As I now am past eighty-four years of age and was born in this town, I have been asked to write what I know about the first musical instruments used in the Congregational Church of Blandford. In my younger years, I was a teacher of vocal and instrumental music.
Some years ago, Mr. Lucius B. Shepard, one of the former choristers, told me that about 1835, there was some agitation in regard to having some instruments of music to assist the choir, but it was very much opposed by the older members of the church, especially the ungodly fiddle. That could not be tolerated for it was associated with the dance, and dancing in those days was considered by the church people as a heinous sin, but after a time the progressives became the most influential, and about 1843 the church trustees made arrangements with him, as he was at the time a merchant of Blandford, to buy when in Boston, some instruments, and he bought a Flute, one Violin, one single Bass or tenor instrument, and a double Bass, all good first class instruments. He did not inform me what he paid for them.
Mr. Chancy S. Brown first played the single Bass. I do not remember whether he used it to play the bass or the tenor part as it could be used for either. Mr. Elihu Brown played the violin.
Mr. Thomas F. Barker played the flute and continued to play it in the church choir for some time after all of the other instruments had dropped out.
The double bass was first played in the church by Orrin Carter; then by Mr. Lucius Bishop until his death, after which Mr. Chancy S. Brown played it. He then was the chorister. I think that he played it in the church until about 1855.
Sometimes for practice, he had it at his house, which was close by my father's and when I was ten or twelve years old he thought it great fun to teach me to play it. I remember that I had to stand on a stool to reach the finger board. About 1880, the trustees placed it in my keeping. It needed some repairs, which were done by Mr. Nelson Hall at my expense.
I never played it in church for the Sunday service, but I played it many times for old folks concerts and other entertainments to assist in raising money for benevolent purposes. I played it for the last time in public for an old folks concert in the winter of 1894 for the benefit of the Congregational Church in Huntington, (Mass.) Soon afterwards as I was preparing to leave Blandford, I returned it to the care of Rev. Mr. Chrysler, then pastor of the Blandford Congregational Church, and in better condition than when I received it.
After nearly a lifetime of association with it, I have a feeling almost approaching veneration for the old instrument and I hope that the Congregational Society of Blandford will take some action towards preserving it.
I understand from Mr. Elihu Brown that the Society in after years gave him the violin, and also gave Mr. Barker the flute, which was no more than fair for those men that played those instruments. Neither asked or received any cash remuneration whatever.
I well remember the spacious old-time gallery filled with the singers, and also the orchestra that assisted it, which gave excellent satisfaction and inspiration.
About the year 1858, the Congregational Church purchased a Harmonium.* It was an enlarged Melodeon and contained two sets of reeds and was improved in many respects. Miss Emma Herrick played it most of the time until the meeting house was re-modeled in 1865, (and she, also, like the singers and players before her asked nor received any pay for her services). It was then placed in the new choir stage and used by the choir until the advent of the church pipe organ in 1867. Soon after, it was removed to the town hall where it was used for prayer meetings, singing schools, etc., for a number of years. I have not been able to learn in regard to the final disposal of it. It well answered the purpose for which it was intended.
The pipe organ previously referred to was a gift** from Orrin Sage, a former business man of this town and also a member and former benefactor of the Blandford Congregational Society and Church. It has always given excellent satisfaction.
As I have now given the history of its introduction into the church and all of the previous instruments also, as far as I am able, I will say that I personally know very little in regard to the later church instruments as I have been away from Blandford for over thirty years.
October 1924
Gordon C. Rowley
Notes:-
*No record is found in the Religious Society records around 1858 in regard to the purchase of the Harmonium. If it is there, it is masked perhaps by authorizing a committee to act as it sees best in regard to support of singing. "Voted to grant dollars to revive the singing" was a perennial question acted upon at annual meetings of the Society.
**The Sage organ, so called, was not a gift of Orrin Sage. He obtained subscriptions to the amount of $1000 to purchase a Johnson organ, made in Westfield. The organ is now in the Congregational Chapel and can be used when desired, although it needs some repairs.
