USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Plymouth > The story of the Old White Church, Plymouth, New Hampshire > Part 3
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After the heating problems, in 1849 the audience room was lighted by kerosene lamps. Chandeliers were hung in 1868 and lamps in brackets along the walls, and in 1894 electricity was introduced.
The musical instruments changed with the years. After the bass viol was presented in 1838, a so-called seraphine, in reality a reed organ with hand operated bellows, was purchased. The Women's Society promoted the purchase of a second hand but excellent pipe organ in 1872. This called for an alcove that was extended behind and above the pulpit with space for the choir behind an ornamental parapet.
Carpets were paid from the treasury of the Women's So- ciety in 1868, 1882 and 1895. The renovations of 1868 includ- ed the present gothic windows, a new pulpit, the doors of the pews removed and black walnut arms added. The seats of the pews were widened and cushions provided.
Among the records of the church is a small account book dated 1868, September 14th. The first page reads: "A commit- tee consisting of Wm. W. Russell, Jr., Joseph A. Dodge, Arthur Ward, James McQuesten & Washington George chosen by a vote of the Pew Holders in the Congregational Meetinghouse in
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Plymouth Village, N. H. met and made a valuation of all the Pews in said House and have assessed a Tax on said Pews ac- cording to their relative value to raise the sum of One thousand dollars to make repairs and alterations on said House of which the foregoing is the valuation and Tax by them assessed." Seventy-four pews were valued and assessed and all taxes were paid within three months. This account proves that the pew holders were legally taxed for their property.
Again in 1881 taxes were assessed upon the pew holders, but their number decreased to only forty persons. William Rus- sell had acquired four pews, and the Congregational Society held five. In 1893, the record shows that at the last assessment upon owners of pews, the Society held eleven, Mrs. William Russell owned ten and Plummer Fox paid on three pews. At this time, the pew holders were requested to grant permission for alterations to the church. Subscriptions from generous per- sons raised $16,000 to erect the present chapel, to cover the walls and ceiling of the auditorium with metal plates, repair the tower and construct the present dome top.
The original so-called "dish-cover" design of the cupola was frequently seen at the period that our church was erected; the metal form was convenient to install. The same plan may be found on the Baptist Church in Rumney which was constructed in 1837.
According to a story that was told to the writer at least twenty-five years ago, when the renovations of 1893 were in process, a summer resident who had traveled in Europe sug- gested that the tower be made higher and surmounted by a dome. As soon as she learned that her desires were approved, the generous lady paid for the entire construction. To her the domes that cover the sanctuaries of the cathedrals of Italy rep- resented the vault of the heavens which in architecture typifies immortality or infinity.
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THE BELFRY OF 1893
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If a person has not paused to admire the Roman arches on the panels of the octagon that supports the dome, a few minutes of study will prove that Mr. H. W. Sweetzer of Campton was a master craftsman. Without doubt he copied the design from a carpenter's pattern book and skillfully fastened the many pieces of the curved framing of the arches and of the mould- ings so firmly that this specimen of the builder's art has with- stood the stormy winds that prevail in Plymouth, over the space of sixty years.
Certainly the tower of our church is an unusual pattern, not duplicated within the State.
Thirty-five years passed by, when the gift of $1000 toward a new pipe organ aroused enthusiasm, especially from Mr. John Keniston, long the talented organist and Mrs. Harl Pease, then organist for the Methodist Church. Most actively joining in the organ project was the pastor, Rev. Frederick H. von der Sump whom illness compelled to resign soon after the instru- ment was installed in 1929. After $10,000 had been pledged to the organ fund, Mr. George G. Clark offered to modernize the chancel. Because many interesting facts are not on record and may be forgotten, certain items for this 1928 renovation are mentioned in some detail.
A committee consisting of Mr. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Harl Pease, Mrs. George R. Foster, Mr. Moody Gore, Mr. Keniston and Mr. Robert G. Wakefield traveled in the vicinity of Bos- ton to inspect designs of up-to-date church interiors at the ex- pense of Mr. Clark.
When the committee had determined their plans, copied largely from a chancel at Wellesley, Massachusetts, Mr. Clark sent Struther Burr, a famous architect to Sandown, New Hampshire to take measurements of the desk of the colonial pulpit of 1774. The design of the pulpit in the present chancel follows the lines of that ancient desk. The lectern and dark pine
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THE SANDOWN PULPIT OF 1774
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panel in the front of the pulpit have been mentioned in the previous chapter. Mr. Gore recalled the relic that he had stored in the attic of the church and, since this coincided with the per- iod of 1774, its appropriate use was recognized.
