Reminiscences of Miss Clara T. Dunham
"My birthplace was the thirteen room farmhouse, built by my Great Grandfather, Cornelius Dunham, 1778. The house stood on the corner of Queen and what is now named ‘River Street.'
The first minister that I remember was Rev. Milan Ayres. I remember seeing him go up the several steps to the high pulpit. The choir and the organ were at that time in the gallery at the west end of the church.
There were about four pews on each side of the pulpit. My family's pews were the four along the north side facing the minister. Each family rented a pew in those days.
On Sunday morning my father, Giles L. Dunham, and the hired man, usually a colored man, who stayed at our house, would sleep an hour later and so did not get up until half past five o'clock! They would milk the 10 or 12 cows and come in for breakfast with the rest of the family. They would feed the horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens.
My father would have time to harness one of the three orses to the ‘business wagon' or the ‘beach wagon,' which had room for four of us. He would then get dressed for church and drive the three miles to the 10:45 church service. I remember him being late for church just once!
During most of the winter, we would ride to church in the open sleigh with a buffalo robe over our knees and a soap stone, which had been pre-heated in the oven, at our feet. On many occasions, a blanket shawl would be wrapped around us girls, on top of winter coats. My father would heat a smooth oblong stone, just the right size to hold in his hand, and take that to help keep his hands warm while driving. I had a much smaller round stone, heated and just the right size for me to hold in my hands. (I still have this stone.)
After the ‘Opening Exercise' in church, all the Sunday School from the Primary to the Men's Class followed the church service from twelve until one o'clock. The teachers and pupils would go to the second floor of the ‘addition' behind the main church for their lessons. This room was called the ‘Lecture Room,' as its special purpose was to provide a place for the members of our church to attend the ‘Preparatory Lecture,' which was held on the Saturday afternoon preceding each Communion Sunday Service. At that time a Communion Service was held once in two months. On the first floor of the ‘addition' were both a parlor and a kitchen.
At Christmas time the Sunday School would put on a program of songs, recitation, tableaus, etc., in the church and from a Christmas tree, set up front of the pulpit, would come an orange and a bag of candy each pupil.
Rev. Mr. Kahler was our minister when I was 10 years old. Several girls and boys, some not much older than I, were to join the church on the Communion Sunday in March of 1889. I really wanted to become a member on that day, but my family thought I was too young and would not allow it; however, by the next Communion Sunday in May of that year, they gave their permission. With about five others, I became a member of the church, and it seemed very wonderful and meant much to me.
My life-long interest in missions began one Sunday when I was seven or eight years old. Rev. Mr. Tyler, a missionary, who had spent many years among the Zulu people of South Africa, visited out church. He told about his work. Rev. Mr. Tyler gave me a bracelet made of woven grasses by the Zulu people. That bracelet is still in my living room where I see it every day.
When I was 12 or 13, Rev. Mr. Ryder (in honor of whom Ryder Memorial Hospital in Puerto Rico was named.) spoke at our church. He told of the work of the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society. The special work of this organization was to start Sunday Schools in ‘out of the way places,' especially in our western states. He made this mission work seem so interesting and so needed that we wanted to be generous with our offerings. It was this visit of Rev. Ryder that inspired me, around the age of 16, to start a little Sunday School for the children of our neighborhood who had no way of getting to any church. They would come to my home each Sunday afternoon. This continued for the next eight years.
Author's note:
Miss Dunham attended the Hartford Seminary Foundation, earlier known as the "Hartford School of Religious Pedagogy." In 1914 Miss Dunham and her mother went to Philiadelphia where Miss Dunham was Director of Religious Education for eight years. She later became a "home visitor," a missionary, if you will, in the poorer sections of Philadelphia. She provided services to the poor and assisted them inmany ways.
After 22 years, Miss Dunham returned to Southington in 1945, where she has remained active in many of the church's and community's affairs.
Miss Dunham, now 94, still attends church each Sunday. Her love and devotion to god's children both at home and throughout the world is an inspiration to us all. For many years Miss Dunham was one of our most loyal Sunday School teachers and now is in charge of the Church School library. She is also still very active on the Missionary Committee of our church.
