USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Half-century history of the Farmington Avenue Congregational Church > Part 2
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However, the modified plan finally carried the day, with discretionary powers left to the building commit- tee to enlarge the edifice two feet in width and four feet in length. This was not done, and the design was carried out as it was received from the architect. The only feature which embarrassed them was the spire, the expense of which in stone would be consid- erably more than in wood. This was overcome by the further subscriptions of eight gentlemen, to whose generosity the stone spire, which was the admiration of so many in this town, was due .* It was decided to place the building six feet from the east line of the lot, to reserve twelve feet between it and the west line, and, in selling the remaining portion of the land, to provide that no building should be erected within seven feet of the west line, and that no other building than a dwelling-house should occupy the easternmost lot sold. This second reservation was conditionally removed in 1870, when the land was bought from Mr. Ellsworth by the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company. Mr. Noah Wheaton, who had been the committee's expert advisor, was the successful bidder for the erec- tion of the church, and the work was begun about the first of July, 1851.
The next event of interest was the laying of the corner-stone, which service was assigned to Dr. Hawes and was performed at 5.30 o'clock on the afternoon of the 2d of August. There are some now living who remember that occasion. The Rev. William W.
* These subscriptions were : Albert W. Butler, $300 ; Noah Wheaton, $275 ; James M. Bunce, $100 ; David F. Robinson, $100 ; Erastus Collins, $100; James B. Hosmer, $50; Nelson Hollister, $50; Russell G. Talcott, $50. Total, $1,025. Other subscriptions may have been made later, as the additional cost reported by the committee was $1,780.
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Turner, then delivered the address, reciting the mo- tives for the enterprise, which is the Magna Charta of this church, and which was recorded in full in the Society records. It was the most revered document which was sealed within a copper box and placed in the corner-stone of that sacred edifice .* After it was
* The exact location of this corner-stone was unknown when the church was sold, but was supposed to be under the tower. In the demo- lition of the structure the box was found September 2, 1899, at the south- west corner of the building, and was rescued in a damaged condition. The contents were well preserved, and with the exception of a few stamps and coins, were presented by the contractor, William F. O'Neil, to the Society. They have since been sealed in a new box and deposited in a place re- served for the purpose near the corner-stone of the new church. The ar- ticles deposited in the box were as follows : 1 .- A manuscript copy of the address delivered at the laying of the corner-stone, by Rev. W. W Turner. 2 .- Abstract of the History of the Pearl Street Congregational Society, with the Articles of Association, names of members and sub- scription list. 3 .- Printed notices of Public Meetings called March 3d and March 28, 1851. 4 .- A copy of the Hartford newspapers, viz. : Fountain and Son of Temperance, July 31, 1851 ; The Republican, July 31, 1851 ; Hartford Courier, July 31, 1851 ; Connecticut Bank Note List, Aug. I, 1851 ; Christian Secretary, Aug. 1, 1851 ; Hartford Daily Times, Aug. 2, 1851 ; Hartford Weekly Times, Aug. 2, 1851 ; Connecticut Courant, Aug. 2, 1851 ; Hartford Daily Courant, Aug. 2, 1851 ; N. E. Religious Herald, Aug. 2, 1851 ; The Calendar, Aug. 2, 1851. 5 .- Twenty-second Annual Report of the Retreat for the Insane, April, 1851. 6 .- Thirty-fifth Annual Report of the American Asylum, May, 1851. 7 .- Thirteenth Annual Re- port of the Young Men's Institute, June, 1851. 8 .- Speech for Connecti- cut, by Rev. Horace Bushnell, D. D., June, 1851. 9 .- Oration pronounced before the citizens of Hartford, July 4, 1851, by E. W. Andrews, Esq. 10. - Oration of Hon. Daniel Webster at Washington, July 4th, 1851, on the occasion of laying the corner-stone of the extension of the Capitol. II .- Connecticut Register, 1847 and 1851. 12- Geer's Hartford City Direc- tory, May, 1851. 18 .- Historical Sketch of the Charter Oak, 1851. 14 .- Illustrated Family Christian Almanac, 1851 and 1852. 15 .- Almanac of the American Temperance Union, 1851. 16 .- Charter of the City Bank of Hartford, 1851. 17 .- Calendar of Trinity College, Hartford, 1851. 18. - Report of the Board of School Visitors to the First School Society of Hartford, February, 1851. 19 .- Proceedings of the Forty-ninth Annual Convention of the Connecticut Medical Society, May, 1851. 20 .- Funeral Sermon preached at the interment of Rev. Calvin Chapin, D.D., by Rev.
