The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-06-20
Foster, Besse & Company,
$50 and o5S Main St. Bridgeport

Griswold in 1908, built the brick house,
recently the residence of Mrs Benja-
min Treat, and dwelt in it to the end
of his ministry in 1929. Rev Heman
Rood was minister from 1880 to '35,
and during his ministry this church
edi ice was built. Mr. Rood resided in
the house now occupied by William
G.. Brown. though many changes have
been made in the house since MI
Rood's stay. Rev DR. Noah Porter and
his successor, Rev John Greenwood,
resided in the house on Grace street
now occupied by Mr. Partridge. Rev
DR. Murdoch lived in several different
places, in a house which stood on the
corner of Bridge and South Main
street, where William Mobiles house
now stands; then in the Benjamin
Treat house, and latterly in the house
which still stands on the south side of
this church. In 1870 for the first time
this church and society came into pos
session of house and lot to be used as
a parsonage in the modern acceptatiOn
of that term. Heretofore the pastor s
homes had either been conferred upon
them as part of their settlement or
arrangements had been made to rent
houses for the ministers. But for the
past 30 years the church and society
have owned fine lot and parsonage,
we'll located and convenient to the
church. This house, familiar to us all,
was occupied by the Revs Bowan,
Thrall and Lee and by the present
pastor until it was torn down last
summer. 1t will be noticed that in
all these years, until the present year,
the CHURCH had never owned house,
built distinctively for the purpose of
a parsonage. So we may rejoice all
the more in the possession of a build
ing in keeping with the other proper
ty of the church and with the stand
ing of the church among the churches.
THE NEW MILFORD MINISTER'S HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN COMFORTABLY HoUs-
ED,
but never in home as pleasant, con-
venfent and as we'll fitted for the pur-
pose for which it.was intended as the
one just completed. And sincere
thanks are due and are most cordially
given by the present pastor for him.
self and for all his unknown successors
who may occupy the house, to those
who have so generously provided this
house for the ministers, to the ladies
who have SO literally aided in adorn-
ing and furnishing it, to the Christian
Endeavor society for the valuable
desk, chair, inkstand and holder which
they have contributed to the study, to
the Junior Christian Endeavorers for
the valuable hat rack they have plac-
ed in the front hall, and to many
friends for individual gifts, all of
which have served to make the new
home comfortable and beautiful.
Few churches are better equipped
than we are now, both in our church
home and in our parsonage home, and
it should be many years before any
great changes will be needed in the |
church property. 1t was fortunate |
that this work, so greatly needed, was
Undertaken when it was, as the great
disaster which has recently befallen
'ur village would have made its &C
difficult in the immedi- |
tie future. And are we not very
thankful that the flames, that Mon
lay night, spared all the church prop
,rty upon which SO much labor and |
money had been lavished in the past
ew years. Three of our friends who
gave largely to the building fund, and
cit deep interest in this work, passed
way before the house Was completed:
William Bostwick, II. T. Marsh and |
DR. Hine. Harold Green, who was
lmong the most enthusiastic of the
Juniors in raising and making their
lift, did not live to see it in use.
Though these departed ones are not
With us to see and enjoy the results of
heir thoughttulness, yet their works
emain with us and their names will
lot be forge tten.
When the topic of the morning was
nnounccd it may have seemed that
here was not much to say
bout new parsonage, as it has
o history. But has it no history?
SIX the building and soliciting COM
,ittees if their labOrs have not been