USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1876 to 1950, Volume II > Part 50
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Mr. Bilek and his brother-in-law Mr. Seiberth are mimeograph distributors of Worcester.
On the shore land Mr. Murphy had reserved, are cottages owned by Mrs. Hazel Willard, Mrs. Agnes Straub, Herbert Frickholm and the Kilmers.
In April 1951, Mr. and Mrs. Axel Peterson purchased a strip of land from Edgeworth W. Whitin on Torrey Road, opposite the Bilek property. They intend to build their home here.
Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Magee, Jr. bought the place on Parker Road, in 1944, from Mrs. Helen Melgren, who with her family had used it as a summer home. The Melgrens were milk dealers in Worcester.
The house has been completely remodeled. The sills, steel beams, stairway and roof are new; a bathroom has been added and oil heat installed. Mr. and Mrs. Magee have four children: Marshall, Sheila, Richard and Karen. The family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, after Mr. Magee's business was transferred to that city.
Mr. and Mrs. Alpha Leno bought land and a six-room house from Albert Garand on Manchaug Road, in 1945. They have added a sun porch and have fully insulated the house. Mr. Leno is a millworker. They have seven children: James, Norma, Fern, Madison, Lorraine, Alpha Jr. and Shirley. Fern, Alpha and Shirley are at home. The small building, planned for a garage, was made into a house where Mr. and Mrs. Madison Leno lived for a short time.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Decoteau bought a piece of land on Manchaug Road from Mr. Zonfrillo, which came from the Julia Kenney property. In 1941, they began the building of a six-room house and are installing all modern conven- iences. The Decoteaus have had six children: Marie, Doris, Bernadette, Dorothy, Walter and Rita-all of whom have married. Walter died in 1947. A grandson, Robert Decoteau, makes his home here. Mr. Decoteau has a grocery store in Manchaug.
Prosper McCarthy built this house on Manchaug Road and gave it to his daughter Anna, now Mrs. Lawrence Briggs. The land was a part of Mr. McCar- thy's farm. Mrs. Briggs sold it to Mr. and Mrs. George Roberts. They enclosed the front porch in glass and used it as a candy and ice cream store for a few years. The Roberts bought land between their house and Stevens Pond from the Kenney farm and erected summer camps, which they found very easy to rent.
Mr. Lavallee was the next owner, who gave the property to his daughter, Mrs. Caya. The family lived here only a short time and sold, in 1945, to Mrs. Mar- guerite Hunt, the present owner.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have one daughter, Christine, who was married to Bruce Putnam. The Putnams with their two sons, Colin and Martin, shared the Hunts' home while their own house on the David Putnam farm was being built.
The McCarthy place, on Manchaug Road, was owned, in 1876, by the heirs of Aaron Stockwell Jr. Prosper McCarthey acquired this farm from Joseph Martin- brault and lived here over fifty-three years until his death, Nov. 20, 1949. Mrs. McCarthy (Delima Plante) died Feb. 28, 1940. They had six children: Anna, Aldea, Ovide, Ladore, Edgar and Floride. All have married except Edgar. Edgar
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McCarthy served in the Coast Guard for four years in World War II. The eight- room house is believed to be two hundred years old. The blacksmith or shoe shop has been taken down and the barn used as a garage.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Briggs (Anna McCarthy) and their family lived with Mrs. Briggs' father, Prosper McCarthy. The Briggs' children are: Norman, Ruth, Earl, Ernest and Shirley. Norman, Ruth and Ernest have married. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs purchased the McCarthy property from Edgar McCarthy, in 1951. They have begun to repair and modernize the house. An artesian well has been drilled.
Mr. and Mrs. Norman King (Ruth Briggs ) and family make their home here. Their children are: Lawrence (1945), Daniel (1946), Gerald (1948) and Donna May (1951). Norman King is manager of the William Stockwell farm of the Stockwell Dairy.
Roland and Floride Picard purchased a plot of land on Manchaug Road from Edgar McCarthy, Mrs. Picard's brother. At one time it was in the Frank Putnam's estate and adjoins the Lawrence Briggs farm. It is nearly opposite St. Paul's Cemetery. The Picards have built a semiranch type house into which they have recently moved from Manchaug. Their son, Peter Roland Picard, was born Feb. 2, 1946.
