USA > Connecticut > New London County > Groton > Historic Groton : comprising historic and descriptive sketches pertaining to Groton Heights, Center Groton, Poquonnoc Bridge, Noank, Mystic, and Old Mystic, Conn. > Part 2
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In 1900 the Eastern Shipbuilding Co. lo- cated in Groton and began the building of the mammoth steamships "Mimiesota" and "Da- kota." These were built and in due time launched. great crowds coming to the launch- ing. The "Minnesota" first and then the "Da- kota" sailed away for service on the Pacific ocean, Then happened what had been proph.
esied, the Eastern Shipbuilding Co. took its departure, leaving but the buildings of the plant and the empty tenement houses which had been built by our speculators. Since the shipbuilding company left us, very little busi- ness has been carried on in Groton. However, many of Groton's professional and business men having offices and places of business in New London find Groton a good place in which to live.
In Dec., 1900, a petition was sent to the General Assembly of the state of Connecticut to create Groton Heights a borough, and a charter at the same time was asked by other parties for a trolley between Groton and West- erly.
In 1903 the borough was incorporated and abont that time the trolley was put through. The borough now owns its own water sup- ply and lighting facilities, the Groton Electric Light and Water Company having sold its plants to the borongh.
Mr. Frederic Bill has conferred a great gift upon Groton in establishing, building and maintaining a free public library, the "Bill Memorial Library." The beautiful building stands on a rise of ground under the shadow of the monument. The original building. which was dedicated in 1800, has lately been much enlarged. The book room was extended some eighteen or twenty feet and a large room intended for a museum was built at the north. In this room is now installed a large and rare collection of butterflies, another gift from Mr. Bill, who is much interested in all nature stud- ies, also a fine collection of birds, the gift of his brother, Mr. Gurdon Bill of Springfield. Mass. Beautiful paintings loaned by Mr. Bill hang upon the walls. The building is beanti- fully furnished and well lighted. The care- fully chosen books are by standard authors. new ones being added from time to time. Gro- ton people cannot too highly estimate the valne to them of such a library.
The Anna Warner Bailey Chapter, D. . A. R. have done much for the improvement of the village in the vicinity of the fort and monu- ment. They have added a fine annex to the · Id monument house.
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RESIDENCE OF MR. GEORGE H. WATSON, EASTERN POINT
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LODGE HOUSE, RESIDENCE OF MR. MORTON E PLANT
RESIDENCE OF MR. MORTON F. PLANT, EASTERN POINI Format Garden in the foreground
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Mr. Morton F. Plant, who owns a fine es- tate here, ever since he came to Giroton has taken great interest in the place and done much for it. He has aided the D. A. R. in their schemes for improving the village. Ile
building of colonial architecture, made of red brick with stone trimmings, having offices in it for town clerk, judge of probate and the board of selectmen, and an auditorium for large gatherings.
HOTEL GRISWOLD. EASTERN POINT ERECTED 100G-1907
has done much for our highways, lately giving $10,000 toward their improvement. His great- est gift to the town is that of the fine new town hall at Poquonnock Bridge, erected there because that was the most central loca- tion. It is a handsome and commodions
On the day of the dedication a handsome loving enp was presented to Mr. Plant by the townspeople as a token of their appreciation of his gift and their esteem and regard for the donor.
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A Brief Sketch of the First Congregational Church of Groton
By M. ADELAIDE RANDALL
This fitting that a history of the town of Groton should include a sketch of its First Congregational Church, since that church had be- gun its work before Groton became legally distinct from New London, and for more than two hundred years has enriched the life of the community. A church so ancient must have much in common with the history of the town which has grown up around it and a complete account of its pastors, its branches of work and forms of activity, its various houses of worship, and its members would in- clude a large part of the town history. Such an account would be very attractive, but in this short article much of interest must neces- sarily be omitted, and we must confine our- selves to a description of the formation and carly history of that church, and its three earliest meeting honses, and attempt to give only partial accounts of the lives of its pas- tors up to the year 188o.
