I got a letter today from Joan Verity of Frenchtown who wondered about the history of the Methodist Church in Rosemont. It was built in 1860, but only lasted about 20\u00ac\u2020years.<\/p>\n

Charles Cane purchased the building in 1948 and renovated it to serve as housing for his employees. Phil Cane still has a news article about the work that was done, and the bell that once hung in the church steeple can now be seen in the Cane Farm parking lot.<\/p>\n

As Joan points out in her letter to me, the Sergeantsville M. E. Church was established in 1838, so the Rosemont church might\u00ac\u2020have been an offshoot, established for members who did not want to travel all the way to Sergeantsville.<\/p>\n

I know no more than what appears in the article by Snell’s History of Hunterdon County. Here is what he wrote on page 381:<\/p>\n

The First Methodist Society at Rosemont was organized in 1859 at the house of Samuel Hartpence by Rev. William M. Burroughs, with the following members: \u00ac\u2020Asher Reading, Samuel W. Reading, Asa Cronce, Lewis Snyder, Wilson H. Snyder, Joseph Reading, Sr., Samuel Hartpence and Charles Green.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I must interrupt here to observe there is a strange lack of women here. I’m sure this church was not meant to be only for men. Did the writer presume that the wives would automatically come\u00ac\u2020along with their husbands? If he did, he was probably right.<\/p>\n

The church was built in 1860, of wood, and dedicated November 8th of the same year by Bishop Edmund S. Janes. The present membership is 42; value of property, $2800.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Snell then goes on to list the pastors who had served the church since its beginning. It is noteworthy that Snell said nothing about the church closing. His book was published in 1881, but submissions had to be\u00ac\u2020made well before that. The church may well have been closed when the book was published.\u00ac\u2020Here\u00ac\u2020are two photographs of the church, then and later:<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>