Williamstown Methodist

About three o'clock on the morning of June 30th, 1887 the slumber of the residents of Williamstown was broken by the ery cry of "fire." and rapid ringing of the Court House bell. Rushing from their beds Into the streets they found the beautiful little building of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, wrapped in flames from foundation to spire. The flames had gained such headway that with the limited resources at hand they could not be put under control, and the building was rapidly reduced to ashes. Nothing was saved from the ruins except the church organ. The bucket brigade, by heroic efforts, saved all of the surrounding property. There was not one cent of insurance upon the church house at the time of its destruction and the congregation left without a house in which to meet and without a dollar in thelt treasury. The cause of the fire has never been ascertained. Whether it was incendiarism, accident, spontaneous combustion or what not will never be known. The misfortune was enough to discourage and cause the disbandment of a congregation much stronger financially than the Methodist brethren, but it did not cast them down in the least, and they immediately set to work to devise ways and means to erect a new temple of worship on the site of the one destroyed by fire. The building is of brick and is seventy-five feet from foundation to spire, and presents a very imposing appearance. The interior finish is elegant and the arrangement convenient...Last Sunday Morning was the day set apart for the dedication of the Church to the Lord. As soon as the deep tones of the new bell had rolled over the town and country, members and friends of the church began to gather and when the hour for service (11 o'clock) had arrived the house was crowded, and every available seat being taken.

Williamstown Courier, June 4th, 1891