In 1687, while Groton was still a part of New London, it was voted in town meeting that the people on the east side should have, "liberty to invite the minister of the town to preach for them on every third Sabbath, dur- ing the most inclement months." In 1702 1 separate organization was granted with the privilege of building a meeting house, thirty five (35) feet square, of organizing a church and of hiring a minister whose salary should be 70 pounds a year. The year 1703 what the erection of this meeting honse at Center Gro- ton near the juncture of four roads, and to pay the expense of building. 300 acres of town land were sold. No pictures of descriptions of this church have come down to us, but we know that it was in use until 1767, and that here the first four ministers preached.
The first pastor, who was ordained on the eighth of November, 1704, was Rev. Ephraim
Woodbridge, a graduate of Harvard college. Ile appears to have been greatly respected and beloved by his people who made up practi- cally the entire population of the town. Ac find that within ten years his salary was in- creased to too pounds instead of the 70 pounds allotted to him, and that he was presented with a farm of one hundred acres, and it is hur- ther recorded that the town volunteered "10 cut and cart his yearly firewood," substantial proofs of the esteem in which he was held by his flock. The church still cherishes one relic of his pastorate. In 1707, John Davic, a farmer and the first town clerk of Groton, came into possession of a vast English estate and baronetcy. Upon his departure for Eng- land he left a gift of six pounds to purchase plate for Mr. Woodbridge's church. This gift has been preserved in the form of a handsome silver communion cup which was used reg- ularly in our worship for nearly two hundred years. It bears this inscription : "The Gift of St John Davie to the Church of Christ in Giroton."
On account of ill health Mr. Woodbridge was dismissed in 1721 after a pastorate of twenty years. At that time the church had eighty-four members.
The second pastor was Rev. John Owen, also a graduate of Harvard. He was zealous in promoting revivals, and in the church rec- ords we find that during revival meetings as many as eighty people were received into the church in six months, the entries being ac- companied by such fervent phrases as : "Dens landetur," "Gratia tibi Domine," and "Christus triumphans." From these same records, we are led to believe that Mr. Owen thought it fully as important that his converts should continue in grace, for of March twenty -fourth. 1752. we find this entry: " V a meeting of the First Church of Christ in Giroton, after prayer,
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it was voted by the Church that such members of this church, whom the church thought Delinquent and walked Disorderly, should be called to an account before the church." Then they yoted particularly concerning eight mem- bers ( whose names are given) "that they be notified to appear before the church and give their reasons why they had separated from the public worship and communion of the church." At a meeting in April, when the delinquents had reported, the record continues: "This church having heard all the reasons they of- fered, and considered and weighed them, voted that they looked upon the reasons as altogether insufficient to justify them, and that their conduct herein was disorderly, sinful and very offensive, and that therefore they be suspended from communion until they are convinced thereof and make Gospel satisfac- tion."
This personal supervision by the pastor scemed to agree with the church. for during his twenty-six years of ministry, two hundred and three members were added to this congre- gation. Mr. Owen was distinguished for his liberality toward those who differed from him in points of doctrine, and he advocated relig- icus tolerance to such a degree that in 1744 he was summoned before the Assembly for heresy. He was dismissed on the ground that his fault was not due to contempt of law, but rather to a misguided conscience and over- heated zeal. Mr. Owen died in 1753. and his tombstone graphically states :
"Man of God, a faithful seer. Husband, kind, a father dear And indeed a neighbor near Was he, whose clay is lodged here."
The third pastor was Rev. Daniel Kirkland who remained here only four years, and of whose pastorate there are but slight records. He was followed by Rev. Jonathan Barber, the last pastor who preached in the Center Groton meeting house. He was graduated from Yale in 1730; and for awhile labored among the Mohegan Indians. When George Whitefield first came to New England in 1740, Mr. Bar- ber was among the first to offer sympathy and co-operation, and Whitefield believed him sent as an answer to prayer : henceforth their
friendship was mutual and perpetual. After Mr. Barber was settled in Groton, Whitefield visited him on February sixth, 1763, and preached in the old meeting house. In the fol- lowing June he came again and preached from a scaffolding erected from the second story window of the Barber house. The area around was thronged with people who had come from miles about to hear him. So inter- ested were they, that large numbers followed his carriage when he drove to New London. That was a great day for Groton !
