Our History
Chapter 4
Following the second World War Colonie grew even faster. Large housing developments sprang up. Central Avenue was now a four lane highway. The trolleys had been discontinued. More and more people were driving automobiles and traveling on buses between Albany and Schenectady. The church was located between Stops 30 and 31 on the Albany-Schenectady Road.
Pine Grove’s membership was growing by about 50 members a year. To accommodate everyone, two services were held on Sundays and three on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.
By 1950, a bigger church was needed. Mrs. Ibbetson sold her property on Central Avenue and donated 10% of the money received ($600) to the church to begin a building fund for a new church.
A Building Committee was established. Chairman was Walter F. Bennett; Vice Chairman, Walter K. Brown; Corresponding Secretary, Glenn E. Bretsch; Financial Secretary, Ernest Guenther; and Treasurer, Benjamin Coughlin Sr. The committee members included Percy L. Reynolds, Henry R. Sabey, Donald Williams, Leon Wiard, Nordin Shambrook, William J. Tull., Thurston Kenyon, George L. Sabey Jr. Later Mrs. Edna Bretsch and Mrs. Emma Lahman were added to the committee. A church architect, O.H. Murray from Rhineback, NY was retained and the planning proceeded.
To help raise money, the Harvest Bazaar Began in the 1950’s. A church rummage sale was held in June and again in September each year. Donations of furniture, clothes, books, toys, and other household items are sold. The bazaar is still currently held in the fall each year.
In 1951, the church was given a plot of land 100 feet deep and 264 feet wide, behind the old church, by Mrs. Minnie Dauphin, mother of Benjamin Coughlin Sr. This increased the property by about a third and left room for expansion. The deed, dated July 26, 1951, was recorded November 13, 1951. After investigating various ways to raise money, the Columbia Plan, a type of life insurance plan, was adopted with a thirty five year endowment period. In order to get a mortgage, someone had to cosign a note to verify payment to the bank. Three local trustees signed a mortgage of $135,000. Percy L. Reynolds, Benjamin Coughlin Sr., and Walter Bennett were the responsible parties until the mortgage was finally burned in 1976.
Ground breaking ceremonies took place on Sunday, February 28, 1954. Hanson Construction Corporation, a general contractor from Schenectady was hired to build the new church. Three volunteers took responsibility for the following tasks: Donald Williams for the plumbing and heating, John Sofia for the electrical work, and William Fuller for the painting.
The cornerstone of the new church was laid on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1954. A metal box containing a bible, a membership list, a list of church officers, and papers dating back to the beginning of the church in 1857 were placed in the cornerstone. Reverend McIntyre and Mr. Glenn Bretsch prepared the program. Ida M. Sabey put the articles in the cornerstone and the principle speaker was District Superintendent F.W. Beven. A former pastor, Reverend F.C. Zapf, gave the benediction.
By September 1954, a committee was formed to begin planning for the opening service in the new church. Committee members were Reverend J.E. McIntyre, Percy Reynolds, Walter Bennett, Mrs. Glenn Bretsch, Mrs. Newell Ireland, Mrs. Stephen Getten, Mrs. Louis Lahman, and Mrs. Ida Sabey.
By October 1954, the new church was totally enclosed and the masons began to plaster the inside. Over four thousand hours of volunteer labor were contributed by the men of the church. On December 5th, 1954, Percy Reynolds reported to the Official Board that all of the furnishings for the new church had been acquired through gifts from friends and members of the church. Mrs. Edna Bretsch had secured sponsors for all of the furnishings. A complete list of the gifts and memorials can be found in the Memorial Book.
