H istoric C ounty Newsletter Of The PASSAIC COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Volume 16 • Issue 3 Summer 2016 Bloomingdale • Clifton • Haledon • Hawthorne • Little Falls • North Haledon Passaic • Paterson • Pompton Lakes • Prospect Park • Ringwood • Totowa Wanaque • Wayne • West Milford • Woodland Park The The United Reformed Church of Clifton: Celebrating 125 years by Helen Berkenbush Continued on page 2 The United Reformed Church of Clifton, New Jersey will celebrate its 125th anniversary in May of 2017. The church had its beginnings as the Clifton Union Sunday School Society, which was organized in a hall above the general store and post office near the Erie Railroad on May 8, 1870. The founder was Frederick S. McDonald, a resident of Clifton (then known as Acquackanonk). The group that met to form the Sunday School in 1870, felt that the children of this sparsely settled village were in need of religious instruction. A superintendent, Charles D. Spencer, and his assistant (and founder) Frederick S. McDonald, were elected to serve the needs of the Sabbath School. Two years later, the Build- ing and Loan Association of Clifton donated a piece of land on First Street to the Sunday School Society and a chapel was built. The work was financed by free-will offerings from the people of Clifton, and the building was furnished through the efforts of the women of the village. Then, one Sunday night in 1881, a fire destroyed this beautiful and elaborately furnished chapel. Once again the Sunday School classes met in the hall above the general store and post office along the railroad. Immediately the Society made plans for a new building, and within two years a new chapel stood on the site of the first. A much simpler structure than the original chapel, it stood as a monument to answered prayer, sacrifice and earnest labor. The Sunday School was followed in the fall of 1884 by a mid-week union prayer meeting, which was also held in Clifton Chapel. Now the farmers no longer had to trudge through the cold and snow, with lantern in hand, to Passaic or Paterson to worship at a prayer service. The union prayer meetings were conducted either by laymen (of Clifton and the surrounding communities) or from pastors from neighboring churches. The meetings were well received and heavily attended. In 1887, efforts were made to establish a Sunday evening preaching service in Clifton Chapel. The first service was held on January 1, 1888. The people were so interested in the movement that they agreed to make it a permanent endeavor. Visiting ministers from surrounding churches and students from the Seminary at New Brunswick and Union Seminary of New York shared in these services. In October 1891, the first minister was engaged to supply the Sunday evening preaching service at Clifton Chapel. Clifton Chapel also housed other organizations under its roof. The Zenna Society, organized by women to aid in the work of the Chapel, began meeting as early as 1885. The Circle of King’s Daughters of the Clifton Union Sunday School, a singing group called the Clifton Choral Society of the Reformed Church and the Christian Endeavor Society were established in 1891 and also called the chapel home. On Tuesday evening April 19, 1892, in the chapel of the Clifton Union Sunday School, the Reformed Church of Clifton was born. The organization had been authorized by the Classis of Paramus, in Ridgewood, on April 12, 1892 and the first church services of the Reformed Church of Clifton were held in the Clifton Union Sunday School Chapel on May 1, 1892. The United Reformed Church of Clifton Photograph courtesy of www.unitedreformedchurchofclifton.org
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Historic CountyN e w s l e t t e r O f T h e
PASSAIC COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Volume 16 • Issue 3Summer 2016
Bloomingdale • Clifton • Haledon • Hawthorne • Little Falls • Nor th HaledonPassaic • Paterson • Pompton Lakes • Prospect Park • Ringwood • Totowa
Wanaque • Wayne • West Milford • Woodland Park
The
The United Reformed Churchof Clifton:
Celebrating 125 yearsby Helen Berkenbush
Continued on page 2
The United Reformed Church of Clifton, New Jersey will celebrate its125th anniversary in May of 2017. The church had its beginnings as theClifton Union Sunday School Society, which was organized in a hall abovethe general store and post office near the Erie Railroad on May 8, 1870.The founder was Frederick S. McDonald, a resident of Clifton (thenknown as Acquackanonk). The group that met to form the Sunday Schoolin 1870, felt that the children of this sparsely settled village were in needof religious instruction. Asuperintendent, Charles D.Spencer, and his assistant(and founder) Frederick S.McDonald, were electedto serve the needs of theSabbath School. Two years later, the Build-
