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On 50th Anniversary, Pastor, Wife

Discover Roots In Newspaper Office

Celebrating their 50th anniversary today, Pastor Jay Francis and his wife, Evelyn, of Berne, south of Duanesburg, took a trip down memory lane to Cooperstown, where his great-grandfather operated the Francis Wagon Works at 21 Railroad Ave., where The Freeman's Journal & Hometown Oneonta offices are today. The company succumbed to automobiles, closing in 1916. The pastor's father, Charles Francis, was born in Cooperstown's Thanksgiving Hospital in 1919, but moved to Berne during the Depression to live with an uncle's family. The pastor and his wife still live on that farm. He founded the Rock Road Chapel Ministries there when he was 20, and eventually developed International Accelerated Missions, which has 35 missionaries spreading the Gospel around the world. Pastor Francis discovered five photos in 21 Railroad's lobby depicting his family's history. (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)
Celebrating their 50th anniversary today, Pastor Jay Francis and his wife, Evelyn, of Berne, south of Duanesburg, took a trip down memory lane to Cooperstown, where his great-grandfather operated the Francis Wagon Works at 21 Railroad Ave., in the building where The Freeman’s Journal & Hometown Oneonta offices are today. The company succumbed to automobiles, closing in 1916. The pastor’s father, Charles Francis, was born in Cooperstown’s Thanksgiving Hospital in 1919, but moved to Berne during the Depression to live with an uncle’s family. The pastor and his wife still live on that farm. He founded the Rock Road Chapel Ministries there when he was 20, and eventually developed International Accelerated Missions, which has 35 missionaries spreading the Gospel around the world. Pastor Francis discovered five photos in 21 Railroad’s lobby depicting his family’s history. (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)

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PUTTING THE COMMUNITY BACK INTO THE NEWSPAPER

For a limited time, new annual subscriptions to the hard copy of “The Freeman’s Journal” or “Hometown Oneonta” (which also includes unlimited access to AllOtsego.com), or digital-only access to AllOtsego.com, can also give back to one of their favorite Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice: Friends of the Feral-TNR, Super Heroes Humane Society, or Susquehanna Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 

Visit our “subscribe” page and select your charity of choice at checkout

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