History of First Congregational Church, Montclair NJ

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Photo Allen E.O. (East Orange?) Note the small building on the left, Charles T. Wills, Inc. Builders, New York.  Wills was a prominent figure in New York. A few of his other projects were The New York Stock Exchange and the Morgan Library. [architecture0002-20]

Photograph of the Founders Plaque. [architecture0002-17-1]

Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, Architect. [architecture 0002-12]

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Four-page Booklet, front cover, events, program, closing. This item is available as a PDF, click here . [architecture0002-3]

Cost of Buildings Report, Trustees' minutes, 6/9/46 attached to p. 21. The original is damaged. The Parish House was completed and first occupied on March 3, 1916. The Church building and tower[...] first occupied and dedicated April 23, 1916. This item is available as a PDF, click here . [ architecture0002-02]

Newspaper article (undated) discussing some of the architectural features of the Church. Montclair possesses, in the First Congressional Church, one of the finest examples of Gothic church architecture in the country. The architect, Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, specialized in Gothic, and considered this church one of his finest achievements. The stained glass windows add much to the beauty of the church. In each of the transepts is to be found a memorial window. The most striking window is seen as soon as one enters the church— the Soldiers' Memorial Window, dedicated to the young men of the church who were lost in World War I. The fundamental idea of the window is the triumph of right over wrong through heroic sacrifice. In the center panel stands the figure of the Archangel Michael, flanked on either side by David and Joshua, Stephen and Cornelius. This item is available as a PDF, click here . [ architecture0002-01]

This is a list of items in this folder: photo of rear of church and window interior - gifts of Gabrielle Weed library taken by Jan Montan (?) envelope titled photographer goofs! Gift of Joan Kalkman 1986, incorrect church approximate 8" X 10" inches negative, church exterior (1) approximate 8" X 10" inches photocopies, church interior (2) approximate 8" X 10" inches photocopies, Guild Room, floor plan, interior photograph 3.5" X 4.0" black and white, church exterior postcard, color, exterior  Transparency of front door, 2" X 2" approximate  Negative strips, pictures of the stained glass windows protection Color photograph, taken by Clitis Miller 1975, Dorothy Ritchie (nee Sexton) (Mrs. T. Macpherson) Communion table & flowers (CDB1977) Envelope containing: Paul & Audrey Thompson, 1970; church in winter; Bradford Tower doorway 1974; Front path & doorway 1974; Front door with people, Dr. Smith, Keith Jones; Fron...

Includes a photo of the First Congregational Church staff, Our Christian World Mission Budget. [brown0003] This item is available as a PDF, click here .

Greeting by N. Wesley Haynes, Maintenance Budget 1956-1957, Our Christian Mission dues and funding. [brown0002]

Includes a message from Ministers, Report, Maintenance Budget 1960-1961 and a Deacons' Report. [brown0001]

Undated photo postcard. [bradford0008]

Article from the Washington Post Magazine (by Phyllis Theroux), September 19, 1982. Till he was 50 he rode the escalator to corporate power; now 20 years later, on the other side of alcoholism and thoughts of suicide, wealth seems worth less than wisdom. This file also includes a copy of Oakland's Not for Burning, A Dynamic Experiment in Urban Development by Amory Bradford, published by David McKay Company, New York, in 1968. The copy of this book was donated by John and Clara DeBoer. [bradford0007]

Mrs.  F. Eggert read an able memorial on the death of Rev. Amory Bradford,  and it was moved and seconded that a copy be placed in the records of the church and  also sent to the  family and former church of the deceased. This document is available as a PDF, click here . [bradford0006]

A letter from Hugh Wells Hubbard to Mr. Julius B. Crowell, dated Dec. 17, 1925. Christmas gift of $50.00 from the Church School. [hubbard0001]

Newspaper article, Montclair Times, November 1, 1945. First of Large Churches to Go on Record Against Proposed Action. [clippings0005]

Undated copy of a newspaper article, The Mission Cook Book, Facts Relating to 'Nineties Publication Revealed by Son of One of Contributors . Photo of the original Washington Street Mission is pictured as it appeared in 1891. The photograph was taken by Howard A. Somers of Upper Montclair, who has written the accompanying article about the cook book compiled for the benefit of the mission. The Mission was located on the south side of Washington Street and which was sponsored by the First Congregational Church. In order to raise funds for its continued operation, a number of the active church members decided upon the publication of a cook book - to be sold at one dollar per copy. A number of early church members are identified, including: Mrs. Amory H. Bradford; Mrs. Seth O. Marshall; Mrs. Charles W. Chase; Mrs. M. H. Daniels; Mrs. Clapp; Mrs. Bliss; Miss Elizabeth O'Brion; and, Mrs. George H. Mills. [clippings0004]

