A HISTORY OF ZION EPISCOPAL CHURCH

ON THE OCCASION OF ITS l5Oth ANNIVERSARY

Dobbs Ferry, New York 1833 - 1983

by Susanne Dickinson Sanzo

Zion,n....heaven...WebstersUnabridgedDictionary

Sesquicentennial.OneHundredFiftyYears.Suchwordsevokethoughtsof
antiquity,ofthingsancientor,atleast,ofgreatage.Letusreturntothosedaysofyore,
tothatdelightfulandbelovedlittlechurchwhichantedateseventheincorporationofthe
VillageofDobbsFerrybyfortyyearsZionEpiscopal 1andrelivethoseyearsinits
history.
Inthe1820s,DobbsFerrywasjustseveralnarrowdirtroadsandasmallcluster
ofhouses.In1823asmallgroupofChristiansmetinabamonthepropertyofPeterVan
BrughLivingston,nearHatchTerraceinDobbsFerry.2TheyfoundedSouthPresbyterian
Church,thelittlewhitechurch,outonAshfordRoad,thefirstchurchthatDobbs
Ferry,calledLivingstonsLandinginthosedays,hadeverseen.3
Itwasverydifficulttoorganizeachurchatallinthosedaysbecauseofthe
influenceofthepowerfultribeofIndiansthatcontinuedtothicklypopulatethisarea.
Intheearly1830sVanBrughLivingston,whohadbecomethechurchspresiding
elder,andwhoalsoownedalargeportionofthelocalland,lostapowerstruggle
withsomeoftheotherparishionersoveraproposaloftotalabstinencefromalcohol.
Asaresult,heresignedandofferedsomeofhispropertyinLivingstonsLanding
forthecreationofanotherchurch.
AnotherveryinfluentialandreligiousmanwholivedjustnorthofDobbs
FerryandheldlayserviceseverySundayafternoon,wasOscarIrving,Washington
Irvingsnephew.4Thoughhewasatfirstdispleasedwiththelocationoftheland
offeredbyLivingstonforthenewchurch,hesoonbecameawholeheartedsupporter
oftheeffort.Infact,Irvingturnedouttobethechiefprepareroftheway5.There
wereseveralotheravidsupportersofLivingstonsandIrvingsdream,includingthe
1 LifeofARiverVillage(Centennial)(1973).
2 Dobbs Ferry Register October 6, 1933.
3Opcit.supra,n.1,p.20.
4 Zion Episcopal Church Directory, 1970-1971.
5 Bolton,AHistoryofWestchesterCounty,NewYork.
prominentJudgeAnthonyConstantandMr.Howland.ThisgroupinvitedReverend
Crosby,therectorofSt.JohnsinYonkers,topresideattheformalorganizationof
theparish.ThiswasheldonOctober4,1833,intheschoolhouseadjoiningAndrew
Stormsproperty,nearthehamletofArdsley(Ashford).Theoriginalminutes,
signedbyOscarIrving,statethatOscarIrvingandJosephHowlandwerechosen
wardens,andLivingston,AnthonyConstant,HenryLockwood,WilliamWaring,
EverettBrown,JosephConklin,WilliamOdellandAnthonyStormswerechosen
vestrymen.ThenameZionwasadopted.ReverendCrosbyagreedtobetherector
atasalaryof$200ayear,payablehalfyearly.
OnOctober31,1833,theChurchwasincorporatedunderthenameTheRector,
ChurchwardensandVestrymenofZionChurchintheTownofGreenburgh.The
originalproprietarydeed,datedFebruary16,1834,coverednearlyoneacre.With
financialaidfromTrinityChurchinNewYorkCity,asmallGothicstonechurch
ofonlyeighteenpews(sixteenofwhichweretoberentedforbetween$5and
$40annuallyandtwoofwhichweretobefree)waserectedonahilloverlooking
theHudsonRiver,withotherlovelyviewsineverydirection.Itstowerroseone
storyaboveitsroofandhadacrenelatedparapet.Beforelong,afternoonservices
commenced.