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delivered the stone was laid by Dr. Hawes using the following words: " I do in the name and in behalf of this Ecclesiastical Society lay the Corner-Stone of this Pearl Street Congregational Church, to be dedicated to the cause of evangelical truth and righteousness, and to the glory of the only living and true God-the Triune Jehovah - Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And may this corner-stone ever remain in strength, in du- rability and preciousness, a bright symbol of the true Corner-Stone which God has laid in Zion, and on which His Church rests in perfect, everlasting security." A prayer was also offered by Dr. Hawes and he delivered a short address, wherein he lauded the purpose of our fathers "to furnish church room for those who would otherwise be deprived of the privilege of public wor- ship," and declared that "the consequences of their enterprise to them, to their families, to the people of the city and to posterity would be felt till the end of time and forever." The Doxology was sung and then the Benediction was pronounced by Dr. Bushnell. Such were the impressive exercises of that memorable summer afternoon.
The records of the Building Committee give us no details of their work, but we are able to gather from other sources many items of interest. The following is their description of the building, as given by Deacon Butler to the Society: "Its style of finish is of the Ro-
Mark Tucker, March 19, 1851. 21 .- A sermon occasioned by the death of Calvin Chapin, D.D., by J. Hawes, D.D., April 30, 1851. 22 .- Order of Exercises at the Anniversary of the Theological Institute of Connecticut, August 7, 1851. 23 .- The Constitution and By-Laws of the Society for Savings, Hartford. 24 .- A Bank Book of the Society for Savings. 25 .- Bank Book of the Hartford County Savings Association. 26 .- Modern Crusades, A Sermon by Rev. Charles Rockwell of Sharon, Conn., June 29, 1851. 27 .- Postage Stamps and Coins.
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manesque. The edifice is one hundred and thirty- eight feet in length by sixty-eight feet six inches in width, with pediment fifty-three by fourteen feet, in- cluding the tower, which is twenty-two feet square at its base. The height of the tower and spire is two hundred and twelve feet. The building stands with its side to the street, and is entered on the side. The main entrance is through the tower into the vestibule, which is fifty-six by eighteen feet. From the vesti- bule, the audience room is entered to the right. The dimensions of the audience room are ninety-six by sixty-four feet. There are one hundred and thirty-six pews on the first floor, capable of seating (including the gallery) one thousand persons. This room is fin- ished with graceful. Corinthian columns and capitals. The ceiling is very elaborate, being constructed with groined arches and panel work, with rich ornamental mouldings. Its beams spring over the nave, and rest on richly carved trusses. The ceiling is about forty- six feet in height from the floor. The nave is lighted from the roof, and the windows are so distributed, as to diffuse a soft and easy light. The ceiling is colored in parti-colors of ultra marine blue, and is so shaded in its several parts as to make it pleasing to the eye. The arrangements for ventilating are on an improved plan, so that the air can be changed at once. On either side of the pulpit is an ante-room. The pulpit is fitted up with four Corinthian columns, its front is semi-circu- lar. The base, entablature and panel work forming the breast work, is of rich and elegantly carved work- manship. On either side of the audience room, are five windows, and at the east end is a chancel window, furnished with opaque glass, and a window of the
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same description is placed at the west end of the room. The arrangements for lighting with gas are of a novel style, the pipes being inside the columns, and no part of the fixtures visible to the eye but the burners, which appear just above the capitals of the columns. On the opposite side of the vestibule from the audience room, there are two session rooms and over the vestibule and session rooms there is a lecture room or chapel, fifty- seven by thirty-six feet, fitted up with seventy-two slips. The entire edifice, including tower and spire, is constructed of Portland stone. The tower is very beautiful, and the tall spire rising upon the top adds completeness to the whole plan. The architect of the edifice was Minard Lafever of New York, and such was the excellence of the plan that there was no occa- sion to deviate from it in the least."