"My birthplace was the thirteen room farmhouse, built by my Great Grandfather, Cornelius Dunham, 1778. The house stood on the corner of Queen and what is now named ‘River Street.'
The first minister that I remember was Rev. Milan Ayres. I remember seeing him go up the several steps to the high pulpit. The choir and the organ were at that time in the gallery at the west end of the church.
There were about four pews on each side of the pulpit. My family's pews were the four along the north side facing the minister. Each family rented a pew in those days.
On Sunday morning my father, Giles L. Dunham, and the hired man, usually a colored man, who stayed at our house, would sleep an hour later and so did not get up until half past five o'clock! They would milk the 10 or 12 cows and come in for breakfast with the rest of the family. They would feed the horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens.
My father would have time to harness one of the three orses to the ‘business wagon' or the ‘beach wagon,' which had room for four of us. He would then get dressed for church and drive the three miles to the 10:45 church service. I remember him being late for church just once!
During most of the winter, we would ride to church in the open sleigh with a buffalo robe over our knees and a soap stone, which had been pre-heated in the oven, at our feet. On many occasions, a blanket shawl would be wrapped around us girls, on top of winter coats. My father would heat a smooth oblong stone, just the right size to hold in his hand, and take that to help keep his hands warm while driving. I had a much smaller round stone, heated and just the right size for me to hold in my hands. (I still have this stone.)
After the ‘Opening Exercise' in church, all the Sunday School from the Primary to the Men's Class followed the church service from twelve until one o'clock. The teachers and pupils would go to the second floor of the ‘addition' behind the main church for their lessons. This room was called the ‘Lecture Room,' as its special purpose was to provide a place for the members of our church to attend the ‘Preparatory Lecture,' which was held on the Saturday afternoon preceding each Communion Sunday Service. At that time a Communion Service was held once in two months. On the first floor of the ‘addition' were both a parlor and a kitchen.
At Christmas time the Sunday School would put on a program of songs, recitation, tableaus, etc., in the church and from a Christmas tree, set up front of the pulpit, would come an orange and a bag of candy each pupil.
Rev. Mr. Kahler was our minister when I was 10 years old. Several girls and boys, some not much older than I, were to join the church on the Communion Sunday in March of 1889. I really wanted to become a member on that day, but my family thought I was too young and would not allow it; however, by the next Communion Sunday in May of that year, they gave their permission. With about five others, I became a member of the church, and it seemed very wonderful and meant much to me.
My life-long interest in missions began one Sunday when I was seven or eight years old. Rev. Mr. Tyler, a missionary, who had spent many years among the Zulu people of South Africa, visited out church. He told about his work. Rev. Mr. Tyler gave me a bracelet made of woven grasses by the Zulu people. That bracelet is still in my living room where I see it every day.
When I was 12 or 13, Rev. Mr. Ryder (in honor of whom Ryder Memorial Hospital in Puerto Rico was named.) spoke at our church. He told of the work of the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society. The special work of this organization was to start Sunday Schools in ‘out of the way places,' especially in our western states. He made this mission work seem so interesting and so needed that we wanted to be generous with our offerings. It was this visit of Rev. Ryder that inspired me, around the age of 16, to start a little Sunday School for the children of our neighborhood who had no way of getting to any church. They would come to my home each Sunday afternoon. This continued for the next eight years.
Author's note:
Miss Dunham attended the Hartford Seminary Foundation, earlier known as the "Hartford School of Religious Pedagogy." In 1914 Miss Dunham and her mother went to Philiadelphia where Miss Dunham was Director of Religious Education for eight years. She later became a "home visitor," a missionary, if you will, in the poorer sections of Philadelphia. She provided services to the poor and assisted them inmany ways.
After 22 years, Miss Dunham returned to Southington in 1945, where she has remained active in many of the church's and community's affairs.
Miss Dunham, now 94, still attends church each Sunday. Her love and devotion to god's children both at home and throughout the world is an inspiration to us all. For many years Miss Dunham was one of our most loyal Sunday School teachers and now is in charge of the Church School library. She is also still very active on the Missionary Committee of our church.
