Central Congregational Church Fire

The original Central Congregational Church at the end of Seaverns avenue burned in 1935. This photo comes from the BPL Flickr group. I've already posts about Central Congregational here and here.

Thanksgiving 1898.

Along with this somewhat pedestrian report from 1898, I'll at a link to an earlier entry - A Tale of a Turkeyless Thanksgiving.


Boston Daily Globe Nov. 25, 1898.

Thanksgiving Services of Protestant Churches at Jamaica Plain.

A union Thanksgiving service was held yesterday morning in the Universalist church on Rockview st, Jamaica Plain. It was attended by members of all the Protestant churches of Jamaica Plain, and held under the auspices of the Fraternal Council. All the members of the council - ministers of the various churches - assisted at the service, with the exception of Rev Mr Grose of the Methodist church, who was unavoidably prevented from being present.

Rev R.M. Hunt of the Baptist church read the opening responsive service. The offertory and hymn were given by Rev Mr S. Learman of the Episcopal church. Prayer was offered by Rev C.F. Dole of the Unitarian church and Rev C.L. Morgan read passages from the scriptures. Rev Mr Hildreth of the Episcopal mission of Boston read the Thanksgiving proclamation.

The sermon was preached by Rev W.R. Libby, pastor of the church. He took for his subject “Prosperity, Patriotism and Religion,” embodied in the proclamation, and said we should be thankful for the present prosperity, the genuine patriotism in the heart of the nation and the universal religion which seems to minister to our spiritual needs.

Wednesday, in response to the call of the Fraternal council, contributions of food were received by a committee appointed by the council, and yesterday more than 40 families in Jamaica Plain were provided for from the amount received.

The Incorporators

John G. Hales, 1832 - annotated by Fred Seaver (BPL). (click to enlarge)


The map segment shown above is part of John G. Hales' 1832 map of the town of Roxbury. It was used by Mr. Fred Seaver to show the locations of houses of the founders of the Third Meeting House of Roxbury, now First Unitarian Church of Jamaica Plain (see below for numbered names). The branch of the Seaver family that included Fred was one of the leading families of Jamaica Plain. The story of the Seaver general store is told on the JP Historical Society web site here. Of immediate interest is the information provided by Fred, who was in a position to know and pass on details of Jamaica Plain history otherwise lost to us.

I left the photo of the map above at full size, so you can click on the picture and see an enlarged and easily read version. Twenty-seven homes are located by number, showing the area from which the third parish drew its founding members. In today's terms, the parish extended from Hyde square (no. 10) to the border of Brookline (no. 2) and from Hemlock Hill in the Arnold Arboretum (no. 20) to Walnut avenue in Roxbury (nos. 23, 24). On the other hand, we don't see the Curtis homestead at Boylston street listed, so perhaps some of the people in the district continued to travel to the First Church at Eliot square in Roxbury proper.

Let's start looking closely at the map. The first thing we have to do is remember that this is an 1832 map, and shows streets that were not present at the time of the founding of the Third Parish (1760s). Centre and South streets were present, as well as Perkins, Day Heath, May streets. Burroughs Eliot and Prince streets were not present near Jamaica pond, and Washington street (originally the Dedham Turnpike) had not been laid out yet. Jamaica Plain was still an agricultural community, with farms and homes lining a few country roads. There were certainly other people living in the area at the time, but the location of these houses probably tells us a lot about the population of Jamaica Plain at the time.

Going down the list of names, we see some we should recognize immediately, and some we can identify with a little digging. Benjamin Pemberton (#1) married Susannah Faneuil, niece of Peter Faneuil of Boston's Faneuil Hall fame. He purchased an estate along Centre street from his brother-in-law Benjamin Fanueil, and shouldered much of the financial burden of founding the Third Parish in Jamaica Plain. He would later sell the property to Dr. John Warren, and it would later pass to Samuel G. Goodrich, also known as Peter Parley.

Edward Child (#2) is shown living along Pond street at the Brookline border. Pond street was known as the Newton road in the early 1800s, though it was only officially named as Pond street in 1825. The location of the Child house suggests that the road went back well into the 1700s.

John Morey (#4) is another matter. He has already been mentioned on this site. His farm was along Centre street and today's Arnold Arboretum.

Captain Lemuel Child (#5) would later serve with the Minutemen, leading a group of local men to fight the British as they retreated from Lexington. He had a farm along Centre street near today's Faulkner Hospital.

William Burroughs (#6) is shown living on Centre street, quite near the future location of the street that would bear his name. he is said to have laid out Burroughs street some time around 1800.

Isaac and Nathaniel Brewer (#7) are shown living at the same place as Captain Charles Brewer would live one hundred years later.

Eleazer and Nathaniel Weld (#8) lived on the estate granted to Joseph Weld by the town of Roxbury for his service in the Pequod War. The homestead was along South street, the property extending to Centre street and including much of today's Arnold Arboretum. In the Family Search online archive, I find an Eleazer Weld, born Feb. 20th, 1736 to Joseph and Martha Weld. There is also a Nathaniel Weld, born March 24st, 1739 to Ebenezer and Mary Weld. I haven't been able to satisfy myself that I have the two men I'm looking for, as I have not been able to cross-reference the two men's relationship. For now, I'll accept that the two named men did live on the Weld estate at the time, but it is entirely possible that Fred Seaver made mistakes in his effort, so I'll put off for now doing a grand Weld genealogy.

I believe the Withingtons (#10) ran an inn/tavern at today's Hyde square that served travellers on the highway from Boston to Dedham (as Centre street was called then).

Joshua Loring (#11) should need no introduction to residents of Jamaica Plain. Commodore Loring built his house at the beginning of South street, where it still stands today. The old farm house that stood on the land when he bought it was moved across the street, and served as the parsonage of the Third Church for a time. Tradition has it that the old farm house was later sold and moved down South street, and perhaps moved again still later. There is the possibility that the old house still stands today, covered in later additions and improvements. If so, it could be the oldest standing house in Jamaica Plain.

John Troutbeck (#13) was the first owner of Linden Hall, which sat at Centre and Pond streets. Reverend Troutbeck was assistant rector of the first Anglican church in Boston, and like that other loyalist, Joshua Loring, would emigrate to Great Britain during the Revolution.

If the name Scarborough (#16) rings a bell locally, it would be because Frederick Law Olmsted used the name of a former land owner when he designed Franklin Park. Scarboro Hill, and later Scarboro pond are near today's Morton street, and not far from number 16 on the map.

John Louder, father and son (#18), lived appropriately near to today's Louder's lane, a later road that was laid out to provide access to private lots off Centre street.

John Keyes (#21) was also honored with an eponymous street name, but gave up the honor when the street was renamed for Corporal John J. McBride, who lost his life in France during the First World War. John Keyes was a tanner who lived along South street, as shown. When the Loring estate was sold, Keyes purchased the south most portion, the greater northern section going to Ann Doane, who would soon be Mrs. David S. Greenough, and the matriach of five generations of D.S. Greenoughs. This map, however, shows home sites before the Revolutionary War, and before the estate of the Loyalist Loring was sold. It appears as if Keyes well pre-dated the Greenoughs in the area, and is actually shown living on what would have been at the time the Loring estate. Sooo.... we have a puzzle here.

We have various Mays: Benjamin (#14), Lemuel (#17) and Ebenezer (#19). Benjamin (b. March 1, 1708 - d. Dec. 8, 1774) was a farmer, and is shown here living on Centre street at today's Pond street. Lemuel, (b. Feb. 20, 1738 - d. Nov. 19, 1805) the first son of Benjamin, served as a Lieutenant under Capt. Child in General Heath's regiment during the Revolutionary War. Ebenezer is shown living on Centre street near William Burroughs house. His first daughter, Susanna, married Daniel Starr, later to give his name to Starr lane just across Centre street. Makes sense - the Starrs lived somewhere off Centre street in the vicinity of Starr lane and Seaverns avenue.



