Trivoli Community High School - Memoir Yearbook (Trivoli, IL)

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- -------- -We ----------- has some unusually good material in it. Some of the material was hauled from Chicago in a wagon. Mr. Gillett now occupies the building for a machine room. In November of 1851, Reverend Emory made a deed to the trustees of the church for the property now occupied by the present church. That winter material was cut out and framed for the new church of Trivoli. The men of the community spent much of their time preparing and building until in the summer the building now known as the old church was dedicated. On this very same porch, Mr. Lovejoy made his talk on the Anti-Slavery Act. He was later killed at Alton, Illinois. Reverend Emory continued to preach until 1853, when Trivoli was made a part of the Farmington circuit. In 1865, Trivoli was made the head of a circuit. For sixty years, summer and winter, the people came together to worship at the old church. As the old building was beginning to be shattered, in 1909 it seemed advisable to build a new church. This had to be built to meet new methods and new conditions. Through the efforts of the pastors, Reverends R. N. Graham, Montague, and others, interest was created in the enterprise. A Ladies Aid Society was organized with Mrs. R. F. Graham as president. At the first meeting they pledged to raise five hundred dollars, providing a new church be built. To raise this sum, they had a picnic. At this picnic the men secured subscriptions amount- ing to a little over 331800. In 1910 the old church was sold and plans for a new building were accepted after much trouble. There was no resting of the saw and hammer till the new church was finished from top to basement. In October, 1910, Dr. A, T. Dwinell, with the assistance of the neighboring pastors and the entire community, dedicated the present building. I. P., '25, Page Forty-one

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Go Shorty, go! Go for the honor of the school! Again that sound ran through Shorty's head. He made up his mind to win for Jack and-for the honor of the school. He threw back his head and ran as he never had before. Slowly at first, then more rapidly, he saw the distance shorten between himself and the fellow ahead of him. Then came the first exclamation from the bleachers. Look, he's gaining, said one, he might finish third or fourth yet. Then it seemed to Shorty that he could hear Jack still calling to him, Go, Shorty, for the honor of the school. He leaned forward and gave his greatest eEort to his work. He passed them one by one until only one remained to bar his way to vic- tory. He was even with him now! It seemed as though it would end a tie! Ten yards to go. The crowd was cheering madly now as a last spark of hope flamed up and seemed .as though the day might yet be won. Now they had but five yards to go! With a final burst of speed and his greatest effort, Shorty crossed the line just six inches in advance of his Blackburn opponent. P It is needless to say that the crowd fairly went mad. And to the end of his school career, Shorty was never again found lying down, but was always up and ready to light, for the honor of HIS school. C. D. H., Class of '24. The History of the Trivoli Church The first pastor to hold meetings near the present site of Trivoli was Reverend Emory. He was a very able pastor-a statement which bears proof in the fact that he conducted successful meetings for over fifteen years. It was due to his work that we have the church that is now in this town. He was the rightful founder of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Trivoli. Some of the other ministers who have been pastors in the Trivoli church are: Bourland, Haney, Gray, Underwood, Montague, Blout, and our present pastor, Rev. Ellinwood. In 1837, Reverend Emory began holding meetings in the school house, which had just been built where the cemetery is now located. In the spring of 1838 he -organized a Methodist church and services continued to be held in the school house. In 1840, Reverend Emory built a girl's seminary on the land oc- cupied by the home of Court Gillett and services were transferred from the school house to this building. The church used the seminary build- ing for over ten years. This building is still standing-the original frame, much of the same roof, and most of the floor have remained un- changed except to show marks which time always leaves. This building' Page Forty

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