Historical Discoveries in WNY

I realize that I have been remiss in updating this blog. I have however, been very busy researching and writing about the history of this fine church. Recently, I discovered the location of the First Presbyterian Church "Brick Church" tower bell that was donated to a church in Tonawanda, NY back in 1890, when the congregation sold the parcel of land to to the (defunct) Buffalo Savings Bank (now the Main Place Mall Tower site).
This bell has an interesting and somewhat checkered history since it was first installed in 1826 or 1827. This bell served as both the church bell, the "town clock bell", and the town fire alarm bell for many years. Its clear and sonorous tone tolled off the hours and rang out the "7", "12" and "9-o'clock bell" with the stately mien of a grandfather's clock. It was while serving in this capacity during a fire in 1833 that it first cracked. It was then repaired, although it is not clear if it was simply repaired or recast at this time, however, on the Fourth-of-July in 1840, the Sexton, John Newland and his assistant were ringing the sweet jubilee bell when a serious fracture developed, after some attempts of repair the bell, including much boring, sawing and filing it was decided that the bell needed to be removed and recast, this was completed in 1851. Its successor proved to be of nearly the same tone as the original. It is this bell that was donated to the Evangelical Friedens Church in North Tonawanda, NY. This information on its location was (at least to the congregation) somehow lost or forgotten in the passage of time ...until now.

There are to my knowledge three major artifacts (other then furniture) that exist that are readily associated with the "Old First" brick church that are known to exist; the first item is the front clock face, in possession of the church; the second is the old Garrett House church Organ, the oldest (1860) extant organ, (locally built) in operation in WNY; the third is the "Old First" bell, which was the "Town Clock Bell" for over 50 years.