The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1915-05-06
OLD WHORFF MEETING HOUSE
Sumner c. Ward Tells Much of In
terest Connected With the Ancient
House of Worship


House of Worship
We are indebted to Sumner c. Ward
for the following historical sketch of
the Whorff Meeting House, once To-
Gated in the town of Madison. 1t
has long since been razed, but traces
of the foundation and cellar are still
visible Mr. Ward was long a resi-
dent of Skowhegan and now spends
his summers together with his daugh-
ter, Miss S. M. Ward, at his coy
cabin at Lakewood, coming in early
spring and remaining until late fall,
while winters he resides in Dorches-
ter, Mass, at the home of his other
daughter, Miss May E. Ward, teach
er in the schools of Jamaica Plain.
| Mr.. Ward writes:
Seeing in your paper some weeks
since an item wishing for little his
tory of the Whorff Meeting House in
Madison, will say 1 was born about
one mile from said house and in my
boyhood days attended worship there.
You say that it must have been built
century or more ago. This can
hardly be 80, for l have heard my
mother say that an uncle of mine,
Moody Ward. was master carpenter
and my father j. p. Ward, worked for
him, both living at that time on what
is known as the Ward Hill in Madi
son, about one mile south of where
the meeting house stood, and man
l. r
Norridgewock, worked with them.
Later he became noted doctor and
practiced his profession in the City
of Bangor, dying there a few years
ago. My father died in 1915, aged
35 years and he was 20 years old
when the house was built. This
was erected
| well remember how it looked in
side and out 1t was quite a large
building. should say about so by 10
feet. 90 foot posted with a belfry and
spire bearing large weather vane
of bronze, which made it a very inn
posing structure. There were two
entrances, both in the west end which
led into Large hall, that extended the
whole length of the building From
lnio lutIt WClC otdii Ih<@e LEU ~ "1S
gallery above where the singers used
to sit. | can almost hear them now
can remember quite a few OF them,
among which were Barnet Whorff,
Warren Bacon, Owen Withee and his
brother, Ansel, and Milton Adams
Among the women singers were Mrs.
Withee, Miss Bacon, Miss Wellington,
Miss Dennis and a number | cannot
UnnA ainOprg There
was no musical instrument and they
were all set going by the leader. He
using the tuning fork to get the right
pitch Inside there were four rows
OF pews running across and facing the
gallery In front of which was the
pulpit This was quite an elaborate
affair, being covered inside with red
velvet. For the minister to get to his
seat and desk, he was Obliged to
climb three flights of stairs, then he
could look down upon all his hearers.
Among the ministers | remember
John Hutchins, Joseph Withee, Hosea
Washburn, Thos. Mitchell, James
Longley John Dennis, Mr.. Morse
and Mark Merrill. all good men and
all of whom have gone to their re-
ward.
These men were not looking for the
largest salary. as some of our present
day ministers are, but were content
to preach and do good for what their
members saw At to donate. Some
times ii would be a quarter OF beef
or mutton. hams or spare-r-b and
vegetables, cabbage. beets, squash.
pumpkins and occasionally a bag of
wheat. corn or oats, as at that time
farmers raised all OF the above COM
modites.
For heating the house. wood stoves
were used which were located at the
front end near the pulpit, with funnell
running back the whole length of the
building to the chimney which was at
| the extreme end of the house. In a
cold day one would nearly roast near
| the stoves and freeze farther back.
For light tallow candles were used.
being stuck In a block of wood. having
a hole bored In IL to hold II In place
| | don't think any OF them could have
been more than % candle power. for
with them all, IL was hard To tell
whether the one sitting next TO you
was white or black. Some change
since then" but In those days peo-
pie went to church to worship. and
IL they couldn't look around and Zee
the fancy gowns and bonnets II was
all the same to them. Now II 10 the
fancy dresses. hats and feathers. that
draw the crowd
think the Church Was built with
all pine lumber remember the
backs Of the seats were all one board
al last 80 inches vide and from seat
ao~n to door ~as about II or 20
inchss Zach psw az they were cali
I'd had a pansled door and when that
was eiossd II gave us kids auis"
aax stall IN play In. anhsk nova oniy
Ia those thai wsre tall saouEh to
lsok over the haek ef the Pe~ aad
zee What sas goins on
I Tho ehuFvh sas teFn do~h q mum
hsr ~ Years aao and uaovsa 10 the
village AID made thta awsfiinG
hoass II wss asa@d after John
wheFa ~ho lived asFass tss rad ap-
pasiss and matnsasnsa . tavern 20 as'
sa@nsdAts tbs isaaalaa that VA
CARVED ea h~twssm Aasasts aai Wa
ssFvsils aaa The w river ta~sa u
l ~as a nastnx kttatnaaa fsss NJ WRasH