Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-07
Sold everywhere. % cents.

those days they built "naeeting houses
which were used for ali general meet
inGS, both for religious and secular
business.
1t IS supposed that this is the build
Ing that Was located on town house
lilf' about one mil. from Winthrop on
The Augusta read. Although in talking
with Mf. j. NJ. E@njamin, an old resi-
dent of the town, to whom we are in
| dotted for many items in this article,
| he cxpr' IS. ii the opinion that the house
contracted for in 1914 was never com
| pleted, although there might have been
| meetings held there. The building on
town house hill'' according to data
furnished by him was built in 17SG-an;l
leased by Tie town to the Congre-
gaticnal Society
In 1921 Rcadiield became q separa IL
| town ana supported Il church Of its
own, and in 1890. the present society
was organized but continued to hold
services On town house hill in the
building owned by the town.
| IN 1874 4 committee was appoint "A
| for the purpose Of building the present
church, ana the ''raising' took place
|
| The building is CGX100, resting on Il
| firm granite foundation of immense
slabs procured ut the old Haliowcll
! quarry. The slab used as a door stem
! is twenty-scven feet long. three feet
! Wil" ana ono foot in thickness. and we
| can imagine the team Of oxen it nlust
nave taken to have hauled that i'm
1"cnSe block from the quarry.
On the day Of the ''raising" after the
BODY Of the house was up and the
rHftcrs about half in place there oc-
riirrci Il terrible accident. some of the
| men W re lifting n beam in place when
ono Of tho timbcrs broke, throwing the
men into tho cellar. some of the timbcrs
| falling upon them. The distance to
| IN" cellar was tWcnty-SeVcn feet.
| Warren pullcn, aged sc was killed in
| @t"ntiy: Paul I.ad,l, died the next day,
! Juno 10; and Francis Hoyt, aged 81,
| died OF H." 18th. IT was 4 very clear
skill Gay and the noise made by the
! crashing tinbcrs as they fell into the
cellar. was; heard ut Rcadfcli, several
miles; away.
| Mr.. benjamin who was small boy
at tho time was too young to remember
!nc tragedy. but knew III after years.
those who were present. Tie said that
4 libel oil the citizens Of Winthrop was
printed in n state paper about fifteen
| wears acO, when il asserted that the
cause nf the accident was too much
New England ruin. Liquor was usci.
NJ il was ut all raising of buildings III
| ti!uE" days. but not to excess. 1t was
| placed in charge of Capt. Samuel
| clark. Who. being noted for his firm
n"ss. had been delegated to look after
ti?n iQ"nr. and none drank to excess.
The bIildinG however was completed
! with galleries on three sides. the sing
cr5 occupying the gallery opposite the
preacher. whose pulpit was in the end
of thu church ana approached by q
hi.Sht Of steps. There We're - peWs.
large ana old fashioned With high
| backs.
vt this church the people gathered
from miles around. not only to hear
the man Of God, who might be holding
forth :hn Bread Of Life" but. in the
absence Of ncwSp1nerS, to hear the
ncWs Of the ncighborh0od, perhaps to
"aWap" Gtcors.
| IN 1S5E. the interior of tho church WAS
rcmoGcllcd. and the galleries on the
sides removed. This church was at one
time very strong church. even ut the
tire Of its Incorporation in 1900 it had
ninety members 1t has lost much Of its
prestige now. other denominations
divi,ina the interest and membership
IN the old graveyard may be seen many
Of the stones that mark the last resting
| places Of the original incnrpOrators of
III" original church organized Sept. 4.
1875. two months after the Fourth o.
July" have began to make history. the
names Of the incorporators We're.
jonathan Whiting. Elias Taylor, Joseph
! Stevens. Nathaniel Floyd John
! Chandler. Peasc Clark. Thomas Allen.
| jonathan Davenport Amos Stevens.
/ EbeneZor Dave mort. Gideon Lambert.
Joseph Bake. Nathaniel Stanley.
! Josiah TELL, Raneford Smith. Elizabeth
Stevens. Sarah Floyd. Abigail Stanley,
Sarah Delano. Abigail Hall, Dorcas
! Uakcr. Mary stevens, Anna Hall, and
! f'ussInnah Lambert.
There has h"Cn ono remarkably long
roSto"ate. that Of Rev. Davis Thurston.
who was chosen in 1907. and remain d
wish them till 1852. Il term of forty-tive
| wears. tho present pastor is Rev. A. X.
| T%ldWin.
Services are not held in the church
! during the winter. but in Il neat chapel
f, IN HoWdoin street. The members
claim they cannot keep m the large
| building. hence the question, shall it
be odd or will some one with money
tn<srarc. come to its rescue and save it