North Adams historian Paul W. Marino did his usual comprehensive and entertaining job last month with his tour of the First Congregationalist Church in North Adams as part of its celebration of its 175th anniversary.
“No one has been in town longer as a religious organization than the Congregationalists,†said Marino.
The first settlers who came to the area, at least after Fort Massachusetts, were from Connecticut and were Congregationalists. They built a meeting house from logs at Hodges Cross Road.
Marino said they chose Hodges Cross Road because it was close to the center of the township of East Hoosick, which consisted of what is now Adams and North Adams.
“The church rather foundered during the American Revolution partly due to nationwide poverty caused by the war,†he said. “And also the church was located in a rather swampy area.â€
Even today fields in the area are under water during much of the spring.
The community could not support its minister, and the church closed down in 1778. However, the minister, Rev. Samuel Todd, retained ownership of the land and the First Congregational Church owns a cemetery there.
One historian says the next meeting house was built in 1782 as an ecumenical organization, a cooperative effort of members of different denominations.
“But according to the records that I got from the church here, it was the Congregationalists who were leading the charge,†Marino said. “That’s the implication.â€
Interjected, First Congo Rev. Jill Graham, “Well, we wrote the document.â€
This meeting house was built at what is now the corner of Church and Pleasant streets, where the Masonic Temple is now.
“And it was a very rough building; it just had loose boards for a floor. The pews were just benches, with no backs. Very uncomfortable, and in fact it was without doors or windows for about 12 years,†Marino said. “And the reason it went so long without being finished was because there was a general apathy toward religion nationwide.â€
This apathy was quite strong in North Adams, he added.
A revival wave swept the country in 1794, and the evangelist who came to this area was a Baptist.
“So most of his converts became Baptists. And in that year ... Jeremiah Colgrove cleared the stumps out of Church Street, then headed up a team of men to move the meeting house from where it was built over to where the Baptist Church is now,†he said. “But it remained ecumenical until 1808, which was when the Baptist Society formed.â€
The Congregational Church started up again on April 10, 1827 under the Rev. John W. Yeomans, and they purchased a lot of land, including land the church is now on, for $400, he said.
In 1828 they built a brick building 42 feet wide by 62 feet long and seated 400 at a cost of $4,000. The organ cost $600 and it was the first church organ in the town.
“The church was originally let by oil lamps for a quote, unquote ‘dim and religious light’ — whatever that means,†Marino said.
At first the church struggled financially, the smallest Congregationalist parish in the area. Williamstown had a large and successful Congregational Church, Florida and Savoy had a more successful parish, and even Peru had a church with 200 members.
“Down here they had something less than 100. It was very much a hand-to-mouth existence for many years. They were actually being supported by the Massachusetts and Berkshire missionary societies,†Marino said. “They borrowed money a few times from Williams College, and a few times Williams College threatened to foreclose on those loans.â€
In 1850 things began to look up for the Congregational Church, when a Rev. Crawford converted about 250 people over the 10 years he was in North Adams.
“The early Congregationalists were very fundamentalist, as you might guess,†Marino said. “Most of the early ministers were strict Calvinists. There was a great deal of emphasis on God, not as a loving father but as a judge and king. And a great deal of emphasis was put on final judgment.â€
The early ushers would beat on the floor twice with sticks when it was time to stand up during the service, and again when it was time to sit down.
“But also, during the service, and particularly during the sermon, they were supposed to walk up and down the aisles making sure everyone was paying attention,†he said. “And if someone was dozing, they’d reach over with their stick and give them a poke.â€
“The Congregational Church was also very pro-abolition, very pro equal rights. In 1835 they took in three members who were black,†he said.
At one time the church formed a committee to deal with members who were drinking heavily.
In 1863 the church was deemed unfit for worship, and a five-member building committee was formed. One of these was the original James Hunter, of James Hunter Machine Company, Marino said.
The new church — the current First Congregational Church — was built in 1864, and is the oldest standing church in the city. It seats 700 and cost $40,000, he said.
Though tastes very, the First Congregational Church may well have the most striking stained-glass windows of any church in the city. Nine were made by Tiffany.
The Rose Window is a great, magnificent window above entrance of the church.
In April 1865, this window, consisting of 5,000 pieces of glass was installed. It cost $500 and was paid for entirely by Sylvander Johnson, who owned the Johnson Manufacturing Company on Brown Street.
According to a history produced by the church of the stained-glass windows, the first memorial window was installed in 1902 in one of the side windows of the sanctuary, replacing the amber glass placed there in the late 1870s or 1880s. There does not appear to be a comprehensive scheme for the windows, though the subject matter of the windows include illustrating the parables or teaching of Christ, scenes from the life of Christ, or virtues personified. No specific Old Testament themes appear in the windows.
One of the windows is I Am the Good Shepard in memory of Daniel James Butler, 1836-1909.
“Mr. Barber ... was the owner and I believe the founder of the Barber Leather Company,†Marino said.
Later, Rev. Graham showed me a document signed in 1772 by the Rev. Samuel Todd, the first Congregationalist pastor.
Family Pizza Night for Conte Students and their families will be held at Conte Middle School in North Adams on Tuesday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m.
Enjoy pizza while sharing ideas on ways to “grow the 21st Century Programs.†Dinner will be followed by an After School Program Open House. See demonstrations of the programs and activities available to your child after school. You must call Elayne Murphy to register, 662-3070.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink in North Adams will present a professional wrestling program on Saturday, May 11, beginning at 7 p.m. The program will benefit youth skating programs at the rink. Tickets cost $12 in advance and can be purchased at Nassif’s Pharmacy, the Williamstown Youth Center, and the skating rink. The cost of tickets will increase to $15 at the door. Children aged 6 and under will be admitted for $5 at the door only. For more information, call 662-5112.
St. Mark’s Church, 39 Commercial St., Adams, will host a Family Day Breakfast on Mother’s Day, May 12. There will be one church service that day at 9 a.m. and a full country breakfast will follow. A free will offering will be accepted at the door to defray the cost. This will also be a chance to say farewell to the Rev. Jane R. Dunning at her final public event with us. Everyone is invited to attend this fun event. For info, call 743-0947.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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