President's Message - October 2025

Imagine having fun at a 150th anniversary church dedication - AND WE DID! Wow - What a blast! I've been asked by a number of you to publish my little history ditty, so here it is:

Julia Jones Beecher's visit to The Park Church, Oct 12, 2025

Hello - can you all hear me? That nice Mr. Smith assured me that this tiny device would project my voice to the last pew! Please excuse my notes; I don't want to forget a thing. That Mr. Stermer dared me to return (a most powerful man - don't you think?) to this spot after 120 years -- to speak about the sanctuary and its dedication and my memories of Elmira of that time.

So you do have a few hours, don't you? Oh heavens, I'm just kidding - of course I'll keep it brief. But I have to warn you; some people have told me that that my mind does tend to wander.

150 years ago - what a delightful October day and such a flurry of activity to get ready for the first worship service in our new sanctuary. This blessed nest with its walnut pews and cast iron pillars. Oh my - what have you done with the double staircases that descended from the balcony to the chancel? And now, I see you do have a center aisle (don't worry, I won't tell Thomas) - I'm sure all the brides are so much happier! And the windows - oh my goodness - such beautiful colors and images, quite fanciful for a congregational church, I must say!

Oh yes, that day, October 10, 1875, the completion of this second third of Thomas's grand plan - with its skylight and capital dome -- the cut glass chandeliers are gone, I see -- but I do recognize his pulpit and the red bishop chairs that Thomas was so pleaded with. And the baptismal font, oh and look, there's a dedication here - of course, I forgot -- baby Jervis Langdon - grandson and namesake of our founder, was baptized that day. It's all coming back to me now, Thomas was here and held the baby, surrounded by parents, Charley and Ida Langdon and big sister Julia, and there were aunt and uncle, Susan and Theodore Crane of Quarry Farm, along with grandmother, Olivia Lewis Langdon -- one of the most vivacious women in the entire congregation. Susan had brought the flowers, of course, from the greenhouse of the Langdon mansion across the street. Funny, I can't remember if the Clemenses were here that day, maybe not, because baby Clara had been born the summer before - that same summer that Aunt Susan presented her cigarsmoking brother-in-law with that lovely study in which to work. He returned every summer to write more unperturbed in the place that he described as "a foretaste of heaven."

Oh there I went, daydreaming again! But I always felt so much like a part of that family - the Langdons and of course the Doctors Gleason as Thomas and I were so often together with them. Thomas brought me to East Hill and the Water Cure when I first arrived in 1857 as the second Mrs. Beecher (after the death of my cousin and dearest friend Olivia Day). We lived with the Doctors, Silas and Rachel, as Thomas built our cottage across the road. I enjoyed the free spirits at the Water Cure and the lively and progressive conversations we would have there about healthful living, loose-fitting clothing and bobbed hair for women -- and of course suffrage. And most importantly how we could assist with John W. Jones' work with the fugitive slaves finding their way to Elmira and on to Canada. For you see we had all read Harriet Beecher Stowe's book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, and this congregation had been founded over the issue of slavery eleven years before I arrived. Remember - both Jervis and Olivia Langdon had grown up in abolitionist homes as children. And after their marriage, they opened their home Douglass! And after he became a famous orator, he return the loveliest letter to Olivia when Jervis died in 1870.

Oh - there I go again - let's see - after the war ended, we all began to pick up the pieces. Our little congregational church was just too small to hold all those who began to flock here to hear Thomas preach, he was quite charismatic, you know. So Thomas began to sketch out what he called a Real Church Home. It would be big enough to hold everyone who wanted to come, plus have extra room for a public lending library, rooms for invalid and elder care, and a romp room for the hundreds of children who needed to learn about bible stories, civics and science. Once funding was assured (because Jervis Langdon pledged to match dollar for dollar to the campaign) he found the Syracuse architect Horatio Nelson White to create the final drawings.

