The history of Methodism in Jersey Shore began in May, 1791, with the Reverend Richard Parriott, a Methodist Circuit Rider, arriving at the home of Thomas Forster, located on Long Island. In those days the riders had large areas to cover; a distance not less than 300 miles. They preached every day at a different place unless the distance was too great. At the end of the year the riders reported 250 members, which may not be many until you recall it was just 13 years after the country had been practically depopulated by "The Big Runaway."

In the spring of 1792, Reverend William Colbert came to the home of Mr. Forster to hold services. While conducting a service, Bishop Asbury arrived to see the progress of the new preacher. Bishop Asbury then led the group that had gathered in several hymns and a sermon.

John Forster, the son of Thomas Forster, one of the original settlers of Jersey Shore and a local preacher, built a school house in the fall of 1810, in which in 1813 he organized the first Sunday School on the Circuit and in the county. Bishop McKendree visited the work in August, 1813, and ordained Forster a Deacon.

From 1815 to 1821 itinerant preachers held services where Mrs. Schelie's hotel stood on Broad Street, which is now the Broad Street Hotel. In 1821, the Society purchased a wagonmaker's shop on Smith Street, which had been built by David Craft and made it into a "Meeting House".

Humble though this first Methodist Meeting House was, here the power of the Lord came down and many souls were saved and found peace.

In 1829, a second Sunday School was organized and met in the "Meeting House". From it in those early days came at least two Methodist preachers -- Matthew Turner and Jacob McMurray.

In 1830 the foundation was laid for the first church building proper in Jersey Shore. The "Little Brick Church," as it was called, was erected (on Smith Street) at the site where Town Hall now stands. The structure was about 35 feet square with seating capacity of approximately 150 persons. Here the four well-attended classes of the people called Methodists met weekly to tell each other their experiences of the mercy and goodness of God. We are told how "its walls were wont to resound with the shouts, prayers and songs of the redeemed mingled with the tears and pleadings of the penitent". In this building the congregation worshipped until 1846, when they moved to the basement of the present building, whose foundation had been begun in 1845.

The entrance to the second story originally was where the front window now is, being reached by a flight of steps from the outside, a place of danger when ice-coated in the winter and of no special attraction when decorated with the village loafers in the summer. Inside there was a gallery opposite the pulpit. In the basement were two offices fronting on Main Street, one occupied by a lawyer and the other by a tailor. Thus both the Law and the Gospel were combined under one roof. The entrance to the basement was from Thompson Street at the second window from Main Street. There were four classrooms with a center hall. There has been some conjecture as to why there never was a steeple. Some say that Grandfather Rich, noticing the framework of the steeple, said that if it was taken down he would double his subscription. Others affirm that a storm twisted the frame so that it had to be removed and there was not sufficient money to replace and complete the steeple. Most of the timber was given by converts in a meeting held some months previous at English Center, and was floated down Pine Creek and the river. The dedicatory sermon was preached in 1847 by Reverend Samuel Bryson, the Presiding Elder.

Evidently, the builders expected this building to stand for generations to come, for the brick walls are two (2) feet thick up to the second floor, from that up, one foot thick.

In the spring of 1853, Jersey Shore was made a station. At that time there were 204 members and 38 probationers. Between 1854 and 1860 extensive repairs were made, and the introduction of gas. No statements of the cost was made other than the Church was in debt $26.08. In 1959, the ladies purchased a set of pulpit and altar furniture at a cost of $56.00.

In 1863, the Quarterly Conference adopted the following resolution: "That we recommend the Board of Trustees to reconstruct the basement of the Church and paint the outside of the same." This resolution was not carried into effect until three years later when repairs were rendered necessary by a flood. The flood of 1865 brought water into the Sunday School rooms to a depth of 18 inches, necessitating general repairs.

In March, 1881, Bishop Edward G. Andrews, D.D., on his way to presiding at the annual session of the Conference of York, visited the congregation to the great delight of the people, most of whom had never, up to that time, either seen or heard a live Methodist bishop.

