The Press., 1904-04-07

the old church at Stafford Street was
no longer used, on account of loss of
members who went to Stafford Springs
and Staffordville. There was fund
for the support of the church on the
Street, given by members of the origi-
nal society, with the understanding
that if preaching ceased in this To-
cality, it should go back to the origi-
nal heirs. I am told it was a great
task to find the heirs and restore to
them their money.
Many remnants of the last church
on the Street remain and are to be
found in various places in the towns
about rs. There is a story of the old
pulpit which is rather interesting.
Once upon a time, about thirty
years ago, some men were gathered in
the post Office to wait for the mail,
smoking and talking over things in
general. This particular night a
stranger put in an appearance, and
entered into the gossip and talk of the
place. Some one in the crowd re-
marked 1--WE will call him Mr.. Si)
that he had just been to CLARK Grants
store, up on the street, after some
thing he couldn't get anywhere else,
and he went on to remark that such q
place he never did see, and didn't
know, for his part, how they ever
found anything they wanted. Mr..
Grants son sometimes tried to put
things to rights, but after one of those
house cleaning bees the father COM
plains that he can never find anything.
Mr.. 81 went on to say there is moth
ing you can ask for, but what you can
! get in that store. The stranger spoke
/ then, and said, "I'll wager that can
go to that store and ask for something
he has not got.'' Mr.. 81 promptly
replied. "I'll wager you dollar and
half and the price of team there
is nothing you can ask for that is not
in that store.'' "All right,'' said
the stranger, "I'll take the wager; its
go.' So they put up the money
with the postmaster, and started for
Clark Grants store, Mr.. 81 wonder
ing all the way there what the
stranger would ask for. They found
Mr.. Grant in the store reading by the
light of a smoky kerosene lamp, so
they sat down and chatted awhile.
Soon the stranger said, "Mr. Grant,
have you such a thing as second
hand pulpit in your store?" Mr..
Grant settled back in his chair, showed
his glasses up on his bald head, and
began to smile. He said, "Well,
did have one once, and if have not
sold it, it is off up in the garnet. If
you will hold the lamp, will take
the lantern, and we will see if we can
find it, So they all three went to
the garnet. After pulling out lot of
old stuff, there, away back under the
caves, was the pulpit. They took it
out and looked it over, and the
stranger, it is said, was struck dumb.
When. he found his voice he said,
"Where on earth did you ever get
it?' Mr.. Grant replied, "When they
tore down the old Congregational
church on the Street 1 bought it,
thinking some one might want it some
time. ana now am right glad did. -
The strangers face was q study, but
the wager was paid. The story teller,
Mr.. 81, does not say what became of
the pulpit, so of course I cannot tell
you.
There we're two Congregational
churches and one Universalist church
on West Stafford Hill. The first Con-
gregational church was built in 1764,
and stood on the hill near the grave
yard. The second was built about
1900, which was about the same time
the Universalist church was built, for
about this time there was trouble in
the society about the church property,
and it was then that the Universalist
society was formed. The trouble was
referred to the legislature, which ap-
pointed committee to hear both
sides. This committee decided that
these church people should occupy the
church alternately, and which ever
society. was the stronger should have
the fifth Sunday in the month, and
the .Universalists had it. This ar
rangement continued for time, and
about 1900 the Universalists built a
church near by the old one. The
second Congregational church was also
built about this time. The second
church was occupied until 1854, when
it was moved to West Stafford, where
it now stands, and is the present Con
gregational church. In 1854 the Uni
versalist society of West Stafford join
ed the society at Stafford.
The voting Of the town was done
in the old West STAFFORD church, and
in the old Stafford Street church. II
was in the old West Stafford church
that J. r. Washburn and Smith Page,
both of whom are with us tonight,
cast their first vote in the year 1842.
The Congregational church in Stat
fordville was organized in 1853, with
fifteen members, and with one excep.
tion, all came by letter from the old
first church on Stafford Street. In
1859 the church was built, and so far
completed that meetings were held in
the vestry. The church was dedicated
in 1850.
The Congregational church in Stat
ford Springs About the year 1s49,
in the natural growth of Stafford
Springs, there was felt to be legiti-
mate demand for. church privileges
which could not be given by the moth
er church at Stafford Street. Upon
Dec. 10, 1850, the church was organ
lied, being composed of fifty members,
thirty -one coming from the mother
church on the Street, two uniting up
on confession of faith, the rest being
received by letter from other church.