USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Chester > The First Congregational Church of Chester, Skyline Trail, Chester, Massachusetts > Part 2
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One Sunday morning in August, 1814, Rev. Mr. Bascom while conducting worship service in the meeting house was observed to falter in speech; presently he fell insensible in the pulpit. He was borne to his residence, and a few days afterward to his grave. Rev. Jonathan Nash of Westfield preached the funeral sermon for Mr. Bascom. In the account of his funeral it was reported "Just as the funeral services were concluded, a thun- derstorm unsurpassed for its violence, and magnificent in its grandeur and sublimity, enveloped Chester Hill and surrounding peaks." Mr. Samuel M. Emerson was ordained on Wednesday, February 1, 1815. The Thursday before his ordination was set aside as a day of fasting. On September 29, 1829, Mr. Saul Clark was called to serve as minister; another day of fasting and prayer
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Dr. Oscar De Wolfe
Dr. Oscar De Wolfe's Home
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was set aside preceding his installation.
The society frequently was financially embarrassed, as attested by this notation of April 18, 1825: "Rev. Rufus Pomeroy pro- poses to relinquish for two years Seventy-five dollars of his salary on account of the embarrassment of the Society, provided the Society furnish him with wood during said two years." It appears that a method of fund raising was started in 1829 when it was "Voted that we will pay the sum set against our names yearly for the term of five years."
In 1831 the membership of the church totalled 71 males and 130 females; and the regular worship services in the early his- tory of the church brought out from 300 to 500 people. Within a mile of the meeting house there were four school houses and over 200 pupils.
It must have been very cold on March 31, 1834, for the meeting "convened at the public meeting house --- voted to adjourn to the Center school house for the transaction of business." There had been no money raised in 1830, 1831, 1832 or 1833, so it was "Voted that a committee be appointed to draft and circulate a subscription to raise money to pay a minister to supply the pulpit the present season." On April 3, only three days after the aforementioned meeting, Rev. Saul Clark sent a letter stating in part, "From various causes, particularly the embarrassing state of your finances, after due and prayerful consideration I have thought the time near at hand when it would be best that this relation should close." Mr. Clark resigned on April 20. In 1839 it was "Voted to empower the trustees to lease the min- ister lot on the east river to settle the debts of the society which are found to be eighty-six dollars more than we have means to pay."
In seating worshippers in the two early meeting houses, much regard was paid to "dignity", as it was termed, and it was the duty of a committee to ascertain and define the exact position in society and in the public estimation of each householder. Standing in the church had something to do with it, but probably the possession of property much more. Each family in town was classified as to dignity, and assigned certain places to sit in the meeting house; this arrangement brought on many arguments and much dissatisfaction.
At a meeting on April 4, 1840, it was "Voted to build a meeting house this year according to a draft of the north meeting house in Newmarlborough now in our possession." The exact location of the new meeting house was specified, at the junction of Lyman Road and the Chester Turnpike, now Skyline Trail. The new building was to have a few assets missing in her predecessors; first was to be a basement. The town of Chester was to build the basement foundations and would reserve that room for the use of town meetings; the society would erect the building for a house of worship. In the two previous buildings all town meetings and public gatherings were conducted in the sanctuary. On January 16, 1841, it was "Voted to circulate a subscription paper to raise 266 dollars to pay for the meeting house and if the sum is not
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raised the subscriptions to be null and void. Voted to choose a committee to solicit subscriptions for trimming the meeting house, from both male and female. Voted the building committee appoint the time for the dedication of the meeting house, give notices and make arrangements." On February 19 an item, "cost of two stoves and pipe, zink, wire, and two locks for the new meeting house, bought in Springfield, $44.81." Ah! heat for the meeting house after about 75 years. On February 24, 1841, "The new meeting house was dedicated to the service of Almighty God. The sermon was given by Rev. Mr. Emerson Davis of Westfield." Another ordination took place on October 27, 1841, when "Rev. Francis Warriner was ordained and settled over this church."
