A Gathering Place
In the more than 50 years it served as “The Parsonage” it was a spiritual,
educational, civic and social meeting place.
The Congregational Church of New Fairfield purchased the former Beardsley
home in 1903 from Lavinia Jennings. Twelve Ministers and their families called
it “home” and offered it as a gathering place to several or a few. The wide
front porch offered chairs and cool shade to go with the lemonade on the green
wicker table. An intoxicating perfume wafted from the hedges of lilacs and
roses. The doormat welcomed visitors from the time Teddy Roosevelt was President
until Harry S. Truman had the job.
Rev. and Mrs. Tippert (1923-1925) organized their tent camp meetings there,
while building a new Church to replace the one struck by lightning.
Youth groups were encouraged to meet there with the arrival of the Rev. A.G.
Mathers (1928-1931) and his wife, Amy Bryant Mathers. Upon her husband’s death,
Amy assumed his duties (1931-1936)and actively pursued the involvement of young
women in the community.
Rev. S. Read Chatterton (1936-1941)and his wife, Margaret, moved in as a
young couple and hosted the teens on Sunday evenings. Jane Covil Managan
remembers being one of the “kids” gathered around the radio listening to the
escapades of Margo Lane and Lamont Cranston, as “The Shadow”; wondering…. “Who
knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?” (answer: “The Shadow Knows!”)
When Rev. Orlo E. Barnard moved to the Parsonage (1942-1944), it was wartime
and he took on the task of writing a newsletter to keep in touch with the New
Fairfield servicemen and exchange information on their buddies. We can imagine
the folks gathered around the piano in the parlor belting out “Praise the Lord
and Pass the Ammunition” after practicing the Sunday hymns! More than the usual
activities took place at the Parsonage during this time because Church was
closed and the Town Hall was used, to conserve fuel.
The boys in New Fairfield benefited from the woodworking talents of the Rev.
Herman deAnguera (1944-1949). He invited them to use the shed at the Parsonage.
Later, he moved the classes to the Little Red School building. Freddie Clark Jr.
recalls he and Chuck Skahen were often invited to stay for supper and overnight
at the Parsonage after the class; and, then go on to school from there the next
day.
The Parsonage took on an international flavor with the arrival of Rev.
William Hindle (1949-1951) who had been a Missionary in India. With his clipped
Brit accent, he enthralled one and all with tales of his travels. The back yard
garden supplied Mrs. Hindle with fresh parsley to garnish her chicken curry for
the ladies’ luncheons. Sunday School goers were treated to picnics of grilled
hot dogs; and soda-pop and ice cream, kept cold in galvanized tubs of smoldering
dry ice.
The Parsonage reverted to a private residence in 1952. It was moved to its
new location in March 2006 to be restored as a museum.
Information gathered from personal recollections and the “250th Anniversary
of the Congregational Church of New Fairfield” booklet
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