The Newtown bee., 1897-10-01
In Litchfeld County.
WATERFOWL.

CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY's IMPROVE
MENTs.
The members of the Congregational
society of Watertown witnessed the
realization of their fond hopes, Sunday
For many months the church |
ediflce has been in the hands of corps |
Of competent artists and other workmen,
who have completely renovated it in a
manner that reflects the utmost credit
upon those who have had the matter in
charge. In point of artistic finish, there
is nothing more to be desired, so that the
society can point with pardonable pride
to one of the handsomest and cosiest in
teriors of the state. The interior wears
a devo tional aspect, which will contri-
butte materially to the fervor of the
worshipers, and the successful accom-
plishment of this great work clearly de-
monstrates what united effort can achieve.
The old saw, where there is will,
there is way" Is well illustrated by
the success obtained by our Congrega-
tional brethren. From the inception of
IlC WI n uhOAL LAO PAC5CARf 5RhAA Az "a
harmony has prevailed among the COM
mittee in charge, hence success has
crowned their labors. When the congre-
cation assemblies tomorrow for divine
worship, sense of satisfaction will
possess all {; congratulations will be in
order, and in these congratulations their
fellow townsmen of all creeds cordially
join. The first congregational church
was erected in l741, near the southwest
corner of the old burying ground. The
second, in 1872, few rods southeast of
the present one, where our present town
hall is located. 1t was used for divine
worship until January, 1840, and soon
after taken down. The present church
purchased OF the heirs of David Wood
ward, and was dedicated on Wednesday,
January 20, 1910, Rev Charles Bentley OF
Harwinton preaching the sermon. There
are yet number Of our older inhabitants
who occasionally mention the "foot
stoves" which were then in use. No
extraordinary repairs were ever made on
the present church, the only special re-
pairs, if repairs it can be called, was
about 20 years ago when an addition was
built for the pipe organ.
At the annual meeting held in January
1897 a committee Of three, consisting OF
Dea Henry T. Dayton, Charles B. Mat
toon and Truman 2. Baldwin, were ap-
pointed "to consider what repairs were
needed, or what they advocated to do,
and report at future meeting" The
committee reported in favor of digging a
celler under the church furnaces, put in
new seats, new carpets, removing the
posts from under the galleries, and sup
port them by iron rods, repaint the
church outside and inside, besides other
numerous smaller matters. AS soon as
the weather permitted work was begun.
An excavation was made under the
church 30x40 feet, which is supported by
heavy walls of masonry and brick piers,
under the supervision of Contractor FL.
William Warner. The whole floor was
cobbled and cemented giving the whole
lower interior a clean and cheerful ap-
pearance. The steps leading to the base
ment are in the southeast corner. A
look at the timber which has supported
the church for nearly 81 years showed
tEat it was in as good condition as when
first put in. In the basement are located
one each of the two largest sizes of the
Turner hot air furnaces, put in by F. E.
Wheeler & Co. This is certainly great
improvement over the old fashioned
square stoves that stood at the entrance
of the church, which gave little heat to
those in front, but roasted those who sat
in the rear.
All of the old seats have been replaced
by new circular ones Of handsome and
modern pattern, made by the e. H. Stat
ford company of Muskegon, Mich, and
furnished by their agent, Carroll W.
Clark of Boston. The seats are the
handsomest that can be found any
where. The bottoms contain no less
than II pieces, each closely glued to.
gether, and bent in form, so as to
form circle. The arms are heavy oak,
made of four thicknesses running cross
wise of each other, making a substan-
tisl job that can neither warp nor split.
There are six rows of seats, to four for
merly. The center aisle is an addition,
and Is five feet wide, giving plenty of
room to move about in. This necessi-
tated putting in an extra door, which
improves the general appearance of the
whole.
For the present no cushions will be
used in the seats as they are about as
handsome and ornamental as can be,
and cushions, were they ever so nice,
could not compare with the natural
beauty of the oak. They were put in
position by Elmer Doolittle of this town,
foreman for Tracy Bros. of Waterbury.
The whole interior has been more or
less remodeled. Four new chandeliers
were put in place, but have never been
used, and as electricity is being intro
duced In our town shortly, it is hoped
that it will be substituted for kerosene
oil. The whole interior, sides and cell.
ing have been tastefully decorated by
A. III. Dews of Waterbury. The color
is of cream tint, and the decorative work
consists of gilt and silver intermixed.
The face of the gallery, with It's gold
and bronze ornaments, adds largely to
the effect and further illustrates the
good taste displayed here, taking away
the sombre look it presented before.
six large wooden posts which
formerly supported the galleries