>From the book: The Souvenir Industrial Edition of Plattsburgh 1897 edited and published by W. Lansing & Son, Plattsburgh page 29 First Methodist Episcopal Church The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Plattsburgh, whose commodious house of worship stands at the head of Clinton street, on Oak street, began its existence as what in Methodist parlance is known as a "station," in distinction from a "circuit," in the spring of 1826. There had been a Methodist "class" and classes in Plattsburgh for many years before this date, but up to this time, Plattsburgh had been one of many other contiguous towns forming part of a "circuit," which the itinerant preachers reached from time to time in their rounds. In 1826, the Plattsburgh classes were organized by themselves alone, and made a "station," and the Rev. James Quinlan was appointed pastor. From that time to 1886, eleven years ago, twenty-nine different men have been its pastors, three of them, Rev. A. Witherspoon, D.D., Rev. John E. Bowen, and Dr. Cheeseman, being appointed to a second pastorate. Within the eleven years last past the pastors have been as follows: 1886 and 1887, Rev. Charles Reynolds; 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, Rev. George A. Barrett; 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, Rev. E. P. Stevens; 1895 and 1896, Rev. J. W. Eaton, D.D., the present incumbent. The church edifice, into which the society came more than eleven years ago, when it left its old building on Court street, is one of the finest and best of the Methodist Episcopal or any other denomination in Northern New York, and all its appointments, from audience room to kitchen, are commodious and elegant. The organ, which stands behind the pulpit, is unsurpassed in all this region, and the quartette choir, under the direction of Miss Alice Hewitt, organist, and composed of Misses Evelyn Bromley and Katherine Dana, soprano and alto, and Messrs. Haynes and Guibord, tenor and bass, furnished most excellent music for the large and intelligent congregation. The parsonage is at 37 Court street, and is a snug brick house, which makes a pleasant home for the pastor. The value of the parsonage as now estimated by the trustees, is $4,000, and that of the church building, $60,000. The present officers of the church, are as follows, viz.: Trustees, Hon. A. Williams, president of the boards; W. F. Davidson, clerk; D. S. Robinson, J. H. Carter, C. McDougall, H. H. Sherman, Hon. L. L. Shedden, Hon. A. Guibord and S. L. Wheeler, Esq. Stewards, L. D. Larkin, H. H. Jones, H. W. Guibord, O. T. Larkin, J. L. Signor, G. H. Anderson, W. C. Pike, C. C. Hodges, H. A. Wood, E. White, R. H. Guibord, C. J. Dale, and Dr. J. G. McKinney. Leaders, Frances Lewis, Lydia Arnold, Sarah Arnold, Caroline Stave, Alice Davidson, and Mary E. Craig: Sunday School Superintendent, S. L. Wheeler. Local Preacher, B. S. Cramer. President Epworth League, B. S. Cramer. The above named officers, together with Presiding Elder Rev. George Barrett and the pastor constitute the governing body of the local church. The present membership of the church is nearly 400. The pews are not rented but are assigned to permanent attendants, and yet all pews are free and the public are cordially invited to occupy them. The financial plan is that of weekly free-will offerings. The Sunday school and Epworth League are large and prosperous.