In the new meeting house the method of seating by "dignity" was allowed to lapse and the slips were sold at auction to the high- est bidder. Each family thus had its own slip, but could bid on the spot where they desired to sit. There seemed to be some dif- ficulty in the balcony concerning too many people trying to sit there in addition to the choir members, for on April 11, 1842 it was "Voted that those individuals who are not singers be re- quested to seat on the lower floor of the House." On April 23, 1845, it was "Resolved that the trustees cause the pillars in front of the orchestra to be removed if it can be done and all breaches caused by said removal be neatly fitted up." We do not have any detailed plans of the interior of the meeting house, but in all probability there was a row of thin pillars as a sort of lattice- work across the front of the balcony; these were reported to have been painted pink. Thus shielded in part from the stern gaze of the elders on the lower floor, the younger element preferred sitting there with the choir singers. The pillars were removed.
At one time there were balconies running the length of the build- ing above both stove pipes, but these have long since been removed, along with the high pulpit and the sounding board. Each time the old building has been torn down and a new one erected, the vote specified that as much of the old material as was practicable should be used in the building of the new meeting house. Thus it is that the present building has much of the material from the original structure. In the social room today one may see the original hand-hewn timbers, each with its Roman numeral markings where every cross timber fit into it, so the builders would know just exactly where to put each timber when the second building was erected. This building, like its forebears, is held together with wooden pegs.
On December 4, 1852, Mr. David Breed was called to serve as minister, at a salary of $400 per year. He was ordained on February 8, 1853. Prior to that, on January 15, it was "Voted to buy the Barnes place as a parsonage, for $275." On September 10 of the same year it was "Voted to tax Rev. Mr. Breed $25 as rent for the use of the parsonage." Because the society was badly in need of funds, the parsonage was sold in 1939 for $1000. This building is the white house which stands at the intersection of Crane Road and Skyline Trail.
In the early 1800's permission was given by the town to a
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Foote Ancestral Home
Old Home 1939 - Harriet Kelso, Esther and Genevieve Sherwood, Elizabeth Nooney, Burt Sherwood, Jr., Paul Gibbs, Robert Fiske, and John Kelso. In the Days of Horse and Buggy.
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Plan of the lower Floor of The First Church in Murrayfield, in 1773
Taken from A.M. Copeland's History of the Town of Murrayfield
D2 Nº4 Dav. Blair Robt. Smith Wd. J. Mann
Dig. / Nº1
Rev. Mr. Bascom
pulpit stairs
Pulpit
Jos. Hamilton S. Matthews Jesse Johnson
Dig. I Nº2 Jas. Clark Dav. Bolten Joel Seward
Dig 2-3 E. Wright R. Woolworth Sam. Elder
Willard & Ward
Dig.4-3
A. Anderson
Tim. Smith
Five Seats
D2 NºI
Dig. I Nº3
Wm. Bell
Alex Gordan
during widowhood
Mrs. Webber
J.H.Webber &
Steph. Lyman
D.3-3
n3-1
IG
Five Seats
Dig / Nº4 Dig. 2 Nº2
Dr. Shepart Abner Smith
Tim. Lyman
Wm. Moore
n .. 7 1
nz A
Col. Willard
John Thompson
John Taylor
Plan of the lower Floor of The First Church in Murrayfield, in 1773
Taken from A.M. Copeland's History of the Town of Murrayfield
D2 Nº4 Dav. Blair Robt. Smith Wd. J. Mann
Dig. I Nº1
Rev. Mr. Bascom
pulpit stairs
Pulpit
Jos. Hamilton S. Matthews Jesse Johnson
Dig. I Nº2 Jas. Clark Dav. Bolten Joel Seward
Dig 2-3 E. Wright R. Woolworth Sam. Elder
Willard & Ward
D2 Nº|
Dig. I Nº3
Dig/ Nº4 |Dig. 2 Nº2
Wm. Bell Alex Gordan
during widowhood
J.H.Webber &
Dr. Shepart Abner Smith
Tim. Lyman Wm. Moore
D3-3
D3-1
Dig 3-2
D3-4
Thos. Elder
Enoch Shepard
Jon. Elder G. Matthews
Sam. Laccore
Ab. Fleming
John McIntire
John Blair
D4-1
D3-5
John Laccore
B. Eggleston
Jos. Black Wm. Campbell
D3-6
D4-2
Wm. Henry Sam. Ellis
with their wives
Gershom Rust
Ed. Wright. Jr
Jon Warte
Gallery Stairs
Dig. 4-5 Caleb Bascom Sibel Geer Eben Snow
Tim. Paine
Front Door
Col. Willard
John Taylor John Thompson
West Door
Col. Otis
Gallery Stairs
1
Dig. 4-3
A. Anderson Tim. Smith
East Door
John Chandler
Five Seats
Mrs Webber Steph. Lyman
Five Seats
Broad Alley
John Murray
D. 4-6 Jos. Geer Jos. Gilmore
private corporation to construct a new highway from the present town of Huntington to Chester Center as a toll road, to be called the Chester Turnpike. Church members protested the location of the turnstile at the Chester Center end, as it was located so that most persons had to pay toll in order to get to the meeting house. The turnstile was moved a few rods southerly; evidently it was originally at the intersection of Bromley Road and Skyline Trail --- the old Chester Turnpike now being called Skyline Trail.
