STERLING THOMPSON

216

School. Jabez Yeo was superintendent; teachers were Walter Crossman, Mrs. Abel Clark, and Annie Gardiner Pillman.

At one point, repairs were being made to the Presbyterian Church and that group had arranged to have their services in St. James Methodist Church. Rev. Martin was the minister. The young lads were sitting in the back of the church and became somewhat noisy. Mr. Martin took very firm control separating the boys in seats throughout the church. One young fellow was called by name and told to sit in the front of the church. Severe punishment indeed!

Reflection on church seating.

I recall that, before the 19605, there were three rows of seats instead of the present two rows. That necessitated two aisles; each being smaller than the present. The small aisles, neither of which were in line with the door caused great problems get— ting caskets out of the church at the end of a funeral. There were two pot-bellied stoves to warm the church; one at the front near the pulpit and one at the back of the church in front of the doors and behind the middle row of seats. The distance from the doors to the back of the center aisle of seats was about ten feet. The stove pipes were very long and extended up towards the ceiling, elbowed, and met in the center of the church to form a ‘T’. The stove pipe exited the church through the ceiling where the circular molding is today. There was oil- cloth on the floor with metal heat protectors under and behind the stoves to give fire protection.

Under each seat was a shelf where the gentlemen could place their hats. In those days every adult was expected to wear a hat to church. Men removed their hats and put them below the seat, while women were to leave their heads covered with their hats. The seats were very uncomfortable. There were about six or seven seats in the middle row and my father, Seymour, sat in the second back seat in the middle row. I sat in the second back seat in the north row. Seymour was a tobacco chewer; he would sit in church with his hand over his jaw in an attempt to hide his chaw from the congregation- There was a big round molding on top of the seat which

LOT 16 UNITED CHURCH AND ITS PEOPLE