To residents of Blandford, Massachusetts, it is known simply as "The White Church," or to be more specific, "The White Church on the Hill." It sits on a small rise just s short distance up North Street where it overlooks the center of town and can be easily seen from Route 23. In 1985 this lovely old edifice was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, where it well deserves to be. Appearing on the town seal, the White Church has become a symbol for the town of Blandford, and it is treasured by both year-round and summer residents of this small community.
The White Church was not the first meeting house to be erected in town. As early as 1740 a building was begun to house town meetings as well as religious services. This, of course, was the custom in early New England towns. This first meeting house stood across the street from the present site of the White Church, as is acknowledged by the granite boulder which was placed there in 1903. The inscription on it reads:
Ye Old First Church
of the Frontier Town of
Blandford, Mass.
Stood on this Spot
Begun 1740 Finished 1805
"Vox Clamantis in Deserto"
By 1799 it appears that the separation of Church and State had taken place, for in 1821 the First Religious Society of Blandford took steps towards erecting a new building for church purposes only. The record of Feb. 19, 1821, reads: "Voted to Choos a Commitee of three persons to inform the other society that we wish to know whether they are willing to agree in any way with this society to join in Building a meeting Hous so as to accomodate Boath Societys."
The "other society" referred to here was a group which had separated itself from the First Blandford church in 1799 and became known as the Protestant Episcopal Society. There was agreement between the two groups, and they resolved to build a church that could be used by both.
Selection of a site was made, and an architect was hired. He was Captain Isaac Damon of Northampton, described by Aymer Embury, II, in his book Early American Churches, as "best known of the country architects of his time,...an excellent draughtsman... Some of his elevations, done in India ink, are the best old American drawings that have been preserved." Isaac Damon also designed the old First Church in Springfield, Mass,. as well as churches in Northampton, Pittsfield and Ware. He built bridges, too, across the Connecticut, the Penobscot, the Hudson and the Ohio rivers.
We are told that the cornerstone of the new Blandford church was laid by Isaac Damon himself on June 12, 1822. On June 17 the "raising," or erecting of the framework, was begun and it was finished on the 19th. Rev. Sumner G. Wood, in his An Handful of Corn gives an amusing account of this "raising." He says: "When the frame was to be raised, he [Isaac Damon] imported a sailor to manage the ropes, believing that no rustic could manage them as could one who had been rocked in the cradle of the deep. In fact, the job proved too much for that old salt. The ropes got twisted on the gin pole, the sailor could do nothing with them, and John Collester, Blandford born and bred, climbed up and straightened them."
Rev. Wood also tells us a bit about the materials used in the building. He says, "The chiseled stones of the underpinning were cut
from quarries in the vicinity of Chester or Huntington. The big beams came from Otis."
Dedication of the White Church was held 3 Oct. 30, 1822. No full account of the ceremony has been found to date, but a brief summary exists in the records of the "Religous Society":
The new meeting hous in Blandford was sollimnly Dedicated to the worship of Almighty God.
Prayr and Reading Appropriate Portions of Scriptur by Mr. D. Clark
Prayr by Rev. Mr. Mills of Becket
Sermon and Didecation prayr by Rev. Mr. Cooley of Grandville
To refer once more to Sumner Wood, in his An Handful of Corn, he details a lengthy description of the interior of the White Church as it appeared in its heyday. There can be no doubt that it was an imposing and beautiful sight. Let us look, for example, at his description of the pulpit.
The pulpit of this new 'temple of the Lord's house' was 'exceeding magnifical.' The platform on which it stood occupied the space between the two doors at the south and adjoining the vestibule. It curved convexly at the front and was one step high. On this platform stood the pulpit, running straight across it, the front being at right angles to the sides of the platform, and was pillared and paneled form top to bottom. The desk was shaped with a swell front in the center like a great cheese-box cut diametrically in two, and extending from the floor up. It was surmounted by a pillow, on which was placed the great Bible. The floor of this pulpit was much higher than the heads of the tallest men in the congregation when standing, so that the preacher's head, when he stood, was nearly or quite on a level with the heads of the people as they sat in the front row of the gallery pews. From the depths below, the children looked up to the eminence with godly fear. To them, who never had the privilege to explore the mysterious secrets of this holy of holies, it was a matter of speculation how the minister ever got there."
Music was an important element in the worship services held in the White Church in the last century. Records speak of a choir of eighty voices and an accompaniment of a number of instruments. Mentioned are: a flute, a violin, a bass viol and a double bass. The introduction of instruments came about following a heated argument among the congregation, some of whose older members felt that the "ungodly fiddle" had no place in the church, since it was associated with the sinful practice of dancing. In the long run these objections were evidently overcome.
