Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-01-02
LETTER FROM WISCONSIN.
Baldwin, Dec. 20. 1879

every enterprise or social movement at
island Pond that adds TO the prosperity
of the place, or to the social enjoyment
of its people, that often wish could
give the readers of your truly valuable
paper soMe items of news that would
pe OF interest to at least share of
your many subscribers. But when 4
think that distance of fifteen hun
dred miles stretches between this place
and your village, (my former home,)
1 despair OF even hoping that any local
interest here would prove OF interest 10
your readers. The church interests of
your village have a history that in
many important particulars are similar
To those Of this place since it was laid
out and became u town. The now
thriving village OF Baldwin, with over
one thousand inha bItantS, had It's first
building erected III January 1871. Its
growth and prosperity was so rapid,
That some place 10 hold meetings for
religious worship was demanded. MI.
BLIIey who was the founder of the
village at once offered desirable lot
free aud 500 10 any religious denoni-
nation VINO would erect u church edi-
lice and supply preaching. The in
lCIGSlo VI oCNGIol ClIuICl1So WClO acOAhS,
discussed, White Presbyterian brother
secured the situation and at once went
TO work. Fac American part Of the
community without regard TO former
differences subscribed literally for
the new church enterprise and within
a few months a free church was cOul-
pieued and dedicated vt an expense of
5000. The man who had Deen i'll
Etrunental in it's construction occupied
the pulpit very acceptably for nearly
three years, but failed TO eSta bllSh u
church organization. The new corners
seemed to favor some other church and
our minister discovered that his glory
Was fading, but felt that his work
would be incomplete unless he could
| eSta Dish all Organization 10 hold and
iUok after the church property. "A
dozen or more German uOllanders
were found VINO were willing TO join a
Presbyterian church, and have 1t
properly organized, but the new COM
eIS refused 10 cd.l q minister except u
uOliander, and also 10 allow one TO
preach except i'll their own language.
| Inc builders Of The cnurcu were LetL TO
lake the church by force and make
might, right; or learn the Holland
| language. lie FORMER plan icing the
soonest done was adopted and the
holianders were cast out of the Syna-
goSue," and those who built the
church took possession, hired an Epis-
oopal minister and have had quiet
possession ILL the Courts said last
March we must vacate January l.,
1851; and give up the property TO a
foreign speaking people who mad never
paid but live dollars towards It's con
etructlon. Last spring we again went
| 10 work to provlue house tor wor-
snip, TO be ready when we were TO
| leave the old one. Men had been so
wlckediy dealt with, who had paid
for church In good faith, that they
turned away in disgust when asked TO
contribute to another similar enter
prise and the subscriptions were light.
lhe same courage that had kept the
uSurpers out OF The old church So long,
| had mold of the new enterprise, AMI
soon lot was secured and a contract
entered into TO build u new, much
larger, and u more pleasant church
than the old one. Inc committee
soon found themselves out of money,
and the people were called together to
devise ways and means to complete
che building. in our extremity we
resolved 10 try a church fair, under the
new and novel lottery dlspensation,
aud endeavor to loosen the purse
strings OF a class of good mon whose
religious training dld not harmonic
Will those in whose interest the new
church was being built. A committee
were appointed 10 devise and complete
an Ill rdugGment. An attractive
scheme was soon in readiness which il
was thought could not fail to draw
it was made up in part as follows. A
gold headed cane to cost $40 was to be
gwen to the most popular gentleman
III the county, by votes, at ~ cents
each each person to have the right tC
cast US many votes as he would back
with the necessary 10 cents. Tie sec
ond was lady's gold watch to eos,
$50, and to be disposed of in the same
manner to the most popular unmarried
lady in the county. The third was a
silver tea set Of seven pieces, to bt
given III similar manner to the wife
: OF the most popular hotel or boarding
mouse keeper III Baldwin. Two othel
! articles to be similarly disposed o
: completed this part of the attraction
Then articles, consisting of sewing
/, machine, Gents silver watch, a silve
cake basket and other less valuabl,
/ articles were to be drawn by ticke
} the last evening OF the fair, the ticket
9 TO be disposed of before and durin,
/ the four evenings that the fair was t.
Y last. The early part of this month tn
I fair took place and melted to tn
i church eleven hundred and sixty dol
: lars, the gross receipts being NOR
: than $500. When the time came t,
!, announce the decision of votes on tn
q cane, $500 over and above what hat
i boon collected fell on the Judges table
Q and dozens Of men with hands full O
= money were turned away with "to
t late" The contest for the gold watc]
Q was contested in a spirited manner
; and at the close drew money iron
y many parties who till then did no
!, know they had any choice, and net
G tod to the church nearly $500. All tn
s other articles similarly disposed @
q proved a great success and made tn
: evening one of peculiar interest TO
i good. Then came the drawing of tn
& articles by ticket. 1t was found tina
t the tickets had not all been sold, SO tn
S unsold were put in as belonging to tn
v church, and out of the ten prizes, til
u church dre0 eight ofthem, which were a
once auctioned for fabulous prices
e The best of good feeling was show
/. throughout tho entire fair. The un
D precedented success of the church il
o drawing eight out of ten prizes, havin
n but fraction of the tickets, and til
S way the money poured in satisfied tn
6 most skeptical that the Good Lor
z twas Himself there. Yet, | doubt not