Methodist Church
In 1897, church membership increased so they needed a larger building. Augustus Woolson gave $1000 to purchase the old building to remove it and then $9500 to erect a new church. Later he also donated more funds for the purchase of carpets, an organ, etc. there is a stained glass window on the side of the church dedicated to him. Inside there are old, handwritten pew assignments, and due to his donations, Mr. Woolson’s family was always sitting in front of the pastor’s family.
The Parsonage was built by Buell Heminway for his son, Buell Havens Heminway and was in the family for 45 years – then sold a few times until it was obtained by the church for a bargain price rather than see it torn down and replaced by a gas station.
In 1897, members of the Methodist Church decided their church was too small for their growing congregation, so in 1898, the 3rd and present church building was built by Tracy Brothers of Waterbury, CT on the existing site. Dedicated on December 15, 1898, it was completed thanks to the generosity of A.N. Woolson, at a cost of $16,000.
The Pastors donated the Tiffany stained-glass window in honor of A.N. Woolson. The larger stained glass windows feature religious scenes from the Bible similar to those in churches all over the world. Since early worshippers often could not read, it was common practice to teach stories of the Bible through pictures in stained glass.
This watercolor by Lorraine LeRoy was created in 2016 for the Watertown Historical Society Annual House Tour.
Wesley Hall, now the parsonage, Asbury Cottage and the surrounding land was purchased in 1956 at a cost of about $55,000.00. During 1977, members of the church voted to sell the old parsonage and move the Pastor and his wife into what was Wesley Hall, which now become one of the most spacious and beautiful parsonages to be found in the area.
In 1978, Asbury Cottage (formerly a doctor’s office) was completely renovated for the church office. In October, they were saddened by the sudden death of their Pastor Lauren York. A cross in his memory was placed on the steeple of the church.
On Labor Day, 1982, “the blast”, caused by a gas leak at the old mansion next to Wesley (the parsonage), did considerable damage to the Church and Wesley. The A.N. Woolson Tiffany window had to be completely rebuilt.
The most recent renovation was the addition onto the rear of the church, with the extensive interior changes on both floors, and the installation of an elevator. This was begun in September 1988, and completed in April, 1989 at a cost of approximately $290,000.00.