West Dryden Methodist Church
606 West Dryden Rd, Ithaca
This area’s first religious gathering organized in 1811 as the Union Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Union Corners and met in pioneer settler’s homes in the deep woods. The area at that time was called Union Corners. Soon it became known as Fox’s Corners and in 1825 the Post Office changed it to West Dryden. In 1828 the West Dryden Methodist Church group bought the corner land for $100 and set upon raising monies. By 1833, they had completed the Greek Revival building with dome for $2324 which seated 300. By the 1860s they closed off the top half of the main room and moved the sanctuary to that upper area. The first floor then became Sunday school rooms and library. More renovations happened in 1880, then the church endured a half century more, with the Parrish house next door. In the 1940s, the Central NY Conference of Methodist Churches put it out to bid. Only one was received, that for a Saloon. Aghast, the Town of Dryden bought the property for $100, but used it only for voting. In 1966, the Town sold it for $1 to the Greater West Dryden Community Association. They made fine use of it as a meeting place for classes, groups, weddings, etc. In 1977, the Earle family bought the old Parrish house. Unbeknown to them, along with their purchase came the care and overseeing of the next door church. In the 1980s and 90s, the building was well used by the community, but the 150 year old building was in great need of attention. It was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in hopes that grant monies would come. And fund drives were held. In 1996, the Town of Dryden, found to be still the legal owner, sold it for $1 to Historic Ithaca. The most needed repairs were made with $103,000 but by 1998, with no further funding in sight, it was again listed for sale. Finally, Hobasco Lodge #716 of the F&AM, a Masonic group, acquired the property and promised to keep it stable.
This area’s first religious gathering organized in 1811 as the Union Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Union Corners and met in pioneer settler’s homes in the deep woods. The area at that time was called Union Corners. Soon it became known as Fox’s Corners and in 1825 the Post Office changed it to West Dryden. In 1828 the West Dryden Methodist Church group bought the corner land for $100 and set upon raising monies. By 1833, they had completed the Greek Revival building with dome for $2324 which seated 300. By the 1860s they closed off the top half of the main room and moved the sanctuary to that upper area. The first floor then became Sunday school rooms and library. More renovations happened in 1880, then the church endured a half century more, with the Parrish house next door. In the 1940s, the Central NY Conference of Methodist Churches put it out to bid. Only one was received, that for a Saloon. Aghast, the Town of Dryden bought the property for $100, but used it only for voting. In 1966, the Town sold it for $1 to the Greater West Dryden Community Association.
They made fine use of it as a meeting place for classes, groups, weddings, etc. In 1977, the Earle family bought the old Parrish house. Unbeknown to them, along with their purchase came the care and overseeing of the next door church. In the 1980s and 90s, the building was well used by the community, but the 150 year old building was in great need of attention. It was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in hopes that grant monies would come. And fund drives were held. In 1996, the Town of Dryden, found to be still the legal owner, sold it for $1 to Historic Ithaca. The most needed repairs were made with $103,000 but by 1998, with no further funding in sight, it was again listed for sale. Finally, Hobasco Lodge #716 of the F&AM, a Masonic group, acquired the property and promised to keep it stable.
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