St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-09-03

THE OLD FIRST nEETING HOUSE.
Rededi. alton of The Center Church sum
dny-SOme Historical "Reminiscences
Edward r. Fairb ,nlks' Address.
If YOU would be carried back in thought
to the time when St. Johnsbury was
youag, and in your mind live over the
davs of a hundred years ago With the
sturdy pioneers who 6rst came to these
hills and valleys, you cannot do better
than to follow the history of the old Cen
ter meeting house, from its conception,
centu ago yesterday, down to the time
SO or more years ago, when it ceased to
be the hub of the towns activity and be-
came a relic to be venerated more and
more as the years go by. If you do not
know it's history you do not know st.
Tohpsbury, and if you want to know ST.
Tohnsbury almost from its beginning,
visit the old church, and search it's rec
ords for the first SO years of it's existence,
and you will have greater love for the
to VII and more profound veneration
for the memory OF the men and women
who first buided their homes and altars
here.
Concerning the early days of the meet
ing house on the hill we cannot do bet
ter than quote from historical sketch
written about 40 years ago by Edward
T. Fairbanks.
He says:
"Previous to the year 1900, vigorous
and repeated efforts had been made by
various citizens of the town to establish
a place of public worship, or some build
ing to answer the two fold purpose OF a
church and town house. 1t was not, how
ever until the year 1902, that the town
voted an appropriation for this pupose
On the 2nd of September this year, a
meeting was called by request of Is
substantial freeholders, to consider the
question of building town house.
Met at the house of Lieut.. Pierce, and
maze NuOlSe vi AlCAtluuCl OiShi lSI
Moderator. On motion, voted to raise
$3.50, Payable in good wheat at the
market Prise, for the purpose OF building
house tor holding town meetings-one
half to be paid in the Town treasury by
the first of January next, v1x: S42o at
each payment. On motion. voted to
erect said house on a certain Peace ot
Land given by Lieut.. Thomas Pierce for
Pubick use near his house in said Town
On motion, voted to choose a committee
of three to superintend building said
House, and that Joel Roberts, Asqulrt
Aldrich, and Thomas Pierce, Esq, be the
Committee, who excepted the appoint
ment. On motion, voted that said Com
mittee have Liberty to Dispose of th'
floors of the house to individuals, in sucf
manner as they in their wisdom shall
Judge best, the avails of which to be
appropriated in order to finish said house
Sutible and Convenient to attend Pub
lict Worship in, and for Town House
On motion, voted that the said Commit
tee prosead as soon as may be, in the line
of their appointment. On motion, votec
to dissolve said meeting
Attest. NATH. EDsoN T. Clerk.
During the following year $50 mor'
were appropriated to the same object
and in the autumn of 1904, the building
was raised. At this raising all the abb
bodied men and boys in town wer
assembled. After the frame had beel
erected, a gymnastic entertainment wa
executed by Zibe Tute, who about tn
going down of the sun, ascended one
the rafters, stood on his head at the en-
of the ridge pole, and thence, after empty
ing the contents OF his flask, descende
with head downwards to the GROUND
The temperance reform had not ye
began. Tradition tells us that all tn
shingles used on this building were take
: from single tree. The floor of the hous
was divided up into the square pew
which were characteristic Of olden day.
81 being placed on the lower floor an
: 25 in the galleries. This building, whic
stood for more than 20 years the onl
meeting house in town, was built on tt
high hill west of Center Village, in tt
central right Of the township, which ha
been originally allotted to Ebenez,
Scott, and by him decided to Lieu
Pierce, with special reservation OF
acres for the use of the town. From i
high and bleak location, it overlooke
the valley of the Passumpsic, from Lyl
= don Falls, past the mouth of Moo'
river and Arnolds Mills to the meadow
at the mouth of the Sleeper Within il
spacious walls it received on town day
the representatives of every family, ar
] on the Sabbath the worshipers of ever
denomination. For Al years its brow
old tirnbers stood on the hill top, until
1S45 it was removed to its present loc
tion in the Center village, and as late ;
1855 the lower floor was used for tt
accommodation of town meetings. II
former site is now green sward, wit
no relic of former years, save the pr
jecting end of ledge which was known ;
Wing Rock in the days when it WI
used as a rostrum tor political ha
anguers. The first town meeting held
this house was on September l, 1870
Respecting this building the followir
action was subsequently taken by Il
town:
Voted, that Capt. John Barney
employed to keep the Meeting Hou
e clean, and that he sweep it at least twi
= during the year.
:. Voted, that no person or persons
c allowed to enter the Pulpit on toV
y meeting Days, unless speshely Direct