USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > St Johnsbury > The town of St. Johnsbury, Vt. ; a review of one hundred twenty-five years to the anniversary pageant 1912 > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
THE VILLAGE WATER WORKS
During the summer of 1876 the Village Water Works were established at the mill dam in Paddock Village, the original Ar- nold water privilege. The main purpose in view was to secure fire protection ; water for all other uses was however included in
303
FOR PROTECTION
the plan. The small island was secured, on which was placed the pump house, a brick building about thirty feet square; and six- fortieths of the water power was purchased, for $600. In May the Trustees contracted for a number-one Flanders Pump, capac- ity 500,000 gallons per twenty-four hours ; also for a number-three Pump, capacity 2,000,000 gallons, guaranteed to throw six one- inch fire streams 100 feet each; also 1940 rods of iron pipe, two to twelve inch sizes ; also 66 two-way and 4 three-way hydrants- total piping reaching six miles and twenty rods. This contract called for $56,940.93 and did not include the work of trenching and laying the pipe lines. This was undertaken by Joseph Tru- dell at $2.74 per rod for the entire six miles. The water wheel at the pump house was Buzzell's giant wheel, made in Paddock Vil- lage. To meet the expense of this river system, Village Water bonds to the amount of $75,000 were issued, payable after five and within twenty years, at the rate of $5000 a year.
The hydrants did good work in playing on burning buildings, but serious difficulty was encountered by reason of inadequate water power ; and the annual expense for repairs and up-keep of the machinery was heavy. During the month of January 1881 there was no power to move the pumps. In 1892 a new boiler and steam pump was put in at an expense of $3124 ; this was 185 horse power, intended to discharge 1500 gallons a minute on a fire and to deliver a million and a half gallons each 24 hours. In October that year the power was in requisition, pouring 1000 gallons a minute for four hours on the fire that swept the east side of Railroad street. Three years later at the burning of the Pythian Block a pressure of 110 pounds was readily sustained. In 1893 the village paid $4000 for four additional shares of water power ; of the forty shares of that water privilege the Village of St. Johnsbury now owns eight.
In August 1910 the use of Passumpsic River water for drinking and household purposes was discontinued by order of the State Board of Health. It is now delivered for fire protection, sprinkling, water troughs and fountains, stables, garages and manufacturing purposes, only.
304
TOWN OF ST. JOHNSBURY
In seeking a right solution of the water supply problem, sur- veys at various times were made and reported to the Village Trustees. It was estimated that water connection with Joe's Pond would cost $188,378; with Goss Hollow Brook, $100,273; with Hall's Pond, Waterford, $140,624; with Willoughby Lake an undesirable sum ; an Artesian well would call for $40,000 ; an ade- quate Filter on Passumpsic River would cost $30,000. These various propositions were considered at Village meetings; the filtration scheme was put up urgently in 1905, on a $20,000 esti- mate ; this came within 31 votes of adoption; a second special meeting was called, at which time it was rejected by a majority of 165 votes.
XXIV
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
"Vermont and Delaware declare that every sect ought to maintain some form of religious worship, and Vermont adds that it ought to observe the Lord's Day." Ambassador Brice
THE OLD FIRST CHURCH 1809
The early story of this church which held a unique place in the history of the town has been given in chapter ten. With a pastor on the ground only two years of its first quarter-century, it nevertheless made vigorous growth in membership and in spiritual life of a serious type, confronted by prevailing irreligion and immorality. With later years came the increasing impor- tance of the Plain as the center of business and population, and the consequent weakening of the old Mother Church on the hill. Since 1825 its influence has been becoming more widely distribu- ted through its lineal descendants, the North, the East, and the South Congregational Churches. Its pastors by installation were Pearson Thurston, 1815-17 ; Josiah Morse M. D., 1833-43; J. P. Stone, 1846-50 ; H. Wellington, 1855-60; Geo. H. Clarke, 1862-65 ; H. M. Holliday, 1866-67 ; Edward T. Fairbanks, 1868-74. The house of worship is the old meeting house of 1804, taken down in 1845 and re-erected on its present site in the Center Village.
THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY 1813
The beginnings of this organization falling within the period of the early history of the town have been narrated on page 135. There is no record of any organized church. The adherents in-
306
TOWN OF ST. JOHNSBURY
cluded a large proportion of the prominent men of the town ; 210 signatures were on the constitution. The first preachers appear to have been itinerants; a few names only are found-Hollis Sampson, Mr. Vose, Mr. Wright and later B. M. Tillotson and T. R. Spencer. A majority of the pews in the old meeting house on the hill were owned by men of this society, and all the early services were held there, alternating with the Congregationalists. In 1843 the Universalist meeting house was erected in the Center Village; this was destroyed by fire in 1876. Regular services therein had been suspended prior to that event; since then the remnant of the original society living at the Center Village has been under the parishional care of the minister of the Church of the Messiah at the Plain.
NORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 1825
To accommodate families living on or near the Plain three miles or more from the Meeting House, a colony, called the Sec- ond Congregational, was set off from the old First Church, April 7, 1825. By a coincidence not designed, it began, as the mother church had eighteen years before, with six men and thirteen women. For two years this company met for worship in a small store reconstructed for the purpose; see page 211. In 1847 the first Meeting House on the Plain was built, on the present North Church site. Twenty years later it was moved to where it now stands, south of the Court House and a new one was erected, which in turn was moved across the street and converted into Music Hall, to make way for the third and final structure of stone, dedicated February 24, 1881. Architecturally this building is not surpassed by any other in the state. The style is Mediæval Goth- ic ; the material is Isle La Motte stone with ornamental pillars of red granite ; the interior woodwork is of native cherry, the win- dows and wall decorations are in the highest degree artistic. The organ, a gift from one of the sons of the church, is an instrument of great compass and range of expression, having 1789 pipes. The length of this building is 162 feet, the turret above the bell tower rises 140 feet from the ground ; the seating capacity is 800.
In membership and wide reach of influence the North Church has for many years had a leading rank in this part of the State.
307
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
The three founders of the scale industry were among its earlier members and gave strong impulse to its spiritual life and liberal benevolences. It inherits an honorable history and superior equipment, and has a large constituency. The membership in 1912 was 512.
Pastors, James Johnson, 1827-38 ; John H. Worcester, 1839- 46; Wm. B. Bond, 1847-58; E. C. Cummings, 1860-70; C. M. Southgate, 1870-75; Henry W. Jones, 1875-85; C. M. Lamson, 1885-94 ; Albert H. Heath, 1894-99 ; Edward M. Chapman, 1900-05 ; Edward D. Eaton, 1905-07; Geo. W. C. Hill, 1907-1913 ; F. B. Richards, 1914.
CENTER VILLAGE METHODIST CHURCH 1835
A small dwelling house fixed over for the purpose was used by this Church until the erection in 1841 of a house of worship, the third in that village ; which is still standing and regularly oc- cupied. During the earlier years the nucleus of this Church was on the Lyndon circuit and among the ministers whose names ap- pear, were James Templeton, 1827; J. A. Scarrit, 1829; John Nason, 1832 ; J. F. Adams, 1834. Among the sons of this Church was one whose name has given it distinction : Rev. Edwin W. Parker, a native of this town, which will ever hold in honor his eminent work as a missionary. He went to India in 1859, and after years of conspicuous service was made Bishop of the Metho- dist Church in that Country. His wife and efficient helper was Lois S. Lee of the First Congregational Church.
EAST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 1840
This church, like its two predecessors, began with 19 mem- bers, one added, making 20, mostly by letter from the North and Center. It was organized November 25, 1840, on which day also the Meeting House newly built was dedicated. Twelve years later the building was raised and a select school was kept in the lower rooms by Pastor Gurney. In 1870 there were extensive repairs and refurnishings; again in 1902 an entire remodeling and deco- rating for which about $2500 was expended. The gifts for this
308
TOWN OF ST. JOHNSBURY
purpose ranged from $170 to the one cent that was brought in by a small boy who hoped his contribution would help some. Names of the charter members are on the double windows facing south, and on the window over the pulpit are commemorated the services of the pastors ; named as follows : Rufus Case, 1842-49 ; John H. Gurney, 1850-55 ; John Bowen, 1858-63; Wm. Baldwin, 1864-66 ; J. P. Humphrey, 1868-78 ; F. B. Phelps, 1879-84 ; J. N. Walker, 1884-86; J. F. Whitman, 1886-88; B. S. Adams, 1890-91 ; Arthur Hertel, 1891-92; Geo. W. Patterson, 1894-1901; E. E. Grant 1901-14. Being the only church in the East part of the town this one holds an important place and has done a valuable work for the community, reaching across the town lines into Kirby and Waterford. At the re-dedication in 1902 there had been 370 names on the church, of whom 40 were received at one time by Pastor Humphrey, whose memory is cherished with peculiar love and veneration.
