USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartland > History of Hartland, the 69th town in the Colony of Connecticut > Part 8
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"In April 1905, Rev. Thomas Booth was appointed to charge, coming here directly from England, and found a church free from debt, an energetic, sympathetic and en- thusiastic community. At a Quarterly meeting held Oct. 6, 1907, Rev. Booth was given permission to resign to take up new duties in the West. During his ministry in West Hartland many improvements had been made to the par- sonage, the money being provided by the Ladies' Aid.
"Jan. 1, 1908 the Rev. T. E. F. Morton, a missionary from India, on a visit in this country, was appointed to the church and served until April; the Rev. Mr. Sizer coming to the charge and staying until April 1, 1909.
"Rev. George W. Eastland was appointed as pastor April 1, 1909, and reappointed for four more years. Inter- est throughout the years was good and the attendance large. He and his family were much beloved by the whole community."
Succeeding Rev. Mr. Eastland were Rev. W. D. Hull in 1914, Rev. Alfred E. Race in 1915; Rev. Robert Thorne in 1916, and the Rev. Mr. Eastman.
Rev. P. Harry Dodd served both the Methodist and Congregational Churches from 1917 to 1922, preaching the Sunday morning services in the 2nd Congregational Church, and was the last Methodist minister to reside in the parsonage adjacent to the church building.
For several years after the federation in 1923, the Methodist Church edifice was little used and soon became in need of major repairs. A renovation program began in the 1940's which restored the building to its present state, much of the work being accomplished by volunteer labor and individual contributions.
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The Churches
At present the Hartland Historical Society houses its collection of historical material in one room of the building.
Methodism in West Hartland has not entirely vanished from the scene. Although federated with the Second Congregational Church since 1923, some 25 members of the Methodist Society still maintain their individual identity and labor to keep alive the enthusiasm which for a time, at least, made Methodism a vital force in the religious life of the community.
HISTORY OF BETHANY LUTHERAN FREE CHURCH (by Rev. Stanley Dokken, Pastor)
Bethany Lutheran Free Church of East Hartland, Connecticut was organized September 8, 1941, in the home of Rev. T. B. Tergesen with a charter communicant membership of 19. The present communicant membership is 80. Nearly all of these members had formerly lived in Brooklyn or New York, N. Y., and had been active members of their local churches. As these people moved out of the cities and settled in new homes in East Hartland, they immediately sought Christian fellow- ship among those of kindred faith.
Sometime before the organization of the congregation, they met in the various homes for fellowship meetings. This led first to the organi- zation of the Hilltop Mission Society, a ladies' society still functioning for the promotion of missions, and later, to the organization of the Congregation.
As the name indicates, the Congregation was organized as a Luther- an Church and thereby accepts the Lutheran confession of faith and teaches according to it. One distinguishing mark of the Congregation, however, is its practice in regard to membership. The Congregation is organized, in accordance with New Testament teaching, of only be- lievers, who not only accept the Lutheran confession of faith, but also confess Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and by the testimony of their lives show that they are real Christians. One therefore does not automatically become a member of the Church at time of Confirmation, but must be individually accepted by the Congregation upon the recon- mendation of the pastor and the Board of Elders at a business meeting. Another distinctive practice of this Lutheran congregation, as well as the Synod to which it belongs, is its form of worship which is often referred to as a low-church worship. In contrast to a more symbolic form of worship, it is simple, informal worship, in which the preaching of the Word of God is the central feature.
Bethany Lutheran Congregation belongs to the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America. It joined the synod in 1943. The synod has its headquarters in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where our Lutheran Brethren Schools, namely, Hillcrest Lutheran Academy and the Luther-
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History of Hartland
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+
-Courtesy Rev. Stanley Dokken
Bethany Lutheran Free Church, East Hartland, Connecticut
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The Churches
an Bible School and Seminary, are located. A number of the young people of the Congregation have attended our Schools, especially Hill- crest Lutheran Academy. Through the channels of our synod, the Con- gregation actively supports our Schools and gives regularly and gener- ously to our foreign missions in Africa, Japan, and Formosa. For a num- ber of years, the Congregation, together with the other organizations of the Church, has carried part support of a missionary family in Japan.
The Congregation secured its first Church home in June of 1943, when Pastor Tergesen's house was purchased. It was later remodeled to serve as a Church home. In the Fall of 1951, an upstairs apartment was added for a Parsonage.
