USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Needham > History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911 > Part 23
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Wellesley > History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911 > Part 23
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The fourteen Stations in Saint Joseph's Church are hand- some, and were presented by the following persons, or by their families as memorials: - I. The Rev. Fr. Timothy J. Danahy, II. Michael Mannix, III. George D. Donovan, IV. in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Foley, V. in memory of Mr. and Mrs. James J. Reid, VI. Mary Gallant, VII., VIII. and IX. were given by the Lovers of the Holy Cross, X. in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Michael O'Keefe, XI. Ellen E. Driscoll, XII. Lewis Hasenfus, XIII. Catherine Glancy, XIV. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Gahaghan. The names of the original contributors to this Church were placed in the corner-stone, and it is said that James Mackintosh was the only Protestant whose name is in this list.
UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF GRANTVILLE
The Unitarian Society of Grantville was formed February 8, 1871, and on May 5 the Rev. Albert Buel Vorse was installed as their minister, and continued to serve them until his death on January 21, 1899. He had been the minister of the First Church in Needham. The first meeting of the Society appears to have been held February 27, 1871, when officers were elected, and the same month the Society pur-
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
chased Maugus Hall, and made it into a Chapel. It is singular that this Chapel is now (1911) John Croswell's house, and the old Orthodox Church is his barn, both having been removed to Forest Street. Maugus Hall was originally the railroad station, and had been moved before it was taken to Forest Street.
In 1876 there were twenty-five members of this Society, and the pastor was superintendent of the Sunday School, which consisted of five teachers and forty scholars. The Standing Committee then consisted of John W. Shaw, Rebecca Eaton, David C. Perrin, Harriet P. Lane and William Henshaw.
The records of this Society begin with its incorporation, which dates from November 22, 1877. The incorporators were Charles Gavett, Elisha Livermore, John W. Shaw, George H. Howison, Oliver C. Livermore, Oliver Smith, Charles H. Dillaway, David C. Perrin, Josiah A. Osgood, Isaac Sprague, S. Harris Austin, Rebecca Eaton and Louisa E. Austin.
The first meeting was held on December 20, 1877, when S. Harris Austin was moderator and Charles Gavett tempo- rary clerk. Mr. Gavett was chosen clerk of the Society, Rebecca Eaton treasurer, and the Standing Committee con- sisted of John W. Shaw, David C. Perrin, George H. Howi- son, Rebecca Eaton and Louisa E. Austin. By-laws were adopted at this meeting. In addition to the thirteen in- corporators twenty-seven other persons signed the record book, assenting to the by-laws, and these forty were the original members of the Society. The twenty-seven referred to were Harriet P. Lane, Sarah A. Gavett, Caroline M. Lane, Sarah E. Shaw, Annie H. Spencer, Hannah A. Eaton, Annie M. Eaton, Eliza A. Kingsbury, M. M. Russell, Harris Russell, James H. Beck, Lizzie H. Beck, Olive C. Valentine, Elizabeth Eaton, Charles M. Eaton, Carrie L. Jenness, Francis D. Fisher, Sarah E. Fisher, Ellen P. Perrin, Abby W. Smith, Mary P. Austin, William Henshaw, Sarah
299
THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
H. Henshaw, L. J. Livermore, Sylvester McIntosh, Abbie Wells and Mary C. Smith. In 1878 the Society received a legacy of $5000 under the will of Miss Eliza Powers. The first year after the incorporation of the Unitarian Society of Grantville its expenses were $1551.47, fully met by the receipts, which included $675.41 from the Ladies' Sewing Circle. The Rev. Mr. Vorse then had a salary of $1500, but he desired to make a contribution toward the expenses for the ensuing year, which led to the adoption of resolutions thanking him, and expressing the high esteem in which he was held.