In 1887, the sum of $332.00 was expended for improvements of the Church and parsonage property, the windows of the Church having been crushed by a hail storm.

In his "History of the Jersey Shore Methodist Church", Dr. Emery M. Stevens, one of the former pastors, gives a memorable account of the famous June flood of 1889. Dr. Stevens reached the field on April 4th, and found the parsonage in the midst of repairs, paint and carpets. On the evening of May 30th it began to rain, continuing for 48 hours. The flood in the West Branch Valley was without precedent, and millions of dollars of damage was done. The pastor, accompanied by his family, had gone to Salladasburg on the 30th to address a memorial meeting at night; the rain kept him there on the 31st, and his family did not reach home for two weeks. The water stood two feet, eight inches in the parsonage. Kind friends and neighbors had taken up the best carpets; everything else went afloat. The fences and buildings in the lot were destroyed. But the greatest damage was done in the Church building. The water was six feet eight inches in the Sunday School room. The floor came up, stove, organ and library were destroyed, many of the benches were broken, windows damaged, wainscoting torn down and frescoing peeled off to be replaced by one of mud. The damage on Church and parsonage property was not less than $1,000.00. The Church Extension Society sent the congregation $100 toward repairs, and this was further increased by $250 given by the church-at-large through the "Christian Advocate". A total of about $500, all the money on hand, was expended to repair and refurnish the Sunday School room so the school could use it during the winter. During the summer of 1890, the repairs were completed. The Trustees then proposed that the audience room, which was in a rather dilapidated condition, should be made equally beautiful with the Sunday School room. The majority of the congregation thought that this was not possible. The Audience room was frescoed in new designs, wood work finished in mahogany, pulpit platform lowered, choir gallery built and carpet laid, making the Church on both floors probably the most beautiful of its size in the Williamsport District. The total cost of these repairs, in addition to amount expended in the fall of 1889, was $1300, all of which was provided for before reopening day. The reopening service was October 26, 1890.

In 1896, the Rev. Edward E. Mulliner, the father of Miss Mary Mulliner, was licensed to preach the Gospel. From that date until his death in 1918, he continued as the local preacher of First Church.

In 1897 extensive repairs were made again. The presiding Elder's report for that year says, "Jersey Shore has so completely transformed the Church building inside and outside that former pastors would hardly know it. The audience room is one of the most pleasant and inviting to be found in the District, and best of all, there is no debt."

During the pastorate of Rev. B. H. Hart, in 1900, the present parsonage was built and furnished at a cost of $5,000.

The report of 1912 reads: "First Church has installed and paid for a fine organ costing $2,000. Mr. Carnegie contributed $750. A Tiffany marble baptismal font was presented in memory of Joseph Wood and wife.

The Rev. John W. Kelchner, the father of Mr. Ralph Kelchner, was granted a local preaching license in 1927 and continued in that office until his death in 1937.

In 1930, under Pastor Charles A. Sauter, the 100th anniversary of the existence of First Methodist Church as a congregation was observed.

"The flood of March, 1936", writes Pastor Thomas M. Stone, "shall long be remembers because of its devastating waters that swept the West Branch Valley of the Susquehanna. The water in the Church stood at the record height of seven feet, eight inches. Up out of the damage and destruction to the Church, an energetic people determined to go forward. The foundation walls have been reinforced and are now like a solid rock. A complete transformation has been made on the first floor. At the rear of the Church has risen a new Church School building, modernly equipped to meet the needs of a modern departmentalized Sunday School. The approximate cost of the new building and repairs to the first floor of the Church, made necessary by the flood, amounted to $23,700."

In 1943, during the pastorate of Dr. John F. Stamm. the congregation celebrated the reopening of the newly decorated sanctuary done at a cost of $800.

Concerning the flood of 1936, Pastor Stone wrote: "Let us hope that the mark shall stand as the last flood mark." But again (just ten years later) history repeated itself with an unpredictable flash flood on May 28, 1946. Augmented by a record deluge from the headwaters of Pine Creek, following three days steady downpour, the swollen Susquehanna overflowed the main business section of Jersey Shore, bringing its muddy waters to a height of three feet three inches in the first floor Sunday School rooms and inflicting heavy property damage of over $1,000. Within the short space of five months, our building had emerged again with a thorough renovation to the downstairs. The Sunday School rooms have been completely transformed with freshly painted walls in attractive tints.

