Meeting House History (con't)
By the late 1800s, the Meeting House had fallen into disrepair, but the people became interested in holding services in the church. A young theological student, John Best, was sent from Vermont's Northfield Academy, to serve as pastor for the summer vacation. He was paid $180 by the Congregational Board and lived with various local families. All the homes in the community were opened for his entertainment. He was a good leader, a fine singer, and was well liked. It was not long before such an interest was aroused that repairs were made on the building inside and outside. The interior was completely restored, window glass replaced, a new roof put on, etc. through the generosity of residents and friends abroad.
The following summer another student continued Sunday evening services in a hall in North Waterborough, thinking the place more central. From this time on there was no continuity in the services held in the Meeting House. Occasionally ministers and able laymen who were available would hold meetings. Among those remembered were Rev. James Stevens, Mr. John Lord (a teacher), and Rev. Frank C. Bradeen.
Around the turn of the last century the Meeting House was used at Christmastime for school and neighborhood parties. Mary Witham of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, shared her memories with Mary G. Moore (Sanford Tribune, August 1, 1968):
One of the special memories of my childhood is of my mother bundling all of us children up in a pung or a sleigh and driving Maud, our old white horse, over to the Christmas tree. How we loved those times! We children would all "speak a piece," as we called it, and sing songs with Mrs. Bert Bradeen at the organ and either her husband or Uncle Joe Chadbourne as Santa Claus. [The community Christmas party held at a church or community hall was referred to as "the Christmas tree" in the days when individual homes did not have trees as commonly as we do now.]
The Meeting House was also used for revivals and special services. In 1976, Virginia C. Downs, in a history entitled "Descendants find Roots at Elder Grey," wrote of her interview with John Hanscom: John remembers going to a meeting with his family, a special meeting the citizens had requested the Elder to hold to pray for rain after a long drought. "I can just see my grandfather [Joseph J. Chadbourne] out in the yard with the Elder. The Elder hesitated quite a time, scanning the horizon, then he said, 'Well, let's go, boys, but I'm telling you, t'aint no use."