Lakewood Lore

Holiday wreaths to honor first church in Lakewood

Many holiday wreaths in our community at Christmastime will feature Lakewood's first church -- "The First New Jerusalem Church of Rockport" -- which stood on the northeast corner of Andrews and Detroit for 123 years, from 1848 until it was torn down in 1971.

The wreaths, crafted by volunteers on the Women's Board of Lakewood Historical Society as an annual fund-raising project, this year will be ornamented with miniature wooden replicas of the church.

The church was founded by James Nicholson, originally from Chatham, Mass., who paid $1,336 for 142 acres here and became the first permanent settler on Detroit Road in 1818 when Lakewood was known simply as Township 7, Range 14 of the Western Reserve.

It is not particularly surprising that Nicholson, who was the son of a minister and who spent much of his time in serious reading, would elect to organize a church.

However, we also owe a salute to a unknown itinerant book peddler who sold Nicholson the works of Swedish scientist, inventor and religious philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Nicholson avidly studied and ardently championed the theological teachings, so much so as to influence other early Lakewood settlers to accept what were called Swedenborg's "heavenly doctrines."

Nicholson's most gainful convert, and by no means an easy mark, was neighbor Mars Wager, an accomplised surveyor, a Harvard graduate and a confimed atheist. It was Wager who gave the land for the new Swedenborgian church, which remained our only house of worship until Nicholson's death in 1859.

Followers of the faith, who believed that within the literal interpretation of the Bible there lay a spiritual meaning not seen by ordinary men, were blessed by increased numbers.

Outgrowing their small wooden edifice, members of the congregation erected a brick building early this century and moved the first structure behind the new one to serve as a parish house.

Both buildings finally were sold in 1963 by remaining descendants of the pioneer families to the United Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church, present occupant of the historic site. The Latvian congregation razed the original building 19 years ago to make room for a new Sunday school addition.

The 1990 limited-edition ornamental rendering of Lakewood's first church, available with the holiday wreaths, are hand-painted by two Lakewood artists, Sari Cantlin and Debbie Leary.

The 20- to 24-inch wreaths are made of fragrant Maine balsam boughs, with springs of dried German statice, red canella berries and red velvet bows, according to Virginia Geiger, chairman of the Women's Board wreath committee.

Those interested may obtain order forms at most leading stores in Lakewood and Rocky River, or call the Lakewood Historical Society at 221-7343. All proceeds will be used to benefit the programs of the society.

This will be the fifth holiday season for the wreath sale. In previous years the Women's Board chose small-scale models of other Lakewood landmarks -- the Oldest Stone House, Nicholson House, Mathew Hall House and, in 1989, East Rockport Central School on Warren Road (now the Board of Education Building).

This article by Dan Chabek appeared in the Lakewood Sun Post November 1, 1990. Reprinted with permission.

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