OnTuesday,inWhitsunweek,1834,thelittlechurchbuildingwas
consecratedbyBishopOnderdonk,anoblelookingfatherofthechurch,of
commandingpresenceandgloriousvoicewithwarmandearnestaccents....
Thesimplealtarwithitsnewsilverevenasapolishedmirror,thefinesnowy
linendrapesandflowersinprofusion,allindeedseemedatasteofheaven,said
WardenConstantswife,thesolefemalecommunicant.IntheFallofthatyear,
Zionwasadmittedtotheunionofdiocesanconventions.AndthatDecember,
ReverendCrosbyresignedandwassucceededbyDeaconMead.Meadwas
ordainedtothepriesthoodatZionin1835andleftin1836toserveatSt.Pauls
inOssining.
In1825,WashingtonIrvingreturnedtoAmericafromaseventeenyear
stayinEurope,duringwhichhehadwrittenmanyofhisbestworksandhisname
hadbecomeahouseholdwordinthiscountry.6HeboughttheVanTassel
CottageandenlargedandbeautifieditintoSunnyside.ReverendWilliam
Creighton,whosucceededMeadin1836,wasanintimatefriendofIrvingandthis
establishedtherelationshipbetweenIrvingandZion.Therelationshipproved
mutuallybeneficial:thespiritualinspirationthatIrvingreceivedfromZionshines
forthfromhiswritings,whileZionwasnotonlyhonoredtoincludeIrvingsname
amongitsmembers,butIrvingserveditsvestryandparishmostdevotedly.He
subscribedforimprovementstothechurchpropertyandrepresentedZionasa
delegatetothediocesanconventionsin1837,1838,1839and1840,andwasa
memberoftheChurchCommitteewhichhadchargeofitstemporalaffairs.
ZionsbaptistryhasbeennamedTheIrvingCornerbecausehevolunteeredso
oftentoserveasagodfather.7
In1840,twoofAlexanderHamiltonssons,JamesHamiltonandAlexander
Hamilton,Jr.,joinedIrvingonZionsvestry.8Alexander,Jr.hadboughtand
embellishedtheestateinIrvington,whichhenamedNevis,afterhisfathers
birthplaceinthesameyearthatIrvinghadboughtSunnyside.Thetwo
familiesweregreatfriends;theysang,playedmusic,sailedandhadmany
socialeveningsandpiepartiestogether.9AtZion,JamesHamiltonwasalso
verygenerouswithhisservices.From1845to1853hewasthechurchs
treasurer.In1842,WashingtonIrvingwasappointedMinistertoSpainwhere
heremainedforfouryears.In1845,ReverendCreightonresignedfromZion
togivehisfullattentiontoChristChurchinTarrytownwhichhehadorganized
in1836andwherehehasbeentherectorallthetimethathewasserving
Zion.10WhenIrvingreturned,hefollowedhisgoodfriendandbecameamember
ofChristChurch.
ReesetellsusthatCreightonwassucceeded,inMay,1846,bytheReverend
GrantHayer,whoseresignationwasnotrecordedbutdidoccursometime

6 MessmoreKendall,ZionChurchChimes,Vol4,No.6.
7 HeraldStatesman,January18,1954.
8 Idem.
9 ZionChurchChimes,Vol5,No.4.
10 Dobbs Ferry Register, November 6, 1933.
before1851,whenheimbibedUnitariansacramentswhichledhim,soonafter,
toseparatealtogetherfromthechurch11forthatnewFaith.ThisleftZionwith
norectoruntiltheaccessionofReverendWilliamA.McVickar,onJuly19,
1852,foraoneyeartrial.Thattrialturnedintoalongtermcommitmenton
April23,1853.WhenMcVickararrived,hedesignedandexecutedan
enlargementoftheoriginaledificetomorethantripleitssize.Zionspovertyat
thattime,whichwasevidencedbyareferencetoa$250debtasaheavy
burden,alsocausedtheproposalofawooden,ratherthanstone,addition.But,
thankstothedevotionandliberalityofMr.Minturn,aparishionerfrom
Hastings,stonewaschosen.Thetower,whichinterruptsaGreekRevivalstyle
pedimentonthefacade,wasraisedanotherstoryanddecoratedwithdiamond
shapedwindowsfeaturingcarvedstonetraceryandwithbuttresses.12
Thechurchwasextended.Aboutthirtyfivefeetfromthefrontwall,themasonry
chargesfromawarmbrownishredtoagrayertoneontheaddition.Also,a
stainedglasswindowwasinstalledabovethealtar.Boltoncomments,in
referencetothewindow,Foradmirableharmonyofcolorandgenerally
satisfactoryeffectIhaveneverseenanyglassmadeinthiscountrysuperiorto
thisspecimen...Thereisnotaparticleofglassinthewindowthatisdullorflat
ineffect.Therubyisparticularlyvariedandrichintintandtreatment.Andthe
toneofthewholetogetherthecoolcolorsdecidedlypredominatingis
exceedinglyfine.13Reeseexplainsthattherearextension,thereplacementofthe
narrowchancelwhichhadprojectedintothebodyofthechurchandtheremovalof
thelargeoldwoodenpulpitandreadingdeskprovidedspacetoseat100more
people.14Allofthiscost$2,000.And,onJuly24,1854,thenewchurchwas
consecratedbyBishopJonathanMayhewWainwright.
In1855ReverendMcVickarstartedgoingtoHastingseverySundayafternoonto
conductservicesoncertainofMr.RobertMinturnslots.15Inthesame

11Reverend Reese, Historical Sermon (1884).