THE LECTERN IN THE PRESENT CHANCEL, ONCE THE BASE OF THE PULPIT OF THE WARD HILL MEETINGHOUSE IN 1788.
The firm of decorators, noted for their work in the national cathedral at Washington, D. C., Irving and Casson of Boston, were employed by Mr. Clark, Mr. Irving being his classmate at Dartmouth '99. The mirror window, hangings, and especially the coloring on the walls were by these specialists. The electro- iers were the final addition to this semi-colonial interior.
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THE LYRE TABLE AND COLONIAL CHAIRS FROM THE WARD HILL MEETINGHOUSE
Last of all, what to place in the rear of the chancel to com- plete the pattern was the problem. Mr. Irving saw the Lyre table for the solution. About 1800, this piece was manufactured by a famous cabinet maker at the price of two pounds sterling for the communion table on Ward Hill. Mr. Irving assured Mr. Clark that his firm had recently copied a Lyre table at an ex- pense of $1500 and that our table was then estimated to be worth at least $1200. The four chairs that stand beside this table are either from the Ward Hill meetinghouse or were the first pulpit furniture of the present church, probably the first idea, since this same design is found at the Congregational Church in Exeter, New Hampshire which was erected in 1798.
The latest addition to the priceless possessions of the church is the cabinet presented by Mr. Glenn H. Youngman to display the two communion sets. The pewter plates, goblets and pitcher are the originals which were used until about 1868. The silver set was replaced 25 years ago when individual glasses were in- troduced.
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THE ORIGINAL PEWTER COMMUNION SET FROM THE WARD HILL MEETINGHOUSE
Another valuable possession is the bell that calls us to wor- ship. "Cast by George H. Holbrook, East Medway, 1834." This is the trademark that is embossed around the barrel, an inscrip- tion of intrinsic worth, for its founder was an apprentice in Boston about 1782 in the foundry of Paul Revere, famous gold, silver and copper smith as well as Revolutionary patriot.
Mr. Holbrook was born in Wrentham, Massachusetts in 1767. He was sent to Paul Revere to be trained for a machinist and clockmaker, but he learned to cast bells.
When the bell cracked in the steeple of the church where Paul attended, he attempted to recast the metal rather than send it to England. Skilled as he was with metals, he did not know the art of making molds for bells and the tone of his first bell was exceedingly sharp. He sent his son, Joseph, abroad to
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study bells and he returned with a knowledge of both English and French models.
Young Holbrook preferred the French bells and in 1797 he set up a foundry in Brookfield, Massachusetts in company with Paul Revere, 3rd, where they cast bells until Paul died in 1813. Suddenly financial misfortune broke the health of Mr. Hol- brook and the following three years he lived on a farm in Meredith, N. H.
In 1816, he returned to East Medway, Massachusetts and
A PAUL REVERE AND SONS BELL
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established a company that, with his son and grandson, con- tinued to cast bells until 1880. It would be a satisfaction to dis- cover if the three men who erected our church in 1836 had learned about Mr. Holbrook while he lived in Meredith, but to date no memory about his farm has been discovered.
As the vibrations of a perfect bell spin around the barrel, they play a complete octave from the sound bow where the clapper strikes, up to the top of the bell. Mr. Holbrook man- ufactured clocks and perfect bells.
Unfortunately, the rim of our bell has been chipped which stops many of the vibrations of its "hum notes" as the sounds that ring out into the air are called, and the sweetness of its tone is not broadcast too widely.
If the tongue or clapper is firmly fastened, this fine old bell will call to worship during another century and ring out the memory of Paul Revere and his famous apprentice above our village on Sabbath mornings for our children's children.
In this connection, it may not be amiss to mention that in the belfry of the Grafton County Court House is a Henry M. Hooper & Company bell, cast in 1849, and in the tower of Rounds Hall, Plymouth Teachers College, is a bell that was "Cast by William Blake & Co., formerly H. N. Hooper & Co. Boston, Mass. 1874." All three of these bells were cast by ap- prentices of Paul Revere.
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Chapter V THE ANCIENT TRUNK
In the kindly custody, characteristic of the Directors of the Pemigewasset Bank, a trunk belonging to our church has been sheltered within the safety of those walls for many years. If the bill "for trunk, $1.50" tells its date of purchase, a slip of paper within the trunk, then its age is 106 years. When the new bank building was planned, no space for such relics was provided, and the trunk was returned to the Church Committee.
