The fate of the Newry Church will be decided by voters at Town Meeting on May 15. Rose Lincoln
NEWRY — The town-owned Newry Church may be soon be up for sale.
Voters will decide its fate at Town Meeting on May 15 at Bear River Grange Hall.
Two articles on the Newry Town Meeting warrant relate to the church. The first, article 33, asks townspeople to authorize the select board to sell the building and the property.
The second, article 34, asks if townspeople will vote to raise and appropriate up to $210,ooo for development and construction (or renovation of) the building.
If article 33 passes, they would skip over article 34 and move to other business.
The select board had planned to rent the church and discussed it at a select board meeting. More recently, they decided the foundation was unsafe and the building too risky to rent.
According to Town Administrator Loretta Powers, the Newry Church was sold to the Town in 2018 because it was not being used. She said if townspeople want to renovate the church they need to say what the usage should be.
On April 18, the board reported that Realtor Sally Harkins looked at the building and gave a fair market value of $90,000, “as there is no septic and no well but assuming it would be able to have one,” according to the minutes of the meeting.
History
A 1964 article in the Lewiston Daily by Roger E. Hanscom gave a history of the church building.
According to Hanscom it was in the early 1900’s that the town’s leading citizens decided that North Newry should have a church building. Before that time services were held at Sunday River and baptisms were administered at the Artist Bridge.
“Cash contributions were sought and the response was gratifying. Subscribers included many who summered at what was then Poplar Tavern,” wrote Hanscom.
According to records, P. J. Latchford laid the foundation around 1904 and Gardner Roberts was boss carpenter. M. L. Thurston advanced the money to pay the bills. In 1906, he was repaid in full.
The following are some of the bills taken from the treasurer’s book of 1904: 900 lbs. nails $22.15; 6 bbl. cement $12.60; seats $140; freight on same $5.40; one date board, 1904, $1; 3 qts. turpentine 54c; 2 1/2 qts. white paint 9c; 58 1/2 lbs. white lead $4.68; labor $4 per day; 18 weights 7 1/2 Ibs, $1.35;1 gross I 1/2″ screws 22c; one Half Circle Window $1.75; 9 window frames $9.
Outside of labor and materials donated, the cost of the church was approximately $900.
While the building was dedicated as a Universalist Church, in 1913, some members of the parish felt that the name, Universalist Church, did not apply, and that it was really a community church. A new organization was formed, known as the Union Religious Society of Newry, they continued the business of the church. Ministers of different denominations have served through the years, many of them students.
In 1947, the town decided to discontinue the parish except as a social organization.
“This [the social organization] was continued because of the fine fellowship developed through the mother and daughter and the father and son banquets, the Young People’s, Older Young People’s groups, and the Men’s Club, all of which were formed during the pastorate of Rev. John G. Manter,” wrote Hanscom.
On August 29, 1954, The Newry Community Church celebrated its 50th anniversary. A community picnic supper was followed by a social hour. The anniversary project was the purchase of a new brass cross in memory of those who had lived in the community and served the church during the past 50 years.
“Since 1957, Old Home Sunday has been observed at the Newry Church early in August. A picnic supper is held on the church grounds, followed by a social hour and services in the church. Former pastors are invited to take part in the service.
“Several years ago, the church roof was covered with steel, and during the summer of 1962, the foundation was repaired and the belfry shingled and painted. Last summer [1963], money was raised to buy paint, and volunteers planned to paint the church. Due to dry weather, however, and the fact that a road construction project near the church caused considerable dust, the painting was postponed,” wrote Hanscom.
In 2017, Alison Aloisio, reporting for the Bethel Citizen, wrote that one of the last remaining three board members of the little Newry Community Church, had asked the town to take over the building.
Member, Silvia Gray said the building was still in good shape. It seats just under 100, but does not have water or bathroom facilities. Gray said they were having difficulty paying bills. She said maintenance costs are too much for the use the church sees – mainly occasional weddings and funerals.
Aliosio reported Gray’s words, “A past attempt to revive the church failed. Services had been held weekly decades ago under Pastor Rodney Hanscom, but with the cost of the electric heat in the winter, the gatherings were cut back to warmer weather only and eventually they ended.”
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