Reminiscences of Miss Clara T. Dunham
"My birthplace was the thirteen room farmhouse, built by my Great Grandfather, Cornelius Dunham, 1778. The house stood on the corner of Queen and what is now named ‘River Street.'
The first minister that I remember was Rev. Milan Ayres. I remember seeing him go up the several steps to the high pulpit. The choir and the organ were at that time in the gallery at the west end of the church.
There were about four pews on each side of the pulpit. My family's pews were the four along the north side facing the minister. Each family rented a pew in those days.
On Sunday morning my father, Giles L. Dunham, and the hired man, usually a colored man, who stayed at our house, would sleep an hour later and so did not get up until half past five o'clock! They would milk the 10 or 12 cows and come in for breakfast with the rest of the family. They would feed the horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens.
My father would have time to harness one of the three orses to the ‘business wagon' or the ‘beach wagon,' which had room for four of us. He would then get dressed for church and drive the three miles to the 10:45 church service. I remember him being late for church just once!
During most of the winter, we would ride to church in the open sleigh with a buffalo robe over our knees and a soap stone, which had been pre-heated in the oven, at our feet. On many occasions, a blanket shawl would be wrapped around us girls, on top of winter coats. My father would heat a smooth oblong stone, just the right size to hold in his hand, and take that to help keep his hands warm while driving. I had a much smaller round stone, heated and just the right size for me to hold in my hands. (I still have this stone.)
After the ‘Opening Exercise' in church, all the Sunday School from the Primary to the Men's Class followed the church service from twelve until one o'clock. The teachers and pupils would go to the second floor of the ‘addition' behind the main church for their lessons. This room was called the ‘Lecture Room,' as its special purpose was to provide a place for the members of our church to attend the ‘Preparatory Lecture,' which was held on the Saturday afternoon preceding each Communion Sunday Service. At that time a Communion Service was held once in two months. On the first floor of the ‘addition' were both a parlor and a kitchen.
At Christmas time the Sunday School would put on a program of songs, recitation, tableaus, etc., in the church and from a Christmas tree, set up front of the pulpit, would come an orange and a bag of candy each pupil.
Rev. Mr. Kahler was our minister when I was 10 years old. Several girls and boys, some not much older than I, were to join the church on the Communion Sunday in March of 1889. I really wanted to become a member on that day, but my family thought I was too young and would not allow it; however, by the next Communion Sunday in May of that year, they gave their permission. With about five others, I became a member of the church, and it seemed very wonderful and meant much to me.
My life-long interest in missions began one Sunday when I was seven or eight years old. Rev. Mr. Tyler, a missionary, who had spent many years among the Zulu people of South Africa, visited out church. He told about his work. Rev. Mr. Tyler gave me a bracelet made of woven grasses by the Zulu people. That bracelet is still in my living room where I see it every day.
When I was 12 or 13, Rev. Mr. Ryder (in honor of whom Ryder Memorial Hospital in Puerto Rico was named.) spoke at our church. He told of the work of the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society. The special work of this organization was to start Sunday Schools in ‘out of the way places,' especially in our western states. He made this mission work seem so interesting and so needed that we wanted to be generous with our offerings. It was this visit of Rev. Ryder that inspired me, around the age of 16, to start a little Sunday School for the children of our neighborhood who had no way of getting to any church. They would come to my home each Sunday afternoon. This continued for the next eight years.
Author's note:
Miss Dunham attended the Hartford Seminary Foundation, earlier known as the "Hartford School of Religious Pedagogy." In 1914 Miss Dunham and her mother went to Philiadelphia where Miss Dunham was Director of Religious Education for eight years. She later became a "home visitor," a missionary, if you will, in the poorer sections of Philadelphia. She provided services to the poor and assisted them inmany ways.
After 22 years, Miss Dunham returned to Southington in 1945, where she has remained active in many of the church's and community's affairs.
Miss Dunham, now 94, still attends church each Sunday. Her love and devotion to god's children both at home and throughout the world is an inspiration to us all. For many years Miss Dunham was one of our most loyal Sunday School teachers and now is in charge of the Church School library. She is also still very active on the Missionary Committee of our church.
