Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-01-09
Letter from ChurchviIIe.
BARN AND STABLE BURNT AND SEVERAL AC-
CIDENTS.

| CHUCRCHvILLE, January 5.
Since the festivities of the holidays little has
occurred to break the monotomy of life in this
quiet little village, and we have resumed the
even tenor of our way.
| The annual Christmas festival, held in the
| Presbyterian church, took place Christmas
night, and was very largely attended and much
enjoyed by the Sunday school scholars and by
! many children of larger growth. The church
was handsomely decorated, and the presents,
which were numerous, were arranged on a
kind of pyramid, tastefnlly trimmed, and bear
ing appropriate notices and surmounted by
little tree over which shone out brilliant
star. This substitute for the time -honored tree
was arranged at the suggestion of Mr.. j. A. j.
Fuukhouser. the efficient superintendent of
the school. and did great credit to his taste
Besides the gifts to the children, which were
impartially distributed, there was an inter-
change of private presents, some of which
were quite handsome Rev. j. H. H. Winfree,
the Pastor of the church, Mr.. Funkhouser, and
Mr.. Z j. Diamond, the Secretary of the School.
we're each remembered by their little friends.
On Saturday night before New Years day,
the United Brethren church was crowded TO
it's utmost capacity with persons, from far and
near, who came to see the Christmas tree. The
church was dressed in evergI cen, and the pres
ents were suspended upon two trees which
stood at the corners of the pulpit. An inter-
esting feature of this entertainment was the
appeal ance of Santa Claus himself, clad in
furs and covered with trinkets, which he dis
tributed among the children, they came
forw ,rd, one by one. Mr.. Stin espring, the Pas
tor of the church, received as a present from
his congregation well filled purse, for which
n oraaa fI1lI U cd 10
on Sunday morning.
The protracted meetings, which were held
in the United Brethren and Lutheran church
es before the holidays were very successful
about thirty persons being converted. Rev. Mr.
Winfree will conduct services in the Pr esbyte-
rian church every night next week that being
the time universally observed as the week of
prayer.
This morning about $50 O'Clock, the barn on
the farm of Mr.. Ephraim Geeding, about two
miles from Churchvile. was discovered to be
on fire. and the flames spread SO rapidly that
all efforts to subdue them were useless. The
fire from the barn was communicated to the
adjoining stable, and both buildings were
speedily consumed. About 400 bushels of corn
and 40 bushes of wheat were burnt, besides
large quantity of hay, a reaper. a rake, and
some harness. The buildings were insured fer
500, but there was no insurance on their con-
tents The loss falls heavily on Mr.. ]. E.
Frame, the tenant of the farm. This destruc-
ton of property is thought to have been the
work of an incendiary.
For the last three months there has been an
almost continuous train of Highland wagons
passing on their way to and from Staunton
The Churchville road is travelled more than
any of the other five leading into your city,
ON vat II ic in
except the pike Why cannot our people see
the Importance of good roads, and, why is not
some effort made to improve them? During
this bad weather, there are places between
here and Stanton that are almost impossible
Bishop j. j. Glossbrenner, who has been
quite sick for some time, is now able to be out
again.
Scarlatina is prevailing among the children
of the neighborhood, but there are no serious
cases.
Clarence Lightner, little son of Mr. W. T.
Lightner, was badly hurt a week or two ago
by a fall from his horse. He was on his way tot
Churchville when the horse, in passing over a
slippery place. fell and threw his rider. The
little fellow was picked up in an unconscious
condition and carried to his home, when it was
found that the fall had produced conclusion of
the brain. The little sufferer is out of danger
Daniel Keller, son of Mr.. II. s. Keller, of
Trinity Points, was painfully wounded in the
hand few days ago. while running a planning
machine in his fathers shop. Three fingers of
his left hand were badly cut, but the young
man soon received surgical attention from DR..
VIM. 81. Davies, and the wounds are now heal
ing rapidly.
Among the visitors to the village during the
holidays were Miss Fannie Erwin, an attrac-
tive young lady from Rockingham; Mr. J. E.
Hanger, of Richmond, who was spending a
few days with his family here; Miss Agnes
Hartman and Mr.. D. E. Euritt, of your city,
and MIR. Frank Miller and wife, of Greenvi1Ie.
OsSIAN.