The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-02-13

was published by ii. NJ. Higgins. 1t
won a speedy recognition locally and
with the years won its way into the
hearts of the people of the world.
''SOon after its publication the church
at Bradford (Which had been painted
brown for want Of money to buy bet
ter paint, some say became known
as The Little Brown Church in the
Vale Under the circumstances what
is more natural than the little church
at Bradford, painted brown, and the
song should be welded and known as
one and the same. Some people may
try to rob the little church of its fame
but as long as it stands it will be
known as The Little Brown Church
in the Vale"
At the time the Little Brown Church
was built Bradford was a thriving
town and the largest settlement in
that part of the state except Dubuque
and McGregor. Of the times, Rev.
John K. Nutting, the pastor under
whose ministry the building was
erected, wrote: "We lived well. My
salary was paid in products, at prices
of which I could not complain. Wheat
was SO cents per bushel-mill close
at hand. Best cuts of beef, cents
per pound. Potatoes never more than
% cents per bushel-at planting time
in the spring often given away. Other
farm products were valued on the
same scale. In winter, carcass pork,
frozen, could sometimes be secured
for 1 cent per pound. A threatened
thaw would generally overwhelm the
parsonage with 'spare-ribs.' Many q
with the res) had sugar camps in the
forest and made our own sugar. 9th
ers raised sorghum"
The church grew, and as a kind of
by-product came Bradford academy.
The school was housed better than
the church, in a fine brick structure.
Beginning in small way, the school
grew and did notable work, elevat-
ing the standard of education in the
region around, so that at one time it
was said that no territory of equal size
in Iowa could claim so many people
with a college education.
In 1868 the long hoped-for railroad
came and passed Bradford by, touch
ing at Nashua two miles away and
across the river. Bradford, the larg-
est town for many miles, gradually
became town Of the past, while
Nashua grew to the dignity of popu-
lation of 1000. Where Bradford once
stood, the land was turned into farms.
The Little Brown church survived,
however. This was on account of Doc
tor Pitts song, mainly, for after it
was taken to Chicago and published,
jubilee singers took it up, concert
companies carried it all over America
and Europe, and it was heard in Aus
tralia, New Zealand and South Amer
lea. For 20 years it was one of the
popular songs Of the country.
For some years after this the song
was little in evidence, like the church.
Then about 20 years ago the song had
a revival of popularity and again be-
gan to be heard widely at religious
meetings throughout the country.
Meantime, following Bradford's
change from town into open country,
the Little Brown Church was aban-
doned. But the need Of a place of
worship caused it to be reopened and
it was restored as nearly as possible
to the way in which it was built. Thus
for more than quarter of century
1t has been a real country church.
The revival Of the song has brought
a tremendous wave of interest in the
little church which stands by the Wild
wood, and it has become a shrine for
visitors from afar. The visitors regis
ter shows that more than 10000 pill
grims make their way to the Little
Brown Church every year. More than
that, it is sort of Gretna Green, for
hundreds Of weddings take place
there every year. In addition to CIV
ing the minister his customary fee,
bridegrooms usually pay S. into a
fund which goes toward the upkeep
of the church.
The Society for the Preservation Of