After some deliberation over this heirloom, the Committee requested Mrs. George R. Foster and Mrs. Guy E. Speare to thoroughly examine the contents, preserve whatever seemed of historical value, and destroy anything that was no longer worth saving. The trunk was deposited in Mrs. Foster's diningroom during the winter of 1955. Hours of pleasure developed while we pored through record books and packages of papers, all thick with dust of years.
Tied in packages or enclosed in envelopes, were found hun- dreds of financial papers, long since valueless: bills for lumber and nails, receipted and paid, which built the first chapel in 1850; bills for fuel and kerosene in twelve gallon cans, con- sumed and paid for, and many small items, all faded, dusty and useless. With the exception of a few samples for memory's sake, these were destroyed.
Especially important were copies of deeds for the site of the church, yet these proved of small legal value because measure-
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ments of the boundaries began at the point where a guidepost stood "at the junction of the Rumney and Campton Roads," a forgotten landmark which was the established spot from which the surveyors measured their lines, long since beyond recall. In the sketch of the career of William Webster that is printed in the History of Plymouth, the statement appears that Mr. Web- ster "Gave the lot" upon which our church stands, but no proof of such generosity is found in the deeds.
The most ancient relic that was read is the record book of church meetings beginning in 1797. Here are revelations of the code of conduct that was prescribed for members of the church. Still legible, these pages record meetings that resemble trials by courts. Grievances between members were presented and, if proved, the penalty was denial of the rite of Communion until pardon was granted after the guilty person manifested true repentance by confession of his sin. The reader comprehends the often expressed idea that a person was "not good enough to belong to the church" although everybody belonged to the con- gregation.
A set of five volumes on the History of Congregationalism by Rev. George Punchard, pastor when our church was erected, would be informative reading were the fine print easier on the eyes. Whether another complete set of these volumes is in ex- istence today is not known in Plymouth, and inquiry at the New Hampshire Historical Library in Concord revealed that only the first two volumes are contained on their shelves.
The most surprising discovery is an album containing photographs of prominent pew owners, including Deacon Wil- liam W. Russell and his contemporaries. Also of more recent date is the Scrap Book that was compiled by Miss Nettie Arm- strong, clerk of the church for many years. Here are clippings and photographs of Parson Ward and his successors that were
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copied by Mr. Clark at the Centennial celebration in 1936. The annals of the Society are also preserved.
Should a History of Plymouth be written again, most au- thentic data might be gleaned from the records of the Sunday School during the years that Mr. John Keniston served as Sup- erintendent. Cards for attendance of pupils bear names and addresses of scores of youths and their parents who resided in Plymouth many years ago.
Several copies of Church Manuals, dated 1892, are filled with a brief history of the church, a copy of the Covenant, Principles and Rules, rituals, and a list of all members and officers beginning with 1800, stating the date when admitted and of removal from town or by death.
These priceless books have been arranged within a metal safe, presented by Mrs. George H. Bowles, that stands in the pastor's study in the chapel, and the trunk may be seen in the chapel hall.
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THE CHANCEL OF 1926
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Chapter VI THE STORY OF THE PEWS
Most gratifying to discover in the old trunk is a sheet of faded paper, dated 1836 and signed in the smallest script by Wm. W. Russell. Upon this he drew a plan of the pews with the names of customers and the prices that they paid. Since the first service in our church was on New Year's Day, 1837, evi- dently this sheet is a record of sales during the year that the building was under construction.
The four front pews priced at $55, the next row at $65, next at $75 and the three rows in back of these were $80 each. The prices gradually decreased by five dollars until the rear pews were $30.
Mr. Russell's plan disclosed that he owned eleven pews, Mr. John Rogers owned ten and Mr. Noah Cummings owned three. Lawyer Wm. Cooms Thompson generously purchased six and a half pews, marked "Pd." Mr. Leonard George, successful carpenter and builder, bought five and a half, marked "Certifi- cate given." Nathaniel P. Rogers owned three pews. Mr. Joseph Reed immediately paid $70 for pew No. 41 and his descen- dants occupy it in 1957, the only such record in the list. Mr. Russell Cox of Holderness also paid $80 for No. 44. The great- er number of customers began their payments with four or five dollars. Mr. Arthur Livermore paid $20 toward the price of $70 for the wing pew that remains at the right side of the organ's console, against the wall.