In 1850 the town voted against having lightning rods installed on the meeting house. In 1854 they did vote to insure the build- ing; in 1865 the amount of insurance was raised to $1500. On March 31, 1868, it was "Voted that church slips be free for all." The society was still in debt, of course, so it was trusted to the generosity of the citizens to furnish wood, ring the bell, and take care of the cleaning of the meeting house without charge.
The railroad by this time had come up through the valley, and the once-thriving community atop Chester Hill was practically doomed. On September 17, 1881, it was "Voted the town be allowed to lower the building by two cut stones now used in underpinning under the church, rather than moving the church to a new location southeast of the present site." The town had built a new town hall down in Chester Village, near the railroad; the post office and the stores had moved down there also.
The meeting house foundations were laid over by the town in 1881-1882; upon completion of that task the town paid the church $200 for a release from any further repairs to the building. When these walls were laid over the basement was partially filled with earth and all entrances sealed with stone, not to be opened again until 1953 when the wall was breached and the earth again removed to make the present social room and dining hall. The front wall of the cemetery was also laid over in 1882, using the stones removed from the meeting house basement, and the iron gates were put in.
On May 17, 1882, Samuel Hamilton left a trust fund of $2000 to the church, only the interest of which may be used. This money is in a Springfield bank and the church has no control over its use, receiving only what profit accrues from its use by the bank, after their expenses are deducted.
In 1884 extensive changes were made to the meeting house. New shingles were put on the roof. The present wooden ceiling was installed and the interior was redecorated; Dr. Oscar De- Wolf paid the expenses of painting the interior of the meeting house at this time. Again in 1903 Dr. DeWolf paid for painting the interior walls. Also in 1884 Mrs. Anna Thompson of Spring- field donated the huge chandelier which hangs in the sanctuary; at that time it was equipped with kerosene lamps as were the other lights. In the same year the three pulpit chairs were purchased for $86; two stands for $16; and a pulpit for $75. An organ and a new pulpit Bible were purchased, prices not recorded. Although the records do not so state, it is probable that in the al- terations to the meeting house the balconies, high pulpit and sounding board were removed, making it necessary to practically
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Front of Church Showing Chandelier Genevieve Sherwood at Organ
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rebuild the interior and to purchase new pulpit furniture. The old high pulpit had been supported by miniature pillars, painted in delicate shades of pink, yellow, blue and tan. The first musical instrument used in the meeting house, with the exception of a "tuning fork" used when Rev. Mr. Bascom pleaded with those who objected to the singing to have patience with the majority who favored it, was a flute played by James Smith. A melodeon was used for many years until replaced by the organ. Membership in the church was dwindling; by 1894 there was a membership of only 25, of whom eight did not live on Chester Hill, so the greater seating capacity of the meeting house was no longer needed.
The Chester Center Library Association was formed in 1886. All the permanent seats were removed from the rear balcony at that time and the bookcases constructed there. In 1911 it was "Voted to remove the first seat and the railing in the church and to take away the boxes in the rear and place the removed seat there." Thus was removed the last of the boxes, or slips, with which the meeting house was originally furnished.
One-half acre of land on the west side of the society property was leased to Mr. Freeman Tilden for 99 years at a yearly rental of $5, for building or improvement. This land was separate and apart from the spring at the rear of the meeting house. Mr. Tilden was granted the use of water from the spring but the so- ciety retained all other rights to the same. This agreement was effective as of October 1, 1915; non-payment of rental cancelled the lease many years ago.
The horse sheds which stood along the edge of the cleared land extending south from the meeting house were torn down in the 1920's. Fireproof asbestos cement shingles were put on the meet- ing house roof in 1930. The building was wired for electricity in 1940, and the method of lighting altered accordingly.
