The Newtown bee., 1909-08-13

not accept the pine timber purchased
 by committee" and some trouble en-
 sued. On the last day of 1895 they
 voted to appoint . committee to
 mitch 6 stake" or appoint a place
 wheFe0n to build q meeting house
 and q committee from adjoining
 towns was recommended to be ap-
 pointed by the County court. In
 September, 1906, q committee was
 appointed consisting of one member
 each from the towns of Southbury,
 Washington and Br0okiield. In De,
 cember, 1906, action was taken on
 the report of the C0mmltte to this
 effect; We do not accept the dolngS
 of the committee in 'hitchinga stake
 for q meeting house in this Society,
 and We will remove the stake toCran-
 berry Pond Gas this district was
 named from iCs proximity to the
 cranberry pond just northl and
 hitch q stake at that place for a
 meeting house." You must remem-
 Der that the Center at that time was
 ct the MalIett district, and a smaller
 i.lage by the four corners near the
 Starr Garfield place. There was no
 village here at that time, but the
 church site was located in the woods
 and the stumps still exist under this
 church. The only road near here was
 the cross road by James Chisholm's,
 which extended east through the
 fields to the north anu south road
 from Hut Hill, past Timothy Ran
 dall's house by "Tim's pond" towards
 New Milford, which was few rods
 east of the present road. There was
 no road north, east, south or west
 by the church when it was built.
 January &, 1907, 1t was voted to
 build a meeting house with a steeple,
 the dimensions to be 52 feet long, 40
 feet wide, with 25 foot posts, and
 covered with shingles, and that the
 price of worK one it shall be three shilIings and six pence per day and seven shillings for four cattle team. The house was raised and covered in 1907. At a meeting held December 2S, 1908, a committee was appointed to finish the meeting house the next summer if convenient, and when fin- ished it was to be seated by pews. These were the old style of box peWs in rectangular form with seats on three sides and a door opening into the aisle. A brass triangle was used TOT bell. In 1897 and again in 1908 they petitioned the General As sembly for lottery, which was com mon then, but nothing resulted from it at that time. The church was or ganized August 10, 1909, with 29 and MT Reuben Taylor was called to be its first pastor. He preached for five years. In January, | 1911, a committee was appointed to make further efforts to finish the | meeting house and in 1872, the tax which had been one cent for religious was raised to five cents on | the dollar on the list. The lottery | started in 1907 was re- newed in 1913 and Andrew Minor l was appointed agent to the General AssemDly to urge the matter for the relief of said Society or to apply for relief in some other way. The lot tery privilege was granted by the General Assembly, but the result to the Society was failure and the meeting house was finished after years by contributions and | taxes from the people.
 During these first years the fund was unavailable, some of it being un- paid and altogether it was time of great hardship for the young church. 1 would like to quote from he opening records of the church. Rev Reuben Taylor, the first pastor, vas ordained January "A, 1910. During his short ministry the church was called upon to endure some ,rials. It was also favored with some seasons of temporary refreshing. Though often in the fire it was not consumed Twenty were added to it's communion during that .ime.' @ |
 In 1889 the parsonage was built 1t cost of s1292, this being met by persons taking shares of $25 each. These were afterWard contributed Q or bought by the society, which 1ow owns the property. In 1S42 the Society voted to repair the under )inning and steeple, put Slips in he place of pews and cover the building on three sides with pine siding, also. to paint the inside and outside, which was done. In 1885 he chapel was built at a cash cost ,f S813, besides contributions Of work and material. In 1894 the ,hurch was painted inside and out tt a cost of $600. This year the ;eiling and side walls were covered with metal, the interior and exterior painted and carpet has been put town, the total cost being 5000, of which about $500 has been pledged md most of it paid. The total en- 'olment of the church from 1909 to he present time is 45O The larg- ,st membership at any one time was LOS. The number of members at present is 75. Among the active members of the church during the past 60 years would mention Ieorge Bennett, deacon from lS6O ill his death in 1890, an earnest member of the church and society, whose splendiu Christian character ,as been and still is an Inspiration to this church. Dea George Minor Il ways interested and helpful in the welfare of the church, member of 'amily which was active and infu- .ntial in it's starting and growth. Lyman Smith had an especially large share in the material and financial