St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-08-09
afr Tnrnlis Arnunh.
DANVILLE.
THE Burning of the Church.

Ahout 11.30 Saturday night it was
,;scovered that the shed connecting F. J
Trvc,s house and barn and the meeting
honse sheds adjoining, were on fire. An
n nIarm was Immediately given. The fire
oo";ckly spread and burned Frye's barn,
IT, nv hard work the house was saved.
eoorks catching on the roof OF the Con
0orrcoational church soon set that on fire,
Ed Il was entirely consumed with all
the sheds surrounding it,
The wind was very strong and from
The steeple showers OF sparks and fire
hands were poured over all the build
mos near bv, John Curriers' being most
Endangered. BY spreading carpets on
the roofs and and wetting them his
bindings were saved, but his goods were
much injured by hasty removal and by
water
Several other buildings, some OF them
ot n considerable distance, caught fire
Int were put out without serious injury.
heavy shower coming up soon after
tbe sheds fell in, diminished the danger
from fire but injured many OF the articles
,,hich had been moved out OF doors.
All the buildings were insured, and
insurance adjusters Geo. Bralnerd, OF the
Vermont Mutual. and John Senter, OF
the Vermont Union were Ill town Mon
day and settled the losses. The church
was insured for So 500 all of which was
maid in full, $4,000 by the Vermont
Union and 81 800 by the Mutual Co.
FL. FRYE received $500 from the Yer
mont Union and John Currier $125 from
the Mutual.
How the fire originated is not known
The Danvlle Congregational church S
one of the oldest in the state, the first
church having been built in 1892 of logs
This church was 80 by 40 feet in size and
was situated near the house now occn.
pied by Dana Hall.
In 1901 this church burned and was
replaced by frame building which was
never completed, but was used tor 1t
Years during the summer, and the court
house was used during winters
In1S17 a great revival took place, and
with added numbers better church
building became necessary, and the build
ing burnt was erected, the land on
which it stood being donated by Deacon
l. p. Dana. The building was 40x6O
feet with a spire about 100 feet in height
and was considered at that time one Of
the finest churches in the state. The
contract price was $4,000, all OF which
by the terms of the contract was to be
paid in cattle and grain.
In 1910 the organ and bell were put IN
but in the next year the bell was ex
changed for another and better one
which always has been noted Tor Its
clearness of sound. The heat OF the hrt
was so great as to entirely melt this bell
and pieces of it are much sought for as
souvenirs. This is the bell mentioned
several times in a book entitled The
Romneys of Ridgemont," written by the
well known authoress, Miss julia East
man, daughter Of a former pastor here.
In 1S41 the present vestry was built
at cost of $500. In 1851 the church
was remodeled and the old galleries on
the end and both sides were removed
and new pews put i'll. In 1890 extensive
repairs were made on the interior, met
al ceiling and stained glass windows
were added, making it very hne church
and one of which the society had reason
to be proud.
The insurance, So, 500, will be good
start toward another church, and 1t vii
be rebuilt at once. ,
Meetings will be held in the town hal
for the present.