Part 10 Reconstruction gives way to the Guilded Age
The Era of Reconstruction while a difficult time of adjustment for the nation also saw a period when wealthy entrepreneurs took advantage of developed resources, machines, power and a growing world market for goods. Names such as Rockefeller, Carnegie, Swift, Guggenheim, and Morgan were the names of extremely wealthy men who had gained their wealth from oil, steel, coal, meat processing and banking. While their influence seemingly had little effect on the local area you can be sure that products associated with “ the Robber Barons” as they were sometimes called, were bought and sold locally. Other local entrepreneurs, perhaps were not “cashing in” to the degree that the previously mentioned names were, they still led some to become very wealthy by local standards.
As was mentioned in the ninth episode in this series of historical vignettes, the majority of the leadership in the Ferry Village Church remained in the hands of men, who again by local standards experienced a degree of wealth. As was also mentioned these men held the reins of local church leadership for life. While we look back on that by today’s standards as not healthy for growth it was an expectation in the 1800’s and well into the 20th century.
In October, 1875 shortly after the parish hall/parsonage was built one of the major issues that was discussed by the Board of Stewards and Leaders was bringing water to that building. Since Cape Elizabeth had authorized the extension of the water lines through the main streets in the village the Board authorized linking in to that line. This was approved in November. $2500 was set aside for laying and installing piping within the building complex. Mr. Weatherly Spear was thanked for his kind offer to do the work and for accepting the bid price. Work on this project continued through the winter and when the new water district extended the pipe along high street from the corner in the following year the church “linked in”. At the same time that the water project was underway, the Board also authorized the church to purchase two gas lamps to be installed at the front exterior of the church. This resulted from the fact that a number of “the local boys” found the front steps of the church convenient to relax on during the warm summer months. The lights were purchased to discourage them from gathering at that location.
Interestingly enough, the Board received complaints in January from some local folks that parishioners were making to much noise when they exited the church from meetings on several nights of the week, but especially on Sunday nights after “revival” meetings.
The Board then instructed the ushers to post themselves at the exits especially on Sunday evenings by the exits to discourage parishioners from “sharing their joy” while exiting the premises.
While the Board of Stewards and Leaders continued to meet and hold significant power the first mention of an Official Board appears used in meeting notes of March 5, 1876. The records indicate that the secretary who served during this period would often use the two titles to the board even in the same secretary’s recording of a meeting for yet a number of years. As was mentioned earlier, many of the members of this board continued to serve for life. Among the names still mentioned in the late 1870’s and 1880’s were the following: Steven Hubbard, G.W. Doughty, J.A. Thurrell, C. S. Tilton, and Benjamin Henley. Steven Hubbard, is the same gentleman who was one of the original founders in 1853 and the person most responsible for the success of the Sunday school. Some of the other names mentioned in this list would cast their family names upon the records for several generations of parishioners yet to come.
It was with their authorization and blessings that several functions would and did take place within the properties of the church. There are several references to concerts being held in the sanctuary to raise funds for the building programs that would take place at the church. For example, about the same time that the church became known as “Peoples Church” a concert was held that raised funds to build a covered porch across the front of the church and down the right side. The appearance of the church changed dramatically, but it helped keep parishioners on their way to church covered as they entered. It also allowed them to “stamp the snow off their boots” before they entered. Later this porch was enclosed and the walls of the interior were extended outward.
It was not unusual for community groups to use the parish hall since it was one of the largest halls then to be found in the Village. One such group that did use the parish hall on a regular basis was the Ferry Village Reform Club. Because of where Ferry Village was located in proximity to both the waterfront and Fort Preble it appeared to be that the local boys might not always appreciate the proximity of soldiers stationed at the fort and rowdy events sometimes took place in the village. It probably was because of those episodes that actually led to the first “foot patrols” by a hired police officer in the whole town of Cape Elizabeth being located in the village. It was also because of such “shenanigans” that the Ferry Village Reform Club was formed. Needing a home to meet, the Ferry Village Methodist Episcopal Church offered that space. The village church showing its social conscience took the action they did. However, as it was reported in the records of the early 1880’s it was necessary for the Board of Stewards and Leaders (Official Board) to send a note of reprimand to the Reform Club. The reason for the reprimand was because it was found that members of the club were “spitting live tobacco on the floor of the vestry”. I would say that perhaps spittoons were in place, but the members of the club were not good shots and didn’t clean up after themselves.
