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Archiver > PAFAYETT > 2002-05 > 1020519067


From: marta burns <>
Subject: [PAFAYETT-L] presbyterians, uniontown
Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 09:35:16 -0400


History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of
many of its pioneers and prominent men / edited by Franklin Ellis p336
Uniontown Borough
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church now undergoing demolition on Church
Street was built in 1833 and dedicated September 13, 1834. At that time
the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination was one of the most flourishing
in this section of the country. Last week there was found under the
pulpit a box containing bid, contracts, receipts, memoranda, reports,
etc, written at the time the church was building. They give the price of
labor and material then and show exactly what the church cost, which was,
including the lot, $3190.79. These papers were wrapped up in a copy of
the GENIUS of 1835. The committee appointed by the congregation to
supervise the building of the edifice consisted of Isaac Beeson, George
Meason, Dr Lewis Marchand, James Boyle and John Dawson.
Among the bids was the following from George D Stevenson: "I propose to
find all materials and plaster your house in a good and workmanlike
manner (with a vestibule) for $208.50. Without vestibule or lobby for
$187.50." John Harvey offered to build the foundation wall, 40 x 60 feet,
the committee to find the materials, for 53 cents a perch; or find the
materials himself and do the work for $1.56 a perch. David Jones's bid
for the stonework was $1.87 per perch and find the materials himself.
Thomas Prentice offered to find "good stone for the foundation at 76
cents a perch, or stone raised at the quarry at 48 cents a perch, the
committee to haul the same.
Hague & Meredith offered to lay 89, 950 bricks for $287.78 1/2. Reuben
Hague's bid for the same work was to find the lime, sand, scaffolding,
tenders and boarding, and lay the bricks for $2.80 a thousand. Joseph
Brashear of Franklin Township proposed under the conditions laid down by
Hague to do the work for $2.75 a thousand. Edward Hyde wanted $3.75 a
thousand. John P Sturgis and Benjamin Riddle proposed to furnish and
deliver 100,000 bricks at $5.50 a thousand. James McCoy underbid them
fifty cents a thousand and got the contract. William Maquilken offered to
do the painting for $37.94. Ephraim McLean proposed to furnish 42 locust
posts, 4 x 5, good butts, 8 feet long, sy 31 cents each. Absalom
White offered to find all the materials and do all the carpenter work for
$1240, or find no materials and do the work for $650. On his consenting
also to furnish the glass and do the necessary priming, his bid was
accepted.
Following is a copy of the report of the committee appointed to audit and
close the accounts of the building committee:
The committee appointed by the congregational committee held in November
last for the purpose of closing the accounts of the building committee,
met at the house of Isaac Beeson on the 25th of November, 1835, and
proceded to an examination of the accounts of said committee, as per
documents herewith enclosed:
We find the Isaac Beeson has paid out $3061.09
And has received and assumed 2702.78
Leaving a balance due to Isaac Beeson for which
We gave him a certificate for 358.31
Also a certificate to Hague & Meredith 25.00
Also a certificate to William MaQuilken 18.34
Also a certificate to James Boyle 85.76
Making the cost of said building 3190.79
Leaving a balance due from congregation
To individuals 488.01

There remains uncollected subscriptions to the amount of
127.29
which in all probability cannot be collected.
Henry H Beeson
John Canon
Charles Peach
Committee December 28, 1835

A gentleman who has a retentive memory once remarked to the writer that
to the older residents of the town a considerable degree of interest
attaches to the old church. John Quincy Adams spoke there once. He was on
his way back from Cincinnati, where he attended the laying of the
cornerstone of an observatory, and the people of Uniontown of course gave
the distinguished traveler a reception
History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of
many of its pioneers and prominent men / edited by Franklin Ellis p336
Uniontown Borough

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