Weekly news bulletin. Fragment - Getting to Know Each Other - Janet Bonney (Mrs. Alfred, III) 1969 Volume 1 - March 9-15, 1969, no. 26 (first page missing) Junior Youth Ministry, November 1969 Volume 1 - December 29-January 11, 1969 no. 17 Volume 1 - January 26-February 1, 1969 no. 20 Volume 2 - December 28-January 10, 1970 no. 17 Volume 3 - April 11-17, 1971 no. 30 (missing page) This Week, April 18, 1971 Fundraising  [thisweek0001]

Assorted newspaper clippings. Various unidentified topics. Housing Committee photograph September 21, 1978 - The Montclair Times Page 1 and 2, The Montclair Times August 16, 1979 Page 9 and 10, The Montclair Times August 23, 1979 Page 1 through S14, The Montclair Times August 16, 1979 Page 1 through S14, The Montclair Times August 23, 1979 A Night with Isaac B. Singer and His Demons, copy of The New York Times, article, June 15th, 1982. Review of a stage adaptation of Singer's Gimpel the Fool .  These items have not been digitized. [clippings0003]

Photograph, approximate 8" X 10" inches, stamped "Proof Copy" - Unidentified people in costumes. [senior0001]

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise Be thankful unto Him and bless His name. Photograph, approximate 10" X 14" inches [architecture0001]

Assorted newspaper clippings, 1978 Dinner-Auction on Saturday at 1st Congregational Church  Mr. Damkohler, Sales Manager - Memorial service William Munson, Retired Manager - Memorial service Mrs. Henrietta Taggart, memorial held  Richard Edward Noyes, 59, Was Real Estate Broker - Memorial service [clippings0002] PDF of these articles are available, click here . 

Assorted clippings, variety of topics. Milton G. Rector is Luncheon Speaker - Montclair Times 1978 'Roundup' On Air 40 Years - Dallas Townsend - Montclair Times  Women's Guild Plans Christmas Tea - Montclair Times - 1977 Oratorio Society Concert - 1978 Oratorio Society to Hold Silver Concert - Dolores Picinich - 1978 Assorted Items Church Concert on Sunday 1978 Health Topic Six Week Series 1978 Union Sunday Services Scheduled for Summer 1978 [clippings0001] Click here for a PDF of these articles . 

Pen and ink sketch Eastern Front, Bertram G. Goodhue , architect. Titled: First Congregational Church and Bradford Memorial Tower, Montclair, N.J. 1915-1916 [goodhue0001]

Handwritten notes for Amory Howe Bradford Minister F.C.C. 1870-1910 (author unknown) First paragraph: Less than two years before Amory Howe Bradford died, the citizens of Montclair honored him with a testimonial dinner. He was without doubt - the outstanding citizen in the town. People from differing religious persuasions, the Governor of the State of New Jersey and people from every walk of life wanted to honor this man. The main speaker alluded to the time when Dr. Bradford would no longer walk the familiar streets and said he could properly be evaluated and recalled in the words of Brutus: "His life was gentle; and the elements so mixed in him, that nature might stand up and say to all the world, This was a man." A 19 page PDF of this document is available, click here . [bradford0005]

"Welcome Home" to Dr. Bradford by the Men's Club First Congregational Church, Montclair, N.J. Wilde Memorial Chapel March 25, 1909. Mr. Charles S. Olcott, presiding Addresses of Welcome Reverend Robert Seneca Smith Mr. Starr J. Murphy Response Dr. Bradford The Laymen's Opportunity Mr. Frank A. Ferris The Church Brotherhood Rev. Harry Emerson Fosdick Loyalty to the Church Rev. William Douglass Mackenzie, D.D. Menu Officers Charles S. Olcott, President J. Allyn Oakley, Secretary Executive Committee James Ames Charles Whiting Baker Elvord G. Chamberlin William B. Dickson Charles M. Dutcher Andrew Morrison Willis C. Noble, M.D. Edward T. Wilkinson James T. Whittlesey [bradford0004] Envelope marked Amory Howe Bradford, Minister 1870-1911. CDB1977.

Amory Howe Bradford, postcards of Bust 1916. [bradford0003] - file contains 8 postcards, 6 are duplicates.

