355 1st Street
In 1836, William VanNortwick initiated a church group in his home to offer pioneers of Methodist faith a place to worship. For 16 years, VanNortwick continued to hold these prayer services in his home. Then, in 1852, a church was built at First Street at Lincoln Avenue. This building was constructed in the Greek Revival style out of the limestone that was so prevalent in the area. It consisted of two stories, and included a balcony and church tower. The Reverend Elijah H. Gammon served as pastor here before retiring to business life. This building was sold to the Batavia School District in 1888 after Don Carlos Newton and Rev. Gammon donated funds to build the new Methodist Church. The building then became West Batavia High School, or just West Side High. The building still stands today at First and Lincoln.