After a pastorate of ten years, Mr. Barber died and was buried in the Starr cemetery. At his simple funeral, there was neither hearse. Hor coaches for the mourners. The honored re- mains were borne upon the shoulders of many
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THE RINNE MEETING HOUSE
chosen pall-bearers, each taking his turn, while a long procession followed, walking. No dis- play of any sort was indulged in, but genuine were all the expressions of reverential sorrow and love.
At this time, 1767. the second meeting house came into being. The first that had been used for sixty-three years had fallen into disrepair and as Groton Bank was evidently increasing in population, it was decided to move in that direction. The situation chosen was the cross- road running north to Pleasant Valley, where i joins the village road that runs up the hill to the Miner homestead. The new building was quadrangular in form, a substantial structure of white oak. well clap-boarded. which for seating capacity compared well with our present church. As it was painted
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but once during its existence of sixty-seven years, it grew black, and that name clung to it although it is known in history as "the Kinne meeting-house." It had doors on three sides, the east, west and south, and as one entered the south door he faced the quaint old pulpit, perched high above the congregation, with its huge sounding board. A straight wooden bench at the back of the pulpit provided the minister's seat, and over his head was a small window. On each side of the center aisle were the high-backed pews; a boy's chin would just come to the top of one. Every part of the inside work was of clear native pine and none of its rich coloring was ever dimmed by paint.
Around the walls of the room, was a row of pews interrupted by the aisles from the side doors. A gallery ran around three sides of the house, and in the front sat the singers under the leadership of five choristers. But all these leaders were sometimes unable to hold the congregation to the tune as lined; it would persist in singing the most familiar one. On such occasions the singing would sometimes be interrupted, "to get a fresh start," and sometimes it would be allowed to proceed with somewhat inharmonious results: At first there were no cushions, carpets' or fire in this church, but about 1818, in the face of much op- position, a box stove was placed in front of the pulpit. Oftentimes staunch opposers of this luxury would complain of the "intense" heat and of the discomfort caused by it, only to be told that there was not one bit of fire in the stove.
Into this new church, in 1769, came Rev. Aaron Kinne, "the pastor of the Revolution." It is a matter of deep regret that we have very slight church records of his pastorate, but from other sources we can judge of the trials through which he and his people passed. In those stirring days religion was somewhat tinged with politics, and on the Sabbath, the minister's sermon was very apt to deal with the wrongs which the American patriots were enduring and to suggest some remedy for them. But this congregation was not to be contented with merely discussing the matter ;
it was to have an active part in the new-born nation's struggle. On September sixth, 1781. in the Battle of Groton Heights, every male member of the church, except Deacon Solo- mon Morgan, who was then a very old man, was killed. To Mr. Kinne came the sad duty of consoling and ministering to sixty widows and three times as many orphans, all made such in one day. It was due to his faith and energy that the church survived this stunning blow. But his conflicts did not close with the war, in 1783, for the people made an effort to rid themselves of the English custom of sup- porting religion by taxation, and when they found Mr. Kinne opposed to the abolishment of that custom, many of the influential persons set up another religious meeting. For awhile. Mr. Kinne preached as a missionary in New York state, hiring a supply for his pulpit at home, but soon amicable relations with the Groton church were restored and he completed his pastorate of twenty-nine years, the long- est in the history of the church.
After the dismissal of Mr. Kinne, this church was without a settled pastor for thirteen years, and during that period moral depravity ruled. "The village was a moral waste." In 1811, Rev. Timothy Tuttle's ordination took place in the Kinne meeting house, and a new order of things began to prevail. He was made pastor of two churches, the one in North Groton. now Ledyard, which had only five members; and the one at Groton Bank which had twenty- seven. Mr. Tuttle preached to each congre- gation on alternate Sundays, but chose his home in Ledyard. He was exceedingly faith- ful to his charges, and on many a stormy Sunday, he made his eight mile trip to the Lord's house. When he was settled, the country was preparing for its second great war with England, in behalf of free commerce and sailors' rights. This town suffered es- pecially, since it has always been the home of so many sea-faring men, and while the river was blockaded by British war vessels, both pastor and people were sorely tried. During his pastorate of twenty-three years, sixty-nine members were added to the church and the first Sabbath school was opened, so the church
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appears to have been flourishing. On the sixth of September, 1821, Mr. Tuttle delivered in the Old Fort the "anniversary sermon" which by request was published and is still extant, so that if any reader feels so inclined " best preserves and cake placed on the table he may come into touch with this interesting man, through his own writings. In 1834, at his own request, Mr. Tuttle was dismissed from this church, in order that he might give his time wholly to the North Church. On June sixth, 1864, he was called to his God, and from "Elder Tuttle, is your tea right?" his monument in Ledyard, he ever says to his "There's no bad taste to it," replied the Elder simply. people in both towns, "Remember the words which I spoke unto you while I was yet with you."