On April 14, 1926, Mr. Leon J. Kelso was first elected as a Trustee of the church, a position he held continuously from that date until his death on September 8, 1961 -- a service of over 35 years.
From July 28, 1929, until July 5, 1931, no religious services were held in the meeting house -- interest in religious affairs on Chester Hill had reached an all-time low. Then services were resumed, although church records show that in many instances the only persons present were the pastor and deacon Joseph M. Sherwood. Largely through Mr. Sherwood's efforts, interest was gradually revived and attendance began slowly to improve. Thus, through almost all of her two centuries of existence, this church has had to struggle to survive. The membership being small, less than 25 active members, money to keep the church operating is raised by means of suppers, etc., and generous donations by members and friends who strive to keep the fighting spirit of the church alive. Mrs. Lydia Hallock donated the piano which was brought to the sanctuary on July 9, 1947. In more recent years there have been several donations of articles for the meeting house sanctuary -- the Christian and the 50-star American Flags
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Rev. William J. Call Preaching in the Winter at the Home of the Oppenheimers
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-- new hymnals-seat cushions -- electric clock -- paintings of Christ -- candlesticks and crosses -- candelabra -- carpeting -- pulpit cloths, drapes and seat coverings -- communion service -- lighting fixtures and rewiring -- a new pulpit Bible -- in addition to many donations of money of varying amounts. Without these donations, which have been most gratefully received, the church would not be able to survive; and friends are reminded to consider prayer- fully their ability to assist in the future life of this historic edifice.
Old Home Sundays were inaugurated in 1937; one Sunday each year being set aside to welcome back old neighbors and friends of the church. For the past several years these have been held on the second Sunday in October, at which time the autumn foliage is at its peak of color, and Chester Hill is at its loveliest -- God's beauty at its best displayed. On Old Home Sunday, October 12, 1947, John Kelso planted the Colorado blue spruce tree which adds a note of beauty to the meeting house lawn. The tulip beds, replanted with fall flowers after the tulips have finished blooming, were planted by Alfred Jones, our youngest church member, in 1960 and 1961. Rather than giving bouquets on Mother's Day, these living flowers are planted in memory of all the mothers who have been connected with the church throughout the years.
For many years no services had been held between Christmas and Palm Sunday; then in the 1950's winter services were started again, using as a meeting place the former schoolhouse across the road. The Sunday School classes also met there, and church members painted and decorated the interior of the building. The town allowed the church free use of the building; the church paid for the electricity and for heating the room. Interest was aroused to the possibility of holding church suppers, and a few meals were served in the old school building, but those suppers were put on with serious handicaps. With no kitchen available, most of each meal was prepared in different homes and brought to the room to be served. Also, as renown of those suppers grew, so also did the number of those who came to them, often more than they could conveniently handle in such small quarters. So, in casting about for a place where they would have more room, as well as a real kitchen, the possibility of excavating the long-buried meeting house basement was brought up and discussed.
Immediately there were those who said it could not be done -- too much work -- too little money. But there are always some who, faced with a proposition that requires muscle and money, back off to hide behind that word, "impossible." Happily there were enough hardy souls who believed it could be done, and that the way to do it was to BEGIN. Once started, they figured that forces in proportion to their faith and determination would gather along the way to help them. So they dug in, in September of 1953.
Those words, "dug in", are used advisedly. No huge power shovels or clams to hasten the job. Earth had to be removed from the basement by means of muscles and perspiration, shovels and wheelbarrows. But refusing to be daunted by the task ahead, work got underway. As those who have worked on community
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.. 1.1
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View from Balcony - Left Aisle
View from Balcony - Right Aisle
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projects well know, in the beginning there were plenty who rolled up their sleeves and cried, "Come on, boys, let's go." Saturdays were set aside as work-bee days and on that first Saturday a goodly army of men, armed with picks, shovels, wheelbarrows and whatever other tools were needed, showed up and pitched in. Gradually, however, felled by fatigue, ennui or other occupational diseases, the army began to dwindle until there came a Saturday when only five workers showed up.
