Middletown transcript., 1893-03-18

mained two years.
The initiatory steps taken towar'
building a Methodist Church in Middle
town was at a congregational meeting
held February 18th, 1929. The follow
iwg named persons were chosen as
Board of Trustees: AZariah Foster
Andrew Dill, Thomas Merritt ant
John Hayes. This body was legalizeC
by an act of incorporation made il
September of the above year, and re
i corded 10 book z, vol. g. page 11s at the
Court House of New Castle County, with
A. Foster as president of the board
Thomas Merritt, secretary and Johr
4 Hayes, treasurer. A seal bearing the
design of dove with an olive branch
was procured and used by this incor.
poration. The offer of lot, on which
to build a meeting house, was made to
the trustees by John Hayes for fifty
dollars, which offer was accepted and
the deed for the same was passed
and recorded in book 1, vol.3, page $50
land records of New Castle County.
The contract for the building was
let to John Fountain, for the sum of
nine hundred dollars, the building to be
finished, except painting, and the last
payment for which was to be made
May 14th, 1928 The contractor com
pleted his work and placed it in the
hands Of the trustees April 18th. The
work done by Fountain was perfectly
satisfactory to the trustees and fifty
three dollars for extra work was agreed
to. In June the last payment was
made and Foun tain's receipt in full
was given.
In 1880, it was found that certain
repairs were needed and after two
years some work was done. In 1842
the growth of the Society seemed to
require the enlargement of the church
building, Rev. B. F. Price presided at
the meeting, called to consider the re-
construction; David Mckee, Garrett
Cox and Benjamin Field, were the com
mittee appointed to estimate the cost
Whether the amount needed, to do the
work, placed an injunction upon
further operation, or not, we do not
know. In. 1S49 John Henry was
preacher in charge. At a meeting held
February 18th, it was determined to
build new house, forty-two feet by
ifty feet, aud the following building
.omlni,tee was appointed: Jesse Lake,
Jonathan Catlin, Garrett Cox, Thomas
q. Clayton, Joseph w. Gary, A. NJ.
Vail and 2 D. Riley, the latter being
he chairman of the committee.
The contract for building was made
with John Pierce, of Cecil County, for
the sum of twenty-nine hundred dol
lars and the old building. The corner
stone Of this new house WAS laid by
Rev. John A.. Roche, Rev. Penneil |
Combe and Rev. Mr.. Freize. The
church was dedicated by George G NJ
Roberts, of Baltimore, in 1850. This
builing after having served the pur
poses of the congregation for thirty
years, under the pastcrate of Rev. T.E.
the church membership
aud congregation with great unani
nifty agreed to rebuild. In accordance
with this purpose an estimate of $4,000 |
was agreed upon and an effort made at |
once to secure subscriptions, and if a |
sufficient am0ut couldn be obtained |
to proceed at once with the improve
ment. In summing up it was found
that $2,558.00 had been subscribed.
The following building committee was
appointed: J. Nj. Cox, Chairman; G. |
E. Hukill, Treasurer; M. d. Wilson and
the pastor, T. E. Martindale. During
the time the work was being done the
accepted the kind invita-
ton of the Presbyterian church to
worship with them, the pastors to
preach alternately.
The work of enlarging and remodel
ing and otherwise beautifying the
building added greatly to the appear
ance and comfort of this house Of
Since this time the Church
and Sunday School have enjoyed de
gree of prosperity that makes it one of
strongest and most desirable appoint
ments in the Conference.