call on one of his parishioners and was to take tea with the cordial lady. We can imagine that for the occasion, "Grandmother's" flow- ing blue china had been brought out, her verv
and possibly some very choice tea came down from its shelf in the closet, since it was an open secret that Elder Tuttle was very fond of tea. During the dainty meal she inquired solicit- ously of her guest :
This seemed rather unappreciative until the hostess peeked into her tea-pot and found it
THE OLD CHURCH ON THAMES STREET
Mr. Tuttle, or Elder Tuttle, as he was al- . ways called, was a very tall, strongly built man whose countenance mirrored forth the dignity and solidity of his character. Every one felt great reverence for him which ap- proached awe, not that he was austere, for he was truly kind, but that his whole mind was absorbed with the thought of the solemnity of a. Christian's life. Around this straight- forward, outspoken man have gathered many stories. One of the most familiar runs some- thing like this:
One winter afternoon Elder Tuttle came to
contained merely hot water. And even to this day in Groton, a forgetful hostess is likely to laugh and say, "Well, I declare, I've made some of Elder Tuttle's tea."
It is reported that this same hostess once tried to pry from Elder Tuttle a secret con- cerning a wedding fee which he had received. After she had questioned him awhile, he leaned forward and said very encouragingby.
"Can you keep a secret?"
"Yes, of course I can."
"Well, so can 1."
In 1830, the people began to discuss the mat-
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ter of repairing their meeting house, which had now been used sixty-three years, just! as long as their first house of worship. Dur-' ing that time, Groton had grown to be a fair- sized village, and as this church now minis- tered to this district particularly it was de- cided to locate a new building within the village of Groton. Accordingly it was built in 1833 on upper Thames street not far below the present draw-bridge on property given by the Barber family. At that time the situation was very desirable and pleasant, overlooking as it does, the beautiful Thames river. This building was of course built according to mod- ern ideas, although it received two additions before it became the building we how know. This building is still standing, although the graceful Gothic spire was removed, and in- terior alterations made, when it ceased to be used as a place of religious worship. For four years after Mr. Tuttle's dismissal the church was without a regular pastor, during which time four able substitutes filled the pulpit.
The Rev. Jared Avery, a descendant of one of the founders of the town of Groton, who was installed in 1839, was the seventh pastor. The beginning of Mr. Avery's ministry here was the opening of a new era of prosperity for the church. After, an interval of forty years, the townspeople now had a minister living among them and could listen to preach- ing every Sunday. In 1842, a revival of great power was felt in this community, and the next year, many members were received into the church. One of the results was the forma- tion of the Baptist church of this village, and another was the marked increase in the spirit of giving among the people. At this time, a schedule of benevolent giving was for the first time adopted. This ministry, which lasted twelve years, terminated at Mr. Avery's re- quest in 1851. Mr. Avery was known among his people for his enigmatic sayings and his puns, and many of his bright remarks are still current.
The eighth pastor of this church was Rev. George A. Woodward, who was installed in 1851. Ilis family had been associated espec- ially with educational work, his great-grand-
father being the founder and first president of Dartmouth college, and he himself established a high school at Shrewsbury, New Jersey, of which he was the principal for four years. His ministry in Groton was marked with suc- cessful progress and continued for four years and a half. During that time our Articles of Faith and our Covenant were revised, printed and circulated among the members of the church, and a decided improvement was mani- fested in the charitable contributions. His res- ignation came unexpectedly in 1856 and was reluctantly accepted by the people.