The original contract price for the building was $31,115.64, but certain alterations and improvements in its construction brought the cost up to $35,329.86, to which the architect's fee, grading, and furnishings added $3,375.13, so that, with the net cost of the land, the entire expense of the work was $47,272.99. The date fixed for its completion was October 1, 1852, but it was not ready for use until December.
Some alterations were made in the edifice during the years, and these it may be interesting to consider. The extension of the organ loft two feet out into the auditorium was accomplished in 1862 at the request of the chorus choir to accommodate two rows of singer's seats. In 1868 the windows in the rear of the pulpit, the light from which was trying to the congregation, were paneled and lettered, the words " Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men " on the north window, " Holi-
the kingdom, and the penči and the glory tortur ANIEN
2303-101
0
PEARL STREET CHURCH PULPIT AS REMODELED
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ness Becometh Thine House, O Lord for Ever " on the south, and the Lord's Prayer on the center. From the fact that it was first voted to have these lettered with the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles Creed, and the Ten Commandments, posterity might infer that the fathers were not very familiar with the extent of those selec- tions ; but their mistake was doubtless in misjudging the necessary size of the letters. The original high pulpit, with its well remembered columns, was lowered in May, 1887, at an expense of $358.55, after a plan prepared by Mr. John C. Mead and under the superin- tendence of Deacon Hollister, who presented the can- delabra standing at the corners of the platform .* It was an improvement, very tastefully carried out. During that summer, under the energetic leadership of the society's committee, an annex was built on the north side to furnish much needed accommodations for a dining-room and kitchen. Such conveniences had long been desired and a plan to secure them had been considered in 1873, but was not carried out. This addition was built by Mr. Watson H. Bliss at a cost of $1,929.44. Subsequent experience for twelve years amply justified the expenditure, as the annex was the means of quickening the social life of the church and holding the interest of its young people. Otherwise, excepting for occasional painting and frescoing, the building remained about what it was in 1851.
Many will remember the catastrophe which befell the famous spire December 10, 1878. At 6 o'clock in the evening of that day, when a southeast gale was at its height, a crash was heard in the neighborhood. On
* The candelabra were removed to the new edifice and there occupy the same position as in the old church.
