USA > Vermont > Washington County > Waitsfield > History of the town of Waitsfield, Vermont, 1782-1908, with family genealogies > Part 12
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W. McKendree L. S.
Durham Conference, Maine."
In 1822 Rev. Wilder Mack was appointed by the Vermont Conference to the "Mad River" circuit and in June of that year, the time seeming ripe for the formation of a religious society of the Methodist faith, a formal agreement was entered into by the signers whose names appear below:
"We the subscribers, inhabitants of Waitsfield, do hereby voluntarily associate and agree to form a society by the name of the Methodist society in Waitsfield, for the purpose of sup- porting a minister according to the first section of an act entitled 'An act for the Support of the Gospel, passed Oct. 26, 1797.'
In Witness Whereof we have hereunto severally set our hands.
Dated at Waitsfield this 24th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1822.
Lyman Spalding
Foster Dana
Parly Persons
Oliver Colton
James Baldwin
Joel Scott
William Wait 2nd.
Oliver Wood
Edmund Rice
Samuel Bowman
Rufus Barret
Solomon Brown
Jesse Carpenter
Moses W. Rice
Ard Barns
Joel Foster
Richard Gale
Silas Jones
Lewis Holden
Isaac Tewksbury
Wells Hitchcock
Job House
Ira Richardson
John S. Poland
Jacob Tinkham
Levi Wait
Ira Burdick
Amos Robartson (Robinson)
Abijah Cutting
Chester Butterfield
Charles Perkins
John Walton"
Meetings of this society were held for some years in the Southwest District school-house. Wells Hitchcock was its first clerk, and Rufus Barret, who, from his zeal in building up this church, has been often called the Father of Methodism in Waits- field, was most often moderator in the early years. Elder Wilder Mack became the first preacher of the new society. The scale of yearly church expenses may be noted from the following:
127
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Wilder Mack-table expenses $41.00
-traveling expenses 10.00
-quarterage . 58.74
John Lindsey-P. E. traveling expense .50
--- quarterage
6.22
-- table expense ·
4.00
$120.46
In 1824 the Montpelier Circuit, which in 1823 was set off from the Barre Circuit, was divided, and Middlesex, Moretown, Fayston, Waitsfield and Warren became the new Moretown Circuit, over which Charles D. Cahoon was appointed preacher. That year witnessed a revival in the new church, which started in a South Fayston school taught by Solomon Gleason (a brother of Dea. Huzzial Gleason of Waitsfield) who held a local preacher's license. From that time until June, 1844, when Waitsfield became a separate charge, the following preachers were assigned to duty on the Moretown Circuit:
1825-John Foster and Darius Barker.
1826-Isaac Barker and Lemuel Harlow.
1827-David Leslie.
1828-David Leslie and John Cummings.
1829-Ashur Smith and John Cummings.
1830 -- Abel Heath.
1831-2-Joseph Baker.
1833-Nathan Howe and E. G. Page.
1834-John Nason and E. G. Page.
1835-6-Moses Sanderson and Israel D. Rust.
1837-Cyrus Liscomb and E. Copeland.
1838-Cyrus Liscomb and A. C. Smith.'
1839-P. Mason and I. Beard.
1840 --- P. Mason, I. Beard and Eleazer W. Tucker.
1841-Henry J. Wooley, John Perrin and Cornelius Fuller.
1842-Henry J. Wooley and Albert Carter.
1843-William Blake and Otis M. Legate.
During the summer of 1829 two young girls, Abigail Wilder and Lydia Bixby, decided to organize a Sunday School in South Fayston where half the preaching services of the Waitsfield church were held (once in four weeks in each place). On Sundays when there was preaching the school met at noon, but otherwise the pupils gathered at the school-house at 5 P. M. Not until the following year, when the preacher organized a Sunday School for the circuit, was it possible to procure a few question books and about a dozen library books. Until a
123
HISTORY OF WAITSFIELD.
meeting-house was built in 1836 the school-house was used for the meetings, and as it was small there was but one. class, led frequently by the resident preacher's wife.