In January, 1879, the Society lost by death Mr. David C. Perrin, a devoted member, and appropriate resolutions were voted at its annual meeting on April 7, 1879. Repairs of the Chapel were under consideration in 1879, and on May 2 the Orthodox Congregational Society sent a most cordial invitation to the Unitarians to occupy their Church after- noons if the proposed repairs rendered their own place of worship unsuitable for meetings. This kind offer was repeated, and availed of when the new Church was built a few years later. Upward of $500 was expended on the Chapel, of which $500 was from the legacy of Miss Powers. At the annual meeting in 1880 the date for future meetings was changed from the first to the third Monday in April. Two years later there was an article in the warrant regarding changing the name of the Society, but, although no action was then taken, the warrant issued April 9, 1883, was addressed to Oliver Smith, "a member of the Unitarian Society of Welles- ley Hills, formerly Grantville", which new name has con- tinued to 1911. It does not appear that the Society actually voted to change its name until April 20, 1885, when a com- mittee was chosen to obtain the necessary legislation. In 1890 the by-laws were amended, and the Standing Com- mittee, consisting of five, was chosen for terms of one, two and three years, future elections to be for three years.
On April 20, 1885, resolutions were adopted in reference
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
to the death of Miss Harriet P. Lane on July 24, 1884. She was not only one of the founders of the Society, but a member of the Standing Committee at the time of her decease, having served since April 1, 1878, when she took the place of Mrs. Louisa E. Austin, who had declined re- election.
Mr. Gavett was still the clerk of the Society in 1890, and Miss Eaton was the treasurer. Both of them had held these offices prior to the incorporation. S. Harris Austin was the moderator of every Parish meeting from 1877 to 1889, in- clusive. Mr. Shaw had been one of the Standing Committee from the incorporation, and was in office in 1890, apparently its chairman during the entire period.
THE NEW CHURCH
On May 4, 1886, the Society appointed the following building committee :- John W. Shaw, William Henshaw, Oliver C. Livermore, S. Harris Austin, Emma I. Towne, Rebecca Eaton, Charles Gavett, Frederick A. Whiting and Frank F. Baldwin. After many meetings and much con- sideration the Society built in 1887 the beautiful stone Church, which was dedicated November 20, 1888. The earlier plan had been to build a wooden Church costing about $7500, the more elaborate structure having been decided upon May 12, 1887, when the plans of the archi- tects, Rotch & Tilden, were adopted. Of the $7800 con- tributed by persons not members of the Society Mr. Hora- tio Hollis Hunnewell gave $5000. The Honorable Josiah G. Abbott furnished the stone. John W. Shaw not only gave the bell, but built a fireplace and chimney and finished a portion of the building at his own expense, besides bearing part of the cost of the grading. Miss Mary J. Faulkner presented a stained glass window, and Mrs. Sarah G. Badger, Miss Laura G. Dillaway and Mrs. Clara L. Winton an organ costing $1000. Mrs. Badger's gift of $500 for the organ was a legacy left in her will to the Society. Mr. Shaw
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
was the chairman of the building committee and rendered most valuable service, which was recognized by vote of the Society on May 13, 1889. Porter & Fuller were the con- tractors for the foundation. The total cost of the new Church was $18,288.12, and the old Chapel was sold for $400. In 1890 and 1891 the Society built a parsonage, costing about $8000. It is near the Church, but on the opposite side of the street from it.
In nineteen years the Ladies' Sewing Circle contributed $10,288.43 toward the expenses of the Society. There has been no Church organization as distinct from the Society, and no deacons. A large volume called the Register con- tains a record of baptisms, beginning in 1889, and some marriages and deaths. In this book is a historical summary which says that the Society dates from February 7, 1871, and that the Rev. Mr. Vorse was called April 3, and ac- cepted the 7th.
ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH
In 1871 an Advent Society was organized at Highland- ville, and for years met in Low's Block, at the corner of Highland Avenue and West Street, but in 1889 apparently had ceased to hold services. Samuel G. Low was the Elder, and the other chief men were Dea. Lauren Kingsbury, who got his title in 1835 from the then newly organized Bap- tist Church in Newton Upper Falls, and John Hastings, the clerk of the Society. They had few associates, although in 1876 they had a Sunday School of thirty, which was just double the number of Church members.
