Waits Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. 10 historic topographic surveys show this location, the earliest from 1903.

From the record

“Waits Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery is a historic Methodist Episcopal church and cemetery located at what was once known as Waits, in the town of Owego in Tioga County, New York. It is a Greek Revival-style structure built in 1853 of white pine from Windham, Pennsylvania.”
Wikipedia article Waits Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 57 National Register listings published here for Tioga County · listed in 2000 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building, 1 site, 1 object as contributing to the listing.
Address. Waite Rd., Owego, 13827
When was it listed? November 2000
Category. building
Town. Owego town
Architectural style. Greek Revival architecture
National Register reference number. 00001290 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Then and now

1903 to 1992

The ground this property stands on, surveyed 89 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.

Topographic sheet covering Waits Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery, surveyed 1992

Topographic sheet covering Waits Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery, surveyed 1903

Fires near this property

39 since 1999

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 39 fires within 5 miles of Waits Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery between 1999 and 2020, burning about 43 acres in total. 3 started naturally. 5 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	14
Debris and open burning	12
Arson/incendiarism	5
Natural	3
Recreation and ceremony	3
Smoking	1
Equipment and vehicle use	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
7 September 2002	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Fire Department of New York	not named
13 August 2005	Natural	under an acre	Fire Department of New York	not named
5 July 2010	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1.0 acres	Pennsylvania Division of Forest Fire Protection	BIRD
3 July 2006	Equipment and vehicle use	under an acre	Fire Department of New York	not named
4 May 2007	Smoking	under an acre	Fire Department of New York	not named
3 May 2007	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Fire Department of New York	not named
2 May 2015	Arson/incendiarism	2.1 acres	Fire Department of New York	N/A
13 May 2008	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Fire Department of New York	not named

Every fire recorded in Tioga County

Mines and quarries near this property

1 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Waits Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery: 1 producer. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where	Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
	Albro Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer

Every working recorded in Tioga County

Storms near this property

57 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Owego, the town this property stands in, in 57 storm reports between 1993 and 2024: 33 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 6 flood, 5 flash flood. The reports record 7 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
May 2002	Tornado (F1)	Owego	7 hurt, $600,000	The tornado first touched down about a mile and a half northeast of the village of Owego, along Carmichael Road. As the tornado passed over a ridge toward Beecher Hill Road, the most extensive damage occurred. Along with major tree damage, two mobile homes were completely destroyed and a house suffered significant damage. Five people were injured in one of the mobile homes, suffering many cuts and bruises. Two elderly occupants of the other home also suffered minor injuries. A piece of lumber went through the side of a home across the street. The damage at this location was consistent with high end F1 tornado, with wind speeds estimated close to 110 mph. The tornado continued east and crossed Lisle Road. As the tornado came over another ridge toward Lisle Road, a gentleman in his barn witnessed the tornado with swirling debris coming over the ridge. He was able to take shelter before many of the windows were blown out of his barn. Significant tree damage could be seen, especially at the top of the ridge. The tornado continued east, crossing Gaskill Road. One property saw significant damage, with one barn destroyed and a shed from the property was torn apart. Debris was blown as far as a quarter mile away. Many large trees were uprooted with others twisted and broken off. Significant tree damage was also seen at the top of the ridge west of the property with many trees broken or twisted off at mid-trunk. Pieces of siding from a home were also found in this area. At this point, it appears the tornado lifted briefly before touching down for the final time in the area where Ford Road, Foster Road, and Whittemore Hill Road meet. The damage here consisted of another mobile home that was completely destroyed and significant tree damage. There was also a significant amount of tree damage along the entire path of the tornado, with many trees uprooted and twisted off in different directions. 30 to 50 homes suffered minor damage in addition to 2 homes that saw more significant damage and the 3 mobile homes that were destroyed. Many barns were also damaged and numerous sheds were destroyed.
September 2011	Flood	Owego	$309,000,000	A record flood occurred on the Susquehanna river at Owego, NY. The crest was recorded by a high water mark survey at 39.62 feet on September 8, 2011 with an estimated time at about 3:00 PM. This flood smashed the previous record flood event by being nearly 4 feet higher.
September 2011	Flash Flood	Owego	$70,000,000	Catastrophic flash flooding occurring in the Owego area. Numerous roads and bridges were severely damaged.
June 2006	Flood	Owego	$5,000,000	no account filed
May 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$25,000	Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree and damaged a roof to a house.
September 2010	Flash Flood	Owego	$25,000	Several roads were flooded in and around the Village of Owego.
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$20,000	Trees were blown down county-wide with numerous power outages.
June 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$15,000	A severe thunderstorm produced severe winds as it moved across the area. The thunderstorm resulted in a roof being blown off a garage and a tree falling on a car on McMaster street.
November 2006	Flash Flood	Owego	$15,000	Numerous roads were washed out.
August 2018	Flash Flood	Owego	$10,000	Flash flooding trapped people in homes.
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$10,000	Many trees were blown down in Hickories Park.
June 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$10,000	Tree and power pole down on house.
August 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$10,000	no account filed
May 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$7,000	A thunderstorm moved across the region and became severe. This thunderstorm produced severe winds and uprooted several trees in the area.
September 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down multiple trees.
August 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down multiple trees and wires down along Goodrich Road and Glen Mary Drive.
April 2020	Flood	Owego	$5,000	NY Route 96 was flooded by standing water in both directions.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	Strong thunderstorm winds brought down trees.
August 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree branch through a roof.
December 2020	Flash Flood	Owego	$5,000	Mountain Road flooded with considerable runoff ongoing. Water rushing over road and getting deeper.
June 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	Strong thunderstorm winds brought down a tree on wires on West Avenue.
June 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	Trees and wires were blown down in Owego.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	Numerous trees were blown down. Some large trees were snapped in half.
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	Trees were blown down and snapped off.
July 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	no account filed
July 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	no account filed
August 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$5,000	no account filed
July 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$4,500	Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down a tree onto vehicle. Trees and utility wires were also knocked down in a separate location.
July 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$3,400	Strong thunderstorms winds knocked snapped two utility poles.
July 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$2,000	Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down a tree and wires on Hickory Park Road.
June 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$2,000	A thunderstorm moved across the region and became severe. This thunderstorm produced severe winds and knocked over trees on Main Street and railroad tracks.
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$2,000	Several trees were blown down. A roof was partially blown off a small shed.
July 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds downed trees.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$2,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a tree and power lines.
July 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$1,000	Strong thunderstorm winds snapped a large tree at Tioga County Fairgrounds.
June 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$1,000	A thunderstorm moved across the region and became severe. This thunderstorm produced severe winds and knocked over a tree.
July 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	$1,000	Trees down on some wires
April 2020	Flood	Owego	-	Owego Creek has overtopped it's banks with minor low land flooding occurring.
May 2017	Hail	Owego	-	A thunderstorm developed over the area and produced penny sized hail.
July 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	-	Rotation in clouds were observed by spotter.
July 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	-	Large branches were blown down.
June 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	-	Trees were blown down county wide.
June 2000	Flood	Owego	-	A storm spotter reported a rotating wall cloud over owego.
August 2000	Flood	Owego	-	Heavy thunderstorm rains caused extensive ponding of water on roadways.
July 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	-	Trees and large branches downed.
September 2012	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Owego	-	no account filed
June 2010	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed
September 2010	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed
September 2010	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed
May 2009	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed
August 2008	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed
June 2007	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed
June 2006	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed
May 2004	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed
May 2002	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed
May 1996	Hail	Owego	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Tioga County

Maps showing this location

10 surveys

United States Geological Survey topographic sheets whose coverage includes this point. Matched by taking the coordinate the National Park Service records for this property, then testing that coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet.

1903 USGS Owego quadrangle1:62500 - 6 printings
1906 USGS Catatonk quadrangle1:125000
1950 USGS Elmira quadrangle1:250000 - 2 printings
1956 USGS Owego quadrangle1:62500
1958 USGS Elmira quadrangle1:250000 - 2 printings
1962 USGS Elmira quadrangle1:250000 - 4 printings
1965 USGS Elmira quadrangle1:250000
1969 USGS Owego quadrangle1:24000 - 2 printings
1986 USGS Elmira quadrangle1:100000
1992 USGS Elmira quadrangle1:100000

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Nichols High School	5.0 miles	1996
Platt-Cady Mansion	5.1 miles	1976
Tioga Centre General Store	5.3 miles	2003
Vesper Cliff	6.3 miles	2005
Hiawatha Farm	6.5 miles	1998
179 Front St, Owego Central Historic District	6.6 miles	1980

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 00001290 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Tioga County	All 57 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.