Memorials, Dedications and Gifts in Ellis Hall

Memorials, Dedications and Gifts at PUMC in Ellis Hall

A major change in the structure of Peoples United Methodist Church was completed and used for the first time in 1972. Ellis Hall was named after Reverend S. Blake Ellis who served as our pastor from 1963 until 1971. From his years at Peoples, Blake went on to serve as the Southern Maine United Methodist District Superintendent. A plaque can be found with all the major contributors to the building of this addition dedicated to education and church life.

The first major activity was a District United Methodist Men’s meeting held that year in Ellis Hall. In the parlor a plaque hangs on the wall with the names of former members of UMM who have passed away.

One of those members of UMM who contributed in many ways to the life of Peoples Church, was Jim Darling. Among the many contributions that Jim made to the church was helping to raise the funds for the old sign for the church that originally found a home outside Ellis Hall. It was also Jim that the television and apparatus found in Ellis Hall was gifted. This television used for a number of years now by the Sunday school, both children and adults, has been a real asset in enhancing programs held in Ellis Hall.

The piano in Ellis Hall was a gift presented to the church by Glen and Carolyn Fawcett. It has had many years of use for church services as well as a number of activities that have been held in the Hall. Both Glen and Carolyn were active members of Peoples in all aspects of church life in the late 1960’s through the early 1980’s.

 

 

In the room that serves presently as the nursery the wall that you see as you enter the room waspainted by Gary Herd, one of Rosemary Herd’s two sons. An artist by trade Gary on one of his tripshome took the time to praise the Lord through the work and love he has for Jesus. A welcome addition to the room the mural depicts Jesus and his life in brilliant color. We give thanks to the many people who have been a part of Peoples and have shared their talents in many areas present and future generations to enjoy and marvel at.

 

Also in the nursery and having been a part of the nursery wherever it existed is a folding toy box, cabinet with shelves. Mentioned in a few other reports was the work of Harold Craigs, a master craftsman in wood, who also built this traveling toy box. In the original design of Ellis Hall the back room that presently houses Meals on Wheels equipment and freezers was designed and developed as the first nursery. It was equipped with cribs, toys, and child size bathroom area and a number of decorations on the wall. I do remember the clock in the room was of a purple cat with eyes and a tail that would move. All of that original nursery was supplied and gifted by Earl and Janice Nicholson in memory of their son, Dwight, who had died as an infant. For a number of years the nursery was moved to the room behind the stage in the vestry. Today that area is inhabited by a storehouse of goods for Priscilla Dreyman’s Spiral Arts program. Once upon a time that entire area housed a portion of the Sunday school dedicated to the younger Sunday school classes held at Peoples.

Inthe church parlor is a bookcase that was gifted by the Trustees as a memorial to the work of Harold Craigs.

In the office on the wall is a plaque that represents a major gift that Peoples made to the Heifer Project. Under the leadership of Merrill Kaiser the church and especially the Sunday school raised $5000 for that organization. The plaque represents that gift. While it was the single largest money campaign that Peoples engaged in for Heifer, Peoples history in supporting the efforts of Heifer go back to its beginning. In the early 1960s Pastor William Chamberlain actually accompanied a plane load of animals to their destination for distribution in Latin America.

 

 

 

 

Hanging in the right front corner of Ellis Hall as you face Broadway is a large quilt that was developed by the women and children of the church in celebration of Peoples 175^th anniversary from its early beginnings in Point Village which in more recent times is known as Willard Square. Rosemary Herd was the principal organizer of this project. A week of celebration took place in early September of 2014. The quilt should serve as a reminder of what we experienced during that week that helped link the present church body with those that came together in that first class in 1839 and all those folks that have participated in worship and service since then.

 

 

What we have included in this series of blogs is a brief look at what some folks might think as obvious, but many may just take these things for granted and simply pass by these records of the past. Less obvious to all would be written records and relics which are stored in files in the office and elsewhere. It is the obligation of the Archives committee to continue to work on organizing that material in order that it might be easier for future generations to use. It is also an obligation of each committee to record what has transpired over the course of time with the preservation of representations of the present church life in word, pictures and relics.

 If you have an interest in this work please let us know and join us. The Archives committee meets when there is a fifth Tuesday in a month. The next date to meet is Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 7 PM in the vestry.