At a special business meeting on July 10, 1952, the Congregation thankfully accepted the lot given by one of its members for the building of the Church. At the quarterly business meeting in September it was decided to begin building in the Spring of 1953 as soon as the weather would permit. Plans progressed rapidly and the work was begun. On Sunday afternoon, March 22, 1953, the Congregation gathered to cele- brate the ground breaking. On June 28, 1953, the corner-stone was laid and on November 8, 1953, the new Church was dedicated.
In 1956, a new parsonage was also built. It was dedicated on July 15, 1956. Both the church and the parsonage were built for the most part by the men of the church. working in the evenings and on Satur- days. The splendid cooperation, the generous gifts as well as donations of time and material, made it possible for the Congregation to complete the buildings without a mortgage.
The following have served as pastors of the Congregation:
T. B. Tergesen (responsible pastor) 1941-1943
Theodore Thompson (part-time) 1943-1945
C. K. Randoy 1945-1946
L. H. Lillestolen Stanley Dokken 1951 present pastor
1948-1951
Organizations that function within the church are the Sunday School with an enrollment of 104 and a staff of 17, the Young People's Society, the Hilltop Mission Society, the Children's Service, the Choir and Stringband, and the Junior Choir.
CHAPTER VI
The Cemeteries
THE EAST HARTLAND CEMETERY
The Hartland Green Burying Ground, as it was originally called, began with a meeting of the selectmen held on September 16th, 1766 at the dwelling house of Daniel Ensign, when it was voted "to lay out 2 acres on Parsonage Lot on East Mountain also 2 acres on West Mount- ain the same." At a Town Meeting held Dec. 25th, that same year, it was reported by Joshua Giddings and Jason Millard that they did-
"on Nov. 25, 1766 lay a burying place beginning a little east of meeting stake, beginning by the highway a stake and stones by it, thence running easterly by the highway twenty rods to a stake and stones by it, thence running north 16 rods to a stake and stones, then turning west and running 20 rods to stake and stones, thence turning south 16 rods to the first starting.
by Joshua Giddings ) Jason Millard )
Selectmen,
Thomas Giddings, Clerk."
Although the ground was selected and laid out by the selectmen, the first Ecclesiastical Society had jurisdiction over it until the East Hartland Cemetery Association was incorporated and assumed control on June 22, 1916. David N. Gaines was sexton for over 50 years and was one of the pioneers in organizing the Cemetery Association and develop- ing the program which has restored the cemetery to its present state of excellent preservation. Associated with him were Edward P. Jones and Edward H. Knight. Others who were instrumental in forming the asso- ciation were Ida E. Hayes, Edward E. Emmons, Irving D. Emmons, Con- stant W. Gower, Frederick H. Jones, Edgar B. Case, Lawrence B. Ran- some, Robert W. Hayes, and N. M. Wright.
David N. Gaines has quite a complete history of the cemetery as it was in the early days, and the following are extracts taken from his note- book on the subject :
"At a meeting held Dec. 27, 1826 it was voted to raise money to purchase a hearse and build a hearse house and fence the burying ground 114 ( on a dollar. The front fence was built first. Wm. Selby, Jr. must have built it for he was paid $7.00. Samuel Skinner, Lester Loomis, Samuel Gates the committee. The fence they built was a board fence. The
The Cemeteries
-Courtesy Lewis S. Mills
View of East Hartland Cemetery showing millstone used by Titus Hayes to grind grain for Revolutionary Sol- diers and grandchild of the historic Charter Oak, dedicated June 17, 1930.
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History of Hartland
boards were about 3 inches wide with a board painted red on top for a cap. In Oct. 1844 it was voted to sell the hearse harness and repair the hearse house. This stood up on east side of yard very near center, north and south in northwest corner of the garden as it is now. It was sold to Wm. W. Clark in 1866 and he moved it over west of his place then. Mrs. Kate E. Hyde owns it now (Key No. 68) and uses it for a hog-pen in southwest corner of her lot. They used to let the burying ground out to be pastured and the proceeds went to help pay for ringing the bell and sweeping the church. I find a good many votes to that effect.
