Old First Church, Springfield

[Henry]

Complete editorial from Springfield's "The Republican"

Selling history THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN 
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Going, going, gone. That's a phrase we hope won't be spoken tomorrow when
congregants of the disbanding Old First Church plan to have an auction of
some of the church's artifacts that are precious relics of the city's
history. 

Officials of the Springfield Museums Association have pleaded with the
church to consider entrusting the items - some dating back to the 18th
century - to the stewardship of the museums. 

That is where they belong.

Among the artifacts are a portrait of the Rev. Samuel Osgood, who became
First Church's leader in 1809, and a silver communion grouping said to be
donated by John Worthington, Lt. Col. Josiah Dwight and Edward Pynchon, son
of William Pynchon, who founded Springfield and the church. Worthington was
a Springfield native and lawyer who served as high sheriff and king's
attorney for Hampshire County before the Revolutionary War, while Dwight,
who died in 1768, was a merchant an judge. 

Last month, the city paid $800,000 to purchase the church and the parish
house in Court Square, plus another $100,000 for an antique weathervane
rooster on the roof, an organ and a clock. 

A City Council subcommittee is meeting this afternoon in the hopes of
heading off the auction. Objects from this historic church are priceless. We
hope they won't be sold to the highest bidder.

HENRY MUSIKAR
Information, Media, and Technology Consultant

http://www.urdomain.us/scuffling.htm