EAST VILLAGE METHODIST 1844
Soon after 1840 a Methodist preaching station was establish- ed at the East Village. A. Hitchcock was the minister in charge in 1844 and somewhile thereafter. In 1850, Jonathan Whitney was the preacher ; the place of meeting was unsuitable and he urged the securing of a house of worship. It appeared that in 1818, John Stiles had put up a Free Baptist Chapel in Waterford Hollow. It was a plain structure with square pews, which were sold off from time to time till something like $1500 was realized. In those days denominational lines were rigid ; at one time a Universalist preacher found his way into the pulpit of that house; when Mr. Stiles came in and recognized the situation, he found it his duty to go into the pulpit and get the man of false doctrine out of it. This is the story as now narrated. In process of time the demand for doctrine of any sort in that house seems to have declined and services were no longer held in it.
Then in 1850 the Methodist Conference bought it, moved it into the East Village and planted it there, opposite the Congrega- tional Church. Isaac Harrington was a leader in this movement. Some while later he would pay a third of the debt to avoid a
309
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
mortgage. When the church was opened for worship there were 58 members ; a third of the pews were for free sittings. Among the preachers were Lyman Farnham, Daniel Carr, Wilbur Fisk, Orange Scott, George Bickford, J. Ward. In 1896, the building became too dilapidated to be longer used, it was torn down and the society discontinued its services.
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 1851
The increase of population after the opening of the railroad in 1850, and the difficulty in securing seats for all worshipers in the Meeting House, led up to the question of another church on the Plain. Inquiry was made as to other denominations. It did not appear that any other was intending to come in. The situa- tion was discussed long and anxiously. The conclusion finally forced upon the people was that the church now on the ground must be divided in to two. No one welcomed this proposition, least of all those who would have to go. But the religious wel- fare of the community plainly seeming to demand it, the inevita- ble was accepted. Sixty-five members were set off to constitute the colony. This was a little more than one-fourth the resident membership. On the 23rd of October, 1851, they were organized under the name of the South Congregational Church. The house of worship, adjoining the Academy, was built by the whole socie- ty, to be owned and occupied by the colony, and was dedicated January 14, 1852.
For the first ten years the sanguine prediction of rapid growth was far from being realized. There were serious losses and dis- couragements and much talk of reunion. Brighter days dawned with the second decade, and during the high wave of religious awakening in the seventies the membership was doubled and large congregations filled the house. Particular attention has from the first been given to missionary, educational and philanthropic work, to inter-church fraternity and union in religious activities.
The South Church house of worship is now the only one left + on the Plain of the Wren type formerly so common in New England-somewhat modernized in the interior with harmonious
310
TOWN OF ST. JOHNSBURY
wall tinting, memorial windows and hard wood floor. The broad pew-backs finely grained and the wide spreading mahogany pulpit are cherished reminders of earlier times. The village clock rings from the bell tower of the South Church and a fountain plays on its lawn.
Pastors, Sumner G. Clapp, 1852-55; George N. Webber, 1855-59; Lewis O. Brastow, 1861-73 ; Edward T. Fairbanks, 1874-1902 ; S. G. Barnes, 1902-11; Paul Dwight Moody, 1912.
GRACE METHODIST CHURCH 1856
With a membership of 34, this Church was organized, De- cember 3, 1856, in the old Union Hall, where services were held for the next two years. In January 1859 the church building on Central Street was completed at an expense of $5000 and dedicated. Ad- joining this was built in 1880 the parsonage costing $2700. By this time the membership had increased to about 200 and the seat- ing capacity was insufficient ; it was therefore determined to en- large the building. For this purpose on a Sunday in 1883, $5250 was raised, afterward increased to $11,000, including generous gifts from outside the Society. The enlarged new building with modern appliances was dedicated January 31, 1884. In 1908, after serious injury by fire, it was remodeled and decorated, standing with the parsonage at a valuation of $35,000. The bell on this building was originally installed with fire alarm attachments; its heavy tones continue to ring in good congregations.
Pastors : Alonzo Webster, 1856; H. F. Foster, '57; D. Packer, '58; H. W. Worthen, '59; H. P. Cushing, '61; I. McAnn, '63 ; A. A. Titus, '66; E. C. Bass, '69 ; J. N. Walker, '70; H. C. Sheldon, '71; H. A. Spencer, '72 ; A. L. Cooper, '73; D. E. Miller, '74; H. F. Austin, '78 ; E. S. Locke, '79; E. W. Culver, '82; L. L. Beeman, '85; T. P. Frost, '87; G. M. Curl, '89; C. W. Bradley, '92; W. S. Smithers, '93; Thos. Tyrie, '99; G. W. Hunt, '02 ; J. M. Frost, '06; Peter Black, 1909.