Rufus Barret was the first superintendent, and later the duty was assumed by Roderick Richardson, jr., under whom the school increased greatly in numbers and efficiency, a woman assistant being appointed to see that pupils were present and classes supplied with teachers. Still later Hosea Newcomb became the superintendent, and after him came Cyrus Liscomb, Ira Richardson, Stephen R. Griggs, Thomas Poland, Ira C. Taylor, Dan Boyce, George O. Boyce, Jacob Boyce, Plyna F. Carroll, Fred Fisk, Azro D. Bragg, Frank A. Bragg, Mrs. William T. Miller, Julius E. Berry, and Charles J. Greene.
From the beginning the school has been an efficient aid to the general work of the church.
On October 11, 1824, the recently organized Moretown Circuit voted "to build a house for preachers agreeable to the description drawn by Elder Kilburn," and Stephen Herrick, Nathaniel Stearns and Ira Richardson were chosen a committee to select a site. This committee reported in April, 1825, in favor of locating the building on the Barret farm in Waitsfield, and Rufus Barret, Bro. Randall, Bro. Dana, Bro. Hyser and Stephen Herrick were chosen trustees. This parsonage was erected just northerly of the location later occupied by the meeting-house, and now forms a part of the residence of the late Meriden L. Richardson. It was completed in January, 1829, at which time the trustees reported a debt of $26.05 due thereon.
Some ten years later the Circuit added a barn, and installed a cow therein, as may be gathered from the fact that in 1841 Rufus Barret and George W. A. Hitchcock were chosen a com- mittee "to dispose of the parsonage cow and procure another for the same."
ـني
ECCLESIASTICAL.
129
ENTRANCE
ENTRANCE
PULPIT
ENTRANCE
David Randall
1
2
Minister's Pew
21
22
Mary Richardson
William Bixby
3
4 Rufus Barret
Wells Hitchcock Theophilus Bixby
121
24 Riley Mansfield
Theophihrs Bixby
5
6
Hoses Newcomb
R.Darret
25
D.C.Drown
M. Tyler
J. H. Brown
8
John C. Griggs
27
R. Barret
R.Richardson
Calvin Fullerton
9
10
John Walton
29
J.M. Richardson
Elisha Brigham
12
Simeon Stadderdie| Elijah Randal 31
32 Anos Robinson
-
Aaron Palmer
John R.Spalding Nathan B.Spaulding
181
34 R.O.Stoddard
John Barret
Charles Newcomb
16
Timothy Reed
35
Rufus B. Barret
M. Stewart
36 David C. Joyslin 1 Jesse Carpenter
Peter Quimby
17
18 Lemuel N Savage
Elisha B.Richardson
37
38 Russell Lockwood
Elisha Foster
James Burnham
39
BenjiRichardson
Joel Foster
WellsHitchcock
James C.Fardo
PLAN OF FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL MEETING HOUSE
.
26 Rock Richardson
28 Henry C. Jones
30 Josiah Chase
Russell Steele
1
Silas Wheeler
B
John W. Steel
3
Salmon Rice
15
Hugh M Cauley 19
20
ENTRANCE
WW Newcomb Charles Newcomb
25
7
Samuel Richardson
وبدوج
130
HISTORY OF WAITSFIELD.
By 1832 the society had entirely outgrown the school- houses, and was frequently compelled to hold its services in "Squire" Barret's spacious barn. Need of a suitable meeting- house was imperative, and under the lead of Mr. Barret the work was undertaken in 1833, when a plan of a house to be 36 X 46 feet in size was prepared and the following agreement indorsed thercon for signature: -
"In consideration that Rufus Barret of Waitsfield, Builder, causes to be Built A Meeting House on the spot of ground Lying between the Parsonage lot and Joel Foster's Line (it being in Waitsfield) For the use and accommodation of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Waitsfield and Fayston as a House of Public Worship and secures the same to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Waitsfield by Deed-Said House to be thirty Six Feet by Forty Six Feet-one story and A Half high with A gallery for singers -- The frame to be raised and enclosed before the first day of December in the. year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and thirty-four if Made of timber, but if of brick to be brought to the same state of forwardness by the above mentioned time-To be finished before the first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five-We the subscribers promise and engage to take the Pew or pews in which we set our names respectively at the price or prices now affixed to such pews in the Plan of the House hereunto annexed,-and that we will pay said sum or sums to Rufus Barret or his order one half in Money and the other half in good Merchantable grain or Neatstock in two equal pay- ments-if in Money and grain the first by the first day of January one thousand Eight hundred and thirty five, the second by the first day of January one thousand Eight hundred and thirty six- If the one half to be paid in grain or Neatstock be paid in Neat- stock it shall be paid by the first day of October 1834 and the first day of October 1835 in equal payments."