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DEACON WILLIAM WALLACE RUSSELL 1801-1872
The photographs of Mr. and Mrs. William Wallace Russell were found in the old trunk. Mr. Russell was a successful merchant in the business that his father, Moor Russell, established. He was one of the three sponsors who erected the church, a trustee of Holmes Academy, a friend of the needy, a liberal patron of every worthy cause and respected for his integrity and unblemished character. Scores of financial papers displayed his signa- ture and records of his service on important committees proved that his devotion to the church was outstanding.
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Capt. David Webster, Stephen Morse, James Miller, Capt. Daniel Pillsbury, William Green, cashier of the bank, each pur- chased two pews, all marked, "Pd." Thus the sale of the pews by the three sponsors did not immediately reimburse them, es- pecially since the list shows that many of the highest priced remained unsold. Also the list seems to indicate that Mr. Cum- mings was a better salesman than the other two sponsors, or he did not invest the same amount in the building. In all, thirty men purchased pews in 1836.
A later chart giving the names of successive owners was found in the trunk. First mentioned is the original purchaser, then the owner in 1868, and later names without giving dates. Also stated were the number of visitors whom the ushers were allowed to seat in many pews, because these were private prop- erty. Unless permission was given, no one would enter the door of a pew except by invitation of the owner exactly as one would pass through the doorway of a home.
THE PEWS ALONG THE NORTH WALL
As the story of the pews is told, this order will be main- tained. The numbers begin at the rear on the right side of the north aisle.
Pews No. 1, 2, and 3 were purchased by Lawyer Thompson. No. 1 was sold to Mrs. Benjamin Ward and lastly to Mrs. David A. Webber. Here is an interesting point: many of the names of owners are charted on the distaff side of the family as was No. 1. Until late in life the Webbers lived in Campton. That seat against the wall could not have been comfortable. One wonders if Mrs. Webber preferred it because she might be late if she drove from Campton.
Pew No. 2 belonged to Mr. Thompson, then the Society, and lastly John Martin, the great-grandfather of our treasurer and banker, Mr. Preston Martin. This John was born in Spring-
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field, moved to Bridgewater, then to Plymouth where he pur- chased the Col. John Fenton farm, of Tory fame, whose repu- tation reveals that in 1775 a tory was no more tolerated in Plymouth than an avowed communist would be today. This "tory land" is still possessed by the Martin Family, near the line of Bridgewater and Plymouth.
No. 3 belonged to Mr. Thompson, and Alvah McQuesten Merrill. The Merrill Family were wealthy pioneers of Newbury, Massachusetts. Jacob established the name on Beech Hill. His son, also named Jacob, was one of the skilled carpenters who erected the Ward Hill meetinghouse. His son, David, played the bass viol in the church services, possibly the instrument that reposes in Mrs. Pease's attic. Great-grandson Alvah was a carpenter who later moved to Fitzwilliam. Plummer Fox, the merchant, purchased this pew as he did several others at the price of $25, to quote Mrs. Pease, his daughter.
Pew No. 4 was sold by Mr. Russell to Mrs. Enoch Merrill. Her son Freeman was a soldier in the Civil War. He inherited this pew. Lastly Alfred Cook, a civil engineer and deacon after 1893, was the owner. He had a family of seven children, among them Mrs. Flora Chase, a deaconess and treasurer of various church organizations, actively serving both church and town in 1957.
Mrs. Susan Russell, the wife of William W., claimed No. 5. Then it belonged to the postmaster, Mr. Walter D. Blaisdell, and finally to Frank Webster Russell, prominent merchant and generous contributor to church finances. Elderly persons still recall that Mr. Russell, followed by his wife and six children, marched down the aisle regularly on the Sabbath Day. He was a graduate of West Point Academy, accepted military positions, and many offices in the town. His children became distin- guished citizens. His wife, Louise Webster Hall, was the daugh- ter of a long line of deacons.
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Dr. Samuel Long, an eminent physician in Plymouth for twenty-five years, was the original owner of No. 6 and later his daughter Mary owned it. The Pemigewasset House permitted the usher to seat three persons in 1881 in this pew, evidently reserving space for patrons of the hotel.
On the original chart of 1836, pew No. 7 is marked "sold, $60." Lucius M. Howe purchased it from the Society and his daughter, Mrs. Davis B. Keniston, inherited it. The final owner is listed as Miss Maria Burns and in pencil beneath her name is Dr. R. Burns who was a physician and politician who served two terms in the Congress of the U. S. A.
