White Store Church Restoration - 1991

Preserving White Store's Church history

Local Residents Work to Restore Church

by Karen Bergamo

November 8, 1991

Little Church in the Country:  The White Store Church, located in White Store, south of South New Berlin, is in the midst of renovations thanks to the efforts of the Evergreen Cemetery Association and local residents.  The church was built in 1820 by a group of Baptists, Methodists and Universalists.  Today it is enjoyed by many people as they walk the cemetery grounds or look inside the New England style church which is open to the public during the spring, summer and fall.

White Store [Chenango Co., NY]:  Trying to preserve a slice of history in Chenango County is precisely what residents in the community of White Store are doing in their efforts to renovate White Store Church.  Although the church, built around 1820, has no minister or congregation today, the Evergreen Cemetery Association is trying to restore the church to its original glory for history's sake, according to Robert VanWormer, vice president of the association.

Painting, work on the roof, chimney and sills underneath the church was done this year by Donald Hoag of Elpine Construction, Morris, who had taken an interest in the church, said Michael Whightman, president of the cemetery association. The association hopes to begin work on the inside of the church in 1992.

The restoration process is being funded through donations, although the association is working on obtaining grants.  "Right now we're relying on donations to keep going."  Jean Duvall said.  Duvall is the secretary of the cemetery association. The Greene family, residents of the community, have made a number of donations to the restoration project, she said.  "They donate money every year and this year made one after their family reunion."

The Evergreen Cemetery Association is working on getting the church placed on the National Register of Historical Buildings.  

The focal point of the church's interior is an unusually high pulpit.  "The pulpit needed to be high enough for people sitting in the upstairs level of the church to see the preacher," said Duvall.  Another feature of the White Store Church not found in modern churches are doors on the pews.  Numbers stenciled on the pew doors were most likely used to determine who sat is which seat. VanWormer said, "A certain amount of importance may have been connected with where a family sat."

Most of the cemetery and church records were destroyed in 1915 when a housefire burned the home of Stanley Fields where the records were stored. Trying to gather information about the history of the cemetery and church is one of the association's goals.  "We have some cemetery records that date back to Jan. 18, 1805," Duvall said, "so we do know the cemetery was here first but we'd like to find more information."  

The church and cemetery have seen an increase in activity in the past year.  Four weddings were held at the church this summer and many graves that have not had visitors for years have been adorned with flowers. Duvall said "I think with Desert Storm there was a sense of uncertainty and people became interested in their past in a spirit of hominess."

Part of the Past:  Michael Whightman holds up one of the chandeliers that hung in the White Store Church.  Another such chandelier is being stored at the museum in Mount Upton until the church is completely renovated and ready for the chandeliers to be hung. The church was originally lit by candles held in elaborate tin candleholders.