ing and Loan Association ofClifton donated a piece ofland on First Street to theSunday School Society anda chapel was built. The workwas financed by free-willofferings from the peopleof Clifton, and the buildingwas furnished through theefforts of the women ofthe village. Then, one Sundaynight in 1881, a firedestroyed this beautiful andelaborately furnished chapel.Once again the Sunday School classes met in the hall above the generalstore and post office along the railroad. Immediately the Society madeplans for a new building, and within two years a new chapel stood on thesite of the first. A much simpler structure than the original chapel, it stoodas a monument to answered prayer, sacrifice and earnest labor.The Sunday School was followed in the fall of 1884 by a mid-week
union prayer meeting, which was also held in Clifton Chapel. Now thefarmers no longer had to trudge through the cold and snow, with lantern
in hand, to Passaic or Paterson to worship at a prayer service. The unionprayer meetings were conducted either by laymen (of Clifton and thesurrounding communities) or from pastors from neighboring churches.The meetings were well received and heavily attended.In 1887, efforts were made to establish a Sunday evening preaching
service in Clifton Chapel. The first service was held on January 1, 1888.The people were so interested in the movement that they agreed to make
it a permanent endeavor.Visiting ministers fromsurrounding churches andstudents from the Seminaryat New Brunswick andUnion Seminary of New Yorkshared in these services.In October 1891, the firstminister was engaged tosupply the Sunday eveningpreaching service at CliftonChapel. Clifton Chapel alsohoused other organizationsunder its roof. The ZennaSociety, organized by womento aid in the work of theChapel, began meeting asearly as 1885. The Circleof King’s Daughters ofthe Clifton Union SundaySchool, a singing groupcalled the Clifton Choral
Society of the Reformed Church and the Christian Endeavor Society wereestablished in 1891 and also called the chapel home.On Tuesday evening April 19, 1892, in the chapel of the Clifton Union
Sunday School, the Reformed Church of Clifton was born. The organizationhad been authorized by the Classis of Paramus, in Ridgewood, on April12, 1892 and the first church services of the Reformed Church of Cliftonwere held in the Clifton Union Sunday School Chapel on May 1, 1892.
The United Reformed Church of CliftonPhotograph courtesy of www.unitedreformedchurchofclifton.org
Walter NacnodovitzBarbara NovakMichael RubinVivian SemeraroRobert Vermeulen
Honorary LifeTrustees
Norman RobertsonEdward A. Smyk
Honorary Trustee
Hazel Spiegelberger
Staff
Heather Garside,Director and Curator
Dorothy Decker,Administrative Assistant
Henrietta Weiss, Head DocentWilliam Collins, Docent
Patrick Byrnes, Library Research Specialist
Boris Von Faust, Digitization Specialist
Lambert Castle, a picturesque 1892 Victorian mansion located on the Garret Mountain Reserve, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Castle is operated and managed by the Passaic County Historical Society, a not-for-profit 501(c) educational institution.
Over the years the Reformed Church has been losing parishioners, primarily due to shifting populations.As a result, October 23, 1977 saw the joining of the Bethel Reformed Church of Passaic (1873-1977)and the Reformed Church of Clifton. The combining of the two churches created the United Reformed Churchof Clifton and Passaic. On June 4, 1991 themerger of the “Old First” Reformed Churchof Passaic (1693-1991) into the UnitedReformed Church of Clifton and Passaic wascompleted. Today, United Reformed Church of Clifton
and Passaic stands proudly on the Cornerof First Street and Clifton Avenue, ready tocelebrate its 125th Anniversary. May God granther many more years providing comfort andministry to all in the community and to thosewho enter her doors.
Sources referenced for this article were partof the United Reformed Church’s congrega-tional records and include: “Historical Sketch:Tenth Anniversary of the United ReformedChurch of Clifton” by Walter Van Dyke. No date.“United Reformed Church of Clifton andPassaic, 100 years” compiled by PastorRev, Monte J. Meers, 1992.
