Discover Phelps Arts Center

It was in the days of your when corn husking gave a welcome chance to mingle. The boys were bashful and the gals played hard to get. Finding red eared corn was a great opportunity for a kiss.... somewhat like "spin the bottle" game of 50s and earlier. Candy pulling was at that time the next best way to get close to a gal. Taffy was cooked in a kettle on the stove and when it was ready to for pulling it, it would be spooned out into gobs of a size to suit the manipulator. There was no better way to get your arms around the lady of your choice. One would stand behind her helping to extricate her hands form the wad of taffy. This could be as treacherous as quick sand, though not really fatal (hence the phrase being stuck on a girl). 

It was in these times, around 1835, that plans were made to erect the $2480 Episcopal Church structure on Church Street in Phelps, NY (now the Arts Center). The design was by David Douglas a civil engineer architect and professor of mathematics at Hobart College in Geneva, NY. In 1841, the current lot was donated by Leman and Hiram Hotchkiss. The building began with "stones" gathered from the wayside. The interior was finished and the church opened for service in 1850. 

The genders were separated with women on one side and the gents on the others... typical for that time period. Prior to stoved in churches, the churches were known as "Holy Refrigerators". Men would bring their dogs to keep them warm. The Church appointed special officers to handle the dogs in case of fights. Women used foot warmers to keep warm. 

In 1855, the village of Vienna was incorporated and became the Village of Phelps. At this time, the interior design by Rev. Benjamin Hale, DD, was finished. The woodwork was entirely of Butternut (White Walnut). 

The church was consecrated by Bishop Delaney in 1856. A tower fund began in 1871 and Charles McLeod of Troy, NY offered to give a bell when the tower was finished. New pews were given by Mr. Sayre in 1888. These were made of oak and manufactured in Newark, NY. By the Trotter Company, which also made ice boxes. In 1895, a chancel/vestry and organ room was added. The bell tower was completed and the bell hung in 1905. 

 The Depression caused financial difficulties in the 1920's. There was a fire in the chancel area which destroyed the organ and closed the building. A lady guild was formed in 1945 which helped to fund the interior repairs. A kitchen and service room were added in 1954. In 1970, due to a diminishing congregation, the decision was made to join St John's Episcopal Church in nearby Clifton Springs. The idling was henceforth used for social events only. 

The building went unoccupied from 1970 thru 1975. The church offered the building to Phelps Community Library in 1975, and functioned as such until their move, due to need for more space, to Phelps Community Center in 2005. 

The building was placed on the National Registry of Historical places in 1978 as an example of early English Parish Architecture. 

The building reopened in November of 2006, as the Phelps Arts Center. This was made possible due to the encouragement and backing of the newly organized Mary Preston Hicks Foundation for the betterment of Phelps. 

Many Art exhibits, musical programs, craft classes, lectures and demonstrations were offered. The purpose of the Arts Center was to serve as a focal point for the various artists in the Finger Lakes region. A lack of continued financial support and conflict of values caused the Center to close in June 2015. 

 

​As of July 2025 the Phelps Arts Center Board of Directors, has held a number of ghost hunts, holistic fairs, drag shows, and many more events at the Arts Center, keeping the doors open. 

Each year during the month of October the Arts Center Hosts their Haunted House every Friday and Saturday. Its a local, and community favorite, and for years has only grown! 

If it wasn't for the Board of Directors, the doors to the Arts Center may not be open today, but with all of the help, day in and day out, and the support of the community, the doors to this beautiful historic building continue to be a safe space for all to come and express themselves in all of the Art forms!