In 1952 the front of the sanctuary was made into a divided chancel and the Mary Morrison Sunday School Class presented a lovely altar.

In January, 1955, it became quite apparent that more Sunday School rooms were needed if we were to minister to the needs of the children of our community. Action was begun to build a new education unit. In June, 1955, a financial campaign was undertaken to raise funds for the construction of a building. The congregation pledged $24,381.

In 1956 the Moller Organ was rebuilt and completely electrified. This was done at a cost of about $8,000. At this same time the choir loft was enlarged and the organ placed in front of the loft instead of at the rear, behind the choir.

On April 9, 1958, a congregational meeting was held to decide whether or not to proceed with the new educational unit. The estimated cost of the building was $55,000. The congregation approved the building of the education unit. On July, 1958, the Church awarded the contracts. On August 10, 1958, the ground-breaking service took place. Mr. H. L. Jarrett, and the Pastor, Ardell G. Gould, took part in this special service. On Monday morning, August 11, 1958, the contractor moved in and construction began.

September 28 through October 1, 1958, saw the Church celebrating the 145th anniversary of the organization of the Sunday Church School.

On October 5, 1958, the Church began a financial campaign to raise $40,000. Of this amount $31,000 was for the new educational unit; $6,000 was to be used for repairs and improvements to the Church building and parsonage; $3,000 was to pay off indebtedness in existence -- of the total amount only about $17,000 was raised in cash and pledges. Nearly 60% of the Church families refused to make a pledge although all of them took envelopes and said they would support the program.

In the early spring of 1959, the Church borrowed $27,000 from the Jersey Shore State Bank, which was used, along with the money which the Church had previously collected, to cover the cost of the new building. The cost of the new building was under $51,000. On April 19, 1959, the Church School classes began using the educational unit. This was a wonderful achievement for the First Methodist Church.

In 1959 the parsonage and the Church were painted. A new front porch was installed. The garage roof was replaced. A new dining room rug, throw rugs, a new bedroom suite, lamps, drapes and curtains were purchased for the parsonage. Total amount spent for improvements was $2,208.

In September, 1962, a new gas water heater was purchased and installed in the parsonage. The two front living rooms, the dining room and the downstairs hall were papered and painted. The parsonage cellar was cemented. A cement block coal bin was built. The roofs were repaired. A new bulletin board was built. A shelter was built outside the Church kitchen door for the garbage cans.

At the Official Board meeting held on May 20, 1963, a discussion followed concerning the re-decorating of the sanctuary. Dr. Samuel Carter made a motion that the Trustees study plans for same and report to the Official Board. This motion was seconded by Martha Staples. On February 11, 1964, Mr. Paul Rice reported the information compiled by the Trustees in regard to renovation of the sanctuary. Miss Martha Staples made a motion, seconded by Miss Nellie Gorgas, that the Trustees go ahead and complete their plans for redecorating the sanctuary. This motion carried.

The flood of March 10, 1964, brought the swirling, muddy waters of the West Branch of the Susquehanna to the front door of the Church. The furnace room was filled with water. On the morning of March 12, the water slowly receded from its 30.60 crest. We suffered no loss in this flood.

On April 29, 1964, the pastor, Donald R. Hurley, appointed the following committees: Pew, Carpet, Lights, Painting, Chancel and Memorial. In June a new roof was placed on the 1936 addition at a cost of $770. On July 15, 1964, the renovation of the sanctuary began and the Church awarded the contracts. In late September, after many people contributed their time, skill and labor in making the sanctuary a place of beauty, the job was completed at a cost of $17,000.

