Easthampton, Mass.


The names of some of the officers appointed there that day have been on the town records ever since, and quite to the front in everything that makes for the welfare of their native town. The next meeting called that day for July 13 was held at the meeting-house frame, which had begun in the spring preceding by individuals who, knowing they should soon be incorporated, had begun the erection of a suitable place for public worship. At their first business meeting they voted to provide a place for public worship, to use the frame already built, and to remunerate the builders therefore. It was clapboarded, shingled, and a lower floor laird, but it was not entirely finished until 1792, when after much consideration, it was voted in town meeting to "finish the meeting house," to "finish it in the same form as Southampton's house is done."
      The price agreed upon was £85, to be paid in wheat, rye, Indian corn, beef, pork, boards or shingles, "a billet being sent to each man of his proportion of the same, that he might pay accordingly." Later it was voted to paint the meeting-house, — the body white, the roof Spanish brown. It had no bell and no steeple, but it was a well-finished house. In it were the old-time furnishings of sounding boards, and high pulpit reached by winding stairs. Of this building, Rev. Payson Williston, in his semi-centennial sermon, preached August 18, 1839, said: "For somewhat more than fifty years was this the house, the place of our holy solemnities. Thither were the fathers and mothers of our Israel, till successively removed by death, seen to be resorting almost as constantly as the Sabbath returned, and there it was their delight to meet together, to pray and praise, and think and talk of heaven."
      The land on which the building stood was public property, and when the present First Church was built, the old one was sold at auction and taken down. An elm tree was set upon the site of the first pulpit by

C. & D. Buildings; Gymnasium & Middle Hall

C. & D. Buildings
From left: Gymnasium & Middle Hall.

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