Park Church - Cover Story

PARK CHURCH

& THE ROLE THEY PLAYED IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Go to the steps of Park Church today and it still shows its inclusiveness and acceptance it displayed back in 1846. Today you could see the gay pride flag and a welcoming message for all visitors. Back when the church, first known as The First Independent Congregational Church, later named Park Church, incorporated in their bylaws that No person shall be admitted to the church, or allowed to remain therein, who practices or approves of the buying or selling of human beings, or holding them in slavery. Today Park Church remains a beacon for human rights and inclusiveness in the region.

Park Church has stood up and filled the gaps for marginalized people

WRITTEN BY RANDY REID

in our community since 1846. The church is steeped in history from the Langdon Family to Thomas K. Beecher to those 42 brave people who decided to start this church.

My family remains grateful for Park Church. If it weren’t for their abolitionist thinking my Great, Great, Great Grandfather John Muldoon would not have been free. My relative escaped slavery in Virginia around the mid-1840s. He was pursued by his slave owner, with the last name Muldoon. Our family historian was our own Aunt Jennie Dunmeyer, who I video taped in 1991 during a family reunion. Hearing her tell the story of our family was enthralling and a bit sad at the same time. I’m glad John

STATUE OF THOMAS K. BEECHER PASTOR OF PARK CHURCH

was able to outrun his slave owner and win his freedom.

When John made it to Elmira, using the Underground Railroad, members of Park Church found him a place to hide. The next stop for John was Canada where many freed slaves settled. John was taken in by a Livery Stable owner with the last name Reed. His stable sat at the foot of Church St across from Newtown Creek. After a few days passed and his overseer was gone John began working for Mr. Reed. After a few months John decided to stay in Elmira and take on Mr. Reed’s last name. Over time John decided to change his last name to Reid and the Reid Family history began.

Park Church helped hundreds of slaves find freedom whether it was here in Elmira or on a train to Canada. Jervis Langdon one of the founding members of Park Church was a huge abolitionist in our area. Mr. Langdon also owned the railroad from Elmira to Ontario Canada.

Learn how Jervis Langdon and John Jones worked together to help escaped slaves.

Jenny Monroe, Historian for Park Church

To learn more about how Thomas K. Beecher came to Elmira and led Park Church click his photo and watch Jenny Monroe explain.

NEW YORK

Specializing in pre-owned & refurbished Apple Products and windows based computers

Apple MacBooks

Apple iPhones

Apple Desktops

AppleApple WatchesWatches

Apple iPads

GoodApplesny.com

Elmira, NY

All Major Payment Methods Accepted

Advertiser Content

Is Community College the Right Place to Start College?

By Jeff Macharyas, Director of Marketing, SUNY Corning Community College

Community college is a great way to start or return to college -- and in many ways – better than jumping right into a four-year school. Why? Community college offers students a fast start right into post-secondary education. There’s a lot to get accomplished in that short time and it can be challenging. But, it does prepare students for the workforce – and for life. Community colleges are affordable and convenient. Being in “the community” students have the flexibility to work and study around their own schedules. It doesn’t matter if high school is a recent memory, or you’ve been in the workforce for years, community colleges are right here in your community to help you meet your full potential and prepare you for your next great career and for life. Community colleges, such as SUNY Corning Community College, offer many pathways, such as healthcare, engineering, business, computer sciences and more. Consider cybersecurity. You can get started at community college, earn some certs, transfer, head to grad school and enter a very in-demand field. The Cybersecurity AS program at SUNY CCC prepares students to transfer for career goals such as:

qInformation Security Analysts

qForensic Computer Analysts

qComputer Science Teachers

qVulnerability Assessor qPenetration Tester

qSecurity Engineer

qFinancial Services

qHealth Care

qEducation

qGovernment

A Journey of a Thousand Miles

A degree in just about any field can prepare you for opportunities in many fields you may not have even thought of! Cybersecurity skills can be applied to applications in marketing, publishing, manufacturing, and more. As just about every industry, and every job, relies on properly using, maintaining and securing computer data -- cybersecurity is more than just stopping hackers. It is as vital a skill as working a telephone. That’s one of the best benefits of community college – you can explore a pathway that may seem pretty narrow but you can apply that knowledge in unimaginable ways later in life and career. Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wrote: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” You take the journey; community college is the first step.

Community colleges offer first-rate education and hands-on learning. Courses often involve actual work in labs and may include workforce partnerships with industries in the community. At community college, you’ll focus on learning, not just “going to college.”

It’s not all work and no play! Start Your Journey

Summer and Fall 2021 semesters are right around the corner. Call 607-9629875 or visit corning-cc.edu to find out more about starting your own journey at SUNY Corning Community College.

Click to Learn More:

Community colleges offer plenty of clubs, activities, theater, music, recreation, trips and sports at community colleges may offer greater opportunity to stand out as athletes by not competing with juniors and seniors for parts or positions. SUNY Corning Community College has a 250-acre nature center, a planetarium, residence halls and a unique ceramics program with two wood-burning kilns. Not only that, SUNY CCC is in the Corning, NY community -- which was just voted the country’s #1 public square! Not all community colleges offer on-site housing, but SUNY CCC does. Students can choose from a variety of room configurations and live right on campus to enjoy all the activities and opportunities right from their home on Spencer Hill in Corning. Students at SUNY CCC can enjoy the complete college experience while living at Perry Hall along with their fellow Red Barons.

SUNY CCC is about community and it’s about you. Go to college. Then, go anywhere. Start at SUNY Corning Community College.