Several different organs have held sway in the White Church. The first was the Johnson organ, purchased in 1867 by solicitation of funds. This organ was moved to the chapel on Main Street where it is still in use. The Deane organ was donated by Dr. W. H. Deane in 1910 and required an extension to be built on the north side of the church in order to install it. This extension was familiarly referred to as "the wart." In 1938 the Deane organ was removed, and a Hammond electric organ was installed. Oddly enough, no one seems to remember what has become of these two instruments. It is a mystery yet to be solved: what has become of the missing organs?
There is a record of extensive repairs being done to the building in 1866, but after the erection of the chapel in 1898, the White Church was used less and less. Since central heating had never been installed, it was used for service only during the summer months, while the warm chapel was the site of cold weather services and other events. By 1990 even the summer services were discontinued in the old building. Time and the severe weather conditions of the Berkshires had taken their toll. Although some efforts at repairs and restoration had been made in 1940 and 1957, serious deterioration had taken place. The front porch that once graced the building was removed, due to the rotting of the floor boards. Many panes of glass were missing from the windows. The paint and plaster of the interior walls were cracked and peeling. Probably most alarming of all, the foundation was in poor shape, and the building was jacked up and cement blocks were inserted for support.
But help was at hand! In August, 1992, a group of interested people got together and decided that action was need to restore this historic landmark to its former beauty and eminence. The group consisted not only of church members, but also of full-time and summer-time residents of Blandford. Their first action was a fund-raiser, whereby forty- nine volunteers parked cars for visitors to the Blandford Fair and earned nearly $3400.00 A chicken pie supper at the chapel brought in another $1000.00. As a result, it was possible to pay for work to have the church's foundation made once more secure.
But there is much more to be done. An architect has been hired to supervise the restoration process, and he estimated that between $175,000.00 and $250,000.00 will be needed to defray all costs. Plans are now under way to help raise this considerable number of dollars. A series of events are being organized for the weekend of July 24 and 25, 1993. This will be known as a Back-to- Blandford Weekend and will focus on the White Church as its pivotal attraction. Included will be tours of old houses and old cemeteries, an auction featuring Blandford memorabilia, a luncheon in the Agricultural Hall on the fairgrounds, and various displays at such places as the library and the Historical Society building.
In the meantime, contributions are gratefully accepted, and any of our readers who would like to assist in any way, by offering help or by donating financial aid, may do so by contacting the following:
White Church Restoration Committee P.O. Box 65
Blandford, MA 01008
The above committee is chaired by Sumner Robbins, who is a deacon in the church, and is co-chaired by Ann Southworth. We wish them the best of luck in restoring Blandford's White Church to its former glory.
Editor's note: the historical data in this article was supplied by documents assembled by Doris Hayden and now in the records of the First Congregational Church, Blandford. Thanks to Deacon Sumner Robbins for al- lowing their use.
From Stone Walls Magazine, Winter, 1992
The White Church was not the first meeting house to be erected in town. As early as 1740 a building was begun to house town meetings as well as religious services. This, of course, was the custom in early New England towns. This first meeting house stood across the street from the present site of the White Church, as is acknowledged by the granite boulder which was placed there in 1903. The inscription on it reads:
Ye Old First Church
of the Frontier Town of
Blandford, Mass.
Stood on this Spot
Begun 1740 Finished 1805
"Vox Clamantis in Deserto"
By 1799 it appears that the separation of Church and State had taken place, for in 1821 the First Religious Society of Blandford took steps towards erecting a new building for church purposes only. The record of Feb. 19, 1821, reads: "Voted to Choos a Commitee of three persons to inform the other society that we wish to know whether they are willing to agree in any way with this society to join in Building a meeting Hous so as to accomodate Boath Societys."
The "other society" referred to here was a group which had separated itself from the First Blandford church in 1799 and became known as the Protestant Episcopal Society. There was agreement between the two groups, and they resolved to build a church that could be used by both.
Selection of a site was made, and an architect was hired. He was Captain Isaac Damon of Northampton, described by Aymer Embury, II, in his book Early American Churches, as "best known of the country architects of his time,...an excellent draughtsman... Some of his elevations, done in India ink, are the best old American drawings that have been preserved." Isaac Damon also designed the old First Church in Springfield, Mass,. as well as churches in Northampton, Pittsfield and Ware. He built bridges, too, across the Connecticut, the Penobscot, the Hudson and the Ohio rivers.
We are told that the cornerstone of the new Blandford church was laid by Isaac Damon himself on June 12, 1822. On June 17 the "raising," or erecting of the framework, was begun and it was finished on the 19th. Rev. Sumner G. Wood, in his An Handful of Corn gives an amusing account of this "raising." He says: "When the frame was to be raised, he [Isaac Damon] imported a sailor to manage the ropes, believing that no rustic could manage them as could one who had been rocked in the cradle of the deep. In fact, the job proved too much for that old salt. The ropes got twisted on the gin pole, the sailor could do nothing with them, and John Collester, Blandford born and bred, climbed up and straightened them."
Rev. Wood also tells us a bit about the materials used in the building. He says, "The chiseled stones of the underpinning were cut
from quarries in the vicinity of Chester or Huntington. The big beams came from Otis."
