1932 Continuing the work of the church Orange, Virginia, like the rest of the country, was feeling the effects of the Great Depression. But the Women’s Auxiliary was not slowing down. They had made it their mission to financially support their church however they could. And they did so quite creatively. That year the Methodist Ladies asked to use the OPC dining room and kitchen, and the Auxiliary received a payment of $5.00. The yearly rummage sales continued, the women served meals at other churches, garden clubs and to the Rotarians. They held lawn parties, donated their egg money, made and sold Christmas cards and sold their handwork. In March, the Auxiliary gave $50 toward the church debt ($959 in 2021 dollars!). 1933 In 1933, the Auxiliary took a vote to pay the sum of $125.00 on the church's note held by the bank. It was due May 1st, and the Auxiliary voted to not only pay $125.00 on the Principal of the note but to also to raise the additional amount needed to cancel the debt. (The $125.00 was equal to $2,400 in 2021 dollars). Mrs. W. W. Sanford offered to act as chair of a special committee to raise the sum. In June, repairs on the Manse began and the Auxiliary discussed ways to raise the necessary money. At their August meeting, it was voted that each member pledge and donate up to $1.00 to be paid toward this expense. In November, Mrs. Rawlings, chairman of the Sunshine Band, donated $50.00 made by the “little band” to the Auxiliary Fund and asked it be applied to the Building Fund. At the same time, the Auxiliary continued their work in the community, essential during the Depression. There was always White Cross work making compresses and bandages. At the June meeting, Mrs. Hazzard brought to the attention of the Auxiliary the responsibility of the Church to the employees of the Silk Mill. American Silk Mills, Inc. was established in 1929 and was one of the town's biggest employers. Mrs. Hazzard and Miss Elma Williams were appointed to confer with other churches and organizations in Orange and try to work out some plan by which the girls and boys working in the mill could be helped. In March of 1934, Dr. Stribling, then pastor of OPC, the Auxiliary for the noble work accomplished in the past year.
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1929 In 1929, the OPC Women's Auxiliary was made up of three groups: Circle #1, Circle #2 and the Girls' Circle! They would often meet in the Sunday School Room of the Sunday School Building. Although sometimes in the "Girls' Room." The Girls' Circle was made up of young girls in the church and they were guided by Miss Elma Hansbrough Williams. Elma H. Williams Elma H. Williams (1899-1980) was a major figure in the history of OPC and Orange County. She was born at Berry Hill in Orange, and lived there her entire life. In the 1930s she helped start Orange's first Girl Scout unit, and served as the area's first Girl Scout leader. An avid gardener, she was active in the Dolley Madison Garden Club, and painted several watercolors of the club's daffodil collections. She co-founded the Orange Garden Club in the 1950s. 1930 The OPC Women’s Auxiliary March, 1930 minutes had this entry: - The Girls’ Circle asked to take over beautifying of the church grounds and were granted permission with the greatest of pleasure. Raising funds with food The May meeting was held at Woodley, the home of the president, Mrs. W. W. Sanford (Lelia Johnson Sanford). Twenty-two members attended. The Auxiliary held a Fireman’s Supper on May 6. At the meeting, they reported a profit of $63.00 (the equivalent of $954 in 2021 dollars). In October, the Auxiliary’s monthly meeting was at Berry Hill, the home of Mrs. Evelyn Johnson Williams. It was suggested they serve lunch at the Poultry Show in Orange in December. The fundraiser was a success. Mrs. Sanford reported in December that $55.00 -- $832 in 2021 dollars -- was made from the Poultry Show lunches! 1931 At the OPC Womens’ Auxiliary January meeting, there was a motion to give $100 on a note due on the church debt. Mrs. H. E. Grasty was authorized to write the check, the equivalent of about $1,730 in 2021 dollars. For the relief of lepers In February, Mrs. Wambersie read a paper on lepers. It must have made an impression. The minutes in October read: “A motion was carried to the effect every member’s failure to notify the hostess of her absence before the meeting would be fined with this being used for the lepers.” Mrs. Chester C. Hazard became a member of the Auxiliary in October. In November, it was voted to adopt an orphan in Lynchburg and that the Auxiliary would send the amount of her support quarterly. Mrs. Evelyn Johnson Williams of Berry Hill passed away November 1st. Mrs. Stribling read the resolutions of respect, which were published in the local newspaper. "[Evelyn Johnson Williams] was