Dr. Milton Loyer, Conference Archivist
November – 100 years ago.
On November 2, 1921, the Methodist congregation in Laporte, Sullivan County, purchased the Baptist church building on Main and Beech Streets and re-named it the “Maude D. Eddy Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church” as shown on the cornerstone. The first Methodist church building in Laporte, dedicated in 1874, had been open to all Protestant faiths, including the Baptists. In 1897 the Baptists erected their own church building. By 1921 the Methodist building was no longer adequate, while the Baptist congregation had declined to the point that their building was now a burden. The Methodists purchased the property for $700, the Eddy family donating $400 of that amount with the understanding that the church be named for the saintly Maude D. Eddy (1865-1915). The original Methodist building was purchased by the borough of Laporte for use as a community hall.
Established by circuit riders of the Genesee Conference in 1826, Laporte has had the following conference placements:
1826-46 Genesee Conference
1846-57 Baltimore Conference
1857-60 East Baltimore Conference
1860-64 East Genesee Conference
1864-69 East Baltimore Conference
1869- Central PA/Susquehanna Conference
December – 50 years ago
December 31, 1971, marked then end of the Quincy Home Press (formerly the Quincy Orphanage Press) – which had been a staple of the site since 1925. In that year a press was added to the orphanage school, and it became an integral part of the industrial building. Children of the orphanage received vocational training, and the press was soon printing the annual reports of the Orphanage and Home – as well as envelopes and bulletins for nearby congregations.
In 1930, a government contract for printing postal supplies was secured. Soon hardbound books were being printed for a wide variety of clients. A linotype machine was added in 1948, and the department ultimately came to show a comfortable margin of profit. But as the public schools took over the academic and vocational training of the children, the printing ministry had outlived its usefulness and ceased when long-time supervisor Lloyd F. Bender retired at the end of December after 47 years of faithful service.
