South Otselic United Methodist Church

History of the Church

1865 – July 3, 1865 – Methodist Church was organized which was called the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Otselic New York

1866 – Church Building was built by Leroy Newton – size was 32 feet in width- and 48 length and 18 feet between joints

1869 – Records showed church was valued at $3.000.00

1900 – Interior of church was updated – boardwalk was laid in front of church. A cellar was dug under the church

1904 – Pipe organ was purchased

1909 – New carpet was laid; A parsonage was built, and the minister and family moved in

1913 – Electric lights were installed in the parsonage

1914 – Renovation which included the pipe organ was moved, new pews, and carpets

1915 – (April) new pews arrived, (Myrtulo Davis) completed inside work

1931 – Improvements to the parsonage

1939 – Carpet laid in church

1940 – Centennial celebration was observed May of 1940

1950’s – building program and significant improvements completed

1951 – Calvert property was purchased for a parking lot

1956 – Electric organ was purchased & church windows repaired

1960 – Basement was completed

1960 – (Summer) Officially incorporated as South Otselic United Methodist Church

1965 – Celebrated 100th Birthday on July 3, 1965

1968 – Church – School addition was completed

1970 – 1979 – needing new organ and piano, Carillon Bells, new carpet installed, church was insulated, and raised added to education wing

1982 – New chandeliers installed

1983 – Lord’s prayer hanging installed – nursery school began

1992 – Kitchen completely remodeled

2006 – Front doors replaced

2008 – Old garage removed

2009 – New bluestone front steps and new boiler system installed

2009 -2010 – Sunshine Shop is open in the parsonage after renovations are done

2011 – Communion rail open, church website site

2012 – Computer classes for community – heating system configured

2013 – New storm windows for stained glass windows, new closet built, Care & Share Food Pantry started

2014 – Stone retaining wall in back parking lot, new church sign installed

2015 – Celebration of 150 years October 25, 2015

2016 to present –