This agreement was executed by each subscriber placing his signature in the space on the plan which represented the pew of his choice.
Land for this edifice was given by Mr. Barret, and the work proceeded promptly to completion in accordance with the contract. The building, which is still standing, was a plain, unpainted, barn-like structure with an interior as devoid of ostentation as was the exterior. It served until 1852, when the building was remodeled, painted, and a spire added. At this time many members of the church desired to have it re- moved to the village as a more central and convenient location,
.
131
ECCLESIASTICAL.
but so many members of the church resided in South Fayston that after much discussion it was deemed inexpedient to make the change, and in consequence quite a contingent withdrew and organized a Wesleyan Methodist Society, of which mention is made elsewhere.
With the growth of the church, services became more fre- quent. In 1842 the plan of the Moretown Circuit called for preaching at Waitsfield three-fourths of the time, and at South Fayston one-fourth of the time. Consequently in June, 1844, Waitsfield and Fayston were constituted a station, and Rev. Wilder Hemingway was placed in charge as stationed preacher. James C. Fargo was designated as local preacher, and Samuel Dana as exhorter, while John R. Spaulding, Hosea Newcomb and Lucius S. Griggs were selected as stewards. From that date the following pastors have been placed in charge of the Waitsfield church:
1845-6-Harvey Hitchcock.
1847-8-Homer T. Jones.
1849-Dyer Willis.
1850-Plyna N. Granger.
1851-2 -- Andrew J. Copeland.
1853-4-Charles W. Kellogg, whose service was marked by a great religious awakening. 1855-William J. Kidder.
1856-7-Peter Merrill.
1858-9-Nathan W. Scott.
1860-1-Harvey Webster.
1862-C. S. Buswell and Frank H. Roberts were appointed to "Waitsfield and Warren," and the charge has since borne that name.
1863-4-5-Lewis Hill-the first pastor to remain three years. 1866-Benjamin P. Spaulding.
1867-N. M. Granger.
1868-9-Frederick M. Miller-remembered as the first pastor to preach a sermon especially for the children, and the first to introduce singing-books in the Sunday School.
1870-1-Joseph Hamilton.
1872-3-4-Elisha Folsom.
1875-6-Joseph A. Sherburn.
1877-8-Charles H. Leverton.
1879-80-81-George L. Wells-under whom the growth of the church was very marked.
1882-3-4-Caleb P. Taplin.
1885-Albert S. Maxham.
1886-7-8 -- Orville D. Clapp.
132
HISTORY OF WAITSFIELD.
1889-90-91 -- George O. Howe-during whose pastorate there was a revival in religious interest, and under whom the Sunday School became especially strong.
1892-3-4-William E. Douglass-during whose pastorate the present church edifice was erected.
1895-6-7-Archibald B. Enright.
1898-9-William T. Miller. 1900-1-2-J. Edmund Badger.
1903-James S. Allen. 1904-5 -- Frederick M. Barnes.
1906-7-8-Frank H. Roberts.
Gradually the old church building in Irasville was outgrown, and wisdom seemed to dictate a removal to some location in the village. A suitable site upon the westerly side of the main street was purchased in May, 1868, and with the opening of the year 1870, work was commenced upon the new building, which in spite of many difficulties was brought to a speedy conclusion. This structure contained an audience room capable of seating about three hundred, with ample provision on the basement floor for the Sunday School and other purposes. Calvin Fullerton, Ira Richardson and Jacob Boyce were the building committee, and by a strange coincidence the new bell tolled for the first time at the death of Mr. Fullerton.
The removal of the centre of activity made it essential that a new parsonage be secured, and in November, 1872, the Society purchased the dwelling now used by its pastors.
On February 24, 1894, the second meeting-house was burned, but the Society, under the efficient leadership of Rev. William E. Douglass, turned enthusiastically to the work of raising funds, and before the close of the year the present modern building had arisen over the ashes of the old, and was dedicated on October 11, 1894, free of all debt.
