The steeple of the Congregational Church on Island Avenue blew down during a thunder storm in the summer of 1894. Shortly after this event, the steeple was rebuilt in a much shorter design that has weathered well since. The denomination's name changed to Federated sometime in the early 1900s. Violent storms caused great damage in the summer of '94 and the winter of '94-'95 featured the great February Blizzard. The before and after steeples are a great aid in dating historic photos.