The author is a lifelong resident of Clifton,and became a member of the First ReformedChurch of Clifton in 1956. She has been amember of the United Reformed Churchcongregation since 2012, and is a volunteerin the archives at PCHS.
United Reformed Church cont. from page 1
President’s MessageI am delighted to be able to announce that a long term project, undertaken by the Society, has reached
completion. In July, the Gaetano Federici: Sculptor exhibit opened to the public. Initiated a few years ago,the project began by seeking, donors to sponsor conservation of the Society’s collection of original worksby Federici. Each work of art in need of conservation was listed on the Society website, along with adescription and the cost to complete the work. Thanks to the generosity of several group and individual donors, the conservation portion of the project
was completed in 2015 and the artifacts can now be safely displayed. Twenty display cases, many custommade, were delivered in May of 2016, to exhibit the collection. Now, this wonderful resource of original workscan be enjoyed by everyone visiting the castle.The exhibit celebrates the legacy of Paterson sculptor Gaetano Federici whose many works grace the parks
and public areas in and around Paterson and Passaic County. In addition to over 30 original works of art,the exhibit incorporates photographs, sketches, archival materials, and information about the career andcreative process of the artist. This long term exhibit is housed on the third floor of the castle, so be sure totake a look the next time you visit.
Catherine CavalloPresident
First Sanctuary of the Reformed Church of Clifton, 1892Photograph courtesy of www.unitedreformedchurchofclifton.org
3
Gaetano Federici: Sculptor Exhibit Opens To The Public
Above: A view of the newly installed Gaetano Federici: Sculptor exhibit. Many of the items on displayhave not been on exhibit in over twenty years.
Right: Laughing Girl (1930), acquired by the Society earlier in 2016.
Below: Three generations of Gaetano Federici’s descendants at Lambert Castle for the exhibit opening.
Passaic County Historical Society
Lambert Castle, 3 Valley RoadPaterson, New Jersey 07503
NoNProfit org.
U.S PoStage
PAID
PaterSoN, NJ
Permit No. 132
PCHS Calendar of Events
Visit lambertcastle.org for the most up-to-date event information.
PCHS Genealogy Club Meeting. 10 a.m. at Lambert Castle.
PCHS Celebrates 90 Years. 1pm-4pm at Lambert Castle. The Passaic County Historical Society celebrates its 90th birthday.Enjoy a free tour of Lambert Castle on us! Open to the public.
Castle Closed to set-up for the Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique
PCHS Genealogy Club Meeting. 10 a.m. at the Clifton Library (Piaget Ave). Fred Voss, Tour Guide & Researcher at Ellis Islandwill share some of his favorite immigration stories.
Harvest Festival and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Lambert Castle. 2 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Lambert Castle onthe lawn. Usher in the Autumn with the Passaic County Historical Society with history, food and fun fall activities. The day concludesat 5:30 pm as we read a version of Washington Irving’s classic story and sing some Halloween songs. You might even have a chanceto meet the Headless Horseman in person! Bring your own blankets or lawn chairs. Recommended for children age 3-12 years. Donations requested. No rain date.
Quarterly Meeting. 7 p.m., Location and Program TBA
Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique- Wine and Cheese Preview Night. 5p.m.-10p.m. at Lambert Castle. Usher in theHoliday Season with us. Enjoy wine and snacks as you preview the goodies at this year's Holiday Boutique. Tickets are $15 (includestwo return visits). Reserve tickets to guarantee admission.
Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique-Opening Weekend. 5p.m.-10p.m. at Lambert Castle. Usher in the Holiday Seasonwith us. Enjoy wine and snacks as you preview the goodies at this year's Holiday Boutique. Tickets are $15 (includes two returnvisits). Reserve tickets to guarantee admission.
PCHS Genealogy Club Meeting. 10 a.m. at the Clifton Library (Piaget Ave). Professional Genealogist and lecturer,Toni McKeen presents Extra, Extra, Read All About It, using newspapers in your genealogy research
29th Annual Lambert Castle Holiday Boutique. Open Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday10 a.m. to 5 pm. (Closed Thanksgiving Day). No strollers or carriages, please. Admission is $6 and includes two return visits.
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