working women who were organized as a service group called The Business and Social Union, had the electric fixtures installed around the sanctuary dome. The cost of this modern step was $47.45. The Poseyville Light Company had been formed and a new power plant was in operation. Since the use of electricity at that time was limited to lighting, the company only ran the power plant at night. A few years later, when the electric iron was introduced, the company kept pace with the advance by running the plant from 9-12 each Wednesday morning. Although there have been four buildings used for worship since the beginning of our church, only two structures have been built as parsonages. As was noted in the history written by Mrs. Sarah Bozeman, the early circuit riders were lodged in a room built on the Jaquess home. There is no indication that there was any other living quarters for the minister until the building of the frame church in 1861. The frame church faced Cale Street and sat on the north side of the lot. On the south end of the lot a house was constructed for the parsonage. Although we cannot find a date of construction it is assumed that the house was built about the same time as the church. It was used as a parsonage until 1913 when the present parsonage was constructed. When the frame building was moved to the west end of Main Street and sold to the Baptist congregation, the present brick building was built and only a few feet separated the church and the parsonage. The steps to the church study were just at the edge of the porch steps of the parsonage. In 1913 the present parsonage was built as a gift from Mrs. Sarah Bozeman. The old parsonage was rented until about 1930 when it was sold for $150. The lumber was used to build a house that was just recently torn down to make room for the V-C Soil Service Center. The cost of building the present parsonage was $3,153.58. In 1955 the kitchen of the parsonage was extensively remodeled and other improvements were made. The first pipe organ was installed in the present brick building and dedicated on December 6, 1904. The wind for the bellows came from leg power. Several sets of strong legs were employed to operate a mechanism not too much unlike a bicycle. As the boys pedaled, power was provided for the compressor. One story that seems to have truth to it was that some boys would stuff paper in the organ pipes because the less the pipes could play the less wind was required. In 1922, Mrs. Sarah
Bozeman gave the money to purchase a new pipe organ, from the Mohlor Pipe Organ Company. It was dedicated on July 10, 1922. Its compressor was powered by a motor. The Bozeman Organ is still in good condition. A major rebuilding of the organ was undertaken in the remodeling program in 1965.
1956
St. Paul’s UMC History
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