Arthur Livermore Webster paid $65 for pew No. 8 in 1836. He was sheriff of Grafton County, and removed to Grand Rapids. This pew became the property of Mrs. Samuel C. Webster, wife of the senior member of the firm of merchants, Webster, Russell & Co. Many remember the clever speech and skilled methods of trade that were practiced by "Sam" Web- ster. His daughter, Winnifred was the last owner of this pew. Deacon Ernest B. Hardy, who was employed when a lad in the Frank Webster Russell store, related this appropriate story that illustrates the reputation for sound business practice that Sam Webster acquired. Two men were discussing the ability of Mr. Webster and one of them boasted that it would be impossible to enter the store and call for an article that was not in stock. When the other man refused to believe this claim, the first made a substantial wager to support his argument. The second man accepted the bet and the two entered the store.
Approaching Mr. Webster, the customer asked to be shown a church pulpit. Without appearing to be suspicious, with the utmost courtesy, Mr. Webster confidently invited the customer to come right this way. Following to a store room, the surprised man found on display a bona fide pulpit for sale.
Smugly pleased, the contender accepted the amount of the
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wager, then proudly told the story to the "Cracker Barrel" group around the stove. Mr. Webster explained that he pur- chased the pulpit among a collection of furniture that he had taken in trade.
Lawyer Thompson originally paid for No. 9, then the So- ciety sold it to Mrs. William C. Leverett and her daughter, Mrs. Francis A. Cushman, became the owner. Mr. William Leverett was an influential lawyer who owned the home of Mrs. Ernest L. Silver at five Summer Street. Originally this house was sur- rounded by wide lawns that extended to Highland Street, and "Squire" Leverett's office was a small, one story place that oc- cupied the site of the former bank building next to the Congre- gational Church.
N. P. Rogers, as he was generally spoken of, originally pur- chased No. 10, then Mrs. Orvilla West, who may have been the wife of a son of Nason West who died in 1808. In 1881, the pew belonged to Mr. John S. Tufts, a druggist who erected the Tufts Block that burned and the new bank now occupies the site. His daughter, Alice Tufts, married one of the clerks, Wil- liam M. Peppard, who came from Rumney and later purchased the drug store from the Tufts heirs. His father retired from business in Rumney and came to Plymouth where he erected the present "D. A. House," now on the campus of the Teachers College.
No. 11 was sold to Harrison B. Marden by William W. Rus- sell, Jr. about 1881. Mr. Marden was a popular stage driver up the Pemigewasset Valley. He died in 1896 and Mr. George G. Clark purchased this pew.
William W. Russell, Jr. always occupied pew No. 12. He was the son of the builder of our church, a deacon for twenty- four years and an esteemed merchant and citizen.
The name of Col. Cummings is written in pencil below the name of Mr. Russell. Probably this owner was Mr. Charles H.
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Cummings, son of Jonathan G. Cummings, choir leader and stage driver between Plymouth and Concord. Col. Cummings acquired wealth in railroads and the coal business. He estab- lished a Trust Fund over which Mr. Clark was a trustee for many years.
No. 13 belonged to Mr. Frank W. Russell and the ushers were not allowed to seat persons in this pew, since the Russell Family was too numerous for pew No. 5 and occupied both. Originally this was a John Rogers pew, later the property of Frederick W. A. Robie, in 1881, a public spirited citizen and merchant tailor in town for many years.
No. 14 was purchased from John Rogers by John T. Cutter, a merchant, express agent, post master and hotel keeper. He owned the Union Hotel and the Holmes Academy boarding house which he sold to the Normal School in 1871 for a dormi- tory. This building was moved to become the east section of the present Pemigewasset Hotel.
In 1868, pew No. 15 was purchased from John Rogers by Joseph Burrows. To him we owe the fountain in the Village Common. He was a Harvard student and successful lawyer in Holderness and Plymouth. His daughter married George Clark, parents of Mr. George G. Clark who presented the Boy Scout Statue to the town of Plymouth, and constructed the drinking cups with a legacy from Mr. Burrows for this purpose.
One day in the nineties, Mr. Chauncey Fellows announced to his wife that now she could feel at home and happy for on that day he had purchased the Burrows Pew. Not the entire family, however, was pleased, because Son Victor did not al- ways arrive before the service had begun and never forgot the embarrassment that his tardy entrance produced as he was obliged to walk almost the length of the aisle to pew 15. In later life this lad was in mercantile positions in Vermont where he married his wife, Mary B. Leslie, and both came to Plymouth
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