Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-07-15


the Connecticut aud by spotted trees, /
and pitched ON the Baptist Hill. Mr.. |
Snow on the place now owned 10y Eras- /
tus Olcott. The irst saw mill was built
on the brook near the Stile farm, and on
land now owned by Jonah Brooks, some
where near the year 1880. The first griSt
mill was built by Stephen Howe, Cthe late
Stephen Howe's father) on the site of
ChaS. McFarlard's machine shop, near
the year 1872.
The first settlers early recognized 4
supreme ruler and governor, and one Of
the first efforts made for preaching was
on the 18th of March, 1882, when the
town voted to raise eleven pounds, to be
paid in wheat at six ShillingS per buShel,
to hire preaching with. The frs: indie
pendent associated movement was made
by the CongrcgstiOnalists in 1899 and
1900, and in the latter year the old meet
ing house was built on this spot. 1t was
thoroughly built after the fashion of
those days, high pulpit, galleries on
three sides and the sounding board over
the head of the minister, always exciting
the fears sf the children that it might
fall on him. Never did more honest and
sincere worshippers meet to worship
than assembled here. 1t was Il matter OF
principle with them to go to church, just
as regular about it as any other business,
for it was a part of their life work. Per-
haps their faith in their minister and
what he said was greater than in these
days of independent thought and action,
yet we can but commend their honest
faith and simplicity. And those good
old immortal tunes, as Old Hundred,
Dundee, Balcrma, Aud Lang Syne, Wind
ham, &C., were sung with will and with
Il heart and understanding, and are far
dearer to-day to the hearts of the old,
than more modern tunes. They call up
the old choir, many of whom long ago
slept with the fathers, they call up youth
ful associations that are dearer to us
than all others. They are reminders Of
the days of long ago, that are swifter
and faster passing from our view. The
old church was taken down in 1912, and a
more commodious one built the same
year, which was burned in the great
conhagration in 1S49 and the present ed
ilfCc was erected in 1850. The first
church was organized December 27th
1902. Rev. John Willard was the first
pastor, and his salary was $l66, to be
assessed on the grand list of 1903, two
thirds of which was to be paid in good
understandable wheat at the current prices
annually, the rest in money. The church
also sent three spans of horses with
Sleighs and drivers to Stafford, Connect
icut to move Hr. Willard to town. This
first church consisted of sixteen men,
class was formed in town in 1900 and the
class was united with that at Lancaster,
N. H., and thus remained until 1882.
The first minister appointed to this town,
was Rev. N. o. Way, in 1888. During
this long period, and up to 1889, when
the present church was built, they held
their meetings in the school houses, pri-
yatc dwellings, and sometimes in barns.
In 1905 Enoch Thomas and family NOV
ed into town, they came from Middle
borough, Mass. He and family were
were members of the Baptist church in
that place; others came to town 50 that
on the 9th day of March, 1911, a church
was organized, consisting Of nine mem
bcrs. The first settled minister was Mr..
Clark ChiCkcring, one of the churche S
1918. The first church was erected on
the spot of the Powers burying ground in
1873 or 1911, and the same building is
now occupied by Timothy Powers. The
present church was built in 1912.
In the carly days in the winter, OK
teams and sleds were the only means OF
conveyance, and in summer the young
people would go to church on foot; young
ladies as well as gents, taking their stock
ings and shoes in their hands and going
barefoot, especially when it was wet, till
near the church, when they would put
them on, and this they done as pure
matter Of economy. The older people,
if the owners of horses, would go on
horseback, the wife riding behind, and a
good horsc-block, where parties could
mount and dismount, was always an in
dispenable appendages to every church.
ITO be ContiRued.)