The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-04-29
10 Fairfield County.
TRUMBULL.
DESTRUCTION OF TRUMBULL CONG REGA-
TIONAL CHURCH.

TIONAL CHURCH.
The Trumbull Congregational church
at Trumbull Center was totally destroyed
between 10 and IL o'clock, The cause of
the fire is unknown. A sociable was held
in the basement from 80 until $50 and
was quite largely attended. The last to
leave was Sexton Arthur Brinsmade,
| shortly before 10 O'Clock. He SAYS he
| left everything apparently all right. A
| little after 10 o'clock the fire was discov-
cred in the rear of the basement, Just
under the organ in what is known as the
| ladies' parlor. In few minutes the
whole building was mass of flames and
in 45 minutes after the blaze was discov-
cred it was completely destroyed with
all it's contents, only q few chairs having
| been taken out. Plumb Brothers gen
| eral store, which is south of the church,
about zoe feet away, had a very close
| call, and so did the barn In the rear of it.
| Both caught fire several times and moth
ing but the energy of the bucket brigade
saved them. 1t was expected every mo
ment that the store would 20 and so
everything that could be taken out was
removed. The upper portion of the
building is occupied by Fl. W. Parks and
with he assistance of the peighbors he
also got out his things. Fortunately,
| however, there was hardly any wind and
so the store was saved. Had the wind
| been anything like what it was Wednes-
| day morning not only the store, but ev-
cry building in the neighborhood of the
church would probably have been de-
stroyed. The fire was first discovered
| by man who occupies q house In the
was ominous in sound the great wave of
fire rushed through the building and in
stantly eDgulfed every portion of it. The
| steeple was attacked with incredible
rapidity aud in Is minutes after the dis
coyery the fierce element held in it's
! devouring embrace every part of the
structure. In the meantime the crowd
that had assembled stood by awe strick-
en- and helpless. The terrible heat drove
everybody to considerable distance and
made them all realize how helpless they
were in the face of the raging fame.
Many stood by in sorrow and watched
| the ruthless destruction of the edifice
which held for them so many associa-
| tiOns of sacred character. Tears came
| from the eyes Of some as they realized
that the memories held within those
white wooden walls were to be forever
blotted out. It was q sad night for
Frumbull. But there was some work
| to be done as the raging fame threaten
| bucket brigade was organized and held
in readiness for duty. The grocery store
and barn were seriously threatened and
ener gatic efforts we're in order to save
them. Fortunately the lack of wind
helped out matters considerably. Then
| the walls OF the church and the steeple
fell in just as the store seemed to be In
| The most danger and this made the work
somewhat lighter. In the meantime the
Ga had Sh fnHy cd
part of the church building. Finding
nothing more to feed upon, it suffering
lY and spitefully turned into ashes every
particle of woodwork and then slowly
sm0uldering away into black darkness
Of the night. Included in the destruc-
ton of the ediffce 10 all The furniture be-
longing to building of this character.
There was fine organ in the church
proper valued at 81 500, two cabinet or
gans, the Sunday school library, all the
furniture In the basement, a large num-
Der of hymn books and Bibles, several
stoves and furnace. TO say nothing of
numerous articles OF ancient use which
while not Of much value were beyond
price in association. The fine new me-
mortal bell which WAS presented to the
church by the Misses Selma and Sally
Fairchild was me tied into q mass OF I'M
recognizable metal. The one thing of |
historic value saved liz the ancient hand
some weather vane which topped the |
steeple and t I'D the Trumbullites for so
many years which way the wind blew.
When the steeple fell the vane lay out OF |
the reach OF the fire and willing hands |
quickly took it TO q place of safety. It |
will be kept to adorn the top of the new
edifice which will IN due time rise out OF |
the ruins of the rid. The building de- |
stroyed was erected In April, 1912 The |
cost of work above the sills, as the rec
ord says, was % AGO or course 1t could |
not be replaced at that figure In these
times. Since that wear it has been al
tered over and repair d three times, sums |
OF money being sfeat In this way
much more than the original expense.
The firsr general repairs were made In
1869 Then again IN 1873 an addition /
was put In and other chang. m de at an /
expense of So 600 Thrae wears ago an
efher S2, 900 was spent on the building
New and modern pews were put Id and I
the interior was decorated. The fine or
gan was bought In 1885, II cost $1 800,