That quintet showed up for work every Saturday until the end. Not that they did it alone; others, too, intermittently, were on the job, but it is significant that of the five faithfuls, two were young- sters -- Freddie Ferry, aged thirteen; Charlie Lang, aged twelve! Week after week these two lads gave up their own interests and worked all day wheeling out dirt, a task by no means easy even for adults. After all the dirt had been removed, the boys were equally faithful in wheeling in traprock and stone for the floor foundation as well as doing many other back-breaking jobs that do not show up in the finished social room.
As with the builders of the first meeting house, it was a "pay as you go" proposition. No bills were run up. Anything for which cash was not available was left undone. On three Saturdays in May, 1954, the concrete floor was poured -- a huge truck of ready-mixed concrete arriving in the morning and volunteers helping to wheel the mixture to the far corners of the basement and smoothing it off before it had a chance to set. An anonymous donation helped make the concrete floor possible.
That spring the interior of the sanctuary was redecorated by an outside contractor, and a service of rededication was held on July 25, with Rev. Ralph J. Capolungo, recently ordained pastor of the church and one of the laborers on the basement project, officiating. Assisting pastors were Rev. Edwin Crocker of Bland- ford, Rev. Harold A. Bardsley of Huntington, and Rev. Alva J. Rhines of Norwich Hill. Organist was Mrs. Ida B. Eames, and vocal soloist Mrs. Gertrude Miller. After the service a buffet supper was served in the new basement social room, where the stone foundations had been whitewashed and electric lighting installed.
As things were bought only as money became available, for the first few suppers everything had to be borrowed -- dishes, tables, chairs. But slowly things began to materialize. One woman donated an old wood range that had belonged to her grandmother and had long since been pensioned off. Another good church worker donated another stove. On these relics the ladies started in. Again the young folk helped the church, for the Sunday School put on a supper, money from which was to buy lumber for tables for the dining hall; adults helped them build the tables, which are now being used. The ladies heard of a sale of melmac dinnerware and were able to purchase these badly-needed items from funds on hand. Coronet parties were run to get the stainless steel tableware, and gifts of other kitchen utensils were also accepted.
One big inconvenience was that all the water had to be brought to the dining room in large milk cans, and had to be heated in
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Pulpit and Communion Table
New Electronic Organ with Ida B. Eames, Organist
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teakettles on the old stoves. A smorgasbord supper was suggested as a project to get money for a water supply; again some fearful souls protested it could not be done. But the young people on the Hill, aided by a group from Chester Village, went ahead to prove it could be done, and DID it. Result, a supper that was a smashing social as well as financial success, so that soon the kitchen had its running hot and cold water, pumped into a copious supply tank from the original spring behind the meeting house. All of which gives sound proof that when a conquering spirit goes ahead, unseen forces come to its aid. Once the suppers had become successful, one resident who was getting a new electric stove for her home donated her old gas stove to the kitchen. Later, funds were available for another new gas stove with a large oven, . so that the outmoded stoves on which suppers had been begun could again be retired. An electric refrigerator was added to the list of equipment purchased, so little by little the convenient, modern kitchen evolved. While all women of the church have been heartily behind this project, the names of three women stand out as the driving force behind the suppers -- women who well exemplify the truism that to get things done, call on the busy woman: Mrs. Leon J. Kelso, farm wife who has always lived a full and busy life; Mrs. Robert H. Oppenheimer, besides being the mother of a bustling 4-H family and a Sunday School teacher, has her own beauty shop where she works daily; Mrs. Joseph M. Sherwood, who seems to have enough push, enthusiasm and energy with which to supply the younger members of the group should their fund fail.
Following a lightning-caused fire which destroyed the Congrega- tional Church in Harwinton, Conn., it was voted to install lightning rods on this building in November, 1956. Thus, a little over one hundred years after the article had been voted down, it was brought up again and acted upon favorably. Charred timbers bear evidence that at some time in the past, about 1900 according to old-timers who recall it, there was a small fire in this building, but no mention is made of it in the church records. Fire is our greatest enemy and we request visitors not to smoke while in the building.
The first meeting house was used for twenty-eight years; the second structure for forty-six years; the present building has been in use for one hundred and twenty-three years as of 1963. A side door, installed to meet state fire law requirements, and a closed-in stairway to the social room, both on the south side of the building, represent the major structural changes in the out- ward appearance of the meeting house over the years. The large front doors which originally opened inward were changed to open outward, also to meet state fire law requirements. The large wooden shutters which covered the windows were removed many years ago.
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