in the old log school house, which at that time stood on the same site of the frame school house which followed it. Mr. Giddeon Griswold was probably the first class leader of this class. And from what we know of the religious character of the people at Oak Hill since 1860, we have every reason to believe that this log school house witnessed many an old time Methodist meeting, with the power of the Lord bursting forth in song, and prayer, and shouts and amens. Some time before 1850 this log school house was pulled down and a frame building erected in its place. This building was later moved and the present frame school house built. All three school houses have stood on the same spot. This first frame school house, that so often beheld the glory of the Lord at Oak Hill, still stands on a nearby farm, where it was moved to be used as an out building. On this first frame building some of early Methodism's ablest circuit preachers have preached. There are some living today who remember Rev. Dutcher and Billy McKinster, who seldom used a Reverend before his name. Billy McKinster was one of the last century's flaming heralds, the horse back circuit rider. Oak Hill was fortunate enough to be one of the points on is big circuit.
Israel Griswold, Jacob V. Scott, Timothy Doolittle and John Doolittle are just a few of the many names associated with the early history of Methodism at Oak Hill. In 1860 John Doolittle and Jacob V. Scott, father of Mrs. Thomas Shelford, wee led to pray for a revival. And, they began to hold special meetings in the woods a short distance from the school house. After much prayer the power of the Lord came down and one man, named William Harrington, was converted. This was the beginning of the greatest revival Oak Hill has ever seen. Under the influence of this revival, Jaco V. Scott, one of Oak Hill's ablest class leaders, in 1860 was led to start meetings at Rose Valley. This venture proved successful and Rose Valley later became a regular point on the Circuit, but was finally transferred to the Wellsburg charge, which has in late years let the point go down, so that services if held in the school house at all, are held very irregularly. We had class leaders in those days who were as capable as the pastor. That revival of 1860 was the beginning of a great new day for Oak Hill religiously, and that day did not begin to wane until about 1895. In those days very little of a special nature was needed to start a revival. And never was the modern musical equipment of today's revivals even approached. It has only been in the last few years that Oak Hill has had an organ. And it is said since the organ came into the school house the singing has been of a poorer quality. But the old school singers have nearly all passed on to join the Eternal Chorus, and something had to be done, so the organ came. Oak Hill had singing school once every week, and even the children were taught to sing by note and to get the pitch from the tuning fork. There are a few singers left on Oak Hill today who learned to sing in that school. An organ would have spoiled the melody of those old school house song services that one time shook the hill top. But today we do not have time to learn how to sing, w=so we might have an organ.
It cannot be denied that Oak Hill has declined in strength in the past twenty years, until today it is the weakeest point on the Circuit. But this is by no means the fault of the character of the society there today. It must be remembered that there is no oak timber there now and that the first values have been taken from the soil, and that the call to the city has been very strong during these past twenty years. And the saints of yesterday are passing one by while Oak Hill faces the inevitable. If there is not an influx of population there will be a day not far distant, when there will be neither worshippers nor tillers of the soil at Oak Hill.
This past year Oak Hill faced a crisis in its history and for the first time questioned whether to continue the services. A vote was taken at the close of a meeting in August, 1919, with the result that everyone present voted to continue the services, and also pledged $125.00 a year toward the Pastor's salary. At the following Quarterly Conference it was decided to transfer Oak Hill to the Wellsburg charge. So the future history of this faithful little point may take a turn for the better. This plan was tried in 1913 but was not worked out successfully, largely, however, because of the Wellsburg pastor's ill health.
We shall never forget that the Oak Hill point, only one year younger than the Chemung point, was for about seventy years nearly as strong as the Chemung point itself. Along with good oak timber, it has turned out some of the very best kind of religious timber. But Oak Hill, like many other churches where the the experience has been deep, has suffered from much hair-splitting and difference of religious opinion. There was a day when the Chemung Circuit could ill afford to be without the Oak Hill point. But time as brought changes and whatever may be done next year we hope it will be for the betterment of the Oak Hill point.