"It was voted on the 7th of Oct. 1851 to invite the in- habitants of the Society to meet on the 25th of the month (Oct.) for the purpose of clearing the burying ground of stones, bushes, and other nuisances. John Gates, Watson Gibbons, Committee. Aaron Gates and Luke Loomis were a committee appointed to trade land with Joel Miner. They let him have land on east end and took the same number of rods of his land on the north end as it is now. See June 8, 1809, Vol. 6 page 305 also 328. Then on Jan. 30, 1900 the Society bought of Emma C. and B. B. Case, or paid them $25. for a strip of land to save a lawsuit, for said land already belonged to the Society by 1766 (See Vol. 16-42 also see Vol. 16 page 636.)"
Edward P. Jones in a report to the East Hartland Cemetery Associ- ation under date of June 24, 1950 includes several historical items in connection with the cemetery, and the following are extracts taken from this report:
"In the early days drovers from Connecticut went as far north as Vermont and returned with cattle and sheep which were driven to Connecticut. From Albany they came over the Hartford and Albany Turnpike which runs in an almost straight line from Hartford to Albany . .. Over this road the cattle and sheep were driven from Albany. When they reached East Hartland the animals were placed in the burying-ground and the drovers rested in the tav- verns. Here they stayed for several days, buying, selling and trading. The burying-ground furnished grass for the cattle and sheep, and the taverns furnished the liquid re- freshment for the men. When no more business could be done in East Hartland they moved along toward Hartford.
"Before the cemetery was taken over by the Associa- tion the grass was mowed with a scythe. Much of the time it was high and uncut. Low blueberry bushes had grown in many parts and the whole cemetery presented a very un- tidy appearance. The head-stones were not set with any regularity, and the entire grounds needed attention. The land which originally was set aside as a 'burying place' was covered with stones left at the time of the glacial period. Continuous improvements have been made since the Association was formed. First all stone markers were removed and the cemetery ploughed and harrowed. After the blueberry roots were removed, the surface was graded and resurfaced; all stones re-set and monuments placed in their original positions.
"Land at the north end of the cemetery was purchased by David N. Gaines with money obtained from the Estate
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The Cemeteries
of Oliver Cowdrey. A memorial fund of $100. was also de- posited in Mr. Cowdrey's name. We now see the foresight shown by Mr. Gaines for if the land had not been purchased, there would have been no place for the bodies brought from the Hartland Hollow Cemetery."
"Near the center of the cemetery is a grandchild of the old Charter Oak set out June 17, 1930 by Governor Trumbull assisted by Wilbur Miller, first selectman of Hart- land, just north of Deacon Jones' lot. This was at the time of the patriotic celebration commemorating Bunker Hill Day
"Near this Charter Oak was set a gristmill stone which was owned and used by Titus Hayes in Hartland Hollow for grinding grain for the soldiers of the Revolution. A bronze tablet costing $125.00 was placed on this stone. Mr. Hayes was the official miller in Hartland for the duration of the war. Lilies were set out near the Charter Oak which were brought from the Hayes dooryard in Hartland Hol- low, and a lye stone obtained in Barkhamsted was placed nearby. This stone is now used as a seat and is covered with vines. The lye stone originally had a circular cut in the upper surface. On the lye stone was placed a barrel of ashes through which water was poured. The potash water which drained through was collected and boiled with soaps and fats from the kitchen. This made the soft soap used by the earlier generation.
"Across the main drive is a second grist mill stone taken from the old Hayes mill, set on edge and used as a memori- al for Mr. and Mrs. David N. Gaines.