12 FrankSanchis,"AmericanArchitecture,Westchester County, New York" ( ).
13 Op. cit. supra, n. 3.
14 Reese, Historical Sermon, (1884)
15 Op. cit. supra, n.3.
year,McVickarestablishedanotherbranchofZioninDearman(nowIrvington):
achapelschoolcalledSt.Barnabas,whichsoonbecameanindependentchurch.In
1856,McVickarsentadeaconwhoassistedhim,toholdbiweeklyservicesin
Hastings,firstinMrs.Constantshouse,thenintheMissionRoomabovethe
PostOffice,toaccommodatetherapidlyincreasingattendance.In1859,
McVickarleftZionforSt.BarnabasandwassucceededbytheReverendHenry
Williams.Then,in1863,Zionreceiveda$500donationfromAdmiralFarragutof
Hastings,whowasactivebothinthechurchandintheCivilWar,towardthe
constructionofachapelinthatvillage.
In1865,ReverendWilliamsresignedandthevestryextendedacalltotheReverend
GeorgeBirkhamReeseinOhio,whobegantoserveZiononNovember19ofthat
year.Unexpectedly,in1866,Mr.Minturndied.Hehadlongdreamedofachurchin
HastingsonthelotswhereMcVickarhadconductedhisservices.Hisheirsgave
thatpropertytoZion,alongwithaliberaldonation,tofulfillMinturnsdream.Zion
startedconstructionofZionChapelinHastings,inthefallof1867.ThatOctober
2,Reeselaidthecornerstone.Thebuilding,aframeGothicstructureseating300
people,wasfirstlocatedonMainStreet,nearWarburton,andwasmovedtoits
presentlocation,onthesoutheastsideofMaininthethe1930s.16Farragut
contributedatotalof$1,000,whichwashisshareofthefirstdistributionofprize
moneyfromtheUniongovernmentforthecaptureofConfederatewarships.The
constructionwasfinishedbythespringof1868,havingcost$6,000.Thatsummer
servicescommencedinZionChapel.
Inthosedays,thelawnaroundZionwasusedasagraveyard.Between1861and
1863,ZionChurchYardrecordedmanydeathsfromdiphtheria,mostlyofpersons
borninthelate1700s,andfromstrangesoundingcausesofdeathsuchas
consumptionofthebowelsandpuerperalconvulsions.Bythe1880s,there
wereonlytwoorthreeintermentsinthegraveyardsurroundingZion.17
TotherearofthechurchandfacingOakStreetstoodtheoldestbuildinginthe
village.18Builtin1783,itwasaclapboardstructurethathadbeenthehomeof
16 The Citizen Register, October 27, 1962.
17 Op. cit. supra. n.3.
18 Op. cit. supra. n 5.
CaptainJohnSmith,famedHudsonRiverSailingmasterwhosesloopscarriedon
tradebetweenDobbsFerryandManhattan.Thishousewaspurchased,in1865,for
$7,900,tobecomeZionsfirstrectory.
In1870,asecondenlargementandthoroughrenovationofthechurchtookplace.
Tworearwingsandanoctagonalshapedapsewereadded,theirmasonrybeing
rockfaced,rectangular,andcoarse,whichistosay,completelydifferentfromthe
restofthebuilding.Theirwindowframements,however,whicharebrick
throughout,matchtheolderpartofthebuilding.19Thewholeinterior,exceptthe
galleryandceiling,wasmadenew,givingthechurchaspaciousrecesschancel,
vestryandorganrooms.Andaslateroofwasputovertheentirestructure.20All
ofthiscost$9,000,whichwas
raisedentirelybysubscription.Atthesametime,therectorywasgreatly
enlargedandimproved:Twolargeroomswereaddedtoeachflooranda
thirdstorywasbuilt,resultinginatwentythreeroomhouse.Thiswaspaid
forbyaparishionerwhosenamewasnotpubliclymentionedbecauseit
wasactuallytheReverendReeseswife.Finally,thechurchwastotally
refurnishedfor$1,200,fromtheproceedsofafestivalrunbysomeofthe
devotedfemalemembers.Theresultofalltheseefforts,wastheZionthat
weseetoday.Thedifferencebetweenthecostofthefirstandsecond
renovationsisgoodevidencethattheproblemofinflationisnothingnew.
OnessenseoffamiliaritywiththeZionofoveracenturyagoissubstantially
enhancedbybrowsingthroughtheZionChurchLedger,July1874July
1876.Thebiggestsourceofincomewaspewrental$2,577.50ayear.
Subscriptionsbroughtinabout$1,000annually,andthecollectionmoneyfor
theentireyearwasonly$304.45.Therectorsannualsalarythenwas$2,500,
andthechurchallottedmoneyforcarriagesandsleighstobeusedbythe
clergyandSundayschoolchildren.Therewasnowaterbillbecauseawell
wasusedfortherectorswatersupply.However,inthosedays,churchesdid
havetopayschool,townandcorporationtaxes,justlikeeveryoneelse.1874