Isaac Williams, George Woods, Edward Briggs, Ezra Davis, father and son, Lemuel Austin, John Williams, Joathan Williams, Jacob Davis, John Foster and Jonathan Payson are all unknown to me in any detail worth relating. I do know that the Williams family had farms in Roxbury, east of today's Washington street, which agrees with the location of their homes on Fred Seaver's map. Having these names will allow me to start looking for them, so perhaps they will reveal themselves at a later date.



1. Benjamin Pemberton
2. Edward Child
3. Isaac Williams
4. John Morey
5. Lemuel Child
6. William Burroughs
7. Isaac Brewer, Nathaniel Brewer
8. Eleazer Weld, Nathaniel Weld
9. George Woods
10. Abil Withington
11. Joshua Loring
12. William Pepperil
13. John Troutbeck
14. Benjamin May
15. Edward Briggs
16. Samuel Scarborough
17. Lemuel May
18 John Louder, John Louder, Jr.
19. Ebenezer May
20. Ezra Davis, Ezra Davis, Jr.
21. John Keyes
22. Lemuel Austin
23. John Williams
24. Jonathan Williams
25. Jacob Davis
26. John Foster
27. Jonathan Payson



The original Roxbury map, without Fred Seaver's annotations, can be seen here.

Source: The Founders and Incomporators ofthe Third Parish in Jamaica Plain; Who They Were and Where They Lived. Fred Seaver (Boston Public Library, Jamaica Plain branch).

Death Of A Priest

The weekend obituary informs us of the death of Msgr. Edmund Sviokla, formerly Fr. Sviokla of St Thomas Aquinas parish. When he came to St Thomas parish in the early 1960s, he organized a marching band for the local youth under the auspices of the Catholic Youth Organization, or CYO. It was just in time to catch the wave of baby boom children who were filling the streets from the Arborway to Franklin Park. Bands, drum corps and drill teams from Rockland to Gloucester marched in parades and competed in CYO contests on summer weekends.

Fr. Sviokla hired top-notch instructors for the band, which led to a quick rise to success in competition. His own role, as "spiritual advisor," was more complex. He was a combination of father figure and army general, loving but stern. He was playfully referred to as "The Pope" by the children, and his large car known as "the Popemobile." When the Archdiocese decided to move him from St Thomas to another parish, protests and petitions from Jamaica Plain caused a rare stay of the order.

Like other priests and ministers before him, Fr. Sviokla stood out from churchmen of his time - he affected the lives of literally hundreds of children, who now live with fond memories of those special days. He didn't have a school named after him, like Ellis Mendell of Boylston Congregational, a library, like Msgr. Connolly of Blessed Sacrament, or even a traffic overpass, like Msgr Casey of St Andrew's, but he will be honored in the memories of those of us whose lives he touched.

Bless his soul.

Christ The King Ukrainian Catholic Church

Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church, 2008




I've been sitting on this article for a while, waiting to get a picture to post with it. I haven't been able to find a picture taken at the time it was built, so this will do. This is the youngest church by far to bless this site, but it won't be the last. In fact, it won't be the last Ukrainian church, because I've yet to post an entry for St Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox church in Forest Hills.

Christ the King church overlooks Forest Hills street, and backs to Franklin Park. Their wide street frontage opens up Forest Hills street, and keeps it from feeling too crowded.


Jamaica Plain Citizen July 10, 1952


To Break Ground For New Ukrainian Catholic Church.


Father Tom, pastor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Ukrainian Church of Boston, announces that the breaking of the ground ceremony which was to have been held two weeks ago but which was called off on account of rain will take place this coming Sunday afternoon, July 13, at 2:30 p.m. at 118 Forest Hills street, Jamaica Plain. Archbishop Richard Cushing, D.D. will preside and many of the Monsignori and Clergy of both the Western and Eastern Rites will attend.

The ceremony will begin with the chanting of the ancient Moleben-Litany to the Sacred Heart, under the great directress, Mrs. Helene Sydoriak Haire.

After the breaking of the ground ceremony there will be, according to the old Ukrainian custom, a picnic which will include Ukrainian food, singing and dancing.

Fr. Tom extends a cordial invitation to all who would like to attend.

A History Of The First Congregational Society

Here's another online book that is far easier to link to than copy out and post here. It's a nice source of historical nuggets from the first church to be established in Jamaica Plain, now the Unitarian Universalist church at the Monument on Centre street. Said nuggets include: the pew of Benjamin Bussey had a canopy over it; when the new church was built in 1853, a box of papers was put in the cornerstone - a picture of the old meeting house, deeds, registers, newspapers, and coins of the day. What ever happened to the box, I wonder... And not but not least, the silver tankards, flagons and cups that had been given by church members over the years were melted down, to be remade in modern patterns some time around the 1850s. Nice!

Link

The Japanese Problem

This second sermon article is a good deal more complicated than the previous one. Reverend Wentworth was nationalistic and xenophobic to some degree, but he was also willing to criticize his own country as too materialistic and too prideful as well. He would certainly not be at either extreme of the immigration debate today, unlike the Reverend Hawkins from the previous entry.


Boston Daily Globe May 26, 1913


Defends California.

Rev Stewart L. Wentworth of the Jamaica Plain M.E. Church Discusses the Japanese Problem.


"We have gone too far, I think, in letting Japan think that she is the biggest thing on earth," said Rev Stewart L. Wentworth, pastor of the Jamaica Plain M.E. Church, speaking before a large congregation, including many Civil War veterans, on "The Present Situation in Our National Life" yesterday.

"The situuation on the Pacific Coast," he said, "should have arisen a quarter of a century ago right here in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and other congested centers of population where a foreign element swarms, and should have been settled at that time.

"A good many people are much concerned as to what is likely to happen as a result of this trouble on the Pacific Coast. Some think that the Japanese cold beat us out. There is talk of war in the land. I think that the people of California have some rights. I don't think that the Japanese or any other people have a right to come into this country and tell us what our attitude toward them shall be.

"We do not wish to shut out any people, but if this Nation is to stand for God and justice, there must be some way for us to assimilate the alien peoples who come to our shores, that our principles may not be lowered or our high standards torn down.

"America has gotten to be too proud of herself. I believe the times in which we live are times of overmuch boasting of our greatness, without qualifying ourselves to be worthy of our boast. The peril of our land is not in the multitudes who come here, but the motives from which they come.

"We are largely to blame ourselves for their ideas of exploitation of this land, as we have promoted them in ourselves. We must remember that America is not only another name for oppoutunity, but also another name for responsibility.

"We cannot shut our doors against the world and we do not wish to, but we must be careful to set before the immigrant some other example than that our country is one for spoils and individual aggrandizement. We must inspire in our citizens the principles for which men of past generations fought to offset the sordid considerations of the present day.

"We have provoked our labor problems from top to bottom; both parties are wrong. When a Nation seeks for great corporate wealth, must we not expect that the man at the bottom will try to get a greater proportion of that wealth for himself?

"Unless our National life can be keyed up to higher principles, there is but little hope for democracy. The root of the trouble is the selfishnes at both ends of the line. Unless we can eliminate this tremendous selfish ambition from our people, we shall never be able to solve the great problems of our Nation."

Positively Pernicious

During 1916, District Attorney Pelletier prosecuted a man for advocating birth control and sex education as part of a national movement of the time. Since he considered the subject as discussed to be obscene, he wanted women to be barred from the courtroom to protect their modesty. Here we have Rev Chauncey Hawkins of Central Congregational church speaking his mind on the subject.



Boston Daily Globe December 4, 1916


Birth Control Is Pernicious, He Says

Rev Mr Hawkins Flays "Pink Tea Reformers"

Praises Dist Atty Pelletier For His Action on Propaganda


Declaring that the propaganda for birth control is pernicious and constitutes a blow at morality, Rev Chauncey J. Hawkins of the Central Congregational Church of Jamaica Plain flayed the "pink tea society set of social reformers" at the church last evening.