"A noon stone which originally set in front of the blacksmith shop in North Becket and owned by Nathaniel Taggert has been placed on the left side of the main drive. Mr. Taggert's granddaughter, Polly, married John, son of The Rev. Aaron Church of Hartland. This was the reason the noon stone was brought to East Hartland. On the south side of the noon-stone is placed a stone post and from the post is cut a groove to the opposite side of the stone. This groove is cut exactly north and south. When it is exactly noon the shadow of the stone post reaches the groove- hence its name. Near the noon-stone is set a small stone hand basin. There is a story which relates that in the early days a certain Hartland man was in the habit of returning home in a tipsy condition. One day when his wife saw him coming she hid the wash basin. After a heated discussion he said, 'Well, old woman, I will bring home a wash basin that you cannot hide!' Later he produced this stone basin. "Near the northeast corner of the cemetery is a stone that has been struck by lightning. Cemetery stones that have been struck by lightning are exceptionally rare. This stone was brought from the Hartland Hollow Cemetery. "On each side of the main entrance a grandchild of the old Charter Oak has been set out in memory of Cap- tain Israel and Colonel Israel Jones, and inside the front fence is a row of 6 of these Charter Oaks set out in mem- ory of the officers above the rank of Captain in the Revo- lutionary War. It is said that this is the only row of 6 Charter Oaks anywhere in Connecticut. A row of 25 oaks and 25 hard maples have been set out on the east and west sides of the cemetery in memory of 50 officers who served in the Revolution. On each side of the entrance is a tall
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History of Hartland
stone post which supports the front gates. These stone posts came from the old chair shop foundation in Rob- ertsville. When they were set, new gates were added. In front of the cemetery there is an old stone horse-block and hitching post, and in front of the fence, settings of blue Chinese iris have been placed. In all 350 settings of flowers were added a few years ago. In front of the ceme- tery is a row of stone posts with iron rings. In the olden days horses were hitched to stone posts. These iron rings are set in sulphur, and David Gaines remembered as a boy keeping the fire burning so the sulphur might not get cold
"At the north end of the cemetery 356 small pine trees were set out some years ago in memory of the Privates of Hartland who fought in the Revolutionary War."
Within recent years the stone walls on the east and west side of the cemetery have been rebuilt, restoring it as nearly as possible to its orig- inal appearance. Its high elevation and the care and attention given by the present Cemetery Association make it a most attractive spot as a final resting place for those carly settlers who first laid out this plot when Hartland was a wilderness.
The present officers of the East Hartland Cemetery Association are Rev. Willard Carter
President
Vice President
Secretary-Treasurer Sexton
Mrs. Gladwin Parmelee Dr. Roderick B. Jones James Ransom
THE WEST HARTLAND CEMETERY
Although the vote taken in connection with the laying out of the East Hartland Cemetery on September 16, 1766 mentions two acres to be laid out on the West Mountain for the purpose of a burying place, there is no record of a report from the selectmen to the effect that this was done at that time.
The Second Ecclesiastical Society was not formed until May 1780, and as outlined in the history of this society, the Parsonage and Min- ister's Lots were exchanged with Samuel Talcott for land some two miles north of their original location. In the exchange, the lot selected for the Minister was approximately one-half mile north of the Meeting House. The records are obscure as to how and why the land was obtained or the site selected, for the Meeting House was so far away from the Par- sonage and Minister's Lots. Tradition has the Meeting House built over part of the burying ground, but there is no evidence to substantiate this statement.
The oldest grave in the cemetery is that of Mr. Daniel Adkins, who died in 1777. This grave is approximately two rods west of the Meeting House which indicates that location being used for burial purposes be-
The Cemeteries
-Courtesy Lewis S. Mills
Millstone in West Hartland Cemetery with plaque dedicated to original incorporators of West Hartland Cem- etery Association.
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History of Hartland
for the first Meeting House of the Second Society was erected. The first record of a deed to the West Hartland Burying Ground is dated Decem- ber 27, 1823 (Vol. 8 P-271), when Joel Ensign executed a deed to the Second (School) Society describing the land as follows:
"Bounded east by highway and meeting house, north Arnold Oatman and Wareham Williams, south and west by my own land, except the herbage and that to be taken off by calves and sheep."
The first tier of graves comes within two feet of the west side of the meeting house. This tier contains the graves of early ministers serving the Second Society and their families. Close by in this same section are the graves of Consider Tiffany of Tory fame, the Wilders, Gilmans, Wil- liams, Coes, and many others of those who first settled on the West Mountain.
In later years Rev. Charles Goddard, who served the Second Soci- ety for many years, was given the distinction of being buried in the exact center of the cemetery, and a monument erected over his final resting place suitably inscribed and symbolic of a shepherd in the midst of his sheep.
Like all other country cemeteries, little care was given to mainten- ance and upkeep. When there were no longer calves and sheep to remove the herbage, it soon became a tangled mass of brush and briars.
On May 26, 1921, the West Hartland Cemetery Association was formed and incorporated by the following original incorporators:
Carlton E. Osborn Henry W. Beecher
Pearl W. Newton
Edward A. Gaylord Sara G. Williams
Addie T. Beecher Rollin B. Judd Alice M. Judd
A program of restoration was inaugurated immediately and under the direction of Carlton E. Osborn and Pearl W. Newton, the cemetery was over a period of years restored to a better condition. For forty years this association has been active in promoting the improvement and ap- pearance of the original burying ground.