19 Op. cit. supra. n. 9.

20 Op. cit. supra. n. 11.
musthavebeentheyearthatZiondecidedtodiscontinueitsgraveyard.Under
Sundries,isnotedAdvertisingremovalofcorpses,$4.00.Theprojected
incomeforthecomingyearwas$2,800,andtheprojectedexpenseswere
$3,800!
In1875,ReesenotedthatZionsgroundswereinchaoticcondition.Not
surprising,consideringtherecentremovalofcorpses.Sohehadthemgradedand
thenhadroadstothechurchandmanseputinandconstructedacommodious
horsebarnallfor$1,500.Inthefollowingyear,themansereceivedanewstucco
exteriorandamansardroofandtherewasanadditionalenlargementofthechurch,
whichwasthendedicatedbyBishopWainwright.21Thebishopsgreatgrandson
wasJohnWainwright,heroofCorregidor,whosepicturewasgiven,duringWorld
WarII,toZion,whereitstillhangs,nexttoMayhewWainwright.
Theyear1880foundReverendReeseoncemoreaddingtohisbelovedchurch.
ThistimeitwasanorganthatheboughtatasheriffssaleattheChurchofThe
RedeemerinNewYorkCity.Theorganhadtobeentirelydismantledandrebuilt
foritsinstallationinZionsneworganroom.Then,in1881,hehadJ.andR.Lamb
redecoratetheinteriorofthechurchandhejudgedtheirworktobeamarvelof
cheapnessandbeauty.Inviewofallthesematerialimprovements,lestthereader
inferthatReverendReesewasoverlypreoccupiedwiththearchitecturalaspects
ofthechurch,hereareafewwordsfromhisHistoricalSermonof1884:(Zions)
spiritualhistory...mustbeknownonlytothesearcherofhearts....Unbroken
harmonyhasprevailedamongussolong.DuringmyentirepastorateIhavenot
totreasureupasyllablecalculatedtoleavebehindasting....TheLordhathdone
greatthingsforus,whereforeweareglad.
In1885,ReesessonwastheBishopofOhioandReesewassurrounded
byinnumerablemanifestationsofthephysicalandspiritualbuildingthathehad
accomplishedatZion.Buthewasdeprivedoffurtheropportunitytoenjoythe
fruitsofhisefforts.Hediedofpneumoniaattheageof52andwasburiedat
SleepyHollowCemetery.MostofDobbsFerrycloseddowntoattendhis
funeral.Anewaltarwasdonatedtothechurch.TheReeseMemorialTabletwas

