W. Chapin taught here winters, in his youth and early manhood, for ten dollars a month. The tree now in the Wauregan yard is said to have stood between Mr. Chapin's house and barn. The venerable Alexander Day, still living, taught at different times in nearly all of these school-houses. The first church built in Holyoke was located where Alexander Day's house stands, on Northampton street. Here Rev. Mr. Rand, the Baptist clergyman, preached many years; but the church was used by both Baptists and Congregationalists, the latter having the service each fourth Sunday. This edifice was partly built in 1792 by the Baptists near the old burying ground, and stood unfinished for a time, but the First Congregational Society, which had been formed by Rev. Dr. Lathrop of the First Church in West Springfield, Dec. 4, 1799, united in the completion of the edifice and the removal to the place above noted. Ultimately Mr. Rand held the pastoral office of both churches, exchanging frequently with Congregational clergymen. These societies continued united until 1834, when the Congregationalists dedicated their own church a mile and a quarter farther up the street, pastor. The First Baptist church was Rev. Harvey Smith becoming their organized in 1803, by Thomas Rand, Caleb Humeston, Peresh Hitchcock, Benjamin Bassett, Ashael Chapin, Jedediah Day and Austin Goodyear, all laymen, but upon invitation of the others Mr. Rand assumed the pastoral office and became greatly beloved by his church and the community. A council of representatives from various churches in New England voted to recognize the church as properly constituted. Important testimony of the character of the church membership and the pastor is the notable fact that
© Laurel O'Donnell 1998 - 2006, all rights reserved
This document is an edited adaptation of the original publication and may be downloaded for personal non-commercial use only. These pages should not be reproduced or distributed in any format without permission. |
