Mary Orenda Pollard is the daughter of Amos Addison Pollard and Martha Tayler. She was born 12 Oct 1878 in Placerville CA and passed away on 9 Jul 1962 in Middlebury VT. Memorial services were held in the Memorial Baptist Church in Middlebury. Burial was in Ludlow, VT. She was a teacher, historian, writer, long-time resident of Middlebury, and author of “Looking Backward” for the Addison Independent. She retired in1935 and settled in Middlebury. Her tie to us today is her use of a “looking backward” style – this adds a significant insight into the current event history as well as personal remembrances and history to the current event. In the July15, 1962 issue of the Addison Independent that carried her obituary, this was also Miss Pollard’s last contribution for her column “Looking Backward.” 

The following two newspaper articles document the sesquicentennial celebration of the meeting house of the Congregational Church of Middlebury. The articles appeared in the Addison Independent and the Rutland Herald. The first article is authored by Mary Orenda Pollard (in her style of “looking backward”) while the second article is in the traditional newspaper article style authored at the Rutland Herald. Although both articles document the same event, the presentations are quite different. The “looking back” style adds information of the past leaders of the church and clues as to the changes in the structure of the Sanctuary. Can you find all these past leaders as well as the structure clues (?)

Church Peopled with past at Solemn Event (1959)

by Mary Orenda Pollard

In the observation of the sesquicentennial of the Middlebury Congregational Church Sunday, for many in the audience there was much that was nostalgic mingled with the pleasant. There were so many old friends missing, so many changes, which we welcome, but which do not entirely replace the old.

Sitting there one could almost hear the dedication sermon by Dr. Merrill, a classmate of Daniel Webster. One could almost see Gamaliel Painter, who supervised the construction of the building, and Seth Storrs who gave the land for the college and Phillip Battell.

Then up in the Amen pews was “Tommy” Boyce and far to the right went Governor Stewart with his dignified carriage. There was Prof. Parker with his daughter, Miss Susan, so skillful with her painting and equally skillful in cutting profiles in paper. And Miss Starr in her mourning crepe. And Prof. Wright teaching a college Sunday School class in the back seat before morning service.

Then there were the college girls in the east balcony, facing the boys in the west balcony. And the pulpit platform built out to accommodate the commencement held in the church many years, with the whole academic procession marching down from in front of Painter Hall, and occupying the front seats on the left before the platform. There Dr. John Thomas spoke the last Master’s oration – After his day they were printed not delivered orally. And Charles Munroe won in the Parker and Merrill prize speaking and was initiated later into D.K.E.

But all that was long ago. This is the present vested children’s choir singing – it is not Katherine Slade, Elga Stewart, Dr. Will Sheldon, and Earl Cushman in the choir. And at the organ enriched by the chimes is Mrs. Hawley not Mrs. Gideon Miner.

And this is 1959. The Rev. Max M. Webster, is bringing greetings from the Vermont Congregational Conference, and it is College Vice – President Stephen A. Freeman who is telling in orderly fashion some of the history that I have rambled over. He did not get his diploma from President Brainerd on that platform, as I did, so he is talking about the church history in orderly fashion, not from loving memories of undergraduate days.

Then we all join in a dignified reverential rededication of the Church which was completed in 1809, dedicated on May 31, 1809, and celebrated its centennial on May 30-1, 1909, with the Committee of Arrangements Prof. Charles Baker Wright, Thomas A. Boyce and Dr. Philip Mellen.

Over 200 gathered after the rededication service for the dinner in the Church School room below. As part of the program the list was read of those who had been members of the Church for fifty years or more, and those present were introduced by the minister. Rev. Walker T. Hawley. Those present included: 1885, Mrs. Charles Swift; 1866, Mrs. Mary Manchester, Mrs. Frances Cloyes, Earl Cushman; 1902, Mrs. William H. Upsom; 1905, Egbert Hadley; 1907, Mrs. Ethel Merritt; 1906, Mrs. J. O. Seeley; 1909, Samuel James.

Those of the fifty year members not present included George Seeley, Ivan Hagar, Charles Bingham, Dr. Philip Mellen, H. Wright Caswell, Mrs. Edson Day, Miss Theodora Crane, Miss Mary Bowles, Mrs. Ida Carrier.

A large birthday cake made by Stephen Baker and decorated by a picture of the Church in outline, with six candles, one for each a quarter of a century, was cut by Mr. Hadley during the singing of “Happy Birthday” to the Church.

