Milford chronicle., 1958-04-18
HOustOnidns ActiUe In
Fund Raising Drires
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justment was made on both build
ings. the greassst loss was on the
contents, on which about half
enough insurance was carried.
Glasses for the very young and
most of the intermediate groups,
prior to the fire were conducted
in the basement of the educational
building, with some 85 to 80 young
sters involved. AS the fire origi-
mated in the heater room in immed-
late proximity 20 the basement
Sunday School division, parents re-
quested the board of trustees and
the commission on education, to in
crease facilities to the extent that
not a single child would be taught
below the ground level.
Action on a new building pro-
gram was called for and the trus-
tees of the church were elected to
serve as a building committee and
limit of $22,500.00 was set as
cost for a new structure.
Walton H. Simpson, who is doing
the reconstruction work on. the
damaged buildings, was requested
to furnish building plans for 10
room addition, twice the size of the
present educational building and
three sets of the plans, so kindly
prepared by Mr.. Simpson, a form
er Houston boy, were distributed
to three contractors, with John
wilkins and Son of Milford, being
the successful low bidder, at con-
tract price of $19,528.00. Heating
units for the three buildings and
inside painting, insulation, ETC.,
were not included in the aforemen-
toned figure.
Prior to the final awarding and
signing of the contract between the
trustees of the church and the sue
cessful low bidder, the building
project was approved. first, by the
congregation by a vote Of n to 6;
and unanimous vote by the official
board of the church, the board of
trustees Of the church, and the
conference commission on buildings
and locations.
Work is progressing rapidly on
the damaged structures and the
Wilkins firm hopes to start work
in a few days, with a promised
completion of the new building in
$50 calendar days. The rehabilita-
tion job on the burned buildings
will probably be finished in June.
On the day of. the fire, as word
of the Houston Church tragedy was
received by neighboring churches,
offers of help were made by many.
Cash donations have been received
from the Avenue and Calvary Meth
odist Churches in Milford, the First
Presbyterian Church in Milford and
the Magnolia Methodist Church.
One of Houston's Sunday School
boys. William t. Williams, Jr., sta
toned at Fort Benning, Georgia,
when he learned of the fire, was
so shaken that his chaplain, with
whom he was working, noticed his
condition and upon learning of the
disaster that had overtaken his
church and church school,
told young Williams that he would
take the matter up with the other
six chaplains at the post, and the
next missionary Offering would be
taken up for the Houston Sunday
School Building Fund if all agreed.
The chaplains agreed to the plan
and the offering received the first
Sunday in March was forwarded to
Robert H. Yerkes, general super-
intendent of the Sunday School in
the amount of $17994.
Prior to this, Private Williams
sent a contribution of $1.00 which
he was given by Jewish lad who
wanted to help his Christian bro
Tiers. This dollar, incidentally,
was the first to be received from
an individual; since then several
hundred of dollars have been re-
ceived from individuals in all walks
of life. All of these donations are
deeply appreciated.
A regular fund raising drive, un-
der the direction of John p. Lem
mon will shortly be launched. Rob-