Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-01-31
DUN NJ ERSTON.
The Old and the New Method of
Heating the Congregational
Church.

From 1115 30 1928, period Of fifty years.
the old Westinghouse was without any
means of heating the building in cold
weather The frame was boarded in
l77i and windows having glass were not
furnished until 1890 Shutters were used
up to that date. which were opened on
Sundays to let in the light and let out
the dead air" Planks were used for
seats until lINS. when pews We're built
that added much to the physical comfort
Of the attendants on public worship. In
1874 the meeting house was plastered,
after a period of p years from the time
the frame was raised in l113.
In 1925 a common box stove was used to
heat the building for the first time since
ii was used as place of public worship.
Two lines Of pipe extended from the
stove across the audience room out
through the north windows; but the
draught was bad and considerable smoke
escaped into the room The cburch-going
people endured the discomfort of smoke
and chilly air for ten years. In 1895 Asa
Dutton built a chimney in the church
which failed to relieve the situation to
any considerable extent.
To sit in discomfort was a part Of re-
liggion:
Long stretches of pipe gave no warmth
to the air.
No dream of a future could there SO ap-
pail us
As "Dante's Inferno" with chill. icy glare.
To pile up the Goals in the foot-stoves
and brighten
The ample fur muffs by the fire in the
hall.
Was part Of the change in the short in
PERMISSION.
The respite that came in the long gospel
call
In Oh, t.,,g1 T.,
1912, the stove in the old Westinghouse
was transferred to the hall of the new
one, where IL served as the only means Of
heating the building for seventeen years.
In 1859 four pews were taken out of the
audience room, and the old stove. to-
gcthcr with a new one bought that year.
We're set up at the east end of the room.
and have been in the service as heaters
II years. on Saturday. Dec $. 1891. they
We're retired from further duty and n
large new furnace located in the base
ment has been used to heat the church
After a trial Of nearly two months the
conclusion is that an even temperature
of 66 or more degrees can be maintained
throughout the large audience room dur
ing the time of holding meetings therein.
Sunday, Jan. is. the temperature was -
degrees at the beginning of the morning
services and at the close of the Sunday
school - degrees. II was the same for
the Christian Endeavor services in the
evening. Under the former method Of
heating the church. the temperature was
much higher at the east end Of the room
where the stoves were located than at
the west end where the pulpit was sta
toned.
PRAYER meetings We're held on four
evenings of the week beginning Jan. IS.
in observance of the week Of prayer
The audience room in the church where
the meetings were held was made very
comfortable each evening by the new
furnace. Although the mercury went
down on Friday evening nearly to zero
in the open air. the temperature in the
room remained at IS degrees during all
the evening service, and no wood was
nut into the furnace after $50 o'clock
The attendance each evening was re-
markedly good and the sermons very
helpful and instructive