OUR HERITAGE

Riverside Presbyterian Church started out as LaSalle Congregational Church in a Civil-War Vintage Building on the corner of Mang Avenue and 88th Street.  In the Spring of 1928 its 30 members petitioned Niagara Presbytery to be admitted to that denomination.  They were accepted, and the church was incorporated July 16, 1928.  In the next 4-1/2 years, membership increased to 104.  Growth in numbers was slower after that and on one occasion in the years that followed, the congregation was advised to merge with another church, or even to dissolve.  They were determined to remain a church, however, and this determination inspired their tireless efforts in sponsoring dinners, plays and other money-making projects.  With the dream always before them of a new church facility, the members nevertheless had to put up with the dilapidated building during the hard times of the Depression.  In the War Years, a building fund campaign was launched and land for the present church at 84th Street and Lindbergh Avenue was purchased.  Finally, in 1949, 235 valiant members pledged nearly $25,000 to permit construction to start.  The Sanctuary was dedicated April 23, 1950 and the Educational Wing on June 10, 1956.  In 1965 a Fellowship Room and terrace were added.  In this period, membership tripled to almost 900, paralleling the postwar housing boom and the Power Project construction.  In 1996, a handicapped-accessible addition was dedicated and air-conditioning was installed in the Sanctuary.

Riverside's first pastor was Rev. Charles S. Owen, who served until November 1932.  Rev. Elton C.  Schwinger served the church as a stated supply pastor until August 1937, when Riverside was sufficiently strong to employ a fulltime resident minister.  They called Rev. J. Melvin Keys who stayed until 1942.  He was followed by Rev. Wesley Baker, who retired in 1949.  It was during the tenure of Rev. Charles B. Smith that the members of Riverside dedicated their new Sanctuary.  They built the Educational Wing under the guidance of their fifth pastor, Rev. Alan J. Perrine who served the church from 1953 until his death in 1967.  Rev. Arthur Clark was with Riverside as an interim minister for a year.  At that time, Rev. Hans H. Klee accepted the call and served until 1975.  At that time, Presbytery offered Riverside the half-time services of an experienced interim minister, the other half to be devoted to Bacon Memorial, LaSalle's other Presbyterian Church, which was also without a pastor.  the two churches were urged to combine, but because the interim pastor, Rev. Wallace Easter not only held the church together but built it up vigorously.  When A. Allen Brindisi accepted Riverside's call in October 1976, he assumed leadership of a full church.  In March of 1988, Rev. Gregory W. Hall became our eight pastor.  Under his leadership the newest addition was dedicated in 1996.  This provided handicap accessibility, a liftalater and a cloak room.  In the year 2000, a stained glass window was installed over the new front door.  Rev. Hall accepted a call to another church in 2001.  Riverside then had interim pastor Lucille Weaver who led us until the Rev. Jane Dasher was called in July 2003.

To describe Riverside Church we shall look at how its members carry out their missions of worship, teaching and outreach, with good fellowship as an inevitable by-product.  The efforts of many members combine to make possible the Sunday morning worship services.

The Elder-Trustees provide for a building.  In the case of the deteriorating structure at Mang Avenue and 88th Street, the tiny membership was involved much of the time with building repair and upkeep.  In more recent years, the officers have directed building the present church and its additions.  As was the case with the old building, skilled members contribute their time and expertise, whether plumbing, heating, electrical work , painting or renovating.  Elders are also responsible for decisions concerning our membership, worship, church staff, finances, missions, educational opportunities, church programs and all matters that pertain to the life of the congregation.

We have been blessed with much musical talent at Riverside.  At the old church the singing choir was a very energetic group undertaking, in addition to the church services, dramatic offerings, the proceeds from which enabled it to buy choral vestments and an organ.  The singing choirs in the years since have served faithfully and well, providing special music at Christmas, Easter and other occasions.

Riverside's pride and glory has been its handbell choirs.  This important group had its beginning in 1960 when Rev. Perrine suggested handbell ringing as a good activity for the young people.  The Session agreed and authorized ordering the memorial bells from the Whitechapel Foundry in London.  When they arrived in the fall of 1962, the co-directors, Carl and Phyllis VonDoenhoff were ready with special arrangements.  They have taken care of not only musical arrangement and transcription but many of the organizational chores for the groups.  At one time there were four bell choirs involving approximately 50 people:  teens, adults, Jr. High and a four-in-hand choir.  The choirs have immensely enriched our worship services and have traveled each year to represent Riverside Church at bell festivals in cities throughout the East.