"Enthusiasm for social betterment is good," he said, "but when it is ignorantly directed it is as destructive to our institutions as though it were premeditated crime or vice, and I for one am with the district attorney of Boston. I believe he was right in trying to stop this hodge podge of nonsense, and in arresting one who tried to scatter it.

"Enough knowledge is circulated without thrusting it into the faces of those who ought not to know it, and to the district attorney I would say, the mass of the community are with you. Stamp out this movement, and we will stand behind you.

"Any man familiar with the facts knows that the birth rate is regulated by economic factors, if it is not artificially stopped. There is no reason for alarm when the United STates stands with France and Sweden as having the lowest birth rate in the world. It would seem that, instead of getting up a movement for the control of or reduction of the birth rate, we should be get up a movement for the increase of births.

"The weakness of the American home is not big families, but the lack of the old-fashioned American moralities, and the lack of religion about the family circles. The useful ones in the world have almost without exception, come up from poverty.

Obituary #3

You know that Rev Ellis Mendell was highly respected in the neighborhood of Boylston station - they got the city to name a school after him.


Boston Daily Globe May 23, 1903


He Had Many Friends

Funeral Services for Rev Ellis Mendell at Boylston Station.


The funeral services fo Rev Ellis Mendell, for 15 years pastor of the Boylston Congregational church, corner of Boylston and Amory sts, Boylston Station, were held yesterday afternoon at the church over which he had so long presided. The church was crowded.

The floral tributes covered the platform, and the pulpit was draped with black. The services were conducted by Rev A.H. Plumb, pastor of the Walnut-av congregational church, Roxbury, assisted by Rev Charles L. Morgan, pastor of the Central Congregational church, Jamaica Plain; Rev William B. Campbell, pastor of the Highland church, and Rev Dr Bushnell, a college classmate of Mr Mendell's. Previous to the church service, prayers were conducted at the house, 38 Atherton st, Egleston Square, by Dr Noble of Chicago.

The services were simple. There were Scripture reading, prayer, a short eulogy by Rev Dr Plumb and a musical selection "The Holy City," by Mrs Morrell of the Norwood Congregational church.

The honorary pallbearers were George W. Fowle, Issac Stone, S.R. Crocker and Charles Dellitt and the actual bearers were Messrs W.S. Archibald, W.W. Baker, William Gunn, Charles Shope, William Mock and William Maiers.

The body was taken to New Bedford for burial.

As a mark of respect for Mr Mendel all the stores in the vicinity closed their doors, and no business was done during the funeral services from 2 o'clock until 3:30.

Jamaica Plain Brings God To Missouri

Granted the title is a reach, but not by much. During the post-Civil War years, New England churches sent out missionaries to "the West" to spread Christian teachings to settlements that had left church and The Book behind. Today we tend to think of missionaries as international travellers, but, as told in this article, Christian missions in the 1870s supported by established American churches were internal. The new lands of the West had to be Christianized before churchmen could begin looking overseas for souls to save.

So how many Texans do you suppose know that it was New Englanders who taught them their Evangelical A-B-Cs? And make sure you don't miss the last sentence.



Boston Daily Globe June 12, 1876


American Sunday School Union.

Fifty-second Anniversary Observed at Jamaica Plain.


The fifty-second anniversary of the American Sunday School Union was observed last evening at the Central Congregational Church at Jamaica Plain. There was a large attendance, the beautiful and specious audience-room of the church being filled to its full capacity. Nelson Kingsbury, Esq., the secretary of the New England department of the society, presided, and in the course of an address in which he set forth the general character of the work performed by the society during the past fifty-two years, he said that in that period there had been established by agents and missionaries of the society, principally at the West, 63,793 Bible and Sunday Schools. The total number of pupils represented by these was 2,745,000; teachers 420,000: aid furnished to 7000 destitute scholars; money expended in furnishing such aid, $517,000. The exercises of the evening consisted largely of singing by the children of the Boylston Chapel Sunday School. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Virgin, pastor of the Methodist Church of Jamaica Plain. The principal address of the evening was made by the Rev. William P. Paxson of St Louis, who is the agent and missionary of the society for the States of Missouri and Texas. He explained in detail the methods of missionary work followed by him and related many interesting facts of his experience as illustrative of the classes of people he has had to deal with and the peculiar success which, under adverse circumstances, has often rewarded his labors. The establishment of Sunday Schools in newly-settled or sparsely-populated districts he regarded the most efficient method of building up the cause of religion and multiplying the number of churches. In these districts there is often no difficulty in gathering children together for a Sunday School, when it would be impossible to induce their parents to come together for religious worship, much less to organize a church. IN time the little one taught in Sunday School grows to maturity, and constant accessions to the various settlements being the rule, the nucleus is in good time found to exist for the establishment of a church. In this way through Central Illinois and Northern Missouri 500 churches have been organized and are now in a flourishing condition. The same good work in its natal stages in the form of Sunday School organization is now going forward in Southern Missouri, Arkansas and Texas and would as he predicted one day cross the border and carry the gospel to the ignorant and priest-ridden people of Mexico.

Boylston Congregational Church

January, 2008



Boston Daily Globe May 9, 1904


Boylston Congregational Church Begins Observance Of Its 25th Anniversary.


The Boylston Congregational church, corner of Boylston and Amory sts, began the observance of its 25th anniversary yesterday. Many past members of the society attended the services. The most interested one was Rev S. Sherborne Mathews of Dahleson, Conn, the first pastor.

He attended all the services and was highly pleased with the progress his old church has made since he left the pulpit.

The services opened with an organ prelude by R. Roscoe Steeves, followed by the opening sentences from the Psalms. After the congregational hymn, "O Worship the Kind," the invocation and Lord's prayer was given by the pastor, Rev Herbert A. Barker. The choir sang an anthem, Rev Mr Mathews conducted the responsive reading and Scripture lesson, Miss Lillian M. Lord gave a solo "The Plains of Peace," and Rev Mr Barker offered prayer. A thank offering for the work of the Boylston church was liberally responded to. The congregation than sang "O Where Are Kings and Empire Now?" Rev Mr Barker gave a historical address, and a memorial hymn, written by Warren S. Archibald, was sung.

Following the service, the Lord's supper was celebrated by Rev Mr Barker, assisted by Rev Mr Mathews.

In the afternoon the Sunday school held its 25th anniversary. It antedates the church, which in reality is an outgrowth of the Sunday school.

The services were opened with an organ prelude followed by responsive reading. They further consisted of prayer by Mr Barker, song by the choir, address, "The Early Days of Boylston Sunday School," by Deacon George W. Fowle, an original member; song by the infant department; address, "Recollections of Boylston Sunday School," by W.W. Baker; song, primarily department, historical sketch by Warren S. Archibald; song, primary and kindergarten departments; address, "The Boylston Sunday School of the Future," Rev William R. Campbell, pastor of the Highland Congregational church, Roxbury; singing of the memorial hymn by the congregation and benediction by the pastor.

At 6:30 o'clock the Christian Endeavor society held a reminiscence meeting.

The church was crowded in the evening, when the early days of Boylston church were interestingly told in addresses by Dr Henry W. Broughton, Rev Dr S. Sherborne Matthews, Nathan G. Nickerson and Lincoln F. Crowell.

The celebration will be continued this afternoon and evening.

The Boylston Sunday school began holding meetings in the old Boylston station of the Boston & Providence railroad in May, 1869. In the fall of that year George H. Williams gave 2000 feet of land on Danforth st, on which a chapel was erected. The property was put in charge of George W. Fowle, Robert W. Morville and Nicholas Broughton as trustees. These men purchased and gave 5000 feet of land adjoining the lot given by Mr Williams. The school was materially helped by the Central Congregational society at Jamaica Plain, which gave annual appropriations for its support.

