Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-12-28
A posr UsSRy Max N,sstSc Vii

A PoRT HENRY MAN MIssING,-Mr. Vii
liam F. Gookin, a well-known and respect
ed resident of Port Henry, went to New
York on November 2Sth, on a trip partly of
business and partly Of pleasure. He was to
return to Port Henry about December It'll.
On that day. at about hslf-past six p. m.
he paid his bill at his hotel and left, carry
ing his valise himself. He has not since
been seen or heard from and no clue remains
as to his movements after leaving the hotel.
Mr.. Gookin is engaged in the freighting
and coal and iron business. His affairs are
said to be in perfectly sound condition. He
is about fifty years of age. and was in the
best of heath and spirits on the day of his
disappearance. lie is not supposed to have
had any considerable sum of money about
him, and no motive can be imagined for
suicide, sbsconding or murder. SO far no
clue has been discovered that can solve the
mystery of his disappearance.
o-REDEpIcATIoS OF THE OLD BRICK
CHURCH. The Old Brick Church at Jericho
Corners, which has been so handsomely re-
paired and furnished, and rededicated to the
service of God, has been subject to many
changes and has quite history. The house
WAS built in 1924 and 1926, on the land of
DR.. George Howe, by an organized associa-
ton called the "Brick Meeting House So
ciety of Jericho, under an ''act of the Leg
islature for the support ofthe Gospel" passed
October 2Gth, 1895. setting forth that said
Howe by deed conveyed said house and the
green or common on which it stands to Oliver
Lowry, Luther Prouty and VIM. A. Prentiss,
April Sd, 1884, in trust to be used for religious
worship. with condition that it should re-
vert to said DR.. Howe and his heirs if the
owners and proprietors of the house should
neglect to occupy the same for the purpose
Tor which il was granted. DIR. Howe died in
1857, testate, leaving his property to his wife,
who survived him. The Second Congrega-
tional and Baptist churches occupied the
house for public worship each Oh alternate
Sabbaths from 1926 down to 1858. In 1858
the Baptist church and society built house
of their own and abandoned the "Old Brick
Church" The Second Congregational
church at that time was weak, but they con-
tinued to occupy the house for religious wor-
ship till 1865. when, by reason of their IN
ability to support preaching, it was voted to
suspend meetings, and no meetings were alter
forwards held in it. No care was taken of
the house by any body and the windows were
soon all broken out and ii appeared as though
it was truly forsaken, and most of the people
thought the conditions OF the deed had not
been kept and that it had reverted to the
laGe was in need of a school house, and, rs
the walls ofthe Old Brick church were sound,
the school district took measures to acquire
deed of Mrs. Howe of the Old Brick
church and common, to be used for school
purposes, and appointed committee to re-
move the pews from the house and fit it up
for a school house-which work the commit
tee proceeded to DO. But before they had
proceeded far in their work. those who were
opposed to converting the church into
school house, and believed that the Second
Congregational church had not abandoned
the house but merely suspended religious
meetings for the time being, brought their
bill in Chancery against the school district
and its committee. enjoining them from con-
verting the building into school house.
After long litigation the Supreme Court
decided that the house had not reverted, and
md hat NJ he. aNalh f1f ha
a time of strength and prosperity will follow
their time of weakness" And time has
shown the wisdom and correctness of their
decision. After the title of the property had
been thus settled, one of the original owners
of pew brought suit against the school dis
trict committee to recover the value of his
pew. and after another long litigation the
Supreme Court decided that inasmuch as the
owner of pew is only entitled to the right
of sitting, and the house was in no condl-
ton to be occupied for religious services. his
recovery must be limited to one cent dam
ages and one cent costs. The title having be
come settled by these suits, the house stood
in the midst of the beautiful village an I'M
slightly object and disgrace to the people,
till November. A. d. 1876.
In 1874 and 1875 the state of things which
the Supreme court thought might come to
pass in respect TO the condition Of the
church, was realized. The Second Congre-
gational church in 1874 was recognized and
quite large number have been added. In
the year 1876 the church felt as though they
must have a house of their own in which to
worship, and during the past year the church,
with those who felt an interest in the ''Old
Brick Church and common, have at the ex
pense of three thousand dollars made it a
beautiful edifice. The audience and vestry
rooms have been lastly finished and furnish
ed. This house was rededicated by the Sec
ond Congregational church on the 18th of
December, 1877, President Buckham preach
ed the re-dedication sermon from the text
found in Acts ii. AZ, and the dedicatory prayer
was made by Rev. Edwin Wheelock, of Cam
bridge.