In 1918, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Peterson made over the Torreyville schoolhouse into a very home-like house of seven rooms. A flower-bordered lawn adds a great deal to its attractiveness. The first daughter, Olive Joyce, was born in 1917 in Manchaug; Eleanor Joan was born in 1928. In 1936, Olive Joyce became Mrs. Erwin W. Lindstrom. Eleanor Joan and George Stidsen, Jr. were married in 1948. Their son Mark was born Nov. 4, 1950. The Stidsens moved to an apart- ment in Manchaug, Sept., 1951. Mr. Peterson is a loom-fixer.
Mr. and Mrs. Erwin Lindstrom have bought a tract of land from Gordon King on Torrey Road, beyond the Petersons, and are building a six-room house. They have two children, William and Joyce. Mr. Lindstrom is a heating engineer with a plumbing firm in Webster. During World War II, he served in the European Theatre.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Henderson own the next property on Torrey Road. The land, originally a part of the Titus estate, was purchased from Mrs. Edward Hough, in 1943. Mr. Henderson has been with the Merchant Marine and is now building a seven-room house for the family. The Hendersons have a daughter Gail. Mr. Henderson is a molder at Whitin Machine Works.
The Gordon King property on Torrey Road was once owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Holt, who lived here a number of years, raising a family of three girls and two boys. They were well thought of in the community, Mr. Holt being Deacon in the Manchaug Baptist Church for about thirty years. His death, at the age of seventy-seven, came as the result of an accident. While driving home from the village, his horse was startled by a sudden noise and Mr. Holt was thrown out, the wheels of the wagon passing over his body. Pneumonia set in and he lived only a few days. This was in 1902.
His son, Levi Holt, then bought the place, and lived here with his family, farming the land and working at the carpenter trade. In April 1923, his wife Ellen (Metcalf) died and the house was closed, Mr. Holt making his home with his daughter until his death in March 1924.
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The farm was sold to Charles King of Sutton, who rented it to various parties. Mr. King has since died but the property remains in the family. Mr. King's son, Robert Gordon, and his wife Mary (West) came to live here, in 1946, after having the original house modernized, and made a very attractive dwelling. Their son, Charles Harwood, was born June 12, 1947.
There is a small cemetery on the farm, the headstones bearing old dates and quaint inscriptions, one of which, over the grave of a ten months old child, reads follows:
"I have finished my earthly course, My soul has left its clay. My Saviour first prepared the crown And took the sting of death away." Dated 1847
Lewis Torrey was the first owner of this place and the oldest date in the cemetery, 1820, is over the grave of one of his children.
On Torrey Road, beyond the Gordon King property, is the Julia Kenney place. Since Miss Julia Kenney's death in 1934, the farm has been owned by George Kenney of Sterling. He has rented and leased it to several persons. At present Mr. and Mrs. Florien Carrier and son Albert live here. A few modern conven- iences have been added to the eight-room house by the Carriers.
James Mateychuk, Mrs. Henderson's father, bought land from John Murphy on Torrey Road and was building a small cottage there. He died in 1951. His son, John Mateychuk, served in the Navy in the African and Mediterranean Area, World War II. He was killed in action, May, 1943. Mateychuk Triangle in Manchaug is dedicated to him.
The last house in Sutton on Holt Road, at the lower end of Manchaug, is on the John Harvey place. This six-room house is situated on land once owned by Lawrence Holt and deeded by him to his son, Levi Holt, who built the house about 1881 and made it his home until 1902.
After renting it to several different persons, it was finally purchased by Parker J. Young, in 1908, and occupied by John Peterson and family until about 1929, when it was sold to John Harvey. The Harvey family lived here until 1943 and then the place was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Plouffe. Mr. Plouffe is a weaver by trade. Their children are: Albert, Donald, Donalda, Frances and Paul.
The Auger farm, on Duval Road, was owned, in 1887, by Mrs. Mitchell Auger. It consists of fourteen acres and is located next to the Douglas line. The house has eight rooms and there is a small barn on the property. In 1916, Oulaus (better known as Pete) Auger took over his mother's property.
Oulaus Auger married Victoria Laramie in 1914, who died in 1916. Their daughter Annette died in 1930. For his second wife, he married Leona Salois on June 5, 1923. Their children are: Oulaus L., born Aug. 12, 1924; Mathilda, born Jan. 23, 1926; Theresa D., born Aug. 5, 1927; Anthony J., born Nov. 1, 1928. Oulaus L. entered the Navy, in 1941, and is still enrolled. Anthony was in the Navy during World War II and is now in the Naval Reserve. Oulaus, Mathilda and Anthony have married. Oulaus Sr., after working many years as a farmer, died July 1, 1938. Mrs. Leona Auger occupies the property.
