Miscellaneous, Presbyterian Church Tower

Serious Structural Deterioration Threatened

Collapse of 1st Presbyterian Church Tower

Bainbridge, Chenango Co. NY - about 1930

 

 

 

Only a miracle, apparently, has saved the steeple on the century-old Presbyterian Church in this village from collapsing during the past several years.  The faulty condition of the structure  was recently discovered by Austin R. Finch when he was investigating a leak in the roof of the belfry.  Had the tower fallen, it would, no doubt, have demolished the fine old edifice, one of the earliest churches to be erected in this part of the state.  Towering nearly a hundred feet above the ground the steeple was originally designed to withstand the elements for many years.  To all outward appearances, the tower and its supporting timbers were sound and only by chance were the defects discovered.

 

The entire steeple construction of hugh pine timbers mortised and fastened together as to prevent any side sway, was enclosed to prevent destruction by the weather; however, apparently water had found a way through to the interior and trickled down to the large beams just above the main part of the church, which carried the load of several tons in weight, and there found its way into the timbers, completing their destruction, leaving only a shell of solid material to deceive those who made previous inspections.

 

The necessary repairs were made during last week by Contractor Finch, and steel I-beams now replace the four pine beams which were hewn timbers 10 by 15 inches and fourteen feet in length. 

 

Other timbers were used to strengthen the structure and a thorough inspection was made to insure against the development of any further defects; once more the church members are confident that this historic landmark will long stand as one of the finest exhibits of early architecture in the state.

 

Sections of the old beams were on display in the vestibule of the church last Sunday, disclosing the fact that the entire inside had rotted away leaving only a thin shell.

 

The Presbyterian Church of Bainbridge was an early landmark in the upper Susquehanna country and was then known as the "Congregational Church of Jerico, Tioga County."  It is probably the oldest church in this county and is said to be the oldest in the Binghamton Presbytery.  Its official record dates from 1793.  The original building, which was never entirely completed, burned in 1814 and a second building was erected in 1818.  This was later used for other than church purposes and then in 1831 the present edifice was completed