1899: St. John's 40th Anniversary

"On Thursday, the 12th of October, 1899, St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, Wilmot, Upper New Rochelle, held its fortieth anniversary at 10:30 o'clock. Divine service was opened in the church on North Street, by The Rev. Frank F. German, rector of St. Thomas' Church, Mamaroneck, reading the morning prayer. The Rev. F. B. Kleeck, D.D., Archdeacon of Westchester, administered the Holy Communion and made a very appropriate and impressive address. The Rev. Edward H. True, for the past ten months the minister-in-charge, announced the hymns and gave a very interesting resume on the chief historical events in the life and work of the parish through forty years of its history.

The church was beautifully decorated with palms and flowers by Miss Archer and Miss M. B. Svenson, of the Altar Society. A good congregation of former and present members of the parish were in attendance and evinced the utmost interest in all the proceedings. The choir of the church, consisting of Miss Laura Archer, Mrs. Pawson, Miss Searing, Miss Underhill, Mr. Lovering, with Mrs. Percy as organist, rendered the musical portion of the service with the most pleasing effect. The singing of one hymn to the tune of Auld Lang Syne was particularly affecting to some of the older people present. Altogether the entire service, somewhat enhanced by the beautiful weather, was one that will long be remembered by all privileged to participate in it. One of the clergymen present declared that 'the church itself was the most dignified and beautiful rural church' that he had ever seen. In the congregation were Mr. Robert C. Archer, Charles S. Bates and his wife, Mr. George Bitter and family, Mrs. Martin Lovering, Mr. Stewart, all of the vestry of the parish, the Rev. Mr. Wardell, of the Methodist Church on North Street, Mr and Mrs. Ives of Tuckahoe, son of a former rector of St. John's, and to the joy of the present members Mr. Wilmot Townsend Cox and wife, and Miss Lavinia P. Cox, who had been pre-eminently among the founders of the parish in 1859 and who had come from Long Island to attend these anniverary exercises."

From The New Rochelle Press, October 21, 1899