NOTRE DAME DES VICTOIRES 1858
The first resident Catholic priest in the town was Rev. S. Danielou who came here in 1858. During the 16 years of his
311
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
pastorate he built the brick church on Cherry street with the first rectory, and began the school for boys. In 1874, Rev. J. A. Boissonnault began his long and efficient ministry. At that time there were 221 St. Johnsbury families in the parish, but his super- vision extended to thirteen other towns. He completed the parochial school for boys, now in charge of the Brothers of St. Gabriel, built the convent Mount St. Joseph for girls in 1882, which is in charge of the Sisters of Notre Dame, and the next year bought the Prospect street parochial residence, originally built by Dr. J. P. Bancroft about 1847. In 1886 foundations were laid for the new granite church edifice, built at an expense of $37,000 and dedicated January 6, 1889. This building is 140 by 60 feet on the ground with a tower and spire 198 feet high, seating capacity 1200. The interior, finished in ash, frescoed and lighted with figured windows is thronged with worshipers at all stated times. In 1894 was erected the St. Johnsbury Hospital, the first in the town. The group of substantial buildings secured for the Notre Dame parish during the pastorate of Father Boissonnault represents an expenditure of some $250,000 and they stand as a permanent visible monument of his work. More worthy of note than these was the personal influence of the man himself. For 35 years he lived among us, respected and honored by everyone, for his modest bearing, his friendly and genial spirit, his stalwart promotion of righteousness, sobriety and good citizenship. His worth and weight as an influential citizen were at all times recog- nized; all classes and creeds united in paying respect to his memory at the last services; places of business were closed as his body was borne to the burial. His successor, the Rev. E. C. Drouhin took the rectorship in August 1911. In the parochial schools of Notre Dame are some 400 pupils ; the young men of the parish have a large and flourishing Association, with head- quarters in St. Agnes Hall, which is equipped with library, reading room, gymnasium and other accessories for their culture and im- provement.
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH 1868
Soon after the close of the Civil War, services were held in Union Hall and later in the Town Hall, by pastors of the Univer-
312
TOWN OF ST. JOHNSBURY
salist Church at the Center Village. Organization was effected January 23, 1868, and in December 1871, Rev. B. M. Tillotson accepted a call to the pastorate in which he continued for 12 years. Under his leadership the house of worship on Eastern Avenue was erected, and dedicated January 23, 1873. Lambert Packard was the architect and John Stevens the builder ; the seating capacity is 500. A good number of business men were enlisted in the support of this organization; the women, from their first donation of $1000, have continued a strong reliance for practi- cal and financial aid ; at the anniversary of 1908, it appeared that they had contributed $15,750 in behalf of the church.
Pastors : B. M. Tillotson, 1871; Geo. W. Jenkins, 1883 ; E. A. Hoyt, 1885; Costello Weston, 1892; Hervey H. Hoyt, 1894; H. L. Veasey, 1898 ; J. P. Quimby, 1899 ; A. F. Walsh, 1901 ; B. F. Butler, 1908; C. L. Eaton, 1913.
FREE BAPTIST CHURCH 1869
Eight men with their eight wives and one other, seventeen in all were organized into this body in the house of Francis Switzer by a Council from the Wheelock Quarterly meeting, November 10, 1869. For four years services were held in the Hall in Bank Block ; the house of worship, corner of Main and Prospect Streets, was erected in 1875. On Sunday morning March 26, 1881, this house was burned to ashes ; with the resolute purpose to rebuild, came generous contributions from citizens of the town, and on December 3, 1882, public worship was held in the new building which was a replica of the one first occupied seven years before, with seating capacity of 300. In 1818 a Free Baptist congrega- tion was established at St. Johnsbury Center, of which no definite information appears.
Pastors : W. L. Noyes, 1870; Isaac Hyatt, 1872; Ozro Roys, 1874; C. S. Frost, 1878; H. Lockhart, 1881; D. H. Adams, 1883 ; F. E. Davidson, 1886; C. B. Atwood, 1889; A. I. Davis, 1891; G. C. Waterman, 1895; R. L. Dustin, 1901; F. H. Knollin, 1906 ; E. Holman, 1907 ; E. E. Phillips, 1910.
313
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1874
Organized by William Bacon of New York City in 1874, with 13 members. The house of worship was erected on Railroad street the following year, with seating capacity of 250; to the rear of this was attached in 1904 a convenient and commodious Chapel. This Church holds an important position, being the only one in the populous district that includes Railroad and Summer- ville villages.