Thomas supervised the construction -- three phases over three years. First the middle section, the lecture hall, was completed in 1874 where the congregation could then gather for worship. Then came this space with its E. & G.G. Hook and Hastings Organ, which originally was up here in the chancel. It replaced the small pump melodeon, a gift from Thomas's sister, Harriet Beecher Stowe. The final third would be finished in 1876. It would include a pastor's study - which quickly turned into a lending library that Elmirans would find by climbing the stairs to 208 W. Gray Street on the south side of the building. And the Parlors - what Thomas called Elmira's Living Room where musicals, receptions and meetings of local women's groups like the Wednesday Morning Club, which began in 1892. It was also in the Parlors where gatherings of the ladies sewing circle were held. Together we made 900 Missionary Rag Babies and raised over $1000 for missionary work in Africa! Upstairs were rooms for convalescence and apartments that would house the Reverends Annis and Samuel Eastman and their children when they arrived to assist Thomas in 1894. And of course the kitchens were upstairs too, well serviced by a dumbwaiter to move food and provisions throughout the building.

But I'm getting ahead of myself again. I jotted down a few Elmira history notes for you, chronicling the years that followed the sanctuary's dedication:

• 1876 Elmira's Lucius Robinson is elected New York State Governor and Thomas' brother, Henry Ward Beecher comes to preach for a Sunday and Zebulon Brockway's experimental Elmira Reformatory opens.

• 1877 Woodlawn Cemetery becomes a National Cemetery - honoring the work of John W. Jones and the nearly 3000 Confederate soldiers who are buried there - surrounded in perpetuity by a picket of headstones of local Union veterans. And the first telephone in Elmira is demonstrated in none other than Charley Langdon's office.

• 1878 Thomas' sister Catharine, whose life's work had been advancing education for women, died after she had lived with us for a year. Thomas then got busy fashioning a plain square monument to be created at Woodlawn Cemetery (just a stone's throw away from the Langdon Family plot) which could be used by four families: the Beechers, the Gleasons, the Brooks and the Wales. Catherine was the first person to be buried there. Also in November of that year the Chemung Canal closed after 45 years of operation connecting the Chemung River to Seneca Lake and the Erie Canal with over 40 locks along its 23-mile route.

• 1879 The centennial of the Battle of Newtown is commemorated and General William Tecumseh Sherman comes to town to dedicate the new Sullivan Monument.

The 1880s are a most lively decade:

• Two more Langdon granddaughters are born - Jean Clemens and Ida Langdon

• The Clemens family hires a local Irish girl, Katy Leary, to be a help to Olivia and the girls. Katy would serve the Clemens family for 30 years.

• Civil War hero, Ulysses S. Grant visits Elmira twice to support the Presidential campaign of James A. Garfield.

• And Frederick Douglass provides the keynote address after a huge, daylong celebration of Emancipation with a parade ending at Grove Park.

• The first telephone book is published listing The Park Church as number 48 of the 52 listed in order of service date.

• In 1882 John Arnot Jr. is elected to serve us in Washington in the House of Representatives.

• In 1883 electric streetlights replace the former gas ones.

• In 1885 Elmira's former mayor, David B. Hill is elected to his own full term as NYS Governor (after having served as Grover Cleveland's Lieutenant. Governor and assuming the Governorship after Cleveland was elected President in 1884).

• In 1887 the YWCA is established - that's "W" for women, mind you! And in 1888 the Arnot-Ogden Hospital was completed. It was at about this time that the "Water Cure" became known as "the Gleason Sanatorium" - and welcomed two famous guests: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.

• In 1889 Thomas and I travelled to Canandaigua to take part in the ordination of Annis Bertha Ford Eastman - the first woman to be ordained in New York State. By the Congregational Church, of course, as they were the only denomination to ordain women at the time.

• In 1889 Theodore Crane died - he and Charley Langdon had continued both the family business and its leadership in Park Church affairs for so many years after the death of Jervis Langdon's in 1870.

• In 1890 my dear friend Susan Crane suffered a second loss - that of her mother, Olivia Lewis Langdon. Thomas officiated and we were able to connect Livy by telephone in Hartford so she could hear the eulogy. Also that year we lost Augustus W. Cowles, who had served as the president of Elmira College since its founding in 1855.

• And long serving public servant - John W. Jones - finally retires his position as sexton of the First Baptist Church at age 73.

• Two important openings of note in 1890: Hardinge Brothers and the new electric trolley cars to Eldridge Park, a destination where thousands would flock on a beautiful day to enjoy the activities in the six-story casino. Such a generous gift to the city in 1872 from Dr. Edwin Eldridge.

• The Elmira Free Academy building opened in 1892.

• In 1894 the Reverends Annis and Samuel Eastman are installed here to assist Thomas with our burgeoning congregation.

