Friends of the East Colrain Chapel

East Colrain Chapel-A Bit of Colrain’s History
Compiled from Notes in the Church Records-Betty Johnson
For many years people held church meetings in the Miller, the West Leyden, and the Four Corner schoolhouses. When interest became so great and more room was needed, the dance hall on the second floor of Horatio Shepardson’s Inn at the junction of West Leyden Road and Green River Road served as the meeting place. In nice weather, services were held outdoors in groves. The minister was an Englishman, Mr. Middleton, who also led services at the Colrain “City” Methodist Church.
It was decided in 1872 that a new church building should be constructed. Horace Stark of South Halifax, VT was paid $350 to build the church. Dwight Brown donated land. Nathaniel Avery, for whom Avery Hill is named, willed the Methodist Episcopal Society $250. Pledges brought $1000 for the construction. The total cost was $1625. The foundation stone was split and drawn by ox cart from the area of Packer Corner, Guilford, VT. The Ladies Aid Society furnished the church.
A dedication service was held January 5, 1873 with Reverend Thomas Marcy preaching. The original articles of organization, not to be amended, read “said house shall be occupied by the Methodist Society, whenever they wish to occupy the same, but to be opened to transient preachers of the following denominations and none others: Congregationalists, Baptists, Advent, and Episcopalians. That said house being built for a place of worship, shall be used for the good of the church and not as a place of amusement.”
M.D. Miner built a small kitchen addition in 1881 for $114.72. The young people raised $50 for the project by putting on two dramatic entertainments. Church suppers were held in the sanctuary with the settees moved and tables set up.
In 1900 the slate roof and chimney were repaired for $101.73 and the building painted for $35.96. The organ was purchased for $70 in 1901. In 1926 the Ladies Aid Society paid to have the outside painted, and the inside painted and papered at a cost of $168.24.
In 1932 money was raised to build a hall or dining room. Some members wanted to build across from the driveway so that the room could be used for all kinds of recreation. But it was finally decided to add to the original church. The dining room and kitchen were designed and built by Ralph Foster of Auburn. During cold weather months, the dining room was used for church services.
One member’s, Beatrice Miner, grandparents were members of the Congregational Church in Greenwich, MA, which was on property flooded for the construction of the Quabbin Reservoir. In 1934, the people of Greenwich invited East Colrain Methodist Church members to come and select what equipment they wanted before the flooding began. Several couples from East Colrain took their lunches and drove to Greenwich. A pulpit, beautiful old pews, a piano, altar chairs, lamps, tables, carpet, and a large wooden chair were given. A memorial picture of the Greenwich church hangs in the sanctuary. The platform in the sanctuary was built in 1934.
In 1937 the cement steps were added. The church was connected to electricity in 1941. It cost $26.45 from the Stewart Fund for the connection and light fixtures.
Over the years the church building was used as a Youth Hostel. It was called the Green River Hostel. Edith Lynde was the driving force behind this project. Money from the hostellers helped pay church bills.
In 1958 it was decided to construct a basement under the dining room. The dirt was dug out and an outside stairway built down to it. Toilets were installed and running water added. The space formerly used for toilets was added to the kitchen. A roof was built over the dining room door in 1960.
At the time of Colrain’s bicentennial in 1961, the name of the church was changed to the East Colrain Chapel.
Fred Bridges, who had grown up going to the church, gave 32 metal chairs as a gift. The oil furnace was installed in 1965, in memory of Robert J. Hull.
Kenneth Myers of Greenfield put up the chapel’s first steeple in 1974. Helen Gerrett of Greenfield gave a bell to put in the steeple. The bell had been used at the back of her Colrain Road home many years before to call field hands in for meals.
This church has been an important part of life in East Colrain and West Leyden for 138 years. Church services, community potluck suppers, chicken pie dinners, and strawberry suppers brought friends and neighbors together.