"My birthplace was the thirteen room farmhouse, built by my Great Grandfather, Cornelius Dunham, 1778. The house stood on the corner of Queen and what is now named ‘River Street.'
The first minister that I remember was Rev. Milan Ayres. I remember seeing him go up the several steps to the high pulpit. The choir and the organ were at that time in the gallery at the west end of the church.
There were about four pews on each side of the pulpit. My family's pews were the four along the north side facing the minister. Each family rented a pew in those days.
On Sunday morning my father, Giles L. Dunham, and the hired man, usually a colored man, who stayed at our house, would sleep an hour later and so did not get up until half past five o'clock! They would milk the 10 or 12 cows and come in for breakfast with the rest of the family. They would feed the horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens.
My father would have time to harness one of the three orses to the ‘business wagon' or the ‘beach wagon,' which had room for four of us. He would then get dressed for church and drive the three miles to the 10:45 church service. I remember him being late for church just once!
During most of the winter, we would ride to church in the open sleigh with a buffalo robe over our knees and a soap stone, which had been pre-heated in the oven, at our feet. On many occasions, a blanket shawl would be wrapped around us girls, on top of winter coats. My father would heat a smooth oblong stone, just the right size to hold in his hand, and take that to help keep his hands warm while driving. I had a much smaller round stone, heated and just the right size for me to hold in my hands. (I still have this stone.)
After the ‘Opening Exercise' in church, all the Sunday School from the Primary to the Men's Class followed the church service from twelve until one o'clock. The teachers and pupils would go to the second floor of the ‘addition' behind the main church for their lessons. This room was called the ‘Lecture Room,' as its special purpose was to provide a place for the members of our church to attend the ‘Preparatory Lecture,' which was held on the Saturday afternoon preceding each Communion Sunday Service. At that time a Communion Service was held once in two months. On the first floor of the ‘addition' were both a parlor and a kitchen.
At Christmas time the Sunday School would put on a program of songs, recitation, tableaus, etc., in the church and from a Christmas tree, set up front of the pulpit, would come an orange and a bag of candy each pupil.
Rev. Mr. Kahler was our minister when I was 10 years old. Several girls and boys, some not much older than I, were to join the church on the Communion Sunday in March of 1889. I really wanted to become a member on that day, but my family thought I was too young and would not allow it; however, by the next Communion Sunday in May of that year, they gave their permission. With about five others, I became a member of the church, and it seemed very wonderful and meant much to me.
My life-long interest in missions began one Sunday when I was seven or eight years old. Rev. Mr. Tyler, a missionary, who had spent many years among the Zulu people of South Africa, visited out church. He told about his work. Rev. Mr. Tyler gave me a bracelet made of woven grasses by the Zulu people. That bracelet is still in my living room where I see it every day.
When I was 12 or 13, Rev. Mr. Ryder (in honor of whom Ryder Memorial Hospital in Puerto Rico was named.) spoke at our church. He told of the work of the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society. The special work of this organization was to start Sunday Schools in ‘out of the way places,' especially in our western states. He made this mission work seem so interesting and so needed that we wanted to be generous with our offerings. It was this visit of Rev. Ryder that inspired me, around the age of 16, to start a little Sunday School for the children of our neighborhood who had no way of getting to any church. They would come to my home each Sunday afternoon. This continued for the next eight years.
Author's note:
Miss Dunham attended the Hartford Seminary Foundation, earlier known as the "Hartford School of Religious Pedagogy." In 1914 Miss Dunham and her mother went to Philiadelphia where Miss Dunham was Director of Religious Education for eight years. She later became a "home visitor," a missionary, if you will, in the poorer sections of Philadelphia. She provided services to the poor and assisted them inmany ways.
After 22 years, Miss Dunham returned to Southington in 1945, where she has remained active in many of the church's and community's affairs.
Miss Dunham, now 94, still attends church each Sunday. Her love and devotion to god's children both at home and throughout the world is an inspiration to us all. For many years Miss Dunham was one of our most loyal Sunday School teachers and now is in charge of the Church School library. She is also still very active on the Missionary Committee of our church.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