It was not long before the need for a church organization was felt, and in the winter of 1877 arrangements were made for regular preaching. In March, 1878, the arrangements were completed. Rev George W. Blagden, pastor of the Old South church, preached the first sermon, and Rev S. Sherberne Matthews the second. Mr Matthews continued to preach at the gatherings until the formation of the church society and for eight years after.

The society was formed 10 years after the Sunday school, with 46 members, 33 by letters from other churches and 13 by confession of faith. The growth of the society was so great that larger accommodations were necessary and a large lot at the corner of Boylston and Amory sts was purchased. The corner stone of the present house of worship was laid June 9, 1884. The church was completed and dedicated on June 24, 1885.

In 1887 Rev Mr Matthwes resigned his pastorate and Rev Ellis Mendell was installed Dec 27, 1888. During Mr Mendell's pastorate of 15 years the society grew in strength. He died last May. Last December Rev Herbert A. Barker, the present pastor, was called, and the church work continues to flourish.

St Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church

I think this is the first church article that does not have a picture or description of the building with it. The map below shows the former location of the church on Centre street. Maybe some one will read this entry and send in an old photo of grandma's wedding.



Boston Daily Globe February 26, 1901


Children In Interesting Scenes. Little People of St Andrew's M.E. Church Sing and Act With Great Skill.


St Andrew's Methodist Episcopal church, Centre and Waldron sts, Heath station, was crowded last evening, the attraction being a children's concert under the direction of Mr and Mrs J.E. Hallowell. For a number of weeks the children have been hard at work training for the concert, and the success last evening amply repaid them for all their efforts.

It was one of the most successful affairs ever given by the society and the applause of the audience attested to the capability of those taking part.

The concert opened with a selection, "Monclair Galon," by Miss Caroline Besarick and Miss Ivaloo Wood with mandolins, accompanied by Mrs Hallowell at the piano. Miss Helen Stearns then gave a piano solo.

The next number was the one eagerly looked for by the parents of the children, the cantata "Market Day." As the little ones trooped on to the stage in their pretty gowns, with their baskets, singing their song in clear childish voices, a delightful scene was depicted and the applause was hearty. The solos were very well given by Miss Edith Wides, Miss Amy Blundell, orange girl; Miss Norma Ehrenzeller, tambourine girl, and Miss Edith Boynton, flower girl. A trio of merry maids, Misses Ethel Burbank, Jessie Allen and Mary Hobbs, sang a catchy song in a pleasing manner. Miss Ruth Lynch, the reader, took her part in an excellent manner.

Those in the chorus were Bertha Pflock, Alline Sheridan, Christina Heller, Jessie Lynch, Hazel Wildes, Florence Wildes, Muriel Sheridan, Annie Campbell, Mabel Hobbs and Annie Welch.

An amusing little pantomime was the "Seven Little Grandmothers," impersonated by Misses Hazel Wildes, Florence Wildes, Amy Blundell, Muriel Sheridan, Annie Campbell, Mabel Hobbs and Annie Welch. Dressed in old women's costumes and poke bonnets, with trembling limbs and cracked voices, they limped on the stage and singing their songs and presented a quaint picture.

There was a piano solo by Miss Rebecca Hinckley, violin solo, "The Fisher Maiden," by Master Bert Cronin, piano solo, "Romance Sans Parolis," by Miss Gracie Richards; piano solo, "Mayflower," by Miss Lillie Flowelling; mandolin solo, "La Petito Berceuse," by Miss Caroline Besarick; piano solo "La Norwegienne," by Master Fred Cronin.

The concert closed with the production of scarf fantistics by nine young misses of the Sunshine club. A number of tableaux were given and the girls in their costumes of pink and white presented very attractive pictures in their various postures. Among them were a cross, a ladder, circles, triangles and other settings. Those taking part were Misses Florence Tewkesbury, Addie Gibson, Edith Gibson, Isabel Coutts, Lillian Cochrane, Agnes Hobbs, Mary Anderson, Jeannie Coutts and Johannah Coutts.

Colonial Party And A History Lesson

In the early 20th Century, descendents of the early Jamaica Plain families still lived in the district. I suspect that by the 1930s they were all gone. I wonder what the last Brewer or Curtis was thinking when they moved away from their family home. I suppose they thought of the "new people" much as my generation thinks of the "new people" of today. The families who crowded into Jamaica Plain during the early 20th Century must have been looked on as spoilers of the more bucolic past remembered by those old families. The take-home message? Things change. First you're part of the change, and then you regret the change.


Boston Daily Globe February 7, 1907


400 At Colonial Party.

Meeting Held by Jamaica Plain Fraternity of Churches Was Most Successful Occasion.


An occasion that will linger pleasantly in the memory of all who participated was the meeting last evening of the Jamaica Plain fraternity of churches. In the vestry of the Central Congregational church, and designated a Colonial party. Nearly 400 of the members of various church societies in Jamaica Plain were present.

The principals in the entertainment presented were dressed in the costumes of colonial days, which were heirlooms, many of these costumes being 100 to 150 years old. The oldest article of dress in evidence was a large yellow silk muffler, known to be at least 200 years old, formerly owned and used by one of the first settlers of Jamaica Plain. A figured silk fan, with mahogany frame, and an oval looking glass set in it, was imported from Switzerland, and is 150 years old.

The decorations were of colonial days, American flags and draperies of blue and buff.

The entertainment opened with a brief address by the president of the fraternity, Mrs Alta H. Nevons. Then the colonial chorus of 40, composed of the choir singers in a number of the churches, in costume and powdered wigs, sang the old-time song, "Northfield," "Majesty" and "Sherburne," under the direction of Mr Charles N. Snow, the accompanist being Mr Charles T. Baner, who was organist at the Central church for more than 30 years, until his recent retirement. Then followed a recitation by Miss Dorothy Adams, and two selections for piano, finely rendered, by Mrs Elsa Strauss Currier.

One feature of the program was a paper read by Mrs Clara E. Withington on "Historical Reminiscences of Jamaica Plain," which was an exhaustive recital of the history of people and places of historical interest in Jamaica Plain, in colonial times. The paper was presented in two parts, the first telling of the schools and churches, the second the prominent families and the homes they occupied. John Hancock, one of the signers of the declaration of Independence, was a resident of Jamaica Plain, and Mrs Withington surprised her audience by stating that descendents of the patriot were present in the audience. Interesting stories were told by Mrs Witherington of the Hancocks, Boylstons, Brewers, Welds, Greenoughs and Mays, descendants of all of whom are today residents of Jamaica Plain, and residing in some instances in the original homes erected by their ancestors before the revolution.

Mrs Withington held the closest attention of her audience throughout the reading of her papers, which showed careful research. She was heartily applauded at the conclusion of her recital.

The remaining numbers of the program included two duets by Mrs Anna Lohbililer[?] Mason, soprano, and Mr Robert M. Currier, baritone, who were liberally applauded, and two selections by the chorus, "Cousin Jedediah" and "Strike of the Cymbals," the solos being sung by Miss Rita Curtis and Miss Bayley. The program was brought to a close with "Auld Lang Syne," sung by a chorus and audience.

A social hour followed the company being served with old-fashioned cookies, gingerbread, doughnuts, cheese and coffee by a corps of dames, misses and masters in the costumes of colonial times. They did not forget to properly courtesy when offering hospitality to the guests.

The affair was a great success. Credit is due to the directors of the Fraternity, Mrs Emma S. Adams, Mrs Alta H. Nevins, Mrs Clara E. Withington and Rev Florence Kollock Crooker, who were assisted by members, and to Mrs Elsa Strasser Currier and Mr Charles N. Snow, who had charge of the music.

