Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-11-17

think best" This committee wa
increased to seven, and meeting O.
the society was called for Jan. I'd
1889, "for the purpose of hearing ant
acting on the report of the above com
mittee." AS result of this actor
further definite steps were, taken by
the church and society for the cree
tion in 1910 of the "Old Brick Church
on the site now occupied. The work
was completed and on Jan. 23d, 1S41,
the committee reported an eXpendi.
ture of 81, 607, of which $41S dollars
had been paid for the lot. The old
church at Gospel Village was used fol
town meetings until about the yeal
1856, when it was sold and torn down.
The present church edifce is an
evolution of the "Old Brick Church. "
In 1885 Barre was very materially
feeling the effects of it's enlarged bust
ness resources and of it's increased
population. The necessity of enlarg-
ing and repairing the church building
was made manifest. This work was
undertaken and carried through at a
cost of about $1,000 The result was
practically new building with the
conveniences and comforts as they
now exist. 1t was rededicated to the
service of God, Oct. Goth, 1887.
The first musical instrument pur-
chased by the church was "Sera-
phine, a coarse toned reed instrument
in vogue 60 years ago. More than 40
years ago this was succeeded by the
first pipe organ the church possessed,
which instrument, for many years,
has found quiet resting place in the
gallery of the old Methodist church of
this city. The discarded "Seraphine"
was purchased for rural Congrega-
tional church in Canada. A larger
pipe organ took the place of the first
in this church, about 80 years ago,
and was subsequently enlarged. This
instrument is now in the possession
of the East Barre Congregational
church and is rendering good service.
Both of these organs were built by
the late Ira Bassett, former men,
Der of this church. In 1896 the Sec
ond organ was removed and the pres
ent large three manual organ placed
in situation.
Among the leaders of the service of
song in the house of the Lord mention
should be made of Col. Samuel Baker,
A. Lawson Wilmington, DR.. Charles
Backeus, Amos Strong and Deacon
Hiram Gale. The latter was engaged
in the musical services of the church
for more than forty years. He had a
cultivated voice and was skillful
player on a variety of Instruments.
During the revival of 1927 there was
a chorus choir of fifty voices and all
these persons, save one, made con-
fession of the faith at that time.
The first parsonage belonging to
,1,r 10 ST i'll il, nyirt nnH
on the original site, near
where the first meeting house was
placed. 1T is the house adjoining the
Elmwood cemetery, facing the com
mon at Gospel Village. 1t was built
and owned by Mr. French, the second
pastor, and he occupied it as long as
he lived in Barre. He sold it to John
Parker December 2Sth, 1881, who
again sold it to John Trow, March
9th, 1885, Mr.. Trow sold it March
10Th, 1887, for the sum of six hundred
dollars to twenty-five men who pur-
chased it for parsonage. TWAS sue
cessively occupied by pastors French,
Thacher, Wheelock and Royce. When
the second meeting house was erected
in the lower village this parsonage
was sold Nov. 9th, 1871, to George
w. Collamer. The last lines of the
transfer reading, "the same premises
being known as the parsonage belong
ing to the Congregational church and
society in said Barre. "
The second parsonage was bought
from the purchaser of the first George
w. Collamer, March 22d, 1912, by the
"Barre Parsonage Society,"" for the
sum of fourteen hundred dollars. 1t
may be inferred that the amount re-
ceived from the first property went
towards the purchase of the second.
This parsonage was situated between
the Methodist and Baptist churches
on Washington street and was occu-
pied by pastors Royce and Carpenter.
In 1866 the building was removed
to lob South Main st. and is now oc-
cupied by Mr.. e. e. Williams. The
present house upon the site was then
built, in the accomplishment of which
undertaking the Rev. Mr.. Carpenter,
the sixth pastor, materially aided.
This new parsonage was occupied by
pastors Carpenter, Tenney and Nc