June Newsletter
CURRENT EVENTS:
The Society will hold a meeting the second Thursday, June 10, 2021, at 6:30. If you
would like to “attend” by ZOOM, send an e-mail to GaryWAllen@earthlink.net and an
invitation will be sent to you.
Some highlights from the May meeting:
Bill reported on the planned Veterans Project to compile information on all Lee veterans.Phil Smith brought 7 new members into the Society with a special recruiting letter.
( These are just a few highlights. )
Happy June Flag Day 14th
5th Gingerbread Day 11th Corn on Cob Day 14th Blood Donor Day 26st Chocolate Pudding Day and all the other special days
FROM THE EDITOR: We encourage members to submit articles, or ideas for topics to be discussed. We will fit them in as we are able. Letters to the editor are also welcome - leehistnewsletter@gmail.com
On a personal note, this issue is a little late because Barb and I went off on a vacation to Western New York, where we both grew up.
We smelled Honey Nut Cheerios in the Buffalo mills, saw many huge grain silos along Lake Erie, and learned how they were being re-purposed for housing, kind of like mills here in town. We stopped in Seneca Falls and decided it’s not really a model for Bedford Falls, but enjoyed the museum dedicated to the movie, run by volunteers. The New York Building from the 1901 Pan American Exposition is now the Buffalo History Museum and home of their historical society and wouldn’t it be nice for us to have a home like that!
SOCIETY ACTIVITIES:
[ As you might guess, Covid has limited activities. We hope many of you are able to get the vaccine soon and can resume “normal” activities again.]
One of the important activities of the Society is our program of scholarships for a graduating senior. We have two scholarships, one in memory of Stephen A. Cozzaglio, our founding President and one in memory of Dolores I. Eckert and Marion M. Leach, early keystones to our organizing efforts. See the article below.
Q & A QUESTION:
The community was responsible for two 20th century improvements to the Congregational Church. What were they ?
AN ARTICLE:
Betty Dennis was Lee’s Head Librarian from 1942 to 1987. Here’s one of the articles she wrote for “The Gleaner”
June 24, 1971
From “Hyde’s History of Lee” we learn that the first sum of money which the town voted to raise was “for preaching the Gospel”.
At first, religious meetings were held in the barns and homes of the early inhabitants. On December 7th, 1779 the town passed a vote to build a meeting house in and for the use of the town, fifty feet long and thirty six feet wide. This was built in what is now called the town park. A marker indicates it’s location. The building was sheathed with wide, unpainted boards, and it was without a steeple, tower or bell. A framed picture of it may be seen at the Lee Library – the frame having been made from material salvaged from the old church. During “meetings” a couple would sit on either side of the door, keeping roguish boys in order within and unruly dogs out. The use of the word “gangway” as applied to the aisle in the meeting house reflected that seamen’s language was brought to these parts from the Cape.
This was replaced in 1800 by another meeting house of larger proportions, boasting of an audience room measuring fifty six feet by fifty. The intimidate connection between church and town continued until about 1817, as most of the inhabitants were Congregationalists. From then on church affairs were not given as much prominence in town records. By 1833 the meeting house was moved back to the North about 200 feet, and enlarged. In 1857 a fire which started in a nearby block ignited the church. The clock in the church’s tower struck 3 – its own age – just prior to falling from the burning tower. This meeting house was replaced by today’s beautiful First Congregational Church.
Q & A ANSWER:
1-Cleaning the trumpe l’oeil painting in the sanctuary, using erasers
Cleaning the trumpe l’oeil painting in the sanctuary, using erasers2-Making improvements to stabilize the steeple
Making improvements to stabilize the steepleSCHOLARSHIPS:
Asa Stone is a senior at Lee Middle and High School (LMHS). She has been accepted to attend Middlebury College in Vermont. She plans to study Environmental Studies and Political Science and will be a Varsity member of the swim team.
Asa participated in swimming with Co-op at MMRHS. She was a class officer several years during high school, was on the LMHS Student Council, and on Student Government (3 years). She is a National Honor Society member and founder of the Environmental Club at LMHS (2 years). She served as the Student Representative to the Lee School Committee.
Asa has been a full time athlete at a club swim team and high school swim team for all four years which takes up most afternoons and weekends. Asa's grade point average is 100.17.
She wrote that her ideal job would be a lawyer and potentially, a U. S. Representative. We wish her great success.
In prior years, our scholarships have been awarded to:
2013 Jessica Zerbato
2014 Katie Morin
2015 Michael Rodriguez
2016 Emily Donovan
2017 William Kastrinakis
2018 Peter Romeo Hunter Roosa
2019 William Consolati Carrie Conklin
2020 Olivia Johnson Taggart Roosa Sierra Twing
2021 Asa Stone
