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Introduction
Early History
Death Records 1860-1894

Pioneers
Early Settlers
Joseph McClure
Pardon T Jewell
Marvin Older
Delos E Lyon
Curtis Brothers
Searl and Storrs
Doctors
William McNall

Park Square and Fairs
The Story
The Trial
The Wedding
Franklinville Fair
Bands

Postal History
Introduction
Post Office
Postmasters

Hotels and Inns
Globe Hotel
Hotel Lester
Bard Hotel
Brown Eagle Hotel

Businesses and Industry
Bartholomew's Pharmacy
West Park Square Drug Store
Quality Bakery
Cutlery Industry
Mercantile
Dairy Industry
Firehouse Liquors
Blount Plow

Churches and Buildings
Baptist
Other Churches
Presbyterian
Methodist Episcopal
Amusement Hall
The Miners Cabin

In the Public Trust
Newspapers
Chronicle-Journal
Fire Department
Mt Prospect Cemetery
Public Works
Railroads

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Methodist, Roman Catholic, Episcopal and Christian Scientist

The first Sunday school in Cattaraugus appears to have been conducted by a young woman in what would become Franklinville. In the summer of 1821 a young school marm was teaching in the district school (a log house) just north of the settlement. She came to the decision that the children of the community should be attending Sunday School. No one in the area, except for her, had ever attended a Sunday School. 

It happened that she was a Methodist while the other settlers were of various other creeds. They all came, however, at her invitation, and brought their children, partly out of curiosity and partly to keep their children from falling under the influence of another religion. The young woman sensed the tension in the gathered assembly on that first Sunday and recognized its source. Therefore, at the appointed hour, she rose to her feet and invited anyone present to invoke the Word of God in
prayer. Not one person responded. And so she bowed her head and said
"Let us pray". All those present complied and no objection was raised
The Sunday School became an accepted and well attended ritual.

The Free Methodist congregation originally organized in the East
Hill schoolhouse in 1863. In 1875-76 they built a church on South Main Street.

St. Philomena's Roman Catholic original church was built in 1875 at
a cost of $2,300 on a lot adjoining the Free Methodist Church in the
village. St. Philomena's congregation built a new church in 1964; although
it had actually been in use since Christmas of 1964, a formal dedication
was held May 16, 1965. The resident priest at the time was the Rev.
Henry J. Romanowski. When he died some years later he was buried in the
flowerbed by the statue in front of the church. The following description of the new church is quoted from a clipping found in the Blount Library:

"The contemporary structure framed in steel arches and paneled in
redwood, has a stained glass cross, mullioned in redwood, spanning its
facade. Stained glass windows, the Stations of the Cross, and the statue
of St. Philomena were executed by Larry Griffis, Buffalo artist. The
statue stands in the center of a circular drive in front of the church.
It is made of welded low alloy steel, a new material with a limited
oxydation feature. Also completed in the parish building program is the
bick rectory, at the left of the church which stands at the end of
Plymouth Avenue.

Mr. Griffis of Buffalo is the creator of Griffis Sculpture Park at
Ashford Hollow."

St. Barnabas Mission of the Episcopal Diocese organized in the
early 1890s. In 1912 the Mission rooms were in the C. W. Phillips block
on Elm Street. In later years they met in members' homes. It would be
1957 before the congregation of St. Barnabas would be able to build
their fine church which now stands on the northeast corner of the
intersection of North Main Street (NYS Route 16) and Green Street.

Christian Scientists in 1912 were holding regular services in their
rooms at 8 1/2 South Main St. (NYS Route 16).