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES
The Rev. Jonas Bowen Clarke, of the Oakland Hall Institute, had services of the Episcopal Church in his school- room Sunday afternoons in the late sixties and early seven- ties, but it was not till several years after the division of the town that there was an attempt to establish an Episco-
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
pal Society, although from 1814 many residents of Need- ham had been members of Saint Mary's Church at the Lower Falls, which is but a short distance from the town line. The effort made in the eighties to have Episcopal services on the Great Plain was abandoned after two or three years, the number of Episcopalians not being sufficient to main- tain worship, notwithstanding the devotion of individuals. Charles S. Courtenay, later a lieutenant-colonel, was the organizer of the proposed Society, and the meetings were in the small hall in the upper story of the Moseley Building, since known as the May Building. Services were, however, held from time to time, and on October 28, 1894, the Rev. Frederick Pember, B.A., a graduate of the University of Oxford, and admirably qualified for his work, had a service in the smaller Masonic hall in the Kingsbury Block, with the result that Christ Church was formed on August 19, 1895, with twenty members, the majority of whom were from Highlandville. For nearly five years the morning service was in the Masonic Hall, Great Plain, and the Sun- day School met there at noon, the evening service alone being in Highland Hall at Highlandville. At Easter 1900 it was decided to have all of the services at Highlandville, and the vestry was authorized to procure the necessary land for a Church. They bought 11,600 square feet of land at the corner of Highland Avenue and Mellen Street, with two buildings besides a blacksmith's shop on it. The latter was moved to the rear of the lot, and the other buildings were skilfully transformed into a Church by J. W. McCabe of Newton Lower Falls, according to plans of Gordon Fisher of Newton Highlands. The building committee consisted of James B. Lester, chairman, Albert E. Collishaw and Charles E. Beckman.
The lot has a frontage of eighty-three feet on Highland Avenue, and of one hundred and fifty feet on Mellen Street. The Church is sixty feet by twenty-five feet, interior meas- urement, with an altar of quartered oak on which is a solid
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
brass cross, the gift of the Sunday School. The Superior of St. Margaret's Home gave an engraved brass altar desk, and service books for the altar and the reading desk. The picture of Christ, above the altar, is the work, and gift, of a local artist, David Richards. The Church is lighted by electricity, and has solid oak pews and choir stall with panelled ends. At the dedication of the Church, on Sep- tember 26, 1900, the Rev. Frederick Pember, the rector, read the first lesson, and the sermon was preached by the Bishop of the diocese, the Rt. Rev. William Lawrence. Addresses were made by the Rev. Mr. Hayes of Saint Andrew's, Wellesley, and by the Rev. Mr. Williams of Grace Church, Newton Highlands. The Church then had seventy members and a flourishing Sunday School.
The Needham Recorder for September 29, 1900, contains an account of the dedication, and a description of the Church. Mr. Pember's health failed, and on June 29, 1903, his people reluctantly accepted his resignation, which was dated May IO, and later adopted resolutions expressing their apprecia- tion of his faithful and efficient ministry. On Sunday, October 28, 1906, the Church observed its twelfth anniver- sary, and the Rev. Mr. Pember preached the sermon. It is still (1911) his custom to preach at Christ Church on Palm Sunday. The successors of the Rev. Mr. Pember have been: The Rev. Arthur Wellesley Chapman, "tempo- rary minister in charge" from November, 1903 to August, 1904, inclusive, the Rev. Newton Black, A.B. from the Philadelphia High School, which has college courses, studied at the University of Pennsylvania, and at the Philadelphia Theological School, and received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity from the latter institution. The Rev. Mr. Black began his ministry in Needham on January 1, 1906.
The following have been Wardens of Christ Church: Senior Warden - Albert E. Collishaw from August, 1895 to the present time, with the exception of the year beginning at Easter 1896, and ending at Easter 1897, when Eben
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Smith was in office, Junior Wardens - Paul R. Hudnut August, 1895-Easter 1896, Albert E. Collishaw Easter 1896-Easter 1897, Peter Willgoose Easter 1897-Easter 1898, George B. Fowle Easter 1898-Easter 1900, Charles E. Beckman Easter 1900-Easter 1902, William H. Stanton Easter 1902-Easter 1903, Samson Hammersley Easter 1903 to the present time. The other officers in 1911 are - Clerk William C. Payne, who has served for years, Treas- urer Eben W. Smith, Vestrymen William Mitchell, M.D., William Downes, James A. Ackroyd, John W. Lester and Henry Godfrey, Jr.