Sunday School classes at the old church were held on the second floor and in the Sanctuary on the first floor.  After a basement as constructed, the classes meeting in the Sanctuary began to meet downstairs.  Those early Sunday School classes could see close at hand the results of their offerings.  Many a campaign was carried out to raise money to improve the church building in some way, even literally keeping a roof over their heads.  Vacation Bible Schools were enjoyed by many children, especially the picnics and "sleepovers" at the end.  The church has participated in released-time weekday religious instructions for school children, using lay volunteer instructors.  An adult class was started during the 1940s and a Men's Fellowship and adult Sunday School class in the new church in the 1950s.  During the "Baby-Boom" years, adult attendance at Sunday School languished as so many potential adult students were teaching.  At that time a staff of 80 taught over 500 children.  Short series of evening programs and discussion groups in terms of Christian ideals were held also.

The Women's Association through its circles undertook courses of study to inform themselves of current social problems and Presbyterian Mission work.

In its early years Riverside was the recipient of funds from the Board of National Missions.  Those monies were needed for its very survival.  Not until the War Years was the church in a position to repay the loan.  During the war a Missionary Society was organized.  The members rolled bandages, knitted bundles for Britain and contributed to home and foreign missions.  In the years since, Riverside has helped support the Lockport Presbyterian Home and various special appeals.  The singing and handbell choirs have entertained at nursing homes.  Our church sponsored two refugees from Hungary in 1966, and has entertained visitors from Ghana and Mexico.  In 2000, a refugee family from Serbia were supplied with a furnished home, jobs were found and the two children attended school.

Fellowship has been a natural result of Riversides church work.  The most active organization in the early church was the Ladies' Guild.  They served church suppers, silver teas, ice cream and strawberry socials, participated in LaSalle Field Days, held rummage sales, annual bazaars and staged plays to pay the ever-present bills.  After World War II, the Ladies' Guild and the Missionary Society were reorganized to become the Women's Association.  In the 1960s this organization had four circles:  Dorcas, Lydia, Naomi and Ruth, with 15 to 20 members each.  As increasing numbers of women entered the labor force, attendance at meetings diminished so it disbanded in 1969.  In the middle 1960s, the women reconsidered the annual bazaar and felt that their energies should be redirected to study and spiritual pursuits.  A Mission Show and sale of items crafted by people in mission stations was held, the proceeds to benefit the missions.  There were no more bazaars until 1977.  In that year a group of women saw the need for "A Woman's Touch" in the church.  They organized the Riverside Workers who have earned money by putting on the annual bazaar. This money is used to decorate various rooms in the church and to provide for improvements.  Riverside Workers also provide luncheons following funerals of church members.  They donated a portion of their proceeds to the Salvation Army, Community Mission and the Lockport Presbyterian Home.  The Riverside Workers established a scholarship fund to keep the youth people attending college.

The first Couples' Club was organized during Rev. Baker's tenure.  A second couples' group, the Sunday Niters, flourished during the 1960s and was finally absorbed into the older group.  It later became the Saturday Niters group which meets regularly and is open to all church members.

The young people of the original church had fun and raised money at the same time by forming a drama club and putting on plays for various groups.  They also sponsored Friday night movies which were popular with the children of the neighborhood.  After the war when other groups were being reorganized, they were renamed Westminster Fellowship.  During the 1950s and 1960s there were two groups, one for Junior High and one for Senior High ages.  These groups are still active today, now known as the Youth Fellowship groups.  In 2001 a group of them went on a work mission to Pennslyvania.

The Board of Deacons was formally organized in 1949.  They have been a hard-working group.  In addition to caring for the sick and shut-ins they have extended aid to members in need and have participated in the Firemen's Toy Fund at Christmas, collecting items of food and other necessities to give to the needy.  They sponsored the making of the Crimsons for our Christmas tree, sent fruitcakes to members in the service, and took plants to shut-ins at Christmas.  In 1977 the Deacons began a program of sending weekly sermons and bulletins to members and friends who are unable to worship on Sundays. They also provide a focus for after-church fellowship through the serving of beverages in the fellowship room.

Our first pictorial directory of church members and friends was compiled and issued in 1978 at the suggestion of Rev. Allen Brindisi.  We continue to update it periodically as a means of becoming better acquainted with one another.

In July 1993, under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Raymond, Riverside became involved in the "Adopt-A-Highway" program.  Four or five times each summer, an enthusiastic group picks up trash on Military Road from Niagara Falls Boulevard North to Ralph Court to help in the beautification of Niagara Falls.

Also in recent years, a travel group named "The Riverside Rovers", under the guidance of William Horne, escorts church members and friends on trips to the "four corners of the Earth".  They have traveled to the Scandinavian countries, the British Isles, Europe and Alaska.

To celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns, a dinner is held in his honor with traditional Scottish food and entertainment.  The proceeds from this event are used purchase items to enhance our church.  This is under the directions of William Horne and his committee.  It has been so successful that we have been forced to move to a larger facility to accommodate everyone.  In October of each year the church celebrates the "Kirkin of the Tartans".

Riverside celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2003.  In thinking of our past, in living its present and in planning for its future, it is appropriate to conclude with a thought from Rev. Alan Perrine's message to the congregation found in the 1966 Annual Report.....

"The present is the product of the past and the hope of the future".