Pictures taken by Life magazine in 1952 decorated the walls of the room. Mrs. William Upson spoke of the things she remembered in connection with the Church, the changes in the building particularly in the kitchen and vestry, and the various ministers she remembered and many of the people of the Church during the years. The committee who arranged the birthday party included Mrs. Edna White, Mrs. Stewart Andrews, Mrs. Ethel Merritt, Hilton Bicknell, and Dr. H. I. Slocum.

On a table at the back of the church auditorium were exhibited some of the old Church record books which cast much light on life in early days. Also on exhibit was a little cup, a part of the first Communion set; a silver Communion set of a later date, a candle stick with the same markings as the pillars that support the balcony; a rosewood gavel; and a cup given by Stewart Andrews to Hawthorne. – These among the material treasures of the Church cherished with the spiritual ones of 150 years.

The other members of the supper committee were Mrs. David Birdsall, Miss Carol Merritt, Mrs. Clayton Ellis, Mrs. W. H. Waite, Mrs. Ralph Elliott, Mrs. George Carleton, Miss Barbara Wells, Mrs. Worden Wells, Mrs. Francis Lucia, Miss Ruth Seeley, Mrs. Bernice Hamilton, Mrs. Carroll Rikert, Mrs. Seward Rouse, Mrs. Francis Phelps, Miss Lucille Lovett, Mrs. John Lucia.

Anniversary of Middlebury Church Noted

Rutland Herald, Oct. 28, 1959

MIDDLEBURY – (special) – The sesquicentennial celebrated at the Middlebury Congregational Church was held on Sunday with a vesper service outlining the history of the church and rededicating the building and a family dinner and program. About 350 attended.

Dr. Stephen Freeman spoke at the vesper service and read a history of the church. Greetings were brought by the Rev. Max H. Webster, minister of the Vermont Congregational Conference. The call to worship was sung by the junior choir and an anthem “Our Church” by the senior choir.

The children were included in the celebration with a story read in the morning service by Miss Betsy Hawley about Lavius, the church mouse, and including the story of the church’s history.

An outline of the history shows that the Church was gathered on Sept 5, 1790 with 12 members, the first meeting place being the barn of Daniel Foote on Foote St. where it was at first planned to locate the town. In 1794 the group voted to move “to the village near the falls.” The land for the building was purchased in March, 1806 after the church had been meeting in the Court House and in Mattock’s Tavern, now Middlebury Inn.

The building was designed by Lavius Fillmore, a cousin of President Fillmore, and was completed in 1809 and dedicated in May 31 of that year. He also designed the Bennington church.

The Vermont Legislature met here in 1800 and President Atwater delivered the sermon. The original members were leading citizens of the community. Alterations have been made in the building in 1835, in 1853, in 1925. During the last the palladium window was uncovered which had previously been plastered over. At the centennial service in 1909, the committee in charge comprised Prof. Charles Baker Wright, Prof. Thomas Boyce, and Dr. Philip Mellen.

On display at the back of the auditorium were articles of interest in the history of the church, including one of the original communion cups, later communion sets of pewter and silver and a silver candlestick with the same design as the pillars supporting the balcony. Several of the former record books on display throw much light on early life in the community.

At the birthday dinner the Rev. Walker T. Hawley, the minister, introduced those who have been members for 50 years or more. These were 1885 Mrs. Charles Swift: 1886 Mrs. Mary Manchester, Mrs. Frances Cloyes, Earl Cushman: 1902 Mrs. William Upson: 1906 Egbert Hadley: 1907 Mrs. Ethyl Merritt: 1908 Mrs. J. O. Seeley: 1909 Samuel James. Those not present included Ivan Hagar, Charles Bingham, Dr. Philip Mellen, H. Wright Caswell, Mrs. Edson Day, Miss Theodora Crane, Miss May Bowles, and Mrs. Asa Carrier.

A birthday cake, made by Stephen Baker and decorated with a picture of the church building, in outline and the dates1809-1959, was lighted by six candles, one for each 25 years and the group sang the birthday song. Mrs. William Upson spoke of the events she remembered in connected with her childhood and the church and of the changes in the building, and the various ministers and people prominent during the years.

Pictures of Old Middlebury, the church and various activities were shown by Prof. Freeman and the Rev. Hawley. Many of the pictures taken for Life magazine in 1952 were displayed.

The committee for the celebration comprises Mrs. Edna White, Mrs. Stewart Andrews, Hilton Bicknell, Dr. H. L. Slocum, Mrs. Ethel, Merritt. Among out-of-town guests were Miss Ruth Bryant of Fair Haven and Mrs. Florence Gates of Burlington.

Malcolm W. Chase, Church Historian