Six hundred persons are connected with this Church, and one hundred and ninety-seven communicants. The Sunday School numbers one hundred and fifty-two pupils and fourteen teachers. William C. Payne is the superintendent.
On February 26, 1896, at eight o'clock in the evening, the Rt. Rev. William Lawrence, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, confirmed twenty persons, the Episcopalians meeting in the Evangelical Congregational Church. These were apparently the first services of the kind held in Needham.
HOLY TRINITY MISSION
Holy Trinity Mission included the territory from Charles River Village to Highlandville, and was organized in 1900, with the consent of Christ Church, by George B. Fowle and others, who had been active in Christ Church, and its meet- ings were held in the lesser Masonic Hall in the Kingsbury Block. Mr. Fowle had been the superintendent of the Sunday School of Christ Church and continued at the Mission, which was in the care of the Rev. Frank Hoffman Bigelow of Saint Paul's Church, Natick, who was succeeded in this duty by the Rev. William Edward Hayes, rector of Saint Andrew's Church in Wellesley. The Rev. George Nat- tress was the successor of Mr. Hayes both at Saint Andrew's,
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
and at Holy Trinity Mission. He was followed by the Rev. Arthur Wellesley Chapman, who was for a time in charge of Christ Church. From 1906 to July, 1908, the Rev. Mr. Black of Christ Church also officiated at the services of Holy Trinity Mission, which closed with the service on the last Sunday in July, 1908, although it was self-supporting.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH
In July, 1897, Mrs. Estelle Russell Freeman arranged to have services of the Christian Science Church at her home, 36 Warren Street, Needham, and in 1898 a Society was formed. In May, 1899, a Sunday School was organized, and in July, 1900, Wednesday evening meetings were commenced. In September, 1901, the congregation had become too large to meet in a private house, and Masonic Hall was secured. On August 6, 1902, the First Church of Christ Scientist was organized, and later services were held in Fowler's Hall, until the Society removed to Christian Science Hall, which is in a new building on Great Plain Avenue. The Sunday School includes all under the age of twenty years, and meets directly after the morning service, which is held each Sun- day at 10.45. On Wednesday evening at 7.45 there is a testimonial and experience meeting to which all are cordially invited. In connection with this Church there is a reading room, which is open to the public from 3 to 5 P.M. every day, except Sundays and holidays, and also on Saturday from 7 to 9 P.M. At this room Christian Science literature may be read on the premises or purchased. The purpose of this Church is to maintain the worship of God in accord- ance with the doctrines and teachings of Christian Science as contained in Science and Health, with Key to the Scrip- tures, by the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy. The Bible and this book are the only pastors of this Church, but Henry A. T. Dow is First Reader, Mrs. Lena L. Clancy Second Reader, and Charles E. Orcutt superintendent of the Sunday School.
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
The members of this Society are not numerous, but are earnest and zealous in their faith, and ready to work for their Church.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
The numerous and useful organizations formed to assist in the work of the different Churches cannot be enumerated in this history, but there are a few that should be mentioned: The Ladies' Aid Society of the First Parish was formed in 1852, and has been the mainstay of the First Church from that year to the present time. The ladies have worked constantly for its social and financial interests, and hold a fair in the early winter, and for some years also an annual May Festival, both of which occasions are attended by the citizens generally, and are regarded as important social affairs. Our Social Club and the First Parish Guild, both of which were formed for the young people during the years that the Rev. Charles A. Allen was the minister of the First Church, were valuable for a time, but were not destined to long life.
Number of persons present at the usual religious services held in the Churches and places of worship in Needham, morning and afternoon, on Sunday, May 29, 1859 :-
A.M.
P.M.
Average.