The Navy News in a recent "Salute," referred to the awards of Oulaus L. Auger, among which were Philippine Liberation, American Defense, Asiatic- Pacific and American Area, and related two incidents in his career. One was in
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Alaska where he was fixing some wiring on a pole. The wind was blowing fierce- ly and a cable snapped, sending 2300 volts of electricity whirling about his head. Instead of burning, he froze; froze to the pole and prayed for his dear life. On another occasion, his ship was hit by a kamikaze plane and he was obliged to abandon her. He spent twelve hours in the water, until he finally was picked up by a destroyer and brought back to dry land.
History of Sutton
PART III-ECCLESIASTICAL and EDUCATIONAL
T HE proprietors and pioneer families of Sutton recognized the importance of religion and education in the establishment of the new Town. In the early years, there was close union of church and government as all prop- erty holders were taxed for the support of the Town Church and-were expected to attend its services.
Objection to these provisions arose and, in 1740, it was "voted that the Baptis be freed from paying any of Mr. Halls (Rev. Halls) salery this present year."
The Town Records of 1746 contain this entry:
"These may Certifie Whome it may Concern yt mr. John Gibbs has Declared to me yt he believes ye Baptis Religion to be ye Rightest and he useally attends our meetings on ye first Day of ye week for ye Worship of God.
Benj. Marsh Elder.
A true copy. Attest Benj. Morse Town Clerk."
In Vol. I of the History is the following note. "It is evident from the above certificate, that the town at this early date in its history was disposed to accord the largest liberty of conscience in religious matters, and to exempt from the ministerial tax those who entered their dissent from the Congregational polity, and actually worshiped with another denomination."
Arrangements also were made in the first years for the education of the town's youth. The settlers had scarcely built their cabins and meeting house when they began details for a school .
We are impressed with the foresight and the careful planning of these first citizens, who, despite the hardships and struggles in a new land, were inspired by high motives and sought through religion and education to establish demo- cracy in this settlement.
The history of the Sutton Churches for the past seventy-five years is recorded in the several articles which follow. These include also items which were omitted in the 1876 History.
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HISTORY of SUTTON
ORGANIZED 1130
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, SUTTON CENTER
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CHURCHES and SCHOOLS
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SUTTON Compiled by Mrs. Minnie Stowe and Mrs. Eunice King
The history of the First Congregational Church of Sutton covering two hun- dred and thirty-three years is full of interest depicting the sunshine and shadows that must fall into the life of a church as well as into the life of an individual.
This church began its existence two years after the first settlers arrived in Sutton. In 1716 the brave and daring families of Benjamin Marsh, Elisha John- son and Nathaniel Johnson were the first families to settle in Sutton; followed the next two years by twenty-seven other families among them Kings, Stockwells and Smiths. At the first Town Meeting held in 1718, a committee was appointed to act "in the matter of building a meeting house and establishing the preaching of the gospel-the same to be paid for by the inhabitants." The first meeting house was built during 1719 on the west side of the Common facing east, a modest wooden building lighted by small windows. The seats were ordinary benches with backs. The gallery consisting of two rows extended across the front and each end. The first minister to be called in 1720 was the Rev. John McKin- stry at a salary of sixty pounds a year. The membership of the first church was ten members, all males. The present membership is 274, including forty-eight non-residents, 118 men and 156 women.
After twenty years and for ten years thereafter from 1741 to 1751 the question arose many times, "Shall we repair and make larger the present meeting house or shall we tear it down and build a new one." Finally it was agreed that a new one should be built and material taken from the old one used in so far as pos- sible. The church was built on the Common opposite the Brick Block. In front of the present house of Mrs. Grace Mills Jordan are some of the stepping stones that originally led to this church building. In 1792, a tower was built at the west end of the meeting house in which was placed the new bell donated by Ebenezer Waters.
In 1794, pews were taxed to raise money for the minister's salary. A clock was given by Gardner Waters to be placed on the belfry. And at the very next Town meeting it was voted to have the meeting house bell ring at 9 o'clock every night and so Sutton had its first curfew. Ten years later an organ was acquired and it was decreed that only tunes selected by the chorister should be played on Sundays. A town meeting was held during the day of Nov. 3, 1828 in the meet- ing house and it was that very night that the church building caught fire and burned, supposedly of incendiary origin.