Jean Chesterman, great-granddaughter of Amory Howe Bradford, 1969 [bradford0002]

Late Pastor of First Congregational Church, Montclair, N.J. Reprinted from pamphlet published in 1904. Conclusion.- With the construction of the tunnels under the Hudson already projected, nothing can long prevent the increase of population in this part of Eastern New Jersey. I venture to prophesy that within ten years it will not only have caught up with, but will have passed Philadelphia, and then that for years to come it will keep the third place among American municipalities. It may be either a vast aggregation of unsympathetic classes controlled by some more corrupt Tammany, or a city worthy of its incomparable location and wonderful natural beauty, whose people shall love truth and work righteousness. Which it will be will depend very largely on the vision and courage of those who are now its citizens, and on their attitude toward the facts and figures contained in this essay. Available as a PDF, click here . [bradford0001]

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Eulogy  for Harold C.  Bohn It  is  death  that has  brought us here.    The  death of a good and gentle man.   We are here  today,  all  of us,  because  this  good and gentle man  found his way  into our hearts, and somehow,  in ways  unique  to  each of us,  ennobled us with  the gift of his  life.   We dare not  let  this moment pass,  even in our grief,  without  trying  to  find  the words  to express  our sense of  loss  and  to remind ourselves  that while he was  with us we knew ourselves  to be graced by  that mystery of humane otherness without which our  own  lives  are diminished,  even starved.    Indeed,  we  dare not  let  this moment pass,  even  in our grief, without  trying  to  f...

A Service of Worship in Memory of Dr. Harold C. Bohn, March 1, 1982 [ bohn0007]

A memorial service for Dr. Harold C. Bohn, professor emeritus and former chairman of the English department at Montclair State College, for whom a dormitory there is named, will be held 2 P.M. Monday at First Congregational Church, South Fullerton Avenue. Dr. Bohn died Tuesday in Mountainside Hospital. He was 78 years old. Upon his retirement, Dr. Bohn remained busy. In 1974, he began a series of lectures at First Congregational dealing with Shakespeare plays as part of the University Plan there. The lectures became quite popular, and Montclair residents looked forward to them each week. He was an active member of First Congregational Church. From 1953 until 1960, he was director of the religious activities at the church. His responsibilities there included overseeing the church school, young people's societies and the Bradford Club. [Montclair Times, Thursday, February 25, 1982. Page 6.] [bohn0006]

With granddaughters [ bohn0002] With two men [ bohn0003] With four people [ bohn0004] Harold Bohn [ bohn0005]

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CHURCH GUILD ISSUES RECEPTION INVITATIONS Ministers and Wives Will Be Guests of Honor. Invitations to a reception in honor of the Rev. Dr. Archibald Black, minister of First Congregational Church, and Mrs. Black; the Rev. Dr. George D. Hulst, associate minister of the church, and Mrs. Hulst; the Rev. Hugh Wells Hubbard, and Mrs. Hubbard of Paotingfu, China, and Mrs. Whitney C. Colby, president of the Woman's Guild, have been issued by the guild. The reception will be held for members and friends of the church in the guild room from 8 to 10:30 o'clock tomorrow evening. {January 19, 1937] [CDB1977-03-black] Gifts of Jody Carpenter and Esme Christner

Packet with material pertaining to the employment of Rev. Archibald Black, manila folder. Mostly typewritten letters. [CDB1977-02-black] Contents: April 29, 1945 Sunday Bulletin newspaper clipping "Dr. Black Sends His Resignation" correspondence to Dr. Edgerton McC Howard correspondence to Wallace K. Brown Correspondence to Dr. Howard Resolution correspondence Austin Riggs Associates memo conversation with Dr. Howard correspondence Wallace K. Brown correspondence to Dr. Howard summary correspondence to William Osgood Morgan summary, February 17, 1945 correspondence of William Osgood Morgan to Dr. Howard, December 29, 1944 correspondence of Austen Riggs Associates to Dr. Hugh Black, December 29, 1944 correspondence of Austen Riggs Associates to Dr. Hugh Black, September 22, 1944 correspondence from W.K. Brown, August 30, 1944 correspondence from W.K. Brown, August 30, 1944 correspondence of Austen Riggs Associates to Dr. Morgan, Augus...

Print from the 75th Anniversary Booklet (1945) [ CDB1977-01-black]

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[ CDB1977-02-bicknell] 1970, taken by Doris Hummon

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Front and back of photo, Bicentennial Display 1976, Dr. Clara Merritt DeBoer taken by Frank Kostyu for use in A.D., but picture not used in article. 

Dorothy Goodrich (left) and Clara DeBoer taken by John DeBoer. [CDB1977-01] Dr. Clara DeBoer taken by Cletis Miller. [CDB1977-02]

Bill Bachert, Innsbruck 1976 Bill Bachert, Eppy Barnes, Dooley Roosevelt - Grenoble 1968 Olympic Winter Games William Bachert, Mexico City 1968