Berkshire Genealogist




In Search of Gravestones




Hidden New England

History of North Adams.



and deaths the number connected with it at that time was only about 100.

The pastors who have presided are as follows:


George Witherell, from December 1, 1808, to December 1, 1813.
Elijah F. Willey, from December 1, 1815, to April 1, 1817.
Hosea Wheeler , from the fall of 1817 to the summer of 1818.
George Robinson, from the fall of 1819 to the spring of 1820.
Samuel Savory, from December 1, 1820, to February 3, 1826.
Charles B. Keyes, from June 1, 1827 to April 1, 1834.
Asa H. Palmer, from April 1, 1834, to April 1, 1836.
Lemuel Covell, from May 1, 1836, to April 1, 1838.
Thomas S. Rogers, from April 1, 1838, to April 1, 1840.
John Alden, from April 1, 1840, to April 1, 1846.
Horace T. Love, from June 15, 1846, to April 1, 1852.
Miles Sanford, from June 23, 1853, to March 10, 1871.
Cortland W. Annable, from March 17, 1872, to March 25, 1877.
Abraham C. Osborn, from September 1, 1877, to August 20, 1884.
Francis H. Rowley, from December 14, 1884.

In 1829 the old meeting-house, being very inconvenient in form and much out of repair, it was deemed advisable to build another house for public worship to meet the wants of the growing society. The old house was therefore moved back, and now is occupied by families, just in the rear of the present edifice. A brick building was erected on the same site, 40x63 feet, at an expense of about $3000. In 1844 the house was remodeled and improved inside at a cost of $1200.

The constant and numerous additions to the church by membership, as well as the increased number of attendants, with the augmenting population of the village, caused the edifice to be extremely crowded. It was found to be too small, in fact, to accommodate the actual necessities of the denomination.

In 1848 it was deemed advisable to take down the building, and erect on the same site a more capacious and convenient building. The new house was commenced May 12, 1848, and completed in a little over one year. It was built of brick and of the following dimensions: Length, 94 feet; width, 64 feet; height of ceiling 40 feet. It contained 120 pews on the first floor, 38 in the galleries, and would comfortably seat 1000 people. There was a large and convenient vestry in the basement, which would seat about 400. The edifice cost $15,000. The organ had thirty-two registers and some 1200 pipes, and cost $2000. The entire property of the society in 1858 or ’59 was about $20,000. The church was dedicated June 21, 1849 by Rev. Bartholomew Welch, D. D., then of Brooklyn, N. Y.

On October 30, 1858, at the completion of half a century from the date of the organization of this church, special religious services were held and an appropriate and interesting sermon preached by Rev. Miles Sanford, the pastor.

On the 4th of May, 1875, the church was badly burned, the fire originating in the organ. In August of that year the work of tearing down the ruins was begun, the Wilson Hall being used as a place of worship until the spring of the next year, when the chapel was completed. On the 7th of August, 1880, the church was dedicated. It will comfortably accommodate 1000 persons, and is valued, including other property, at about $100,000, the original cost of the church being $50,000. The society now has nearly 900 members, with Rev. F. H. Rowley as pastor. The home Sunday School has 600 scholars, and the five mission schools about 100 each.


UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

The Universalist society of this village was organized in 1842, under the ministry of Rev. William Wilcox, formerly of Vermont. Previous to 1840 there was occasional preaching. In that year Rev. Mr. Beckwith preached here every few weeks, the meetings being held in the third story of the Arcade building. Rev. William Wilcox preached during 1841 and 1842.

In 1843 Stephen B. Brown purchased for the use of the society the Methodist church building on Centre street, afterward used as a Catholic church, and now by John A. Bond & Bro. as a livery stable, for the sum. of $450.

In 1851 the society purchased of S. W. Brayton, at a cost of $900, the lot on State street which forms the present site of the church, and erected the building now standing at a cost of about $7100. It contains 70 slips, and will seat about 500 people. There is a pleasant and comfortable vestry in the basement, which has been used for a school room.


METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In 1784 a considerable body of Methodists made their appearance in the south part of this town. Soon after there were a few in the north part, principally in the Notch, where a small class was formed in 1823.

The origin of the Methodist Episcopal church in this village dates back to that year. Mr. Ebenezer Alden then removed





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