Drawing of historic church in Clarendon given to Historical Society

Staff Reports Posted 20 April 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photos
CLARENDON – Georgia Thomas, left, and her sister Joycelyn Jennings, right, present a drawing by Arthur Barnes of the former Universalist Church in Clarendon to Historical Society President Melissa Ierlan.

The two sisters purchased the drawing at an estate sale. They framed it and wanted to give it to the Historical Society.

The church was demolished a few years ago. It was built on Route 31A, just east of Route 237, in 1837 on land donated by Eldredge Farwell, the town’s first pioneer settler.

Gaines Town Historian Dee Robinson spoke last Wednesday to the Historical Society about Clarendon native Dr. Gertrude A Farwell, granddaughter of Clarendon’s founder.

Dr. Farwell received her doctorate degree in 1874 and she worked in New York City and later in Holley. Robinson has done extensive research on notable women and their contributions to Orleans County in the 1800s.