By 1900 the older part of the cemetery had been entirely filled. It was at that time that Pearl W. Newton purchased some additional land on the north side from Willard M. Terry, reserving a large section for the Newton family. The remainder was sold to other individuals. The family cemetery of the Newtons which was originally located in the lot which now separates the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Cottle and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Groth was moved to the Newton plot in the West Hart- land Cemetery in the early 1900's.
In 1930 the East Hartland Cemetery Association was fortunate in obtaining some of the old mill-stones used by Titus Hayes and others to grind grain in the mills located in North Hartland Hollow. In 1938 the North Hartland Hollow section was subjected to heavy flood waters to such an extent that some of the river banks were washed away and one additional mill-stone was discovered in the bed of the river where it had apparently been buried for many years. North Hollow had by this time
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The Cemeteries
become devoid of habitation, but the old road along the river was still open. One Sunday morning an expeditionary force from West Hartland visited the scene and succeeded in removing the stone transferring it to the West Hartland Cemetery. Knowing that these stones were usually used in pairs a thorough search failed to reveal another. This stone is not of granite as are those in the East Hartland Cemetery. This being red in color indicates that it was a stone imported from another area. A bronze plaque in memory of the original incorporators of the West Hartland Cemetery Association, donated by A. A. "Birthday" Johnson, was incorporated in the stone, and suitable dedication ceremonies were held on August 11, 1940.
In 1940 it became necessary for the Metropolitan District Commis- sion to remove the Hartland Hollow Cemetery to other locations. Land on the northerly side of the West Hartland Cemetery was purchased of Edward and Perry Ransom for that purpose. The stone wall separating the two properties was removed so that it now appears as one cemetery, but in reality the new addition is maintained by the town of Hartland and does not come under the jurisdiction of West Hartland Cemetery Association.
For many years the West Hartland Cemetery Association has spon- sored an "old home day" type of celebration. These are held on Memori- al Day and offer an opportunity for relatives and friends whose ancestors rest peacefully in the old West Hartland Cemetery, to share in the work and expense of its maintenance. The present officers of the Association are: Stanley A. Ransom, President; George F. Miller, Vice President; Perry M. Ransom, Treasurer; Irene V. Shepard. Secretary; Trustees: James B. Hall, Edith V. Miller and Laura M. Dickinson.
-Courtesy Metropolitan District Commission
Hartland Hollow Cemetery
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History of Hartland
HARTLAND HOLLOW CEMETERY
This cemetery was not established by either of the two Ecclesias- tical Societies, but by the selectmen and consequently became strictly a town cemetery.
Before 1811. those who resided in Hartland Hollow were for the most part buried in either the East or West Hartland Cemetery. Hart- land Hollow residents. although having no church in their midst, felt they should at least be entitled to a cemetery in their own section. Fol- lowing is a copy of the original deed. dated January 7, 1811, which shows from whom the land was acquired:
Extracts from Deed of Hartland Hollow Cemetery
(Copy of original Deed in possession of and loaned by courtesy Laura M. Dickinson)
Inscribed on face:
"Selectmen Deed of Sam'l Blakelee and George F. Miller of the Burying Ground in the Hollow. Received to Record Jan'y 21st AD 1811 And Recorded at large in Hartland 7th Book of land Records page 53. Phs. Coe Regr."
"To all people to whom these presents shall come: GREET- INGS.
"KNOW YE, THAT we Samuel Blakelee and George F. Miller, of Hartland in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut for the consideration of Sixteen dollars Re- ceived to our full statisfaction of Thomas Beman, Abia- ther Newton and Cyrus Miller, Selectmen of said Town of Hartland. Do give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto the said Thomas Beman, Abiather Newton and Cyrus Miller in capacity as selectmen of said town of Hartland one cer- tain piece or tract of land lieing in said Hartland to be used by the inhabitants of said Town of Hartland for burying ground and contains forty-eight rods of land and is butted and bounded as follows: (Viz) West on a highway six rod then running Easterly eight rods and is bounded Northerly on land of the said Samuel Blakelee then running South- erly six rods and bounded Easterly on lands of the said Samuel Blakelee and the said George F. Miller then run- ning eight rods Westerly to said Highway and is bounded Southerly on land of the said George F. Miller and the said Samuel Blakelee and George F. Miller reserve to themselves the produce of said described premise.
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