Bicentennial
Minutes
Sunday, October 12,
2003
Years
1970-1979
The decade of the 1970’s were years of unrest and change in
the United
States.
In 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated which lead to the creation of
the EPA and the passage of the Clean Air Act.
On May 4,
1970 the uprising at Kent
State led to the calling out of the
Ohio National Guard. There were
many uprising against the Vietnam War.
From 1973-1979 extensive tests were done that led to what we know today
about DNA. During 1974, President
Nixon resigned as President of the United
States after the Watergate scandal. Also in 1973, the historic case of Roe
versus Wade led to the legalization of abortion.
The 1970’s saw Joe Fraser defeat Muhammed Ali, the APOLLO 15 astronauts explored the moon’s
surface riding in a battery operated vehicle known as a “Lunar Rover”, the
smiley face and leisure suits became popular, and the musical “Annie”
opened.
Meanwhile in
Verona,
NY:
Repairs to the church roof and steeple were performed
during this period.
January 7,
1970 Rev. Clifford Weber requested the Session terminate his
contract of service. Rev. Weber
wished to retire as of March 31,
1970.
January 25,
1970 A special Session Meeting was
held to consider Rev. Weber’s request to terminate his position. A committee to begin locating a new
pastor was appointed.
March 28,
1971 A special Congregational Meeting after Sunday worship was
called to issue a call to Rev. Robert Stover to become the pastor of
Verona’s First and Cochran
Presbyterian Church of Oneida Castle.
The churches had yoked and would share Rev. Stover’s services. He served both churches until July
1973.
February 7,
1971 Ann Oleynich was ordained as a member of Session, thus
becoming the first woman named to this office in the
Verona church.
February 17,
1974 After a lengthy search for a new leader, a Special
Congregational Meeting was and voted to issue a call to Rev. Richard Geiger, who
served from April 1974 to April 30,
1984.
September 1979 A gift was presented to Elizabeth
Anderson honoring her 35 years of dedicated service as organist.
Bicentennial
Moment
Rev. Robert Stover began his service at Verona First on
July 1, 1971. Verona First had yoked with Cochran
Memorial Presbyterian of Oneida Castle, NY. The two churches would receive the
services of Rev. Stover until July 1973.
Rev. Stover moved here from
Boise,
Idaho.
He also had served 10 years at Lowville Presbyterian Church in
Lowville,
NY.
Rev. Stover lived in Oneida
Castle with his wife Sarah and three
sons, John Andrew, Mark Edward, and David Neil. Mrs. Stover was elementary teacher and
taught sixth grade at Oneida Castle Elementary.
Rev. Stover was able to attend and fill the pulpit at
Verona First on July 23,
2003 as part of the church’s Bicentennial Celebration. He spoke about his “Running with the
Torch” in Reno,
Nev. as the torch passed on its way to the
2002 Olympics. Currently, Rev.
Stover is Chaplin at Washoe
Medical
Center and
Tahoe
Pacific Medical
Center in
Reno,
Nevada.