By MRS. M. A. Mygatt
My earliest recollections of this my native place, aside from my own home and contemporary school companions, are connected with the Church and its pastors.The first minister I can remember was the Rev. Joel Boyington, and during his pastorate, which I see by the record, continued from 1807 to 1832, the old Church was built, and the old bell was bought and put up about 1824. 1 remember when the bell was hung in the belfry. It was a gala day with the children. We girls were all dressed in white, with red, white and blue sashes streaming in the wind and hair flying, as we ran up and down the street, delighted that we were permitted to participate in the celebration of the day. The boys were all at the bell, which was rung at intervals all day,I remember seeing Seth Graves, grandfather of the late Joel Graves, sitting on the step in father's office, radiant and excited, as he gazed on the Church and the bell, for he gave the land on which the church edifice now stand, and contributed liberally to the building of the old Church and the purchase of the bell; also hearing my father say, "there was one happy man in town that day."
The old Church was a quaint structure, with a wide lobby across the front, and an entrance by three outside doors. There were four large pillars or columns in front that served to support the belfry, and were considered an imposing ornament. There were ten windows on each side, five above and five below, four in the north end, and three in the front gallery over the entrance. There were neither blinds nor shades, and therefore nothing to intercept or obscure the light of heaven.The pulpit was a high octagonal structure, much like a bird cage, which projected from the space or platform behind where the minister sat. It was supported by two tall fluted columns with ornamental scroll capitals. A flight of steep stairs on each side led to the pulpit. It was taken down in after years, and replaced by a lower platform with a desk.
The pews on each side of the middle aisle were wide slips, and those against the wall were square pews, so high that I remember hearing my uncle, Amasa Moore, say the congregation looked as if they were all in swimming. Those sitting on the east side were the Saxes, the Ladds, Harvey Graves and family, the Waterses, the Douglass family, afterwards the Severances. On the west side were the McRoberts, the Miners, the Tracys, the Graves family, Ichabod Ransom's family, (the family of Mrs. Jonas Gilbert), and the late Rev. Cyrenus Ransom. The Bugbees, on the north. West of the pulpit, sat Capt. Epaphradites Ransom and family, familiarly known as Uncle Peff, of blessed memory. Elijah Ransom and family sat in one of the front pews on the west of the middle aisle, and Deacon Wells, Deacon Roswell Ransom and Wells Ransom sat on the east of the middle aisle. My father's pew was west of the middle aisle, where the present one is which I now occupy, and just here I will say, that when the new Church was built, and it was proposed to make the seats free my father rose and said, he would not oppose the majority, but as he and his family had from the first occupied that place, and felt at home there, and perhaps would not in any other, he would ask, (if there were no objections) to retain his old seat. Whereupon it was unanimously decided that Esquire Hubbell's request should be granted.
To resume, the Church was heated by box stoves placed in a space near the entrance, and the long undulating pipes passed into the chimney on the north.The services were at half past ten in the morning, with an intermission, and Sunday School at noon, and preaching at two P. M. those from out of town remaining till after the second service. The galleries ran the length of the audience room, and in front over the lobby.
On the east side, and half the space in front sat the soprano and alto singers. On the west, and corresponding place in front sat the male singers.Hiram Brockway with his bass viol, and Mr. Miner, grandfather of the present Miss Miners, with his fife, or flute; I can dimly remember a violin, or bass viol played by one of Capt. Ransom's sons. There was a fall choir of men, whose names I cannot now recall. save that of Charles Bigbee, whose full sonorous voice poured forth with no uncertain sound. The women singers were Miss Phoebe and Caroline Kingsley, the latter known as Mrs. Geo. Ransom, and called the "sweet singer of Israel " whose clear lucid tones still linger in memory's ear. There were the Graves sisters afterwards known as Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Brockway, and many others, a full choir reaching half way down the front seat of the side gallery, tbe voices were true and well trained for the time. When the hymn was given out, and the pitch given by the conductor with a pitch pipe then in use, as the tune started the women singers would commence to move with a swaying, weaving motion from side to side to the time of the tune, either fast or slow, and this was continued to the last line of the hymn. The custom was primitive and certainly unique. The acme was attained, when one of the old fugeuing tunes given out, like Northfield, whenthe entire choir would begin and then the different parts would follow each other, each relocating the line at a certain intervals either above or below the preceding part, from soprano to alto, from alto to tenor, from tenor to bass, round and round until the voices would blend in a full chorus, on the last line of every verse. It was inspiriting both to pastor and people. The congregation rose and faced the singers, but as time passed it was thought disrespectful to turn their backs to the Minister. The younger ones faced about, but some of the old members adhered to the old customs which to strangers gave the impression of a divided and independent household.
The parsonage which stood where the present one stands was a low one story and a half building, with a lean-to on the south side, including an open porch, and sleeping rooms on each side, and a pantry, There were two large rooms with a huge chimney between. A kitchen and sheds beyond indefinitely. This chimney was taken down in after years and replaced by folding doors. lt was the dwelling place and comfortable residence successively of Rev. Joel Boyington for 25 years; then by Rev. A. D. Brinkerhoff, (my uncle by marriage); C. E. Stevens, S. R. Woodruff, Mr. Chase; E. S. Barnes; again by A. D. Brinkerhoff from 1851 to 1857; S. M. Williams, then by Mr. P. Luther, who lived in his own house, now the residence of Mr. Arthur Hyde. Rev. P. J. Abbott, who was the first to occupy the new parsonage, and after Rev. Cyrus Offer. Then came Rev. Mr. Myers, for sixteen years, now living honored and revered. and at present is our faithful and "up to date" pastor, Rev. A. C. Dill. The Minister's salary in old times was $400 a year with a donation in the fall which was intended to aid substantially to the maintenance of the household.
To return to the old bell which seems to be the key note of the article. It still hung in the belfry until 1875 or 1876, at the time preparations were making to rebuild. Some of the oldest members wished it to remain, as they loved the sound, cracked and doleful as it was, but the younger element thought it otherwise. So one night it was quietly taken down and sent to Troy, where its weight contributed to the purchase of the present bell.
When this present edifice was built on the foundation and frame of the old one, a vestibule and choir were added. It was built by the late Benjamin Haynes, who with care and fidelity superintended his workmen and saw that his contract was carried out to the last letter. It has since been kept in repair, carpeted, insurance paid, and recently decorated by the industry and untiring efforts of the " Ladies Aid Society" until it is the acceptable, presentable and I must say tasteful "Temple of worship" as it now appears.
I could tell you ,a great deal more of the good Deacons and saintly women that I knew, of the faithful and excellent pastors and their equally excellent and faithful wives, of my mother whose consecrated life and religious influence in the Church and society, is well as in our own home, are well known as an example and a benediction; of my dear father who gave liberally to the building of this Church and all benevolent and worthy objects, and to the pastor's salary, but this is no time or place for obituaries. They have all passed on to their reward and few now are left to tell the tale.
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