On November 16, 1890, Chapter 4010 of the Epworth League was organized in this church with a membership of 51 which was subsequently increased to 122. Ziba H. McAllister was the first president and the following have served subsequently: Carrie M. Greene, Charles J. Greene, Mrs. Alice Berry, Mrs. Archibald B. Enright, Mrs. Lovina A. Palmer who served three distinct times and was president at her death, December 3, 1907. Frank A. Bragg and Annie L. Bragg.
A Junior Epworth League was later organized and has flourished under the efficient leadership of Mrs. Curtis Guyette.
เตือน
--
THIRD METHODIST EPISCOPAL MEETING-HOUSE. The second meeting-house, shown in the small picture, stood on the site of the present building and was burned in 1894.
133
ECCLESIASTICAL.
A list of those who have served as stewards of the Waits- field Methodist Episcopal Church since its organization as a separate charge in June, 1845:
John R. Spaulding
Dan Boyce
Hosea Newcomb
George A. Berry
Lucius S. Griggs
Plyna F. Carroll
Timothy Reed
Eastman R. Long
Theophilus Bixby
Franklin J. Greene
Stephen R. Griggs
Leonard C. Berry
Charles Liscomb
Moses E. Hadley
John P. Souther
Plina E. Lockwood
Joseph Martin
Lyman M. Learned
Moses Stewart
Henry B. Cady
Nathaniel Shepherd
Allen Howe
Ira C. Taylor
Mrs. Miriam Boyce
Ira Richardson
Orlo Linfield Barnard
Lawson P. Carroll
Julius E. Berry
George O. Boyce
Henry T. J. Howe
Thomas D. Poland
Andrew Long
Seth Sterling
Moses Palmer
A. H. Dutton
Frank A. Bragg
Azro D. Bragg
Ziba Hamilton McAllister
George W. Nichols
Joseph A. La Point
Eleazer Wells Tucker
Charles J. Greene
Jacob Boyce
Oramel Smith Joslin
W. B. Porter
Charles H. Clay
George B. Newcomb
Mrs. Alice P. Kelsey
W. P. Harmon
Pearl B. Gaylord
Harry Hawley
James Neill
Silas Eaton
Mrs. Jennie Boyce
Mrs. Isabelle K. Richardson
A list of persons licensed to preach by the Methodist Society in Waitsfield:
James C. Fargo
Freedom Hill
Samuel Dana
George F. Wells
Thomas W. Kelsey
Orville C. Poland
H. C. Howe
L. Olin Sherburn
Robert Brown
John C. Maxham
Eleazer Wells Tucker
Orlo Linfield Barnard
134
CHAPTER XII.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY-THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY IN WAITSFIELD, THE UNION MEETING-HOUSE SOCIETY IN WAITS- FIELD, BAPTIST SOCIETY, EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WESLEYAN METHODIST SOCIETY, WAITSFIELD UNITY SOCIETY. 1
During the later years of Mr. Chandler's ministry in the Congregational Church there was a growing tendency on the part of a considerable number of citizens, including several leading men in the town's affairs, to embrace more liberal theological views than those at the time accepted by the orthodox churches. Many were also opposed to the assessment of church expenses upon members, as a tax upon their grand list. As early as 1826 Universalist services were conducted by a Rev. Mr. Fuller in school-houses or other convenient places. There was a belief among some of these men that they had a right to to make use of the Congregational meeting-house at least a portion of the time, but this view of the matter was not tenable, and a board of arbitrators to whom the matter was referred so decided.
Rev. Mr. Chandler resigned as pastor of the Congregational Church in 1830, and with the loss of his strong guiding hand it was inevitable that members not wholly in sympathy with orthodox doctrines should withdraw. On Christmas Day, 1830, the following constitution for a Universalist Society was signed:
"We the subscribers, being desirous of promoting Christianity in a way that to us appears reasonable, and wishing to support a doctrine that is consistent with itself and agreeable to the Gospel-Therefore
The undersigners, all being inhabitants of Waitsfield, do hereby voluntarily associate and agree to form a society by the name of The First Universalist Society in Waitsfield, for the purpose of building a meeting-house whenever said society shall think proper, and of hiring a minister according to the first section of an Act entitled 'An Act for the Support of the Gospel' passed October 26, 1797. In Witness Whereof we have hereunto severally set our hands.