First Parish
I88
I72
180
West Needham
I62
I57
1592
Grantville
II8
99
108를
Baptist
65
67
66
Evangelical
64
65
64₺
597
560
578₺
The names of persons certified as contributing from 1821 to 1828 to the support of other Churches than that established were: -
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Baptist Church in Weston: - Samuel Sevens.
Baptist Church in Newton: - Isaiah Fisk, James Rankins, Joseph Severns, Asa Kingsbury, 2d, John Jones, Luther Hunting, Lewis Smith.
Saint Mary's Church, Newton Lower Falls, Episcopal: George W. Hoogs, Abram Rice, Jonathan S. Bartlett, Josiah Smith, Horace Starr, John Hastings, Caleb Bucknam, Lem- uel Lyon, Jonathan Bowditch, Samuel Dalrymple, Henry F. Bartlett, Luther Ware, Henry T. Small, Michael McIn- tosh, William Bigelow, Nathan Hyde, Joshua Ayers, William Durant, Adolphus Durant, Lemuel Rittenhouse, John Hastings, Jr., Horatio Whitney, David Ayers, Cromwell Whitney, Newell Williams, Woodbury Hill, Dana Hastings, Ebenezer Ayers, Ezra Morse, Thomas Wiggins, John Gill, William Everett, Hezekiah Allen, Joseph Biglow, Otis Smith, H. I. Hotchkiss, Rebecca Stedman, Mary Stedman, Amos Lyon of Newton, Eliphalet Stevens of Weston, Jere- miah Daniell and Harvey Ambler.
Saint Paul's, Dedham, Episcopal :- Joshua Brown.
Methodist Church in Needham :- Levi Jennings, Henry Travis, Daniel Dedman, Abraham Morrill, Franklin Ste- vens, Aaron Greenwood and Daniel Ware.
First Congregational Parish in Natick :- Nathan Dewing, Jr., Ethel Jennings, Reuben Ware, John Atkins, Hezekiah Broad, Elijah Esty, Isaac Biglow, Samuel Morrill, Abraham Biglow, John Atkins, Jr., Calvin Shepard, Calvin Sawin, Ebenezer N. Pettee, Samuel Lawton, Samuel Jones, John Bacon, Amos Bacon, Oliver Bacon, 2d, Rufus Viney?, Arthur Clark and Dexter Whiting.
Some of these men were citizens of Natick, but presumably all were tax-payers in Needham. In 1822 Ethel Jennings and Daniel Ware were certified as of the Church in the West Precinct, and Enos H. Tucker was "a Member of the religious Society in the first Parish in Needham Called Congregational".
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
CHURCH MUSIC
"Jan: 7. 1729, 30. At a Chh. Meeting at ye House of B: Joseph Boyden. After Prayer, Voted, that it is agreeable to the mind of ye Chh that M: John Smith tune the Pfalm, if he pleases, when he is present, & able to do it (And read it to (I suppofe) if he chooses to do both. Voted, That Deacon Kingsbury fhall read & tune ye Pfalm in M! Smith's abfence till May next; Voted. That Canterbury, S: David's, York, Brunswick, Southwel, Pfal : 100 tune, and Litchfield or London be sung regularly in the Congregation till next May". "Feb : 4. 1729. 30. Voted, That the Pfalm be fung regularly at ye time of the Administration of ye Sacrament of the Supper, and that Brother Samuel Parker be desired to Tune the Pfalm in and for the Congregation in the abfence of M: John Smith".
The foregoing is from the Church records, and the fol- lowing from those of the town :-
On May 22, 1765, the town voted "no" on the article "To See if the Town will lay aSide the Psalms that were Compofed to be Sung in the Defenting Churches and Con- gregations in New=England", and also on that "to approve of the Old England Church Psalms (Otherwise Called Brady and Tate)". It was voted "to Sing Doc! Watts Hymes in the Publick Worfhip" and "to Agree Upon a Certain Number of Tunes to be Sung". Ensign Eliakim Cook, Michael Metcalf and Lieut. Jonathan Day were chosen a committee "to pitch Upon the Tunes that are moft proper", and Ensign Cook, Ebenezer Huntting and Ebenezer Fisher were the "Two or three proper Perfons to Tune the Psalms in the Publick Worfhip". On March 12, 1770, Thomas Alden and Michael Metcalf were chosen "to add to Lit Fifher to Tune the Pfalm on the Sabbath Days".
