The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-08-14
RocKrNGHAm CHURCH RESTORED.
Erected in 1857, it Retains its Original
Appearance.


The old church at Rockingham which
IL to be formally opened August IS,
within the year has undergone extern
siye repairs The building dates back
10 the DAYS when All citizens, irrespec.
tive Of creed, were taxed by the govern
ment for the support Of the gospel 1t
il the only one in the state built in
those early times that retains in both
the interior and the exterior its origi
nal appearance The quaint and simple
white structure stands on an eminence
near the center of the quiet village Of
Rockingham old town, overlooking the
Williams river valley. 1t was built by
the town, the question IN relation to It
the expenses paid out of the town
treasury. In accordance with the early
custom Of always getting the Lords
house upon a hin in the middle OF the
town, the people voted that the meet
ING house he set Oh the hin west Of
David Pulsipherc house about thirty 81
forty rods
One Of the first settlements in the
vicinity was made al Rockingham old
town in 1853. The following year land
was Laid 0tt For the Use OF the First
Settled Minister" who was Rev. Samuel
Whiting This Meeting house, the first
In town, was built in 1851 A Congre.
gational society was organized in IT'S
and was kept in kgng until 1889, su4-
tanning n local pastor most Of the time.
The building has been used al different
periods by various religious denomina.
ff1rs f,sss ,,at ,sa,.th. 81, a.. .t.. 1ay,4.s.,s
nation for about seventy years. No
services have been held in il for many
years, except occasional vesper services
conducted BY TIE pastors Of the different
churches in town during the summer
months. Il was used for all town meet
ings until 1870 Since that time the
town business has been transacted at
Bellows Falls AZ the north az the
meeting house Is the buryino ground
with its ancient tombstones At the
east and west ends are porehes contain
ing staireases leading to the gallery.
The town appropriated $500, which,
with gifts and solicited subscriptions,
amounting in all 20 ST 200 or 81 800,
has been expended in general repairs
and IN restoring the interior to its
original condition, It's beauty having
been marred BIZ visitors who covered
The whitewashed walls with their auto.
graphs and carried away the ornamental
spindle work on the pews and gallery
rails and even the hinges on the doors
Of the pews, as souvenirs. The pulpit.
which had been lowered a few feet, has
been raised to its former position, with
winding stairs leading To it. The sound.
ing board the high, square pews. the
gallery surrounding the audience room
an three sides, have all been restored TO
the freshness Of 100 years ago. No
means d heating the building was pro.
yided for at first, and the WOrshippers
depended only upon foot stoves for
warmth while listening TO sermons two
hours long. Chimneys were built and
stoves were added as 4 sort Of after.
thought.
The church records IN their original
manuscript form and the communion
service were for long time in the pos
session Of " II. II Putnam, Of Spring
field, a relative Of David Pulsiphcr. who
was one Of the four men that united IN
presenting the town with the band on
which the church and cemetery are To-
Gated. But in the destruction Of Mrs.
putnam's residence by fire a few years
ago The communion service was lost. the
records are Of great historical value
to the town. and have been placed in
the Rockingham public library at Bel
lows Falls
The opening Of the rejuvenated old
church, which will be along the lines
Of an old home day celebration, with
speeches, music, refreshments. etc, will
be notable event in the history Of the
place and will no doubt attract a large
crowd Of people,