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examination it was found that the finial with other stones had been blown off and had gone through the roof into the lecture room and vestibule. A fragment of stone then displaced was preserved by a relic gath- erer who was deeply interested in the accident. The spire was restored at a considerable expense the follow- ing spring under the superintendence of Deacon Hollister. Perhaps the Spratt's patent lightning rod, which in 1853 was the gift of Loyal Wilcox and Thomas Miner, had protected it from similar disasters by the lightning bolt which has been thought to strike thereabouts. The name on the face of the tower, " Pearl Street Congregational Church, 1851," was cut by Sidney Hills. The letters were in relief and held their places well until the "R" dropped out of the word " Pearl." At first there was a temporary wooden fence in front of the church, but that was displaced in 1853 by an iron fence made by Mr. George L. Lincoln. During the years the trees, which the architect planted in his plan, grew so as to darken somewhat the interior. The old time woodbine was torn down, giving the sparrows notice to vacate, and an ampelopsis which was planted in its place by Deacon Hollister, clambered high on the wall. The bell, which was removed to the new edifice on the 14th of March, 1899, is not the one originally purchased. The first bell was hung in May, 1853. It weighed 2,709 pounds, was in the key of D, and cost about $1,000. In 1856 it became cracked and was exchanged for another in the key of D, weighing 3,190 pounds, on which are the words " Jones & Hitchcock, Founders, Troy, N. Y., 1856." At the Society meeting, February 9, 1855, Deacon Turner moved that a committee be appointed to solicit sub-
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scriptions for the purchase of an organ. This motion failed through the opposition of some who were prejudiced against such musical instruments. The year following, however, a favorable vote prevailed and Deacon Turner and Mr. H. K. W. Welch were added to the Society's committee, then composed of Messrs. Robinson, Phillips, and Hollister, to purchase and erect an organ if the requisite four thousand dol- lars could be raised by subscription. The effort was successful, largely through the energy of Messrs. Daniel Phillips and Pliny Jewell, and the amount secured was $4,242. Thus in 1856 the organ, built by Henry Erben of New York, and costing $4,000, was put in place. It was considered an exceptionally good instrument at the time and gave satisfactory service during the years. The motor in 1871 brought a long line of organ blowers to an end, among whom, for aught we know, there may have been some who are now distinguished citizens.
It may be of interest to know the donors of some articles or furnishings which were presented to the Pearl Street Church. On the 29th of November, 1852, a committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Leonard T. Welles and Erastus Collins, to purchase a communion service. They reported, March 31, 1853, the gift of such a service to the church, consisting of fifteen pieces of pure silver, weighing 280.18 ounces. This testimonial of affection for the church was greatly appreciated, and each piece was inscribed in gratitude, "Presented to the Pearl Street Church, Hartford, David F. Robinson and Albert W. Butler, A.D., 1853." 'To this service two plates and four goblets were added by a vote of the church February 24, 1859, when the
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number of deacons was increased to six. The elegantly bound folio Bible, used in the pulpit, from which the people have been taught for half a century, was the gift of Messrs. Newton Case, Edwin D. Tiffany, and Edmund Shattuck. The quarto Bible in the chapel was presented by Mr. Charles Hosmer in 1852, and that in the parlors by a beloved pastor, Rev. William L. Gage, D.D. In 1868 a communion table was given by Deacon John B. Eldredge .*
We now turn back in our narrative to the forma- tion of the church organization for which this home was made ready. The signers of the "Articles of Association " had agreed to connect themselves with a Church to be formed according to the usages of the Consociated Churches of Connecticut, provided said church should adopt and hold the Confession of Faith and Covenant, in all essential particulars, which at that time were held and acknowledged by the First Church in Hartford. In accordance with this pledge the Society's Committee was requested, October 31, 1851, to consider the expediency of organizing a church. Being engaged for some time in attempts to secure a minister, and doubtless thinking that more could be gathered into such a church if the edifice was built first, no action was taken until September 14, 1852, when Messrs. Turner, Robinson, and Allen were appointed a committee " to take all necessary measures for the organization of the church." They fixed upon the 15th of October for that event. Meanwhile two meetings of the society were held to settle upon the
* This table is now preserved and used in the parlor of the Farming- ton Avenue Church, where it is surrounded by the pulpit furniture and deacons' chairs of the old church.
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Articles of Faith and Covenant. Those of the First and Second Churches were reviewed and those of the First Church adopted with the addition of one article on the Resurrection (Art. XI.) from the creed of the Second Church. These were exactly those then used by the Third or North Church, excepting the afore- mentioned article. The Articles of Faith have never been altered, but the phraseology of the Covenant was changed December 16, 1858.