21 Op. cit. supra. n. 5.

placedinthewallofthechancel;andtheParishHallwasgiventhesamerock
facedexteriorthatthechurchbuildingreceivedin1870,andnamedtheReese
MemorialBuildinginhonorofthemansgoodworks.22
From1885to1889,anapparentlylittleknownministernamedJacobLeRoy
servedZion.Then,onJune25,1889,ReverendRobertM.Berkleywroteinhis
ledger,ReceivedcalltoZionChurch.ThatSeptember16,ReverendBerkley
beganhistermasrectorofZion.In1914,thepositionofrectorwastransferred
tothehandsofReverendStanleyBrownSermon,whoservedforthenexttenyears.
Duringthattime,in1917,ZionChapelinHastingsbecameanindependent
parishandchangeditsnametoGraceChurch.In1919,anotheroutstandingly
devotedparishioner,Col.FranklinQ.Brown,donatedtheimpressiveVictory
BellthatnowhangsinZionstower.Thechurchhonoredtheoccasionwitha
festival.
In1924,asurpassinglydynamicfiguretookupthereighsofZion,the
ReverendCharlesKarsten.ReverendKarstenwasalsoPresidentoftheBoard
ofChaplainsoftheDioceseofNewYorkandLieutenantColenelinthe
ChaplainsCorps.RatherthanwaittocelebrateZions100thanniversary,he
heldaspecialcommemorativeserviceonthe90thanniversaryofits
consecration!Yes,Karstenhadgreatpublicappeal.Typicalevidenceofthis
wasMrs.AlmaWrightPeter,Jr.sdonationsoffrontals,aredcarpetandplush
cushionstothechurch.
WhenZionscentennialyeararrived,in1933,thecelebrationspannedan
entireweekandwasattendedbyover2,000people.23Col.FranklinQ.Brown
beganitsopeningbyintroducingCharlesdeSerrydeFontnouvelle,Consul
GeneraloftheRepublicofFrance.Thediplomatcarriedhiscountrysflag,
whichhepresentedtoZioninhonoroftheoccasionandinmemoryofthe
stirringeventsoftheFrancoAmericanoccupationofDobbsFerryduringthe
RevolutionaryWar.Hispresentationtooktheformofhandingtheflagtothe
RightReverenceWilliamT.Manning,BishopofNewYork,whothen

22 Op. cit. supra. n. 9.

23 Zion Parish Leaflet, Vol. 6, No. 1.
eulogizedZion,saying,inpart:Ahundredyearsisalongtime.Itis
somethingofatestofaninstitution.ButthroughallthattimeZionhas
strengthenedallthatisnoblestandbestinthecommunity.Manningswords
weretruebothinretrospectandinphrophecy.Thencamemessagesof
felicitationfromtheArchbishopofCanterbury,theBishopoftheEpiscopal
ChurchofAmericaandmanyothernotables.Everynightthatweektherewasa
differentmajorevent.OnThursdaysCommunityEvening,therewasaparadeof
1,500peopletothechurchyard,wherelettersfromPresidentRooseveltand
GovernorLehmanwerereadandCongressmanMillardandanumberofother
equallydistinguishedguestsgavespeeches.Thenthechurchgroundsbecame
shroudedindarknessandthewindowsofZionflamedlightandtheorganrolled
forthitssacrednotesasWashingtonIrving(impersonatedbythedistinguished
TheodoreWood)deliveredaninspiringmessagefromacenturyago.Afterwards,
therewererefreshmentsanddancing.Thepersonwhodescribedthiseventsaid:
Neverhasagreatertributebeenpaid,sosincereandwarmhearted,bythe
surroundingCommunitythantheonetoZiononOctober12(1933).
In1940,ReverendKarstentookoneyearsleaveofabsencefromZionforU.S.
Armyservice.Notlongafterhereturnedhewashonoredtoconductthefuneral
serviceforMajorMonroeCurtis,formerNewYorkStateCommanderofthe
VeteransofForeignWarsandthendirectoroftheDobbsFerryBankandcivic
leader.Honorarypallbearersincluded:MessmoreKendall,Col.FranklinBrown
(PresidentoftheDobbsFerryBank),SheriffThomasReynolds,Councilman
WarrenBenedictandMayorJosephWalker.
Onehappydayin1947,ZionwasvisitedbyarepresentativeofSchulmerich
Carillons,Inc.whobroughtatestsetofelectronicchimes.24ItwasperfectforZion.
Theparishmemberslovedthemandcontributedenthusiasticallyasdidcommunity
organizationsandmanyotherresidentsofandnearDobbsFerry.From6:00to
6:15everyevening,aprogramofhymnswasplayed.Theboatsontheriver
usedtoanswerbyblowingtheirwhistles.25Theeffectofthechimesonpeople