The corner stone of a new church building which is the one now dominating the hilltop of Sutton was laid in the following year on June 15. In this stone was deposited a silver plate upon which is the following inscription. "'Erected by the First Congregational Society in Sutton dedicated to God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost-A.D. 1829." A list of subscribers and their contributions toward build- ing the church was also placed within. The cost of the stone work was $1,140, and for the church building $4,800 and was dedicated on Feb. 24, 1830.
This church is the third church building and is on the third side of the Com- mon on the east. The first being on the west side of the common and the second on the south side. This new building was a typical colonial church having pews with doors, windows were many-paned white ground glass and the pipe organ
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was in the gallery at the rear of the church. The beautiful mahogany high pulpit mounted by two curving stairways, one on either side is of special interest as it was built by a member of the Lombard family. A beautiful Christopher Wren- type spire surmounted the stately and dignified building.
Sad to relate each generation has its own ideas of modernization and improve- ments and so in 1892 the interior began to loose some of its original charm. The first dismantling was the removal of the pew-doors and the front wing pews. Ten years later in 1902 the pipe organ was removed from the gallery and brought down and installed in the east corner of the church .- Henceforth there was no question whether to face the minister when standing up to sing or turn around, back to the minister and face the choir. A question which had caused much con- sternation and some bitterness in the past. Next the simple colonial windows would not do and so were covered with a stained glass paper substitute. Later these windows were replaced by stained glass memorial windows in memory of Elijah and Pamelia Sibley, George F. Woodbury M.D., George and Lucy Has- tings, Deacon Edwin Hutchinson and wife Mary Ann Fisk Waters, Alvan Wood- bury Putnam, and wife Mary Lovell Knight, Sumner Putnam and wife Susan Dudley who were liberal donors to his parish, Abbie King Rice and Alice Julia Rice, Rev. Samuel Mellon Whiting, Missionary to India (1850-1861), Mary Tucker Whiting, Abigail Whiting, Abby Whiting Harvey. The four remaining windows were gifts of Sarah A. Goodwin, Deacon Dexter A. Brigham & family, Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, Junior Society of Christian En- deavor.
Many beautiful and sacred gifts have enriched the church during the years, many of them given in loving memory of some dear one who had been called to the heavenly realm. The individual Communion Service was given by Mr. & Mrs. Henry Rice as a memorial to their only daughter Miss Alice Julia Rice. This is the third communion service belonging to the church, the first was a single silver chalice, the gift of Abigail Jackson in 1725, and the second, a set of a dozen silver cups. These are carefully preserved and prayerfully used. The communion service chairs used with the beautiful mahogany table were a gift from the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor in 1902.
In 1903 in memory of their parents Simeon and Delia Holbrook Stockwell a beautiful Tiffany memorial window, The Woman of Samaria, was placed on the left of the pulpit by their four sons-Henry S., George P., James W. and Fred A. Stockwell. Ten years later the memorial window "Jesus in the Home of Mary and Martha" was placed on the right of the pulpit, a gift of the Ladies' Social and Benevolent Society.
A gift of an oil painting of Rev. and Mrs. John W. Maltby, the fourth minister of the church, was made by Deacon and Mrs. John W. Marble at the 75th anni- versary of the dedication of this house of Worship. This painting along with the portraits of all the ministers with the exception of the first and the present pastor now are on display in the gallery or choir loft of the church. Other memo- rial gifts to the church have been the Hymn Board by Mr. and Mrs. John E. Gif- ford in memory of their son John Dudley Gifford. The Baptismal Font by Mr. & Mrs. Arthur King in memory of their son Arthur Perry King. The flag of the Christian Church by Mr. and Mrs. A. Duncan Johnson in memory of their only daughter Mrs. Ruth Pooler. The silver collection plates by Miss Ruth Greenlay
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in memory of her mother Mrs. Harriet Greenlay. The original chandelier was re- stored by Mrs. Rena C. Putnam in memory of Deacon Irving W. Putnam and a marker placed on his pew. A bronze tablet on the south wall in memory of Rev. Herbert E. Lombard son of the church and honorary pastor. A copper plate on the pulpit in memory of Nathan Lombard, who built the pulpit and was great- grandfather to Rev. Herbert and Rev. Frank Lombard. The pulpit Bible and Communion cup racks were given by Mr. Lovell Putnam. The brass number plates on the pews a gift from the Junior Society of Christian Endeavor. The American flag by the Young Woman's Club. The Hymnals given by the Young Woman's Club.