German Reformed Christ Church

The German Reformed Church stood on Chestnut avenue opposite the end of Sheridan street. The architect, H.M. Stephenson, also designed St John's Episcopal church on Elm street. A look at this map will show the location - the church appears on the map in red. As a bonus, the house of the architect shows up on this map, of the same series and date, on Chestnut avenue as well.



Boston Daily Globe February 22, 1904


New House Of Worship Dedicated. German Reformed Christ Church, Jamaica Plain, Is Entirely Free From Debt.


The members of the German Reformed Christ church, Chestnut av, Jamaica Plain, dedicated their new house of worship yesterday.

A notable feature of the dedication was the fact that the entire building is completely paid for.

The morning service commenced with a selection by the organist, B.F. Meyer, followed by a hymn by the congregation. A soprano solo was rendered by Mrs Rudolph Nagle with violin obligato by Miss Freida Strasser. The sermon was given by Rev P.H. Dipple of Philadelphia. Mrs Nagle sang "Ave Maria," with flute obligato by Edward E. Ramseyer and piano accompaniment by Mrs M. Hagerstroh.

In the afternoon the Sunday school had services consisting of selections by different members of the school and addresses by Rev P.H. Dipple of Philadelphia, Rev Eugene G. Fuessle of New York and Rev August Schwartz of Mellville N.Y.

The evening services consisted of organ prelude by B.B. Barton, invocation by the pastor, hymn by the congregation, Scripture lesson, solo by Thomas Moore Cornell, address, "The Christian's Delight in God's House," by Rev August Schwartz; solo, "O, for the Wings of a Dove," Mrs Anna Lohbiller-Mason, and concluded with the rendering of a largo by Rudolph Nettle violin, Arthur Haberstroh cello, J. Walter Schurmer cornet Eduard E Ramseyer flute, B.B. Barton organ and A. Haberstroh piano.

The church cost about $17,000. There are entrances from two vestibules into the auditorium, which has hard pine finished floors and pews. An open timber ceiling completes a harmonious interior. The seating capacity is about 300. At the right of the chancel opposite the entrance is the organ, and at the left is the minister's study. At the front is a large memorial window. In the basement, which is almost entirely above ground, are the Sunday school room, two Bible rooms, the supper room, kitchen and heating apparatus. The Sunday school room and the Bible class room can be thrown into one room.

German M.E. Church - Amory Street

January, 2008



* I've had a comment informing me that this church us still in use (5/2008)

Another straggler in the Jamaica Plain church division. This church is currently boarded up, an architectural shell with no life in it. There's something melancholy about a church with no congregation. The building opened with enthusiasm and promise, ready to serve for centuries. decades later, the congregation has dispersed, and the community is dead. How many years has it been that an ethnic German community existed in Boston? I have to wonder how much effect the two World Wars had on Jamaica Plain's German colony. Did the wars cause them to give up on their German identity, or was it just time and assimilation?

The article puts the church in Roxbury. Reasonable at the time, as the old Roxbury/West Roxbury line fell a block to the south, putting the building in Roxbury proper. Still, I have to wonder whether the people themselves considered the church to be in Roxbury or Jamaica Plain. I won't mistake a citation in the Globe to be the last word on the subject. In this area, the Globe bounces between Roxbury, Roxbury Highlands, Boston Highlands and Jamaica Plain, probably depending on the editor on duty at the time.



Boston Daily Globe January 15, 1900


Dedication At Roxbury. Interesting Services in the Handsome New German M.E. Church - $2000 Subscribed.


The handsome new German M.E. church, which for the past seven months has been under construction at the corner of Amory and Atherton sts, Roxbury, was dedicated yesterday. Appropriate services of an interesting nature were held in the morning, afternoon and evening. The morning and evening services were conducted in German and were principally for the members of the church, while the afternoon service was conducted in English and was given over largely to the neighbors and friends of the society.

The church was crowded to its utmost capacity at each service, and it was found necessary to throw open the vestry to accommodate those seeking admission.

The pulpit platform was adorned with potted palms and ferns and there were two large bouquets of roses on the reading desk.

At the morning and evening services the pastor, Rev J.G. Lutz, was assisted by Rev C. Jordan of Lawrence, Rev R. Glenk of Greenfield, Rev F.H. Rey of Brooklyn, NY, and Rev W.H. Kurth of Amsterdam, NY, a former pastor, Mr Rey spoke at the morning service and Rev W.H. Kurth delivered the sermon in the evening.

The English service opened at 3 p.m. with congregational singing, followed by prayer by Rev Ellis Mendell of Jamaica Plain. A selection was then given by the choir, which was followed by scriptural readings by Rev W.A. Lott.

Rev W.T. Perrin, the presiding elder of the parish, delivered a very forcible sermon, in which he congratulated the society on the accomplishment of their work. He said that while the church was a beautiful one, it did not compare with the temple of Solomon, but for all that it may be filled with the glory of God. Whenever and wherever the creature becomes conscious that God is present, the speaker continued, there is an awakening to humble worship, and the glory of the Lord fills the house wherever the sacrifices of the people are accepted.

"There is nothing that can take the place of this glory in the church," the speaker said. "We may build massive foundations, erect grand walls and decorate them in the most beautiful manner, put in the best organ that will flood its aisles with melody, but this will be as nothing unless the glory of God is manifested in the hearts of the people.

"I am glad to be here representing the English speaking people, and I feel we are interested in the work you are doing here."

Rev J.P. West followed with prayer, after which there was congregational singing and benediction.

The society begins its new work under very favorable conditions. There is a debt of more than $6000, but this was materially decreased by the subscriptions received at yesterday's meetings, amounting to more than $2000.

An architectural feature of the new edifice is the three memorial windows on the Amory st side. One is a triple window, and represents a cross and passion flower, in memory of F.W. Dinger, a former pastor of the church. The other two double windows are a gift from the family of one of the ones memorialized, the father of the present pastor, and represents a chalice and sheaf of wheat, to the memory of Rev F.G. Lutz, who was also a former pastor of the church, and his wife.

Leo XIII School - 1888

Boston Daily Globe July 22, 1888


The Crowning Event In the Life-Work of Father Maginnis. Corner-Stone of Leo XIII School to be Laid Today at Jamaica Plain.

Wonderful Growth of St Thomas' Parish Since 1869.


The cornerstone of the Leo XIII School will be laid today at Jamaica Plain. In these imposing ceremonies, the crowning event of the wonderful progress of St Thomas' parish. Father Maginnis sees the fruition of his fondest hopes.

It is now 20 years since Rev. Thomas Maginnis, pastor of St Thomas, was sent to establish the new parish there just formed from the parent one of St Joseph's, Roxbury. Then the Catholics of Jamaica Plain went to Roxbury for religious services, as previous to that time mass had never been celebrated in their midst. The new pastor immediately undertook to raise funds for the erection of a church. For a time mass was celebrated in Curtis Hall.

A lot of land was soon purchased. With a frontage of about 200 feet on South street, and extending along Jamaica street for a distance of upwards of 225 feet, it formed almost a complete square. Upon this site the church was built. Ground was broken without delay, and the cellar of the edifice completed. The first floor of the building being finished, a roof of canvas was improvised, under which the parishioners assembled to witness the imposing ceremonies of the blessing of the corner-stone.

The corner-stone was laid with all the solemnity of the Roman ritual by His Grace Archbishop Williams, then Bishop Williams, on Aug 15, 1869. A vast gathering of people witnessed the rites, which were participated in by a large number of the priests of the diocese. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Father O'Reilly, then pastor of St John's Church, Worcester, now bishop of Springfield.



Thenceforward work upon the edifice was pursued with renewed vigor, until at the end of four years from the laying of the corner stone, the structure had reached completion, and all that remained necessary for its incorporation as one of the Catholic churches of the archdiocese, was the solemn act of dedication, which accordingly took place on the 17th of August, 1873. The dedication attracted thousands, many of whom were Protestants, and all of whom contributed generously to the work. The archbishop, attired in his Pontifical robes, surrounded by a large number of priests and clerics, and accompanied in Gregorian chant by a select chorus of voices from the leading churches of the city and suburbs, solemnly blessed the new church, its altars, walls and grounds adjoining, and dedicated all to the lasting service of God under the patronage of St Thomas Aquinas.

