The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-11-16
Housekeeping Ina Church.

The people of Oldtown, a dozen
miles above Bangor, Me-, areallagog
over the nearest approach, to n SEN
sation that the sleepy old place had
since the night, years ago, when it's
great lumber mills went up in smoke,
leaving an army of men to mourn
over the blackencd ruins. The stir
has all been caused by Mrs. Sarah w.
lioskins and her two elderly daugh-
ters taking up their residence in st.
james Episcopal church and begin
ming housekeeping there in earnest.
This extraordinary move on the
part of Mrs. Hoskins is explained as
follows: Mrs. Hoskin's father, the
late Irl Wadleigh of Oldtown, mar
ried for his second wife Mrs. Fuller,
the mother of the present chief Justice
of the United States. Mrs. Wadleigh
was devoted church member, and
induced her husband to give the epis-
copalian society the lot on which the
church now stands. Mr.. Wadleigh pro-
vided for the bequest in his will, Civ
ing the lot to the society for as long
II time as the building erected thereon
should be used as church; afterward
it was to revert to his heirs. He also
helped build the church. and rented
numerous pews in it, besides con-
tributing literally toward the run
ming expenses. Tile church prospered
well enough for Il long time, but in
recent years the society has dwin-
died in numbers, and st. Jamcs's, a
great, ungainly, wooden structure,
was allowcdto fall into decay. Final
ly, about two years ago, it became so
dilapidated az to be unsafe, and the
decimated congregation began to
hold their meeting at the house of
one of their members, which practice
they have continuedcve since, pend
ing the erection of IL new church.
Mrs. Hoskins, who has been in
rather Strengthened circumstances of
latc years, has long had her eye upon
the fine corner lot upon which the old
church stands, and now that no
meetings have been held in the build
ing for some time and the society has
no regular clergyman, she has
moved into st. James's, bag
and baggage. considering the
provisions OF their fathers bequest
broken. The case has been laid
before the bishop of the diocese of
Maine, and he retained for his coun-
sci the Hon. William J.. Putnam of
Portland, late democratic candidate
for governor. Mr.. Putnam, however.
was too busy with politics to attend
to the case and gave itinto the hands
OF another lawyer whose opinion in
tho matter is awaited with much
curiosity.
Although Mrs. Hoskins took for
NAL possession of the building last
May, she moved in only Il few days
ago. The interior of the sacred and
barn-like structure presents n strange
appearance since the Hoskinses,
mother and daughters. have taken
up their abode there. Through the
front doors one gets glimpse of a
white draped bedstead occupying the
altar space. while Il sewing machine
and dining table stand cheek by
jowl with the pews where once knelt
fervent worshippers. The sunlight
streams through the stained-glass
windows upon q cooking stove
whence. three times daily, ascend
odors of broils and boils and bnkings.
Ii Mrs. Hoskins can hold on the prop.
erty, and it is likely that she can,
she has made Il ten strike, for the lot
is in the middle of the village and
Oldtown is now booming.