A letter missive signed by the committee was sent to the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Churches of this city, and the church in East Hartford, inviting them to meet by pastor and delegate in the Lecture Room of the new edifice at 6 o'clock on the evening of the day appointed to organize, if they should see cause, " a Church to be styled the Pearl Street Church." The following resident clergymen were also invited : Thomas Robbins, Charles A. Goodrich, John Orcutt, B. B. Beardsley, Horace Hooker, A. C. Baldwin, Wm. H. Corning, and Thomas S. Childs. Revs. Amos Sav- age, A. C. Washburn, and William Dixon were present and invited to sit with the council as corresponding members. Rev. Samuel Spring was the moderator and Rev. W. W. Patton, scribe. After the prelimi- nary proceedings had been reviewed, the body ad- journed to the auditorium. The following exercises were conducted : Reading of the Minutes of the Council by the Scribe ; Invocation and Reading the Scriptures, by Rev. Charles A. Goodrich ; Singing ; Prayer by Rev. Mr. Patton ; Singing ; Sermon by Rev. Joel Hawes, D. D .; Organization of the Church by the assent of the members to the Articles of Faith and Covenant, with a prayer by Rev. Samuel Spring ; Fel-
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lowship of the Churches by Rev. Walter Clarke ; Sing- ing ; and Benediction by Rev. A. C. Washburn. It is said that " a large audience was in attendance and the exercises were of a most pleasing and edifying charac- ter." The text of the sermon was Psalm 133:1, and in his remarks Dr. Hawes boldly cautioned them against " proselyting practices " and expressed his good will toward the new church. Thus the church was formed. It does not appear, either from the Letter Missive or the action of the Council, that the name then assumed was more than " Pearl Street Church," although the word "Congregational " was commonly introduced ac- cording to the action of the society, the name on their edifice, and the usage of the time.
The original members of the church were ninety- one in number, of whom thirty-six came from the First Church, fifteen from the Second Church, twenty- seven from the Third Church, three from the Fourth Church, and ten from churches outside of this city. Forty-six were men and forty-five women. A list of these, giving their residences, was then printed, copies of which are extant .* Seventeen of these original
*Wm. W. Turner, Asylum Hill; Maria L. Turner, Asylum Hill; Helen H. Turner, Asylum Hill; James B. Hosmer, 142 Main street ; Ann H. Bull, 142 Main street; Sheldon P. Thacher, 53 Main street ; Mary G. Thacher, 53 Main street ; James M Bunce, 32 Ann street ; Elizabeth H. Bunce, 32 Ann street ; Jonathan B. Bunce, 32 Ann street ; Russell G. Tal- cott, 22 Temple street; Mary S. Talcott, 22 Temple street ; Mary F. Mather, 58 Main street ; George S. Beach, 14 Pratt street ; Melvin B. Copeland, United States Hotel ; John L. Boswell, Asylum Hill ; Sarah M. Boswell, Asylum Hill ; Elizabeth W. McCorcle, Asylum Hill ; Edward W. Parsons, 5 High street ; Mary C. Stebbins, 5 High street ; Thomas Smith, 14 High street; Mary A. Smith, 14 High street ; Norman Smith, Jr., 14 High street; David B. Moseley, 18 Wells street ; Mary W. Moseley, 18 Wells street ; Phineas S. Riley, 32 Elm street ; Mary A. Riley, 32 Elm street ; Alfred E. Ely, 28 Main street ; Lawson C. Ives, High street ;
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members have died during the present pastorate, and three only remain within the fellowship of the church. Their names are often mentioned with respect -- Nathaniel Shipman, Jonathan B. Bunce, and Mrs. Mary W. Moseley. During the year 1853, there were eighty-seven accessions, of whom seven remain at the close of the half-century, as follows: Charles H. Pren- tice, Franklin Clark, Mrs. Charissa A. Welch Cook, Ephraim Cook, Mrs. Eliza A. Cook, Julius H. Cotton, and Mrs. Mary C. Robinson Shipman. A summary of
