This structure in Forty Fort has been standing for 200 years. In all my years living here, I must have passed it thousands of times. I even lived in Forty Fort for a while. As much as it embarrasses me to admit this: I never thought to check its hours or find out anything about it.

I noticed the press buzzing about this building in the summer. I learned that the building was to get a new, more secure foundation. The stones that held the building so firm for 200 years were being sold for $25 each as a clever fundraising idea. So I drove myself to the little house at the entrance to the cemetery and bought one. It is now sitting right in my garden (next to a Sterling Hotel brick).

I was surprised to learn about the history of the building. The early settlers in our region had lots to worry about: Indians, Yankee-Pennamite Wars, the American Revolution and the land disputes between Connecticut (Yes, Connecticut. I know. It’s a long story. If you haven’t lived here long you may not know it. I’ll tell it another time.) But they wanted a place to worship, other than some old, smelly fort. In the year 1806, Joseph Hitchcock (of Connecticut) laid out and framed the building in the New England style, uncommon to this area (but not Connecticut). Construction was completed in 1807.

The building’s original name was Union Chapel, both Presbyterians and Methodists shared the facility. All the big names in ministry served there: Hoyt, Dorrance, Snowdon, to name drop just a few. The building continued as a house of worship until 1837. From there, the Cemetery Association was chartered. Another big local name, William Swetland, was its first president. The building has been cared for over the years, at times vacant, but always a sentry of the graveyard and River Street.

A fascinating tidbit: during the infamous flood of 1972, the Susquehanna wrecked havoc on the Forty Fort cemetery. Most residents of the area have the red book: “The Wrath of Agnes” somewhere in their attics. There were a few pages in this book that had pictures of bodies washed right out of their caskets. Some bodies, I’m told, were never recovered. (As a 10-year-old, thoughts of this consumed me for quite some time.)

Anyway, our ever-changing river bends at this point in Forty Fort and the most violent of torrents mutilated the peaceful grounds of the cemetery. The Meeting House was spared only because the tallest of oak trees was yanked from it roots and found itself firmly lodged in a spot that served as a barrier to the wild Susquehanna currents born of Agnes. After the water receded, the Army Corp simply blasted the interior of the Meeting House with water and -presto! Good as new again!

We attended the Opening Ceremonies at the site on Sunday, September 30. The Wyoming Valley West High School Band played, all the regular politicians were on hand to yack it up, but it was the actors in their period costumes that the crowd loved. Famous local artist, Sue Hand was “on hand” to display her and her family’s renditions of the Meeting House. Lovely. Both the drawings and the woman.

Finally, I was privileged to attend the first formal “meeting” at the Forty Fort Meeting House after its renovations last Saturday, October 13. Lydia Hirner presided over the meeting for the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Wyoming Valley Chapter (I am a giddy member). After the meeting, she provided detailed information about the history of the building and the preservation that just occurred. She gave us insight to what it might have been like to be a congregation member 200 years ago. The parishioners attended three-hour ceremonies with no heat or electricity. Perhaps they were glad for the day of rest. They had no such thing as white-collar jobs or mini-markets or drive-thru’s. They were glad to get to church. Sigh. A simpler time, indeed.

Since this summer, though, I haven’t driven by that building without paying it some attention or thought. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to sit in one of the pews and learn about its history.

To make a donation to the Meeting House Preservation Fund, please make checks payable to F.F. Cem. Assoc. F.F. M. H. Pres Fund c/o Forty Fort Cemetery Assoc Office, 20 River Street, Forty Fort, PA 18704 (570-287-5214).

http://www.diamondcity200.org/fortyfortmeeting/2000-main.htm