A Moment in our History

A Moment in Our History #2 ­ January 25, 2009
By Drew A. Nicholson, Village and Church Historian
 
DANIEL DODGE: HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OUR CHURCH
 

            Does this title startle you?  Well, it’s true­and here is why.
 
            Daniel Dodge, who owned a farm on Harmony Road, was appointed to the building committee of the Pawling Center Methodist Episcopal Church.  It had been determined that a new church building was needed: the center of population in Pawling had gravitated north near the new railroad station.  As a result, the parcel of land on which St. John’s R.C. Church now stands was purchased and a small meeting house style building was constructed in time for the First Quarterly Conference, held on June 10, 1854.  This was our second Church building.
            In 1863 Gerow Dodge, Daniel’s young son, passed away and funeral services were held in the church.  The crowd far exceeded the capacity of the structure, however, and many had to stand outside during the service.  It is reported that as a result, Daniel Dodge remarked: “I’ll help build a church large enough for the people who want to attend funeral services.”
            Daniel Dodge was a man of his word: It was through his influence the land on which our current (the third) Church resides was acquired from the Dutchers (as relayed last week).  Daniel assumed the role of construction supervisor in typical nineteen century hands-on farm tradition, which included personally laying a portion of the stone foundation.  Fate, however, was not to allow Daniel Dodge to complete his vision:  Sometime on or about August 21, 1864, while he was engaged in raising the main structural timbers, one slipped and fell on him.  Records indicate he lingered for 7-10 days, passing into God’s care on August 31^st. 
            In honor and memory of his devotion, our Church ancestors had a plaque cast and mounted; it is located in the middle of the south wall.  The significant part reads: “To the Glory of God/ and the Memory of /Daniel Dodge.”  And this is the story of the man who literally gave his life for our Church!
 
[Next week the focus will be on the first Church building, built on South Street.  The Congregation will become familiar with this location and building as our 200^th Year progresses.  For on October 18^th the PUMC will hold an old-time Methodist tent/revival meeting on its approximate location.  Plan to come and worship as our ancestors did in 1809!  (Come see Pastor Mark on a horse!)  Tune in next week, same time, same station for another Moment.”]
 

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