The 200th anniversary of the founding of the church was celebrated in August of 1920 with much pride and ceremony. Rev. John M. Maclaren pastor at the time had charge of the various services. The anniversary sermon was preached by Rev. John Ellery Tuttle, D.D.Litt.D. in a church filled to capacity.
On Oct. 2, 1925, the church had the honor of sharing and the rare privilege of celebrating with its pastor Rev. Orin D. Fisher the 50th anniversary of his ordination into the Christian ministry. For this occasion the choir presented the church with rose mahogany velour curtains for the choir loft and a drapery for the pulpit background. A gilded cross-the symbol of the church-was placed on the drapery.
In the summer of 1929 the Camp Fire Girls from Marion's Camp began wor- shipping at the morning service. This they continue to do each Sunday during the summer season. Truly a pleasing and inspiring sight to see from a dozen to fifty young girls in their white garb with their councillors march in and quietly fill their pews.
The 100th anniversary of the present church edifice was commemorated in 1930, Mr. John E. Gifford acting as Master of Ceremonies. A banquet in charge of Mrs. Minnie B. Stowe was followed by a pageant in picture, story and song covering the period from 1830 to 1930 directed by Mrs. E. Florence Freeland.
Just eight years after celebrating this 100th anniversary of the building of the church a catastrophe struck the countryside. Late Wednesday afternoon on Sept. 21, 1938, the first hurricane in this town in the memory of the inhabitants, de- scended upon the area. Like the spires of fifty-seven other sister churches in the line of the wind in Massachusetts, the beautiful Christopher Wren-type spire yielded to the demands of nature and toppled off at the belfry with one disas- trous plunge downward and wrought havoc to the main auditorium and the beau- tiful Stockwell memorial window.
Not only to the church but to the whole community this was a calamity to be remedied as soon as possible. By concerted effort and determination plans were made and funds raised to repair the damaged edifice. Nine months to a day the steeple was back in place just as it had been before. On the night it was flood- lighted for the rededication, there were three other steeples reflected in the sky. As to the reason for this no one has offered an explanation.
On Nov. 12, 1944 a service was held for the unveiling of a stained glass win- dow, "The Plowman" presented in tribute to the ministry of the First Congrega- tional Church of Sutton by the Rev. Frank Lombard in behalf of his grand- children, Edwin Baker Lombard and Patricia Lombard. This beautiful window was placed on the left of the pulpit in the place left vacant by the destroyed
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Stockwell window. The church was most grateful to once again have the front of the sanctuary so glorified.
In 1946, while Rev. Haig Nargesian was pastor, the vestry of the church was completely redecorated and refurnished. At this time, a Children's Altar in the primary Sunday School room was given in memory of their daughter Jeannine Ruth Johnson by Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Johnson and was built by her uncle, Wilfred Johnson. Also the Pilgrim Fellowship group replaced with a better proportioned cross the one on the drapery behind the pulpit.
In 1949, the pastor Rev. Dr. G. Edgar Wolfe and his church people were seri- ously considering the necessity of repairing or replacing the pipe organ which had for years filled the sanctuary with its mellow and resonant tones. While con- sidering the many difficulties of this problem, a surprising offer was presented to the church. Mrs. Ethel V. Lund and sister Miss Florence H. Hult, residents of the town, both musicians of much ability, offered to give an electric Hammond organ, complete with chimes and also a Marshall & Wendell grand piano. The church considered itself most fortunate and gratefully accepted the generous gift. These were dedicated on May 21, 1950 at an evening service with Harry E. Rodgers of Boston, guest organist at the console. Special compositions composed by Mrs. Ethel V. Lund were rendered at this service by Donald and Curtis Paine.
In 1951, The Ladies Benevolent Society presented a lamp which is placed on the piano.
The church believing that no soldier is fully equipped without the word of God, presented service testaments to members of the church as they were called into the service of World War II. A large candle given by the Pilgrim Fellow- ship dedicated to the twenty-three men and six women in the armed service was lighted every Sunday for nine months when it was extinguishd at the close of World War II.
Besides the usual church services on Sundays there are many other times the church is in use. The Sunday School now has an enrollment of one hundred twenty-five and meets at 9:45 A.M. on Sunday mornings. There are forty on the cradle roll consisting of infants from birth to five years of age. Every child bap- tized in infancy is given a Bible upon reaching the age of seven. Plants have been given the children of the church on Children's Day for many years. First they were given by Henry Stockwell, then by Dexter A. Brigham and then by Marian and Flora Smith. Since the enrolment of the Sunday School has grown to such a large number, the flowers are now given by the Sunday School and Young Women's Club.
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