the senior member of our society and the oldest member of this church, and for years has been our guiding spirit in enthusiasm and service. Her love for the church and her Lord was proverbial, rarely was her place vacant in the church, the Sabbath school, or our society." Lelia Johnson Sanford was born November 26, 1890 at Woodley Farm in Orange County. She was named after her mother, Lelia Johnson, who was married to Walker W. Sanford. Lelia was the youngest of five children. Lelia graduated from Fredericksburg College, a small Presbyterian College in operation from 1893-1914. The school served missionary families. who sent their children back to this country for an education. Fredricksburg College was especially noted for its strong music program. Lelia had a long family and personal relationship with Orange Presbyterian Church. At one time, she served as the organist. To get to Wednesday night choir practice, she would ride the mail buggy to Madison Run. From there, she'd catch the afternoon train to Orange. Lelia would spend the night with Dr. Lewis Holladay and his family. Thursday she would return home by the reverse route. In 1922, Lelia left home to respond to a call to teach in a Presbyterian mission school in Nelson County, VA. She moved into a cabin on Shoe Creek with a minister, Rev. Arthur Francis, and his wife. Lelia was dedicated to her work. And she was devoted to the Presbyterian churches in Massies Mill, Harmony and Tyro. Lelia traveled on horseback each weekday to a one-room school building. There she taught seven grades. She also taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and played the organ. She visited the sick and arranged for medical care. She also and transported people to doctors and hospitals. In 1955, Lelia retired from teaching. The one-room school had grown into a public school. But she continued to be a part of the church and community in Nelson County. Lelia later returned to Orange County and lived with her cousin, Mrs. Rowland F. Hill, Jr. at Berry Hill. She passed away on February 3, 1969. Miss Lelia Johnson Sanford was, undoubtedly, one of the saints of our church. In gratitude and affection, her nieces and nephews established the Lelia J. Sanford Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund continues to this day. It supplies aid to worthy young people in the Massies Mill and Harmony Presbyterian churches. The Sanford family hopes it will honor and promote the Christian character and endeavor that shone brightly in Lelia’s life and work. Jennie Hill Robinson - OPC History Team The Old Manse is located on Landon Lane in Orange, Virginia. And it has an unusual history. From good intentions In 1867 the Trustees of Orange Presbyterian Church purchased 10 acres of land from Thomas Scott. OPC intended to build a manse on the property for their new pastor. But immediately after the end of the Civil War, and the collapse of Confederate currency, money was tight. The church was unable to proceed further. When Rev. Isaac W. K. Handy arrived in 1868, he took over the project. He financed it by selling farmland he owned in Missouri, plus funds Handy had raised “in the North and in Richmond,” according to his personal papers. Handy purchased new land for the manse, plus two adjoining parcels. One of those was the Scott acreage owned by the church. Phase one, 1868-1870 - Greek revival The Old Manse was larger than most homes in Orange at the time, but not ostentatious. It was built with some Greek revival details. And it had one unusual feature -- a transverse stairwell. It was one of the few in the area. Also original to the Old Manse is a meat house, a spring-fed well, and a gas house. The latter was used to supply gas for lighting in the manse. Handy lived in the Old Manse with his wife, Rebecca, two sons and two daughters until 1870. That was when he accepted a call from the Old Stone Church in Augusta County. In addition to serving OPC, Rev. Handy also wrote and published two books while living in the Old Manse. And he was not its last noteworthy resident. Phase two, 1910-1947 - Colonial revival In 1910 the Old Manse was purchase by George Landon Browning, who lived there until his death in 1947. Browning was a Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice, and the center of Orange society. Browning expanded the home with a kitchen and dining room, and added Colonial Revival architectural details. A historic property In 2017 the Old Manse was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register for Handy’s Greek revival details and transverse stairwell, and Browning’s Colonial revival additions. The Old Manse on Landon Lane has also been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. Jennie Hill Robinson and Ralph Graves - OPC History Team |
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