After the completion of the ceremonies, the sermon of the day was preached by Rt. Rev. P.T. O'Reilly, D.D., Bishop of Springfield, Mass.

It is not out of place to now give a brief description of the edifice as it is at the present. The church is situated on South street. It has a seating capacity of 1350, it is 165 feet long by 68 feet wide and is accessible by three entrances, the main entrance being from South street. The tower and spire of the church have not yet been built.The place destined for them is at the north corner of the church and when completed will be in height 194 feet.

On the south corner is a neat little bellcot, which relieves the facade of the building.

On entering the church the visitor is agreeably surprised by the beauty of the fresco paintings, which are in wonderful harmony with the whole place. The high altar is built of French Caen stone, is massive but relieved by beautiful carvings, representing the burial of Christ, the two Marys at the tomb, St Thomas, the patron of the church, and St Patrick. The reredos is of very ecclesiastical design, towering, by three carved pinnacles, towards the roof and set off in the background by a realistic painting of the ascension of Our Lord. The smaller altars, viz., the altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary and that of St Joseph, are also beautiful pieces of workmanship and in harmony with the high altar, extend the (?) carved pinnacles toward the roof, which forms an inclined plane directly overhead.

The stranger as he walks down the aisle is attracted by the 14 stations of the cross, painted upon the walls on the church. These stations, together with the impressive paintings of the nativity and resurrection of our Lord, form the nucleus of the church's artistic designs, and are the admiration of all. Yet they are by no means the only distinguishing features of the edifice. Aside from the pews, which are of ash and are carved in trefoil figures, and the taste exhibited in the decorations and tapestry of the sanctuary, two noticeable features are the statues of St Thomas and St Patrick, that of St Thomas Aquinas occupying the right and that of St Patrick the left of the sanctuary.

Both statues, which were made expressly at Paris and donated to the church by a member of the congregation, are well set off by a bright background, which forms a resting place for the statues and their pedestals.

This statue of St Thomas is perhaps the only statue in the archdiocese indulgenced by Pope Leo XIII.

The chapel of the church, in which mass is celebrated every morning, compromises a small altar and a comfortable auditorium capable of seating about 300 persons. The rest of the basement is utilized for schoolroom.

Such has been the unusual development of the parish that it was found necessary to increase the number of Sunday masses, until now four masses are celebrated. A well-trained choir, under the supervision of a competent director, furnishes the music at the high mass each Sunday, while the little children sing at each of the earlier masses.

Soon after the church was completed an additional parcel of land was purchased, thus extending the church property to Woodman street, and leaving the parochial estate within the boundaries of South and Woodman, Jamaica and St Thomas streets.



Then came the introduction of the Sisters of St Joseph into the parish, and, for the first time in the archdiocese of Boston. The progress of the order was in keeping with the rapid advancement of the parish itself. Starting with only four members, who came here from Brooklyn, the community gradually increased in numbers to more than 60 sisters, with branch houses in South Boston, Haverhill, Stoughton and Amesbury, retaining, however, their novitiate at Jamaica Plain until they purchased the Fresh Pond estate in Cambridge, where they now hold their novitiate and direct an academy.

The convent, which was built for the Sisterhood of St Joseph, first comprised a large and comfortable dwelling-house fronting on Jamaica street.

Afterwards the old convent was moved inward a distance of about 75 feet from its former site, and an addition was built to meet the wants of the steadily increasing community. Last year the convent was rendered complete in its outfit by the erection of a new and spacious addition to the old convent, thus changing the frontage of the entire structure to St Thomas street.

The school first had its sessions in the basement of the church and was exclusively for girls. Afterwards the pastor opened a school for boys. Both schools, under the supervision of the priests and in the immediate charge of the Sisters of St Joseph, have been in a flourishing condition since their establishment in 1872.



Thus affairs drifted busily along for several years until 1886, when, having provided for his people and their children, the pastor turned his attention to the building of a parochial residence. The parishioners readily co-operated with their pastor, and erected a fine new home for him.

The crowning portion of the whole work was yet to come. The reverend pastor's cherished hope was the erection of the parochial school.

This school, a frame building three stories in height, is situated on St Thomas street, is 68 feet long by 61 feet wide, and includes a well-lighted and spacious basement. This ground floor or basement will finish at a height of 12 feet, and is divided into rooms for the use and benefit of the children of the parish. It also includes a large gymnasium, 60 feet long by 30 feet wide, which is to be thoroughly equipped with all the usual apparatus for physical development, and modeled after the most approved patterns. In addition to the gymnasium, the basement will comprise a reading room, music room and library for the boys of the parish.



The same provision has been made for the girls, and a music room, sewing room, library and cooking school will accord them every facility desirable for furthering and increasing their knowledge in any of these several branches. At either end of the schoolhouse, from the first to the third story, is a staircase hall 33 feet by 13 feet, thus affording an easy access to and exit from the building. The first floor includes in its area four large schoolrooms, (?) 13 feet high, thoroughly lighted and ventilated, in which the girls will assemble by means of the main entrance on St Thomas street. The entrance for boys will be from Jamaica street, the four rooms destined for them being on the second floor of the building.

These rooms will comprise the same are and size as those of the girls, will (?) 13 feet high and will be furnished with all the requisites of a model class room. The third, or upper story, will be utilized as a hall, embracing in its range the entire length of the schoolhouse and having a height of 17 feet at the sides and 20 feet in the center. The whole building will be lighted by gas and heated by steam.

St John's Episcopal Church

St John's Episcopal Church, 2007


This article was a lot of work to transcribe, but there are a lot of historical nuggets in there. I have wondered whether the C.W. Green mentioned was the man memorialized in the name of Green street. He was certainly present at the right time, lived nearby and was a leading figure in the community. Until it can be shown otherwise, I think I'll give him the honor.



Boston Daily Globe January 25, 1891


Made History Rapidly

Early Records of Famous Jamaica Plain Church.

St. John's Episcopal Church Celebrates Its Semi-Centennial Tuesday.

First Services Were Held in Little Wooden Chapel, May, 1841.


There is a good deal of history included in the early records of the St.John's Episcopal church of Jamaica Plain, and its organization and reorganization into the state from which its progress dates occupied a decade or more. On the whole its institution was unusually fraught with difficulties that many years since have ceased to be a part of that influential church of Jamaica Plain, which has passed the 50th milestone.

Tuesday, May 26, the semi-centennial services will be held in the large edifice and parish house belonging to the society. Rev. S.A. Shearman, the rector, will conduct the morning services with communion at 10:30 a.m. At 4:30 p.m. there will be a meeting in the chapel with addresses and reminiscences by old parishioners. A parish tea and social will occupy the time from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

At 8 p.m. the chief services of the day will be held, at which a large number of clergymen will attend, including Bishop Brooks, while Bishop Clarke of Rhode Island will deliver the sermon.

It is not clearly determined where the first services that preceded and led to the establishment of the St John's Society were held, but one Charles Beaumont is recognized as the inaugurator of Episcopal services in Jamaica Plain. As a result of his efforts services were held in the old Town Hall on Thomas st, and transferred some time after to a building between Eliot and Orchard sts, on Pond st, which has been torn down since.

The worshippers again moved their place of meeting to the old "Seaverns house," which is still standing on the corner of Lakeville pl. and Centre st.

The congregation soon reached those proportions that made a church building necessary and advisable. The society accordingly purchased a large piece of land on Centre st. nearly opposite the estate where they were then worshipping.