Pastors : J. H. Marsh, 1874; E. T. Sandford, 1875 ; G. O. Webster, 1891; F. R. Stratton, 1892 ; H. M. Douglass, 1894 ; A. C. Hussey, 1899; C. R. B. Dodge, 1902 ; Albert H. Gage, 1905 ; F. S. Tolman, 1908.
ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1876
Services of the Episcopal order were first held in 1856, in the old Union Hall and occasionally in other places prior to Novem- ber 1876, at which time the parish was formally organized with articles of association signed by twenty men. The next year was begun the erection of the house of worship, dedication of which was held August 3, 1881; the pipe organ was presented some years later by Capt. E. F. Griswold. The roll of communicants in 1912 was about 200. The men of St. Andrews have been among the substantial citizens of the town, and some of the rec- tors have been highly esteemed in the community.
Rectors : N. F. Putnam, 1876; F. S. Fisher, 1882; George H. Bailey, 1888; F. D. Buckley, 1889; Frank Appleton, 1892 ; W. H. Mill, 1897; Charles Pickells, 1900; James A. Thompson, 1904 ; Alfred Poole Grint, 1910.
THE ADVENT CHURCH 1875
About forty persons were organized in to this body in 1875, by Rev. M. A. Potter. The next year the building, seating 400, was erected on Pleasant street ; somewhile after, a bell was hung, the gift of Col. Frederick Fletcher.
Pastors : M. A. Potter, 1875 ; George Wallace, L. C. Mc- Kinstry, A. S. Williams, Benjamin Finney, F. L. Piper, L. W.
314
TOWN OF ST. JOHNSBURY
Smith, M. A. Potter again in 1891, and since that time a succes- sion of short pastorates, with regular services and Sunday School well sustained, at all times.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1879
It was on the 29th July, 1879, that this Church, Reformed Presbyterian, was organized by a commission from the New York Presbytery. There were 31 members, and the next year Wm. R. Laird was ordained and installed as pastor. For three years services were held in the Avenue House Hall, till the completion in 1883, of the house of worship on Eastern Avenue. Mr. Laird remained for nine years, and was succeeded in 1889 by W. A. Pinkerton. In 1892 this Church was transferred to the Presby- terian General Assembly ; three years later services were discon- tinued.
ST. ALOYSIUS CHRUCH 1896
The English speaking Catholics who had hitherto been con- nected with the Church of Notre Dame, were on the 24th of July, 1896, organized into a parish of their own, known at first as St. Rose, with Rev. M. J. Carmody as priest. In August that year the old Cross bakery lot was purchased as the site for a house of. worship, which was dedicated Oct. 26, 1898. This was a brick building, with an auditorium forty by seventy feet, and a seating capacity of 500, with a fine organ. The name was changed; it is now St. Aloysius. In October, 1898, Rev. John A. Lynch became the pastor ; he built the parish house adjoining the church. He was succeeded in December, 1904, by Rev. T. J. Leonard who after ten years' ministry was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Dwyer. The Knights of Columbus were organized in this parish in 1896; there are about 200 members, nearly all of whom belong to the Young Men's Temperance Society, and also to the Holy Name Society, pledged against profanity.
THE SALVATION ARMY 1885
Operations by this body began on our streets in the summer of 1885, under direction of Capt. Stables of the Toronto Com-
315
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
mand, and barracks were opened in the building now occupied by The Caledonian. In 1897, the vacated Presbyterian auditorium was secured for headquarters, and retained about sixteen years. Substantial service has been rendered by the Salvation Army among many people especially in need of a helping hand and gos- pel cheer. In 1913 this work was discontinued and the City Mission was established under the auspices of the village churches, G. W. Beckwith and wife in charge.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Under charter of January 26, 1898, the First Church of Christ Scientist was organized and incorporated; and established with By-Laws revised by the Mother Church in Boston, October 26, 1900; Charles E. Peck, President ; George P. Moore, Treasurer; Readers, Miss Kate D. Peck, Miss Katherine Puffer. The first regular place of meeting was Odd Fellows Hall, afterward Pythian Hall. On the removal of The Caledonian from Pythian Building the rooms thus vacated were fitted up for a place of worship, which is now occupied ; a public reading room is attached.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS have been an important feature in all the churches. At the last canvass, made in 1905, the total enrollment was 3523 ; of which 142 were at the East Village, 175 at the Cen- ter. The distribution among churches on the Plain was as follows : Methodist, 887; North Congregational, 683; South Congregational, 438; Episcopal, 355; Universalist, 334; Baptist, 224; Free Baptist, 140; Advent, 94; Christian Science, 51.
RELIGIOUS REVIVALS
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.