Here is a wonderful newspaper account of a Memorial Day service which took place in our sanctuary in the late 1890’s.

Honor to the Dead

According to previous announcement, the soldier dead, whose last resting place was found in the quiet churchyard of the quiet village of Huntington Centre, and who lie beneath green mounds in that “City of the dead”, were remembered by their comrades and friends yesterday, as shown by appropriate exercises and the decoration of their graves with flowers. At 2:30 pm Kellogg Post, G. A. R., o f Birmingham, accompanied by the Sons of Veterans and a number of citizens, arrived in Huntington by carryalls and teams to take part in the memorial exercises which had been arranged for that hour. After being formed in line, the veterans and the “Sons” in full uniform, marched into the Congregational church and were assigned seats in the main body of the edifice. Large numbers of the people of that village and vicinity were in attendance and nearly every seat of the church was occupied.

The church is located opposite the green which plot of land is of considerable size, well covered with a thick verdure, thoroughly protected by a substantial fence, all of which reflects credit upon the community in whose care it rests. The interior of the church is somewhat quaint in its style, having a high gallery over the entrance, in which the choir formerly raised their voices in songs of praise, but which now seems to have been abandoned by that body for a more convenient place near the preacher’s desk. Willing hands had prepared profuse and handsome floral offerings for the occasion. Back of the pulpit was festooned the American flag, and on either side a triangle of apple blossoms. The altar and tables in front were laden with wreaths, bouquets, and a cross, from which was emitted a delightful fragrance.