A wooden chapel was erected in 1841 and the first services were held in it May 23 of that year. The building was an unpretentious structure, whose location and surrounding, however, lent it a certain air of charm. It was built some distance back from the road, and was precisely in the center of what is now St John's st. A long narrow avenue, shaded by a heavy growth of trees on either side, led to the front entrance of the chapel, and being constructed on either side of the building, formed a small square. The accompanying cut gives a good idea of the front of the chapel, and also well pictures this avenue entrance.

All vestige of this little church as now been removed; the avenue has been broadened into a street, upon either side of which residences of modern architecture have been crowded in, while the old rectory which after a few years was built at right angles with the church, has also yielded to modern artifices and renovated according to later-day designs.

At the first services held in the chapel Rev M.A. De Wolfe Howe, then rector of St. James church, Roxbury, and now bishop of central Pennsylvania, who had taken an active interest in the establishment of the church, delivered the sermon.

The present rector has an old and well-nigh illegible diary, written in pencil, which says that on that day Mr. Howe preached from the text contained in Mathew, v., 6, and the congregation sang "Old Hundred" and hymn 35 from the old hymn book.

Up to this time there had been no organization of the church, but on June 30, 1841, a meeting was held in the chapel upon a warrant issued by L.W. Harris, Esq., a justice of the peace for Norfolk county, at which the owners of pews in the chapel it was ordered should appear and conform to the laws of the Commonwealth by organizing into a corporate body.

Samual G. Goodrich was chosen chairman of the meeting, and William R. Lawrence clerk. The elections of the others were made without a dissenting vote, and were Wardens, Matthew Green and Henry R. Cleveland; vestrymen Charles W. Green, Samuel A. Goodrich, Royal A. Crafts, R.A. Lamb and William R. Lawrence; treasurer and clerk, William R. Lawrence. The meeting voted to adopt the name St. John's chapel.

The title to all the church property was held personally by Rev. Mr. Howe, as he had taken personal charge of the establishment of the church, and he had also assumed the responsibility for the debt that had been incurred by the erection of the building. At a meeting of the church held July 7, 1841, the property was transferred and the society became the proprietors of the chapel with its $1500 debt, while their name became "The Episcopal Society of St. John's Chapel, Jamaica Plain."

One of the members of the church at that time, and one of the first vestrymen and moderator of the first business meeting was Samuel G. Goodrich, who was then widely known as "Peter Parley" through his "child's History of England" and other books for juveniles. A large private avenue upon which the present rectory of St. John's is situated and near where he formerly resided is called Parley Vale to perpetuate Mr. Goodrich's pseudonym.

Other noted characters who were earnest among the early supporters of the church were C.W. Green and his brother Matthew. C.W. was a renowned pedagogue and had a thriving private preparatory school on the corner of Centre and Pond sts, in an old roomy mansion, which scene furnishes the local color for George W. Curtis, who was one of Green's pupils, in his novel "Trumps." All these men identified with the early organizations of this church were representatives of families who were early settlers of the town.

The society adopted a set of bylaws at its meeting July 23, 1841, whereby the proprietors of pews were given all the authority with relation to the management of the church with the exception of the choice of pastor, which should be agreed upon by both owners and renters of pews. Although the chapel was not free from debt still there was nothing then as now that prohibited consecration until the liquidation of all indebtedness, or otherwise it would have been some years after before the chapel would have been ready for consecration. So the new building was duly consecrated by Bishop Griswold on July 25, 1841.

The church on the 1st of August received its first gift, it being a new service of plate for the communion, which was given by Widow James Perkins.

The society had been desirous of having Rev. Mr. Howe take charge of their parish, and they offered resolutions expressive of that gratitude for the zeal with which he had assisted in the building of the chapel, and offered any concession if he would consent to do so without necessarily severing his connection with St. James parish, Roxbury. He did not do this, however.

The chapel continued without a rector, the pulpit being supplied by whoever could be secured, and sometimes there were no available clergymen.

At the September meeting of the society they took away from the pew renters all voice in the selection of a rector. Another effort was made to get a settled rector, and Rev. Mr. Livermore was invited to supply the pulpit for three months, but he did not accept.

On December 7, 1841, the entire church property was transferred back to Rev. Mr. Howe, and a resolution passed that "we are doing what we believe most conductive to the growth of the society and to its permanent establishment among us."

From this point things were rather lax in the society, and although services were held regularly there were no records or does there remain any evidence of what transpired in this religious body until October 17, 1843, when the meeting in the chapel is recorded at which James Barnard was elected a member of the vestry. He continued in that capacity until only a few year ago.

It was at this meeting that their first settled rector, Rev. George C. Shephard, was invited, which he immediately accepted and gave his time and services to the parish, being at that time a summer resident of the community. When Mr. Shepherd left town the church was closed and reopened upon his return for the summer season. Rev. Mr. Shephard resigned July 29, 1845, and at a meeting held May 26, 1844, J. Phillip George was elected treasurer and officiated in that capacity for 35 years.

After Mr Shephard's resignation Rev. Cameron McRae, a visitor in Jamaica Plain, conducted the services, but declined an offer to become rector. In June, 1845, steps were instituted with a view of liquidating the indebtedness of the chapel, the mortgage upon which had through various sources been transferred to Capt. Charles Hill.

A committee, including the church wardens, Joseph S. Avery, Amos A. Lawrence, William H. Sumner and Phineas Capen, were appointed to make a settlement with Capt Hill, while the wardens were empowered to collect money for the same. Some dispute arose at this time as to the boundary line between the estate owned by Capt. Hill and the church property, and a meeting was held Oct. 12, 1845, for the determination of this line, and this same committee were given authority to act in this matter. It is then recorded that on Oct. 19, `1845, Rt. Rev. Manton Esterbrook and the previously named committee were appointed to receive the deeds and title to the church property from Capt. Hill, and to retain it until some action could be taken relative to the reorganization of the parish.

During the winter the chapel services were conducted by Rev. G.W. porter, who volunteered. During this time the business affairs of the society had not been in a (?)gible state and May 1, 1846, Francis Hilliard, Esq., justice of the peace, issued a warrant for the purpose of a new organization of the parish, which was effected May 9.

The mortgage had at this time been entirely cleared, and the church committee were in possession of all title to the property, upon payment of $2100.20. In conveying the property, Capt. Hill expressly stipulated that there should be no part of the land used for a burial ground, and he retained a strip of land included within the lines of the church property upon condition that it should be conveyed again if it were ever needed for an extension of the church building.

In September, 1846, the society had their first settled rector in the person of Rev. E. F. Slafter.

Previous to this the prosperity of the society had been retarded by various dissensions among the members which the records say arose upon the unusual arrangement of having an assistant rector when Rev. Mr. Howe was invited to the rectorship.

During the following year of Mr. Slafter's rectorship the parish seems to have flourished as it had not done before, and the differences among members had been so amicably adjusted that the increased interest and growth made an enlargement of the church advisable. Accordingly, Aug. 2, 1847, the strip of land held by capt. Hill was conveyed to the parish.

On June 9, 1847, there were 31 communicants recorded.

The church was immediately enlarged so as to admit 18 more pews, which made the building wider than it was long. With the chapel more commodious and a regular rector the parish next undertook the movement in favor of the erection of a rectory. But other matters claimed their attention as the people desired to have the title of the property vested in the church organization which was up to this time held by the trustees, entrusted to pay off the mortgage and to hold the property. The trustees were the dictating authority, as being legal holder of the property, the church could do but very little without the consent of the trustees. When asked to release their trust July 17, 1847, the trustees agreed to do so as soon as 10 persons should purchase pews and pay for such to the amount of $500, the reorganized parish having no pew owners.

By Oct. 3, 14 pews had been sold as demanded by the trustees, but the property was not deeded to the church until July 31, 1848, after they had again, on May 22, made formal application for it.

The reason assigned for the delay in the relinquishing of the title by the trustees was the claim that the organization of May, 1846, was illegal, a material point in statute law having not been complied with and another organization of the parish in consequence of this was made July 25, 1849, when the church was deemed eminently qualified to hold real estate.