Dedication of the White Church was held 3 Oct. 30, 1822. No full account of the ceremony has been found to date, but a brief summary exists in the records of the "Religous Society":
The new meeting hous in Blandford was sollimnly Dedicated to the worship of Almighty God.
Prayr and Reading Appropriate Portions of Scriptur by Mr. D. Clark
Prayr by Rev. Mr. Mills of Becket
Sermon and Didecation prayr by Rev. Mr. Cooley of Grandville
To refer once more to Sumner Wood, in his An Handful of Corn, he details a lengthy description of the interior of the White Church as it appeared in its heyday. There can be no doubt that it was an imposing and beautiful sight. Let us look, for example, at his description of the pulpit.
The pulpit of this new 'temple of the Lord's house' was 'exceeding magnifical.' The platform on which it stood occupied the space between the two doors at the south and adjoining the vestibule. It curved convexly at the front and was one step high. On this platform stood the pulpit, running straight across it, the front being at right angles to the sides of the platform, and was pillared and paneled form top to bottom. The desk was shaped with a swell front in the center like a great cheese-box cut diametrically in two, and extending from the floor up. It was surmounted by a pillow, on which was placed the great Bible. The floor of this pulpit was much higher than the heads of the tallest men in the congregation when standing, so that the preacher's head, when he stood, was nearly or quite on a level with the heads of the people as they sat in the front row of the gallery pews. From the depths below, the children looked up to the eminence with godly fear. To them, who never had the privilege to explore the mysterious secrets of this holy of holies, it was a matter of speculation how the minister ever got there."
Music was an important element in the worship services held in the White Church in the last century. Records speak of a choir of eighty voices and an accompaniment of a number of instruments. Mentioned are: a flute, a violin, a bass viol and a double bass. The introduction of instruments came about following a heated argument among the congregation, some of whose older members felt that the "ungodly fiddle" had no place in the church, since it was associated with the sinful practice of dancing. In the long run these objections were evidently overcome.
Several different organs have held sway in the White Church. The first was the Johnson organ, purchased in 1867 by solicitation of funds. This organ was moved to the chapel on Main Street where it is still in use. The Deane organ was donated by Dr. W. H. Deane in 1910 and required an extension to be built on the north side of the church in order to install it. This extension was familiarly referred to as "the wart." In 1938 the Deane organ was removed, and a Hammond electric organ was installed. Oddly enough, no one seems to remember what has become of these two instruments. It is a mystery yet to be solved: what has become of the missing organs?
There is a record of extensive repairs being done to the building in 1866, but after the erection of the chapel in 1898, the White Church was used less and less. Since central heating had never been installed, it was used for service only during the summer months, while the warm chapel was the site of cold weather services and other events. By 1990 even the summer services were discontinued in the old building. Time and the severe weather conditions of the Berkshires had taken their toll. Although some efforts at repairs and restoration had been made in 1940 and 1957, serious deterioration had taken place. The front porch that once graced the building was removed, due to the rotting of the floor boards. Many panes of glass were missing from the windows. The paint and plaster of the interior walls were cracked and peeling. Probably most alarming of all, the foundation was in poor shape, and the building was jacked up and cement blocks were inserted for support.
But help was at hand! In August, 1992, a group of interested people got together and decided that action was need to restore this historic landmark to its former beauty and eminence. The group consisted not only of church members, but also of full-time and summer-time residents of Blandford. Their first action was a fund-raiser, whereby forty- nine volunteers parked cars for visitors to the Blandford Fair and earned nearly $3400.00 A chicken pie supper at the chapel brought in another $1000.00. As a result, it was possible to pay for work to have the church's foundation made once more secure.
But there is much more to be done. An architect has been hired to supervise the restoration process, and he estimated that between $175,000.00 and $250,000.00 will be needed to defray all costs. Plans are now under way to help raise this considerable number of dollars. A series of events are being organized for the weekend of July 24 and 25, 1993. This will be known as a Back-to- Blandford Weekend and will focus on the White Church as its pivotal attraction. Included will be tours of old houses and old cemeteries, an auction featuring Blandford memorabilia, a luncheon in the Agricultural Hall on the fairgrounds, and various displays at such places as the library and the Historical Society building.
In the meantime, contributions are gratefully accepted, and any of our readers who would like to assist in any way, by offering help or by donating financial aid, may do so by contacting the following:
White Church Restoration Committee P.O. Box 65
Blandford, MA 01008
The above committee is chaired by Sumner Robbins, who is a deacon in the church, and is co-chaired by Ann Southworth. We wish them the best of luck in restoring Blandford's White Church to its former glory.
Editor's note: the historical data in this article was supplied by documents assembled by Doris Hayden and now in the records of the First Congregational Church, Blandford. Thanks to Deacon Sumner Robbins for al- lowing their use.
From Stone Walls Magazine, Winter, 1992