New Britain herald., 1924-10-13
NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD. MONDAY, OCTOBER IS, 1924

lhis society give llperty to nave the Meeting House painted withinside similar to Worthington Meeting House provided 1t be done without charge to the Society,"" The same year there are several references to the need of stepping stones, but 1t is five years later before they are bought. These steps presume are the brownstone steps at the west end, These steps like the foundation are of Connecticut river sand stone and probably were hauled from the vi- cinity of Cromwell if not from Port land, Connecticut. N meeting May 6, 1887 1t was agreed 10 leave the present front door open but en- trance to be at the south end which no doubt means west end. The Meeting House is not located with the points of compass, The side parallel to the present main road on what l call the south side would be exactly the sorth side were the west end of the building moved back. from the road 24 degrees of about e7 feet. In 1911 the Meeting House was again painted, 22 years since the last according 10 the records.
 At the end of GO years the Meet ing House had evidently long been in need of repairs and in 1886 com mittee was appointed to consider the matter, Many meetings were held to suggest the best ways and means and plans. It was at this time that Mrs. Ruth Hart, the widow of Genl. Selah Hart, started the fund with a subscription of $500 provid4 ed the Society subscribe like amount. This was done and later Mrs. Hart added another $500. In the book of the treasurer I find among the receipts for 1888 two amounts of $500 each: Widow Ruth Hart and A. Rockers rate bill on list 1886. $544.15. This special fund then amounted to $1.544.15, of which Mrs. Hart donated about two-thirds. The Society did not spend this with out very considerable consideration and forethought and the records show a reasonable amount of after thought.
 The records of the Society show that at this time 1887 a movement was on foot to change the location of the Meeting House. The otes just read were all takcs Between the 2d day of March and the 18th day of June 1887. On the latter day after the vote to direct the Build ing Committee to enter into con- tract for the changes, the. Society passed the following vote: That Roswell Moore, Jr., Ira Cole, Cy- brian Goodrich, Isaac Botsford and Ashbel Hooker be appointed a com mittee to enquire into the expense of removing the Meeting House and whether land can be obtained at a fair price and report to the next meeting" A week later on the Fourth of July the Society met at an adjournment of the meeting and voted That the Meeting House be moved at the expense of the So- ciety," and voted "To excuse Ash bel Hooker and Isaac Botsford from the Committee to enquire into the expense of moving the House, etc, to appoint Sheldon Moore and AL bert Norton in their stead" Four days later they met again and prob- ably having in mind the former troubles of the society in consider ing a change in the location of its Meeting House where very con- siderable minority were opposed, voted That the Meeting House be not moved unless three-fourths of the members present are in favor of particular location" Later in the meeting unanimous vote was recorded That the House be moved to- the south east side of the Road running in front of the same on the land Of Oswin Fl. Percival nemine NOhll ldHICelltS anu ldl tlIc bO' ciety resolve themselves into a Com mittee of the whole and fix the par ticular location of the House and that they meet for such purpose on | Tuesday the 11th inst. at 5 o'clock D. m, if the weather is fair and if stormy the first fair day." and That the Committee for enquiring into the expense of moving the Meeting House, etc, be directed to make definite arrangements with Mir. Per cival relative to the land" They came together again on the 18th and the following minutes show that they were in accord abont changing the location: Voted, To circulate a Subscription paper to raise the sum of One Hundred Dollars Gil i practicabe) to purchase land or which to set the Meeting House,
 and voted, To appoint Ira Cole Milo Hotchkiss. Ira Kent and George
 Cornwell a Committee 10 circulate such paper" Sheldon Moore, Isaac
 Bctsford and Jabez I.angdon. Esq.
 were chosen Committee 10 pur.
 chase the and Of Mir. Percivai. ant : Voted, That the above Committee
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