The next thing of interest in connection with the church and in line of progress was the erection of a new rectory which was built near the chapel and at right angles with it and was completed in September 1849. The "Ladies League" took an active interest in the house and most of the money for it was raised through their efforts.

[cut prosaic details]

At the annual meeting in 1857 the enlargement of the chapel again came up and the practicability of an entirely new one was considered with some well defined ideas of erecting one, but finally it was voted to expend $3500 upon an addition to the old church.

The improvements were an extension in length 22 1/2 feet, which admitted of 24 new pews, making 69 in all and a new building added on made an extension of 12 1/2 feet, which gave room for a library and robing room. Gas was also introduced and the interior of the edifice ornamented, and the building remained practically as it was in later years, when it was vacated, removed and its location became a street. Permission was given to Gen. William A. Sumner to place a marble tablet in the church to the memory of his mother-in-law.

The parish purchased in November, 1850 a house on Myrtle st. at a cost of $8000 which was used for a rectory and subsequently sold. A new organ was purchased in 1861, and in November of that year, upon the death of Gen. Sumner, his widow was given permission to erect a tablet to his memory upon the walls of the church.

In May, 1872, a Sunday schoolroom was erected, and in October of that year, after being rector for over 16 years, Rev. W.R. Babcock resigned on account of ill health. His place was filled May 14, 1873 by the acceptance by Rev. Abbott Brown of the rectorship, who remained ministering the needs of the parish until March 3, 1876, when he resigned.

Rev. Sumner U. Shearman, the present rector, was called to the church October 30, 1876. He was an ardent young preacher and the church grew visibly during the first few years after his coming until the old fashioned church was totally inadequate.

When Gen. William A. Sumner died in 1861, he left a bequest of land between Roanoke av. and Revere st. for a new church, but, the bequest, according to the will, must be confirmed by the widow upon her death. she could have disposed of it otherwise, but at her death in 1873 she confirmed the bequest of land. At that time the parish thought itself in a feeble financial condition, and as there was a commercial panic at the time, it was not considered practicable to build the new church.

As there was a clause in the bequest that necessitated immediate occupancy the society bought the right to hold it for 10 years from the heirs, to whom the land would otherwise revert.

Although the necessity of a new church had been long apparent, it was not until the spring of 1882 that work was begun upon the present edifice. The corner-stone was laid in April, 1882, by Bishop Paddock, and the church was finished in 1883, the first services being held in it Feb 9, 1883. It was consecrated in October, 1886, then being out of debt, and Bishop Hoew, who delivered the first sermon in the old church, preached the sermon on that occasion.

The parish house and chapel, which in the cut form a wing of the church, was erected in the summer of 1888, and contained a chapel with altar and verandas and also parish rooms.

The entire building has a most beautiful location upon a rising knoll in one of the finest residential portions of Jamaica Plain, and cost as it is today, about $55,000. The material is Roxbury stone with Bay of Fundy stone trimmings, and the building could hardly be duplicated today for the original cost.

The church auditorium is richly ornamented with light terra cotta walls and pale green ceiling, and the chancel decoration is not often equalled. Five narrow gothic windows light the chancel; in the center one Christ is represented and in the others with their symbolic representations there is St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John.

To the bottom of the windows the walls are covered with burnt gold, as the chancel arch; next a band of cherub's heads is frescoed entirely around the chancel. On either side of the carved oak reredos are two marvellous mural paintings in genuine fresco, representing Moses as the law giver and David as the psalmist. The altar and the reredos are also elegantly carved respective with the tokens of the last supper and emblems of the passion. The chapel connected with the church is finished in lighter pattern and simpler, but none the less beautiful in design and there most of the Lenten services are held.

[cut remaining details of the contemporary rector, Rev. Sumner U. Shearman.]

Forest Hills Methodist Episcopal Church

This church building is still present at Wachusett and Patten streets, reborn as... what else? Condos. The developer was required to keep some of the external appearance, so the building still kinda-sorta looks like a church. I wonder if they fished out the time capsule mentioned below when they did the rebuilding.






Boston Daily Globe December 26, 1899


Laying Of The Corner Stone.

Notable Day in the Annals of the Forest Hills Methodist Episcopal Church.


Christmas time was a memorable one with the members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Forest Hills, for yesterday afternoon they laid the corner stone of their pretty little house of worship at the corner of Wachusett and Patten sts, Forest Hills. The beautiful afternoon brought together a large number of the workers of the society.

The exercises were opened by an introductory address by Rev W.T. Perrin, presiding elder of the Boston district, followed by a hymn sung by those present. Prayer was then offered by Rev J.H. Mansfield, DD, presiding elder of the Cambridge district. The responsive reading was led by Rev J.D. Pickles, PhD, pastor of Tremont st M.E. church, Boston.

An interesting portion of the program was the historical sketch of the society, given by Rev George B. Dean, pastor of the church. He spoke of the commencement of the society a little more than five years ago, when Rev F.N. Upham, who died a short time ago, came to Forest Hills, got together a number of residents interested in the movement and commenced to organization of the society which was now laying the foundation of its own home.

He alluded to the first meetings in Columbian hall and how year after year the members had labored earnestly to accomplish the very thing they were now doing.

He spoke of the leaders of the church in the past. Rev F.N. Upham, the founder; Rev Robert Clark, pastor from 1893 to 1895, and Rev Benjamin Rist, immediately preceding him. He thanked all for their assistance in the work of the past three years in the raising of the necessary money for the erection of the church, and predicted many happy, useful years for the society.

Addresses were made by Rev J.H. Mansfield, Rev J.D. Pickles and Rev W.T. Perrin.

W.H. Whitcomb, chairman of the building committee, then exhibited the box to be placed in the corner stone, and announced the contents. This box is of unusual interest and is highly prized because it is made of copper taken from the tower of Faneuil hall, presented to the society by E.B. Badger.

Inside was a Bible, a copy of the discipline of the Methodist Episcopal church, names of the officers and members of the committees of the society, a topic card with the names of the officers and members of the committees of the Young People's society of Christian Endeavor, the names of the building committee, a photograph of Rev G.B. Dean, pastor of the church, a memoir of Rev Rev F.N. Upham, the first pastor of the church; the title pages of the following Methodist publications; Christian Advocate, Zion's Herald, Christiche Apologete (German), title pages of The Globe and other Boston daily newspapers, and the Jamaica Plain News, clippings of the account of the death and sketch of the life of Dwight L. Moody, manual of the Boston city government of 1899, a calendar of 1899, a United States coin of 1899, a Spanish coin, a cartridge captured by an American during the Spanish-American war,various other coins and a handbill announcing the first meeting held by Rev Mr Upham.

The ceremony of the laying of the corner stone was conducted by Rev W.T. Perrin. The exercises closed with the singing of a hymn by the gathering and the benediction.

When finished the church will be an attractive one, ad decided addition to the section. It will be a mixed English, gothic and Italian renaissance. There will be one gallery in the rear. The entire seating capacity will be about 250. At the front of the auditorium, back of the platform at the left of the congregation, will be the organ and the choir, and on the right will be a room for the choir.

The ceiling is to be 12 feet from the floor. On the left of the auditorium will be the Sunday school room, connected with the main church room by rolling doors. The entrance to the church will be at the Wauchusett and Patten sts corner, the entrance to the Sunday school from Patten st and by a fireproof staircase.

On the second floor are to be three classrooms and a woman's parlor. In the basement there will be a hall and adjoining it a kitchen.

A feature will be a parsonage, which will face Patten st and be connected with the church itself, an entrance leading from the auditorium to the reception parlor of the parsonage. There are to be nine rooms in the parsonage.

The exterior appearance of the building will be attractive. Stained shingles will be used. The windows will be of stained glass. The outside measurements will be 74x66 feet.