The Era of Reconstruction while a difficult time of adjustment for the nation also saw a period when wealthy entrepreneurs took advantage of developed resources, machines, power and a growing world market for goods. Names such as Rockefeller, Carnegie, Swift, Guggenheim, and Morgan were the names of extremely wealthy men who had gained their wealth from oil, steel, coal, meat processing and banking. While their influence seemingly had little effect on the local area you can be sure that products associated with “ the Robber Barons” as they were sometimes called, were bought and sold locally. Other local entrepreneurs, perhaps were not “cashing in” to the degree that the previously mentioned names were, they still led some to become very wealthy by local standards.
As was mentioned in the ninth episode in this series of historical vignettes, the majority of the leadership in the Ferry Village Church remained in the hands of men, who again by local standards experienced a degree of wealth. As was also mentioned these men held the reins of local church leadership for life. While we look back on that by today’s standards as not healthy for growth it was an expectation in the 1800’s and well into the 20th century.
In October, 1875 shortly after the parish hall/parsonage was built one of the major issues that was discussed by the Board of Stewards and Leaders was bringing water to that building. Since Cape Elizabeth had authorized the extension of the water lines through the main streets in the village the Board authorized linking in to that line. This was approved in November. $2500 was set aside for laying and installing piping within the building complex. Mr. Weatherly Spear was thanked for his kind offer to do the work and for accepting the bid price. Work on this project continued through the winter and when the new water district extended the pipe along high street from the corner in the following year the church “linked in”. At the same time that the water project was underway, the Board also authorized the church to purchase two gas lamps to be installed at the front exterior of the church. This resulted from the fact that a number of “the local boys” found the front steps of the church convenient to relax on during the warm summer months. The lights were purchased to discourage them from gathering at that location.
Interestingly enough, the Board received complaints in January from some local folks that parishioners were making to much noise when they exited the church from meetings on several nights of the week, but especially on Sunday nights after “revival” meetings.
The Board then instructed the ushers to post themselves at the exits especially on Sunday evenings by the exits to discourage parishioners from “sharing their joy” while exiting the premises.
While the Board of Stewards and Leaders continued to meet and hold significant power the first mention of an Official Board appears used in meeting notes of March 5, 1876. The records indicate that the secretary who served during this period would often use the two titles to the board even in the same secretary’s recording of a meeting for yet a number of years. As was mentioned earlier, many of the members of this board continued to serve for life. Among the names still mentioned in the late 1870’s and 1880’s were the following: Steven Hubbard, G.W. Doughty, J.A. Thurrell, C. S. Tilton, and Benjamin Henley. Steven Hubbard, is the same gentleman who was one of the original founders in 1853 and the person most responsible for the success of the Sunday school. Some of the other names mentioned in this list would cast their family names upon the records for several generations of parishioners yet to come.
It was with their authorization and blessings that several functions would and did take place within the properties of the church. There are several references to concerts being held in the sanctuary to raise funds for the building programs that would take place at the church. For example, about the same time that the church became known as “Peoples Church” a concert was held that raised funds to build a covered porch across the front of the church and down the right side. The appearance of the church changed dramatically, but it helped keep parishioners on their way to church covered as they entered. It also allowed them to “stamp the snow off their boots” before they entered. Later this porch was enclosed and the walls of the interior were extended outward.
It was not unusual for community groups to use the parish hall since it was one of the largest halls then to be found in the Village. One such group that did use the parish hall on a regular basis was the Ferry Village Reform Club. Because of where Ferry Village was located in proximity to both the waterfront and Fort Preble it appeared to be that the local boys might not always appreciate the proximity of soldiers stationed at the fort and rowdy events sometimes took place in the village. It probably was because of those episodes that actually led to the first “foot patrols” by a hired police officer in the whole town of Cape Elizabeth being located in the village. It was also because of such “shenanigans” that the Ferry Village Reform Club was formed. Needing a home to meet, the Ferry Village Methodist Episcopal Church offered that space. The village church showing its social conscience took the action they did. However, as it was reported in the records of the early 1880’s it was necessary for the Board of Stewards and Leaders (Official Board) to send a note of reprimand to the Reform Club. The reason for the reprimand was because it was found that members of the club were “spitting live tobacco on the floor of the vestry”. I would say that perhaps spittoons were in place, but the members of the club were not good shots and didn’t clean up after themselves.
posted by Arthur Tordoff | 2:53 PM
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