.
I35
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Dated at Waitsfield this 25th day of December Anno Domini 1830.
We further agree that we will meet at the house of Roderick Richardson on Thursday the 30th of December inst., at 5 o'clock P. M., and there adopt such bye-laws and choose such society officers as the members of said society may think expedient when met.
Roderick Richardson
Cyren Burdick
Ralph Turner
Ezra Church
Levi Smith
David Wheeler
Daniel Thayer
David Skinner
Fredk. Richardson
Ebenezer Cutler, jr.
John S. Campbell
Jonathan Palmer, jr.
Nathan Thayer, jr.
Avery Kellogg
Dan Richardson
Benjamin Poland
John Campbell
Ezra Jones
Matthias S. Jones
John Wood
Richard Gale
William A. Kelly
Harry Jones
William Ward
Yorrick C. W. Hastings
Chandler Taylor
Cyrus Joslin
Luther Mix
James Dow
Garrinter Hastings
Elias Taylor"
At the meeting called as above Roderick Richardson was chosen treasurer; Cyren Burdick, clerk; Dan Richardson, col- lector; Daniel Thayer, Ezra Jones and Levi Smith, prudential committee.
The Society also passed the following vote:
"Whereas this Society deem the support of the Gospel by a tax on the Grand List as contrary to the spirit of religious toleration: Therefore resolved that we as a Society will not give countenance to that mode of Taxation."
This was a direct attack upon the method of raising funds then in vogue with the Congregational Society, and doubtless accounts in considerable measure for the size of the exodus to the new church. In 1840 there were 55 members of the Society ; in 1855 there were 60; in 1860-94; and in 1864-82. There- after the membership steadily decreased, although annual meetings were held and the organization preserved until De- cember 23, 1887.
Society meetings were held at the house of Roderick Richard- son until his death, and thereafter in the Union Meeting-house, of which the members of this society were majority owners.
136
HISTORY OF WAITSFIELD.
Beginning with January, 1831, preaching services were maintained on an average one Sabbath per month, and after the construction of the meeting-house, already referred to, there were more frequent services. Indeed from 1844 to 1848, and from 1856 to 1862, regular pastors labored in this field, and during the latter period a Sunday School and Bible class were maintained. After the departure of Rev. C. C. Thornton, however, services were maintained with growing infrequency, and, for some years prior to the death of the Society, were held only occasionally.
Rev. John E. Palmer followed Mr. Fuller and preached a portion of the time from 1826 to 1837. From 1838 to 1844 Rev. Edward Brown preached on stated Sundays. In 1844 Rev. John E. Palmer became pastor, and so continued until 1848, from which year Rev. T. C. Eaton and Rev. G. S. Gurnsey preached irregularly until 1856, when Rev. C. C. Thornton became pastor. He continued his work here until 1862, and after that date there were no regular services, although Rev. John Gregory preached occasionally until 1875, and in 1874 meetings were held, with Mr. Gregory and Rev. W. H. Walbridge occupying the pulpit on alternate Sundays.
The Union Meeting-house Society in Waitsfield.
The organization of the Universalist. Society gave rise to a desire for another church edifice in town, and this was ac- centuated after the Baptist Society entered the field in 1835. In consequence, an agreement for the formation of "The Union Meeting-house Society in Waitsfield" under the Act of October 26, 1797, was signed December 4, 1835, for the purpose of erecting a meeting-house which should be open and free to "all denominations of Christians" under the rule that owners of pews should have voting powers in the society proportional to the number of pews owned, and that each individual pew- owner might "occupy the desk for worship of Almighty God one week in each year for each pew owned," the week to begin on Thursday morning at six o'clock; but each pew-owner who belonged to a religious society was to be held to have surrendered his right to his denomination unless he otherwise directed.
The number of pews was limited to fifty, and each owner was obliged to indicate at the annual meeting how his allotted time was to be used during the coming year.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
137
Oliver Field
Rock Richardson
Rock. Richardson Jn
Rodk Richardson
PULPIT
Roderick Richardson
Matthias5.Jones
Amos Robinson
John S. Poland
Roderich Richardson
Roderick Richardson
Roderick Richardson
Roderick Richardson
Jennison& Harry Jones
Roderick Richardson
Roderick Richardson
Wm M. Pingry
Daniel Skinner
Roderick Richardson
Roderick Richardson
David Suel Steele
Rock Richardson Jr.
