Church demolition reveals materials from 1800s in cornerstone

Faith United Presbyterian Church moved into its new building at 900 E. Beau Street, Washington, in August not realizing that part of their history was left behind.  Recently

Bob Dornan, of Stewart Contracting, watches as the Rev. Ed Gray, looks at contents of the cornerstone of the former Faith United Presbyterian Church. (Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter)

as work crews razed the former church building (located on East Chestnut and North College Streets), the cornerstone was discovered containing 111 year-old newspapers, hymnals, membership rolls, and a small Bible all in a metal box which had been welded shut.  The Rev. Ed Gray, pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church, was contacted by Stewart Contracting Company, and went directly to the site to open the box.  The contents were in excellent condition, said Ed, and although there was no money in the box, a 15-cent receipt for the box itself was inside.

The church was originally built as The Second United Presbyterian Church and dedicated on January 12, 1896.  The cost for the lot and building was listed as $28,800 in a front page story in the Washington Observer.   Now the site, purchased by Washington & Jefferson College, may be used for additional parking or student housing.  No definite plans have been made by the college.

Read the complete story in the Observer-Reporter, March 13, 2006.

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