Pilgrim Church

Pilgrim Church. Service and the Underground Railroad. , The First Congregational Church was founded in 1834 by community leaders who came from New England with their faith inherited from the Pilgrims. They met in the log "Lyceum" on the SW corner of Broad and Front Streets where the Vaughn Mansion is today. In 1847, they moved next door when their new church was complete. The 3-story log building was moved to 3rd Street in 1856 where it remains. In 1957, the church became the United Church of Christ and Pilgrim United Church of Christ in 1964., The majestic steeple and Greek Revival style Pilgrim Church is an iconic centerpiece of the city. The Church had a large anti-slavery congregation and was likely involved with the Underground Railroad. The City had an active Anti-Slavery Society with 50 members assisting fugitive slaves find safe passage., Broad Street was modeled after the National Mall in Washington DC as a wide street with a center park. As one of the earliest main streets through Downtown, it extended west to 4th St. and east, spanning the river with a covered bridge. The street was a bustling thoroughfare for horses and wagons and later streetcars and motor vehicles., On her way to a school board meeting, beloved teacher Ellen Knight Crawford was struck by a streetcar on March 2, 1916 when crossing Broad at 2nd St. Taken to the Pilgrim Church, she died. Crawford was the 1st woman in Ohio elected to public office (school board) before women's right to vote. Her former students erected a memorial in the Broad Street Park inscribed "Knowledge, Love, Ideals and Service"., The 1840 home of founder Henry Newberry, used for the Underground Railroad and later a children's home and then as a sanitarium, was located on Newberry St. west of the river and razed in 1956. Broad Boulevard facing west. The First Congregational Church, now the Pilgrim United Church of Christ, is at the top left. In the center is the Ellen Crawford Memorial., John Hansparker (1836-1907), pictured here with an unknown child, and his wife Emily Hopp (1847 - 1907) were former southern slaves who moved to Cuyahoga Falls immediately after being freed.