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LOCAL HISTORY
When exactly the Mansard roofed home on 3 Elm Street
was built in the late 1800's, we are not exactly
sure, but we do know that it was the original
residence of Alfred Dolge, the founder of our quiet
village nestled along the East Canada Creek in the
foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. When
the Alfred Dolge family moved to the mansion on the
Fulton county side of the Daniel Green building in
1895, the spacious facility was converted into a
hotel. Named the Hotel Guenther, it was run by
Alfred Dolge's brother-in-law, Gustave Guenther
until 1899 when it was sold to Garrett Dopp.
Four years later, the hotel changed names again when
it operated briefly as the Ingraham House under the
proprietorship of F.C. Ingraham. From about
1909 until 1918, the Hotel was called the Central
Hotel based on its location on the busy corner near
the center of the early 20th century village.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) Lodge
137 purchased the building for their temple in 1919,
and that same year erected a large dancehall
complete with a raised stage in the rear of the
building. This structure would be used for
public dances and recitals in the years to come.
In 1939 the building was purchased by the Daughters
of Rebekah, Rising Crown Lodge No. 106. By
1967 the building had been sold yet again to the
Argersinger-James Post NO. 6392 V.F.W. for use
as their meeting rooms. The V.F.W. continued
to meet in the facility when it was purchased by
Contractor Stan Bush and converted into a Roller
Skating Rink in the early 1990's. Several
years later the Skating Rink closed for business,
and was used sporadically until Dolgeville Christian
Fellowship purchased the building in 1995 for use as
its sanctuary. Shortly after that, the
adjacent building, 7 Elm Street, was also purchased
by the church to help house its Christian School. |
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CHURCH HISTORY
In 1995, the local church meeting at Pinecrest Bible
Training Center felt led of the Lord to move to a
location in the surrounding community for better
outreach and ministry to the unchurched. The
Board of Trustees searched out possible places to
meet for worship and began renting the current
church building on 3 Elm Street. Chairs were
purchased, sound equipment was obtained, a pulpit
was built, and a piano was obtained. Soon the
former dancehall and skating rink was converted into
a place of worship with the first service held in
the Spring of 1995. Named Dolgeville Christian
Fellowship, the church also ran a K-12 Christian
School on the premises with an enrollment of 50-60
students.
Bob Lake served as our first Pastor from 1995
through 2000. Lee Boyd served as Principal of
the Dolgeville Christian Academy which closed its
doors in 1999 due to financial constraints. For
nearly 10 years the church ran a Youth Basketball
Outreach on Friday nights and held Bible studies and
Sunday Services. In 2000, Pastor Lake and his
family moved back to Georgia and Dr. Marvin Isum
accepted the position of Pastor in August, 2000.
Under his leadership, the church continues to grow
into its initial vision to be a witness of Jesus
Christ in the midst of this community.
Truly 3 Elm Street has seen many changes over the
years. From housing the"Father of Dolgeville"
and his family in 1895, to the moving in of the
"True Father" (and his family) 100 years later in
1995. And as it was once called "The Central
Hotel" by its location in the midst of the village,
our prayer is that Dolgeville Christian Fellowship
will remain a witness of Jesus Christ in the Center
of our very lives. |
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