Roderick Richardson
MatthiasS. Jones
Orrin Wheeler
Roderick Richardson
Matthias S.Jones
Daniel Thayer
Roderick Richardson
Roderick Richardson
David C. Joyslin
John Campbell
Roderick Richardson
Elisha Benton Richardson
Cyrus Joslin
James Joslin Jr.
Josiah Campbell
Lewis Thayer
Timothy Reed
Elisha B. Richardson
Russell Lockwood
MatthiasS. Jones
Abijah Whitcomb
Simeon Pratt
Lucius H.Cheney
Harriet Carpenter
PLAN OF UNION MEETING HOUSE
.
·
ـجـــ
138
HISTORY OF WAITSFIELD.
The committee of the Society, upon which there was to be at least one representative from each religious society represented among the pew-owners, could grant use of the meeting-house for any public meeting or to any society, with the consent of the owner or society to whom the use of the edifice was for the time being assigned.
The list of subscribers for pews was as follows:
Roderick Richardson
8 pews
Matthias Stone Jones 3
"
Thomas Prentis I pew
John Campbell I
Jennison and Harry Jones
I "
Roderick Richardson, jr.
2 pews
William M. Pingry
I pew I
Oliver Field
I
John Stafford Campbell
I
Roswell Richardson
I
Lucius H. Cheney
I
Russell Lockwood
I
David Carlisle Joyslin
I
Asahel Rider
I
Lewis Thayer
I
Josiah Campbell
I
Harriet Carpenter
I
Dan Richardson
I
Levi Smith
I
Elisha B. Richardson
I
James Joslin, jr.
I
Daniel Skinner
I
Amos Robinson
I
Bissell and Horace Phelps
I
Nathan Haskins and Eli Bruce
I
Orrin Wheeler
I
Simeon Pratt
I
Cyrus Joslin
I
John S. Poland
I
Daniel Thayer
I
Philo Harrington
I
Elisha Foster I
David S. Steele
I
Thomas Tinkham and Hiram Stowell
I
Timothy Reed I
The meeting for the organization of the Society was held at the inn of John Stafford Campbell, on the date named, and officers were elected as follows:
I
Abijah Whitcomb
+
90
1.500
UNION MEETING-HOUSE, 1836.
139
ECCLESIASTICAL.
President-Thomas Prentis.
Secretary and Treasurer-William M. Pingry.
Collector -- John Stafford Campbell.
Committee --- Roderick Richardson and William M. Pingry.
Immediate action looking to the erection of a meeting- house was taken. On December 23, 1835, Roderick Richard- son, Lucius H. Cheney, Matthias Stone Jones, David Carlisle Joyslin and Roderick Richardson, jr., were chosen a building committee, and the Society voted to locate the edifice on Roderick Richardson's meadow, "about forty-two rods northerly of the store, on the land William M. Pingry once bought of said Richard- son and afterwards sold back."
On January 29, 1836, the building committee entered into an agreement with the elder Richardson under the terms of which he was to build a brick meeting-house 54 X 42 feet in size, to be completely finished except for inside painting and painting of doors at a total cost of eighteen hundred dollars. In case subscriptions did not equal that sum Richardson was to bear two-fifths of the loss, and the committee collectively three-fifths, but any member of the committee might relieve himself from this contingent liability by paying Richardson the sum of ten dollars.
The building was completed during the year, and on Feb- ruary 22, 1837, a vendue for the choice of pews was held. The price of each pew was fixed at twenty-eight dollars, and pre- miums ranged from one to twenty dollars.
The interior of the building was plain, with the pulpit at the rear end. Over the vestibule was a small gallery reached by stairs on either side. In this gallery a pipe organ was installed at a later date.
The records are fragmentary after the first few years. The meeting-house was used by the Universalist and Baptist societies, and in later years for Unitarian preaching. After 1870 no very regular use was made of the edifice, and in 1903 it was sold by the few remaining proprietors to the local lodge of Odd Fellows.
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