Some years ago, Mr. Lucius B. Shepard, one of the former choristers, told me that about 1835, there was some agitation in regard to having some instruments of music to assist the choir, but it was very much opposed by the older members of the church, especially the ungodly fiddle. That could not be tolerated for it was associated with the dance, and dancing in those days was considered by the church people as a heinous sin, but after a time the progressives became the most influential, and about 1843 the church trustees made arrangements with him, as he was at the time a merchant of Blandford, to buy when in Boston, some instruments, and he bought a Flute, one Violin, one single Bass or tenor instrument, and a double Bass, all good first class instruments. He did not inform me what he paid for them.
Mr. Chancy S. Brown first played the single Bass. I do not remember whether he used it to play the bass or the tenor part as it could be used for either. Mr. Elihu Brown played the violin.
Mr. Thomas F. Barker played the flute and continued to play it in the church choir for some time after all of the other instruments had dropped out.
The double bass was first played in the church by Orrin Carter; then by Mr. Lucius Bishop until his death, after which Mr. Chancy S. Brown played it. He then was the chorister. I think that he played it in the church until about 1855.
Sometimes for practice, he had it at his house, which was close by my father's and when I was ten or twelve years old he thought it great fun to teach me to play it. I remember that I had to stand on a stool to reach the finger board. About 1880, the trustees placed it in my keeping. It needed some repairs, which were done by Mr. Nelson Hall at my expense.
I never played it in church for the Sunday service, but I played it many times for old folks concerts and other entertainments to assist in raising money for benevolent purposes. I played it for the last time in public for an old folks concert in the winter of 1894 for the benefit of the Congregational Church in Huntington, (Mass.) Soon afterwards as I was preparing to leave Blandford, I returned it to the care of Rev. Mr. Chrysler, then pastor of the Blandford Congregational Church, and in better condition than when I received it.
After nearly a lifetime of association with it, I have a feeling almost approaching veneration for the old instrument and I hope that the Congregational Society of Blandford will take some action towards preserving it.
I understand from Mr. Elihu Brown that the Society in after years gave him the violin, and also gave Mr. Barker the flute, which was no more than fair for those men that played those instruments. Neither asked or received any cash remuneration whatever.
I well remember the spacious old-time gallery filled with the singers, and also the orchestra that assisted it, which gave excellent satisfaction and inspiration.
About the year 1858, the Congregational Church purchased a Harmonium.* It was an enlarged Melodeon and contained two sets of reeds and was improved in many respects. Miss Emma Herrick played it most of the time until the meeting house was re-modeled in 1865, (and she, also, like the singers and players before her asked nor received any pay for her services). It was then placed in the new choir stage and used by the choir until the advent of the church pipe organ in 1867. Soon after, it was removed to the town hall where it was used for prayer meetings, singing schools, etc., for a number of years. I have not been able to learn in regard to the final disposal of it. It well answered the purpose for which it was intended.
The pipe organ previously referred to was a gift** from Orrin Sage, a former business man of this town and also a member and former benefactor of the Blandford Congregational Society and Church. It has always given excellent satisfaction.
As I have now given the history of its introduction into the church and all of the previous instruments also, as far as I am able, I will say that I personally know very little in regard to the later church instruments as I have been away from Blandford for over thirty years.
October 1924
Gordon C. Rowley
Notes:-
*No record is found in the Religious Society records around 1858 in regard to the purchase of the Harmonium. If it is there, it is masked perhaps by authorizing a committee to act as it sees best in regard to support of singing. "Voted to grant dollars to revive the singing" was a perennial question acted upon at annual meetings of the Society.
**The Sage organ, so called, was not a gift of Orrin Sage. He obtained subscriptions to the amount of $1000 to purchase a Johnson organ, made in Westfield. The organ is now in the Congregational Chapel and can be used when desired, although it needs some repairs.
