THE HARKNESS CHURCH

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Round about 1825, one Robert York, from England, settled in the western part of the town of Peru on Huckleberry mountain. Soon after he arrived, York and his son, Robert, both local preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, started services in the old school house east of the Kirby corners--which makes the Harkness Church (the successor church) older than the Troy Conference, which was formed in 1832. The Peru Circuit appointed the Rev Benjamin Pomeroy to the church and he served the West Peru church (as it was then known) from 1851-1853. He helped to erect the first permanent edifice in 1852, on land donated by Henry Signor.

A small group of Hallock Hill residents broke away from the West Peru church, disputing its building location, and held their own meetings in the Hallock Hill schoolhouse for the next 55 years; their pastor was the Rev John Thompson.

The building erected by the West Peru church was plain, painted white, and without steeple or belfry. It was framed and finished by Sidney Reynolds, aided by church members, and was heated by two box stoves.

In 1860, West peru joined with Peasleeville to become a single charge, and the Rev Cabot M. Clark was appointed pastor. He was followed in 1862 by the Rev John W. Quinlan, and in 1863 by the Rev D. W. Harris. The Rev Norris Mihill and the Rev C. C. Gilbert served the charge from 1865-1868 and during these years records show 84 members, 40 probationers, 38 officers and teachers, 165 scholars, and the church library comprised 359 books. The value of the West Peru church in 1864 was estimated to be $800, and the missionary collection that year was $32--a relatively very high amount.

From 1852-1860 and 1868-1872 (excluding the years when West Peru and Peasleeville were a single charge) West Peru and Hallock Hill were served by a single pastor, taking services on alternate Sundays. After 1872, and until 1903, West Peru was supplied by the pastor from Clintonville, while Hallock Hill was supplied from Peru. From 1903, both churches were supplied from Clintonville.

After a number of discussions, led by the Rev James M. Cass, West Peru and Hallock Hill agreed to unite, and on February 27, 1907, the Harkness Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated. The first trustees were: JW Harkness, Robert Gordon, HE Baker, EA Signor, GA Thew, and Harrison Arnold.

On March 27, 1907, Elbridge F. Baker and his wife, Mary E. Baker donated three-quarters of an acre and the old church measuring 38' x 12' was expanded and rebuilt to the size 28' x 50'.

In the spring of 1910, construction of the church hall--50' x 60'--began on land donated by James T. Felio. It was finished within months, and its entire cost was paid off by December, 1912. Further land was donated by James T. Felio, and the hall was enlarged in 1951 by the addition of a kitchen.

The Clintonville-West Peru charge continued until 1923, when Clintonville joined with Ausable forks, and Harknesss joined with Keeseville--which union continues to the present day.

During the centennial year, in 1952, the church was renovated, an electric organ installed, and memorial gifts of a cross, communion plate, and baptismal bowl, were given as presents.

Probably its most famous member--deceased 1974-- would be Georgina Harkness, Christian teacher, preacher, writer, poet, Professor of Applied Theology at the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, Calif., and the Methodist delegate to the Faith and Order Conference of the World Council of Churches at Lund, Sweden, in August, 1952.

The little church at the Harkness crossroads stands today, a monument to the faith of those who have served and worshipped there over the years.

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