• In 1895 the dedication of the Frederick Douglass AME Zion Church was celebrated. This church had been founded in 1841 (five years before Park) and was re-named in honor of the famous abolitionist who had been a frequent guest in Elmira after his death.

• We were all dumbfounded with the news in 1895 of the death of Susy Clemens of spinal meningitis at age 24 in Hartford. She is laid to rest with her grandparents and baby brother in the Langdon family plot at Woodlawn.

• At the close of that decade we find Theodore Roosevelt in town for a torchlight parade - that was the same year that he was elected Governor of New York State.

• And finally, The Steele Memorial Library is founded; the first automobile - owned by Dr. Fisher, appears on the streets of Elmira; and we said farewell to Dr. Silas Gleason, founder with his wife Rachel, of the Water Cure on East Hill.

In March of 1900, the whole community mourned with us over the death of my husband, Thomas K. Beecher. On the day of his memorial service, businesses were closed citywide. Thomas had meant so much to people inside and outside this building. So much so that the City erected that life-sized bronze of him that I see is still there in Wisner Park.

And then in December that same year, we had to say farewell to John W. Jones, a gentleman whose contributions to the character of our city will never be forgotten.

More tragedies continued into the last few years of my life: the death of my dear friend Dr. Rachel Brooks Gleason in March of 1904, and then three months later we receive that telegram from Italy telling us that Olivia Louise Langdon Clemens had died. It seemed that I spent more days in mourning that decade than not.

But life does go on, doesn't it? - And there were things to celebrate - like the graduation of Crystal Eastman from Vassar College in 1903 and at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 - the debut of French's Mustard - the brainchild of Elmira native Robert Timothy French.

I do so love history and Elmira has a great one. And anniversaries are great occasions to celebrate our past and to give thanks for those who paved the way! And what of your anniversaries? I was privileged to be part of this life-saving congregation for 48 years! Can any of you beat my record? Let's see who's here:

How many of you have ten years with the church? Will you stand up and be counted? Stay standing if you have twenty? How about thirty? And now, with me at forty? Any fifty-year members? Oh my, I am jealous that you got a few years more than me! Bless you.

Now I must fly - thank you for allowing me to come back to this very special place. I'll tell Thomas all about it! I understand that a reception is planned following the service - so I'll be in the Parlors if anyone wants to come by to say hello.

And now back to the present: I've pinned up the three proclamations we received - from Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell, the New York Council of churches and the UCCNY.

Plus, here are the lyrics to Christmas in Elmira, 1864 as performed by the Cantata Singers (orchestration by Will Wickham) and from the poem written by Ed Dougherty. The piece tells the story of Rev. Thomas K. Beecher and the members of The Park Church, who in December of 1864, were concerned for the welfare of the Confederate soldiers at the Civil War Prison Camp:

Christmas in Elmira, 1864

It's Christmas in Elmira, Park Church is decked with joy and festive cheer Out in Wisner Park are carolers bringing Christmas ever near.

Yet further up, at Foster's farm the looming stockade walls contain ten thousand lonely men for whom no Christmas falls.

The Reverend Beecher preaches to us, "Give to all the poor.

These southern soldiers, new to winter, always will need more."

We oft times took them blankets and socks to warm their toes, We also wrote them letters, to ease their lonely woes:

"To my little life outside the wall I have a kind heart for you, and will always do all I can for your comfort and cheer too."

"And have you friends within those walls for whom I could do well? Some books, an apple, Christmas treats, in baskets for you all."

It's Christmas in Elmira, the snow lays deep all 'round, on Water Street treasurers and sweet gifts abound.

All giving hearts on Christmas Day wish to share some comfort with captive soldiers within those walls, who from home are far away.

Reverend Beecher tells us of God's Son, sent from above, on Christmas Day and through the year we too should share our love.

In fall we tossed them apples o'er the twelve-foot stockade fence.

At first snow we took them great-coats, and mittens, and pants.

Reverend Beecher's Christmas sermon talked of sharing joy, God's gift to us of a savior for both sides in this war.

We are warm and safe here, with friends and family, While trapped within those prison walls they know hunger and misery.

It's Christmas in Elmira, Park Church is decked with joy and festive cheer. Out in Wisner Park are carolers singing, "Christmas Day is here!"

Still smiling, Jenny 😊