Visits to Museums

NSG Visit September 24, 2005

The Cobblestone Society Museum

and other cobblestone buildings

in Childs and Albion, New York

by

Bill Treichler

Richard Reisem made arrangements for the Society to visit cobblestone buildings and view outstanding architecture in Childs and Albion, New York.

We met in the sanctuary of the Cobblestone Church for an entertaining lecture on cobblestone architecture and the church by Bill Lattin, Ontario County historian and director of the Cobblestone Society Museum. The Cobblestone Church was built in 1834 of stones gathered from surrounding fields and carted to the site by oxen. There are 26 cobblestone churches in western New York, and this is one of the oldest. George M. Pullman, who invented the Pullman railroad sleeping car, attended this Universalist church.

After the lecture, we toured the Cobblestone Museum, the cobblestone Ward House built in 1836, and the cobblestone schoolhouse. The 1849 school is unique in that it is a wooden structure with only a cobblestone veneer. These three buildings have been designated National Historic Landmarks. We had lunch at Tillman's Village Inn. This inn has been in continuous operation since the early 1800s when it was a stagecoach stop, serving salt pork and hash to patrons. Gary Bogue made our lunch arrangements.

After lunch, we drove south on Route 98 to Albion, and gathered at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in the center of the village at the corner of Route 98 and East Park Street. Bill Lattin gave us a guided tour of the newly restored church interior.

The church was built in 1894 by George M. Pullman (1831-1897), who made a fortune as the inventor and manufacturer of Pullman railroad sleeping cars. The idea for his railroad sleeping car came from Erie Canal packet-boat design. His elegant Pullman church was designed by S. S. Beman and built of Medina sandstone in English Gothic style. The church windows and interior were created by Tiffany Studios in New York City. After visiting Pullman church, we will have a walking tour of the historic district listed in the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. The impressive public buildings in Albion are indicative of the heightened architectural awareness that went into developing this village's downtown. The shining, silver-domed Orleans County Courthouse, built in 1857-1858 in Greek Revival style, can be seen for miles around this stately village. Circling that glistening dome are seven architecturally outstanding historic churches, the Swan Library, post office, county office building, and several mansions that together are part of the 65-structure historic district.

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