Marietta T. Ives, High street ; Walter D. Ives, High street ; William H. Kelsey, 11 Grove street; Emily A. Kelsey, II Grove street ; Caroline Harris, 18 Pearl street ; Fanny A. Harris, 18 Pearl street ; Augusta P. Or- cutt, 248 Main street ; Albert W. Butler, 59 Main street ; Laura F. Butler, 59 Main street ; David F. Robinson, 61 Main street ; Anne S. Robinson, 61 Main street ; Nelson Hollister, 15 Grove street ; Edith P. Hollister, 15 Grove street ; Arthur N. Hollister, 15 Grove street ; Mary H. Buell, 15 Grove street ; Newton Case, 6 High street ; Lemira Case, 6 High street ; Charles P. Welles, 4 College street; Jane N. Welles, 4 College street ; John B. Corning, 27 Pearl street ; Lavinia B. Corning, 27 Pearl street ; Hannah C. Burnham, 29 Ann street ; Stephen Spencer, 27 Church street ; Rebecca Spencer, 27 Church street ; Olcott Allen, 19 Pratt street ; Lucy Ann Allen, 19 Pratt street ; Edward P. Allen, 19 Pratt street ; Erastus Collins, 28 Church street ; Mary A. Collins, 28 Church street ; Burgis P. Starr, 25 Church street ; Charlotte M. Starr, 25 Church street ; George W. Root, I Grove street ; Caleb M. Talcott, 61 State street ; Harriett L. Tal- cott, 61 State street ; George B. Hawley, 5 Pratt street ; Sarah B. Haw- ley, 5 Pratt street ; George B. Buell, 5 Pratt street ; Mary L. Sheldon, Edwards street; Harriett Miner, 40 Church street ; Susan A. Miner, 40 Church street ; Theron Ives, II Church street ; Martha A. Ives, II Church street ; Mary B. Shepard, 42 Asylum street ; Chauncey Howard, Eagle Hotel; Sherman Boardman, 67 Trumbull street ; Henrietta Boardman, 67 Trumbull street ; Elizabeth R. Boardman, 67 Trumbull street ; Ellen L. Boardman, 67 Trumbull street; Daniel Phillips, 8 Pratt street ; Mary M. Phillips, 8 Pratt street; George M. Welch, 40 Temple street; Samuel Woodruff, 31 Main street; Lucy Woodruff, 31 Main street ; Henry W. Taylor, 19 Pratt street ; Thomas R. Dutton, 27 Prospect street ; Maria H. Dutton, 27 Prospect street ; Henry K. W. Welch, 13 Central row ; Frances L. Welch, 13 Central row ; Nathaniel Shipman, 237 Main street ; William H. Corning, 27 Pearl street; Frances L. Orcutt, 248 Main street ; Theo- dore M. Lincoln, 34 Buckingham street.
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the membership history to the time of removal shows that the church received in all 1,395 persons. In 1858, a year of grace long to be remembered, 154 were re- ceived, 102 at one communion. In 1878, another year of revival, 173 were received, 82 at one communion. The records give the names of 328 children who re- ceived baptism in connection with the Pearl Street Church.
On the 21st of October, 1852, the first church meet- ing was held. It was called principally to act with reference to calling a pastor to which we shall pres- ently turn. At that meeting, Henry W. Taylor was elected Clerk,* and George M. Welch Treasurer. The latter served with honor in that capacity until his death, February 20, 1890, at which time he was the senior officer in the continuous service of the church.t It was not until the 16th of December, 1852, that the first deacons were elected. The choice then fell upon Messrs. Wm. W. Turner, Albert W. Butler, Thomas Smith, and Olcott Allen. All these served until they were called to their reward. On the 27th of January, 1859, the number of deacons was increased to six, and Erastus Collins and Stephen C. Brownell were chosen. Deacon Brownell remains at the close of the half- century. He has been longer an officer in the church than any since the beginning -forty-two years, and we look with affection upon his face, like those who beheld a Stephen of old " as it had been the face of an
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