24 M. Kendall, Zion Church Chimes, Vol. 5, Nol 3.

25 The Enterprise, June 28, 1983.
weariedbytheirdaysexertionswasdescribedbyonenewlyarrivedcouplewho
said,thechillairwasenrichedandwarmedbythemellowharmonyofthe
churchschimes...playingtoourearsandmindsandhearts...giving
greetingandbenediction.Duetofinanciallimitations,Zionscurrentminister,
TheReverendA.DawsonTeague,canplaythechimesonlyonveryspecial
occasions.
ThomasPike,whowasbaptizedandconfirmedatZion,receivedearlyinstruction
andinspirationfromFatherKarsten,whoguidedandhelpedhimtobecomea
priest.HeisnowRectorofSt.GeorgesandCalvaryChurchesinNewYorkCity
andisalsoontheBoardofTrusteesoftheCathedralofSt.JohntheDivine.
In1952,theloyalspiritofZionsmembersshoneforthwhenMessmore
Kendallgaveanaddressatthededicationofaplaquewhichnowhangsinthe
church,inhonorofWashingtonIrving.Alsointhatyear,itisnotsurprisingto
learn,Col.FranklinBrownwaselectedZionsseniorwarden.AndwhenCol.
Brownandhiswife,bothofwhomhadgivenZionoverfiftyyearsofdevoted
service,weredead,theirchildrengavethechurchanewNarthexintheirmemory,
whichwasdedicatedbySuffraganBishopWetmoreandwhichcontainsthe
BrownMemorialPlaque.26
By1964,theParishDirectorynotes,ReverendKarstenhadgivenZionfortyyears
ofexcellentserviceandheretired.Histhreesonsallbecamepriestsandhis
daughtermarriedanEpiscopalpriest.HewasfollowedbytheReverendField
Tooleywhodepartedtowardstheendof1968.ThisleftZionwithoutarectorfor
eightmonthsuntilthearrivalofFatherJackNeitertfromSt.JamesChurchin
HydePark,who,withhisassociate,TimParsons,servedasrectoruntilJanuary,
1977.HeisnowatSt.AndrewsChurchinMt.Pleasant,SouthCarolina.Neitert
andParsonsalsosharedtheministryatGraceChurchinHastingsan
experimentwhichwasdiscontinued.ThosewerethetimeswhenZionslimited
incomerequireddiscontinuanceofthedailyplayingofthechimes.Father
NeitertrecalledsomecommentsthatReverendReesehadmadeabouthow
difficultitwastostretchtheofferingstomeettheexpensesandfollowedthose

26 Dobbs Ferry Register, April 25, 1963.

observationswith:Soundsfamiliartome!inexpressivelyboldscript.
Thesummerof1977arrivedandwithitcameZionscurrentrector,the
ReverendA.DawsonTeague,fromChristChurchinTarrytown.Justbefore
that,inJanuaryofthesameyear,Zionwasthesite,forthefirsttimeinits
history,oftheordinationofawoman,theReverendBarbaraSchlacter,tothe
priesthood.27SheservedZionasrectorbetweenRev.JackNeitertandRev.
Teague.Sheisnowcorector,withherhusbandMel,oftheEpiscopalChurchin
Staatsburg,NewYork.Then,asiftoverifythatthiswasnotamereodditybuta
signofarealevolutionofreligiousstandards,inMayof1982,theReverend
SheilaBiggsenteredthepriesthoodfromZion.SheisnowAssociateChaplainat
St.LukesRooseveltHospitalintheCityofNewYork,inadditiontoserving
ZionasAssociateRector.
Inhis1884sermonmarkingthesemicentennialofZionChurch,theReverend
GeorgeReeseappealedtotheWomensMissionaryAssociationforclothesand
suppliestobesenttofamiliesontheWesternFrontier.Howlittlethemissionof
Christianitychanges!Todayourrectoralsocalledforclothesandsuppliestobe
sentWestthistimetohelpvictimsalongtheMississippi.
Atthispoint,historyandtodaysnewsmergeandwefindourselvesinthe
present.1983marksthel50thanniversaryofZion,itsSesquicentennialand,this
timeitisbeingcelebratedbyspecialeventsheldthroughouttheyear.Thefirst,
onJune26,1983,beganwithamovingconfirmationceremonypresidedoverby
theRt.Rev.WalterD.Dennisandreligiousleadersofthecommunityheadedby
ourownFatherTeagueandourassociaterectorsSheilaBiggsandFather
WilliamFrankhuizen.Thiswasfollowedbyaperformanceofheartquickening
bagpipemusicandajoyousreception.TheSesquicentennialwillbeculminated
onJune2,1984,atadinnerdanceintheParishHall.
Inmakingthisjourneythroughtime,Zionbecameanintimatefriendto
me,onethatIhadlivedwithfromitsbirth.Ihavesharedtheupsanddownsof
itslifeandspentinnumerablehoursuncoveringthem.Ifthereaderhasalso
foundafriendinthesubjectthepurposeofthispaperhasbeenwellserved.

27 The Enterprise, June 23, 1983.