On October 4 - 11, 1964, the congregation held the reopening services for the newly decorated sanctuary. Speakers for the service held during the week were Bishop Newell S. Booth, Rev. Gilbert L. Bennett, Rev. Charles Graham, Rev. Willis W. Willard, Jr., D.D., Rev. John F. Stamm, D.D., Rev. Thomas M. Stone, and Rev. John W. Stamm.

During 1967 big improvements were made to our church parsonage, including the remodeling of the kitchen by painting, tile, paneling, Kemper cupboards, new sink, added closet, bath, new floor and new ceiling. Dining room lowered ceiling and installed a beautiful light above the table. Upstairs was completely remodeled, bath room with shower added. Took out steps that went to kitchen and replaced it with cedar closet. To the outside -- steps were replaced leading from the kitchen and side porch, removed and enclosed cellar windows and put bilco at cellar entrance. Another big improvement was the removal of the handfired coal furnace. This was replaced with a new oil furnace and heating system.

On Monday, February 27, 1968, Rev. Barr wrote on his composite report to the Quarterly Conference cover, "This will be our last report as a Fourth Quarterly Conference. In a few months we will become the United Methodist Church, and thereafter, have only one Church Conference a year."

On April 23, 1968, the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist Churches took place.

In 1970 the unified budget was tried and was found successful; therefore, on January 10, 1971, the Board voted to make it permanent.

In 1971 the hot-water oil furnace was purchased and installed for the church.

On March 7, 1971, the Education Committee submitted the name, "Fellowship Hall", to be used for the room where meetings were held. This motion carried.

Once again on June 22, 1972, with the coming of hurricane Agnes, the waters of the Susquehanna River flooded Jersey Shore and our Church. This was the most severe yet, with waters nine feet high in the first floor of the main building and Wesley Hall having five feet.

From the report of the Trustees for 1972 the following was taken: "It has been deemed advisable and necessary to wait at least six months before attempting major repairs to the damaged first floors of the Church building and parsonage to permit enough time for a thorough drying out of the wet floors and walls. It is hoped that in the not too distant future, all necessary repairs and refurnishing shall have been made and that the physical structures and dwelling will be restored to their former conditions and perhaps improved."

At the end of 1972, the accumulated amount of $17,760 for flood repairs was received as gifts from our Conference Churches and our Churches across the nation. The Trustees negotiated a $40,000 loan from the Small Business Administration for flood repairs.

On July 1, 1973, Rev. Kemberling and his family came to Jersey Shore to find the Church and parsonage still in the process of being repaired from the flood damage. It didn't take long for them to roll up their sleeves to help; not only in the parsonage, but also in the Church. This experience didn't dampen their spirits; instead it made them feel "a part of our Church family."

On January 19, 1974, a terrible fire destroyed the Hiller building located across Thompson street from the Church. The three story apartment building was totally destroyed and for a long time fire threatened our Church. Burning embers falling on the roof were soon extinguished. The damage suffered by the Church was minor. The stained glass windows on the Thompson Street side were broken by the intense heat of the fire. The total damage was $630. This amount was covered by insurance. After the fire, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Phillips gathered pieces of the broken stained glass windows and had them made into a cross, which they gave to Rev. Kemberling.

A reconsecration service was held during the regular morning worship service on Sunday, October 20, 1974. The service marked full resumption of using the Church's facilities after refurbishment, undertaken as a result of the flood damage sustained in 1972. District superintendent, Rev. Stratford C. Taylor, lauded the members of the Church for their dedication and zeal in restoring the usefulness and beauty of the Church. It was estimated that volunteer labor in the approximate value of $7,500 was supplied by various members of the church over the two year period of restoration.

In June, 1974, an elevator was purchased for the Church at a cost of $350. It was installed on the back stairs facing Thompson Street in November, 1974.

On Sunday, September 12, 1976, in keeping with our nation's 200th birthday, our Church held a "Bicentennial program." An evening worship service was presented followed by an "old-fashioned" ice cream social.

This brings us up to date until the mid 70's. I will be researching the the rest of our history to the present time and will post it when finished. I hope you enjoyed a brief look into our past.

We invite you to become a part of the church today and a piece of its history tomorrow.