For the following eight years, substitutes again supplied the pulpit so that the next reg- ular minister, Rev. Samuel Brown, was not in- stalled until 1864. Mr. Brown was a graduate (! Yale and previous to his conversion had been a lawyer and a teacher. Groton was his second pastorate and for two years and a half he was "a burning and shining light" here. lle was especially interested in missionary work and during his pastorate a great impetus was given to the church benevolences. The formation of The Groton Bank Temperance Union stands as a monument to his enter- prise. When this project met with deter- mined opposition, the Baptist pastor, Elder Dewhurst, supported Mr. Brown loyally. It is said that never had there been more Chris- tian union in the church, and among the churches of the village than there was during Mr. Brown's ministry. His early death, in 1866, cut short his many plans for doing good. During his brief term of service, thirty-five members were added to the church.
The tenth pastor was Rev. Joseph E. Swal- low, a graduate of Dartmouth college. Dur- ing his ministry, about $10,000 was expended in enlarging and improving the house of wor- ship and the congregation was largely in- creased. Mr. Swallow was also active in try- ing to promote public education in the town, and largely through his efforts, the nucleus of the school building we now use was erect- ed. The story is told, that one Sunday when Mr. Swallow was occupying the pulpit of a New London ntinister, he was annoyed by the condnet of the church organist, who sat with
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the choir. He stopped in the midst of his dis- course and gazed with his piercing eyes at the offender. Naturally all eyes were turned toward the culprit who felt very uncomfort- able. At the close of the service, the organist, who was somewhat of a wag, took his revenge by playing, "When the Swallows Homeward l'ly."
Mr. Swallow's dismissal took place July first, 1870, and until 1871 the church was with- out a pastor. Rev. James B. Tyler was or- dained in September of that year. Ilis death occurred on May twenty-eighth, 1872, after he had been here only eight months. He was a
heartily for every good interest of the com- munity. During several successive winters he held revival meetings in his church con- ducted by well-known evangelists of the time. He did not content himself with simply hold- ing such meetings, but often took the visiting evangelist around from house to house, so that the people might come into intimate, friendly relations with him. As a result of his zeal, many members were received into the church. In 1877 after much labor and pains- taking research he published a "Review of the Congregational Church" from 1704 to his pas- torate, with sketches of the ministers. That
NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
man of strong intellectuality and much cul- book contains all that can be gleaned from ture, and if he had been spared it is evident records concerning the church, and is very ac- curate in its information. It is by far the Best authority on the subject and to it we are indebted for many of the facts embodied in this article. Mr. Woodhull was dismissed in 1880, after serving eight years. that he would have accomplished much good The memoirs of Mr. Tyler have been writ- ten at length by Rev. J. IL. DeForest and the following quotation is from that volume: "As a pastor, he was pious, sincere, faithful, un- tiring. He loved his people with an unchang- ing love, and almost his last words were, You are very kind to me, I love you all.' "
After Mr. Tyler's death, the church was without a pastor until November of 1872, when Rev. John A. Woodhull was ordained. lle was a very spiritual man and worked
Since 1880, three pastors have ministered in this church: the Rev. A. J. Mel.cod for twelve years, Rev. Edward C. Williams for two years, and Rev. Frederick S. Hyde for thirteen years. It is not our purpose to chron- icle in detail the events of those pastorates; that privilege we leave for some future writer.
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We shall mention but one important event, Deacon and Mrs. Wilson Allyn. The dedica- the building of a new church structure.
In 1900, the question of making repairs to the old church arose, but when it was found that they would of necessity be very exten- sive, the church people decided to build a new structure instead. The site chosen was the lot on the corner of Monument and Meridian Streets, and here, in 1901, just sixty-eight years after the dedication of the former church, the corner stone of the new structure was laid. This beautiful edifice is in the Old English style of architecture, and is construct- ed of field stones laid in cement. The front of its tower, over the western entrance, was built of stones taken from localities con- nected with the history of the church and town. There are some from the old church lot at Center Groton, some from the "old black meeting house," and many from the home lots of the early pastors. Each of the deacons had a memorial stone and many of the old families of the town are here repre- sented.
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