At its annual meeting in 1795 the First Parish declined to have a "Chorester or Choresters to lead ye Tune in Public
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
Worship", but in 1798 chose Enoch Mills, Major Moses Man, Capt. Ebenezer MeIntosh and Nathaniel Wilson, Jr., as choristers, and the Church selected Timothy Smith and Dea. Isaac Shepard as "Choristers for Sacremental occa- sions", and requested "the singers of the Congregation" to join "with the singers of the Chh" at the Communion. In 1819 Israel Whitney and Dr. Samuel Gould were chosen choristers by the Church, and in 1822 Samuel McIntosh took the place of Mr. Whitney. The Church choristers "to regulate" the singing at the Communion were then William W. Mann, Israel Whitney and the Rev. Daniel Kimball.
In 1801 the First Parish bought a "Base viol for the use of the Parish in Public Worship". Michael Harris, Jr., was "to use the Same". Harris was a captain in the militia, and prominent as a town and parish officer when in his twenties. He lived on the Metcalf homestead, where the Convalescent Home of the Children's Hospital is now lo- cated. In 1807 the bass viol was for sale, but within the memory of people now living William Willard Mann, a fine musician, played the clarinet, and Dr. Josiah Noyes the violoncello as part of the service. Josiah Eaton played a bass viol in the choir, and Artemas Newell a trombone. There were six instruments in this church orchestra at one period.
In the years preceding and following 1900 the services were enriched by the music from the cornet of Howard Tisdale and the violin of Walter E. Morgan. Early in the last century Capt. Timothy Bullard played the bass viol, and at times the clarinet, in the West Precinct, and Post- master Charles Noyes added his flute to the music of the choir. For several decades Solomon Flagg, Jr., sang tenor in this choir, and on secular occasions, such as a Farmers' picnic, often sang Perry's Victory, and other old songs, when he was more than eighty years of age. Both he and his father, Solomon, Sr., were skilled performers on the snare drum.
On December 6, 1813, the Parish voted the large sum of
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
seventy-five dollars "to support a singing School in sd Parish in the Winter ensuing", and liberal appropriations were made for a singing school in later years. Dr. Noyes recorded, under date of January 5, 1829, "Singing School opened - Capt: Brett teacher".
There have been many faithful men and women who have sung in the Churches of Needham from their youth to past middle life, and were always in their places, and never received any pecuniary reward. The Eaton family has been prominent in the choir of the First Parish for at least four generations. William Eaton, who died in 1876 at an advanced age, was for many years a member of it, and was a brother of Josiah Eaton, previously mentioned. Mary Gay, later the wife of Capt. Curtis MeIntosh, and her sister, Lucy, afterward Mrs. Charles Brackett, were in this choir for a long time. They were fine singers, one a soprano, the other an alto, and were daughters of Capt. Jonathan Gay, who lived in the ancient Tolman-Gay house on Central Avenue, now owned by the heirs of Curtis McIntosh.
Lemuel Kingsbury, 2d, was the leader of this choir, and his wife, who played several musical instruments, also ren- dered valuable service. Mr. Lemuel Kingsbury was fol- lowed by Lyman Edward Kingsbury, a tenor singer, who led the choir for thirty years. His son, George Lyman Kings- bury, has sung the bass for a longer period, although not invariably a member of the choir as his father was. The elder Mr. Kingsbury at times led the music with his violin. On April 7, 1895, the 175th anniversary of the Church was commemorated, and John Fisher Mills then read a paper relative to the music in the First Church since the previous century, which paper was printed in the Needham Chron- icle. On March 5, 1905, Mr. Mills sang the tenor for the last time, retiring after a service of thirty years, and the congregation later presented him with a handsome silver "loving cup" suitably inscribed.
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