Question: This photo is obviously a grocery store. Do you its name and where is was located? The photo was showing a special event — what was taking place? Do you know the date?
Last week’s answer: Last week’s photo shows the sanctuary of Grace Episcopal Church with its pastor, Rev. William Martin Beauchamp. Both the church building and the clergyman would each become well known in their own right.
Located at 12 Elizabeth St., Grace Church was a modest frame structure whose very existence represented the patience and persistence of Baldwinsville’s Episcopal community. After more than 20 years of prayers, planning, fundraising and setbacks (including losing a partially completed church to a violent storm), the church was consecrated Nov. 30, 1860.
Throughout the Civil War years Grace Church was considered a rural mission. In 1865 young Rev. William M. Beauchamp was brought in as resident minister. During Beauchamp’s 35-year tenure both the church and its pastor matured.
Beauchamp found the church to be “neat and cheerful, heated by two stoves, carpeted in the aisles and chancel and with a few cushioned seats. A small melodeon stood in the gallery, there were no lamps … All was tasteful and good, so far as it went.”
One of the priorities was securing a rectory for the new minister and his family. As needs and opportunities arose, attention was then given to the church environment and the building itself. The photo shows handsome wall mounted oil lamps, yards of lush garland and banners above the doorways. The banner on the right reads “On earth peace … good will to men.” Also visible are a memorial window dedicated to Eliza Minard Baldwin and four plaques mounted just above the altar. The plaques had been made by the rector and bore the text of the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed.
Successive years brought additional refinements and expansion to the church. Grace Episcopal Church earned a place in American history on Sunday, June 6, 1886, when it was illuminated by electricity, the first church in the United States to utilize this new technology.
While leading his parish from its early days into the dawn of a new century, Rev. Beauchamp’s dedication to the ministry and his outstanding talents as orator, author, artist, scientist and historian were recognized throughout New York state. His scholarship in transcribing the history of Native Americans from oral tradition to the written word is revered yet today.
Beauchamp retired from Grace Church in 1905 and moved into Syracuse. There he continued his scholarly pursuits while also enjoying gardening and bicycling. Beauchamp passed away in 1925 at the age of 95. A native of Skaneateles, he is buried in that village’s Lake View Cemetery.
On Nov. 20, 1960, 10 days shy of the 100th anniversary of its dedication, Baldwinsville’s historic Grace Episcopal Church was consumed by fire, the act of an arsonist. Deeply saddened, but undaunted by adversity, the congregation began the building process once again. The new brick edifice is located at 110 Oswego St., a parcel with room for parking and yet further expansion.
Email your guess to [email protected] or leave a message at 315-434-8889 ext. 332 with your guess by noon Friday. If you are the first person to correctly identify an element in the photo before the deadline, your name and guess will appear in next week’s newspaper, along with another History Mystery feature. History Mystery is a joint project of the Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse and the Baldwinsville Public Library.
