Lower Waterford's Church: New Ways to Center the Community

The April 26, 2018, front page of the Caledonian-Record featured ongoing efforts by the Lower Waterford Congregational Church to maintain its historic structure and adapt to new ways of being the center of this Vermont Connecticut River community.

Of course, the church as a structure is the unmistakable focus of Lower Waterford. But it has changed in use since the mid 1800s, when attending church was a "must" for good citizens. This image from 1909 shows the structure when its wooden porch eased the way long-skirted ladies could step down from carriages.


In the second half of the 20th century, although the church congregation slowly reduced in size, keeping up the building continued, as shown here.

Now the church hosts summer and autumn worship services in collaboration with the Third Congregational Church in East St. Johnsbury, and collaborates with the town office, the neighboring Davies Memorial Library, and the Waterford Historical Society to provide meeting space for community events.

A search for grant support to encourage an ongoing role for the structure and its community spirit continues. Watch for updates on this year's campaign to support the village church as an essential component of 21st-century Lower Waterford, and beyond.

Geneva (Powers) Wright: In Our Hearts and Our History

Geneva Powers Wright, photo courtesy of Helen C. Pike, (c) 2017.

With deep regret, the Waterford Historical Society notes the recent death of Geneva (Powers) Wright, whose narratives of Waterford's history and her own life have been such a gift to us. (Here is a link directly to an interview she gave.)

Geneva (Powers) Wright 

[From the Caledonian-Record, April 24, 2018]

Geneva (Powers) Wright, 98, of Waterford, Vt., died on April 20, 2018, at the home of her daughter, Jean Hagan, in Nottingham, N.H. She was born on Sept. 22, 1919, in Littleton, N.H., the first child of Glenn G. and Eva (Page) Powers of Waterford.

She attended Littleton High School and graduated in the Class of 1937. She was married in 1938 to Gilbert A. Wright and became a full-time homemaker. They lived several years in Waterford, then in St. Johnsbury and back to Waterford in 1969 where Geneva has lived ever since.

She enjoyed reading, researching genealogy, gardening, local history, and family get-togethers. She was a long-time member of Union Baptist Church and a member of the Waterford Historical Society.

She is survived by her daughters: Jean (Paul) Hagan of Nottingham, N.H., and Glenna (Daniel) Pasho of Brenham, Texas; son: Merle G. Wright of Portland, Ore.; brother: Willard B. Powers of Waterford; sister-in-law: Patricia W. Powers of Waterford; four grandchildren: Jonathan and David Hagan, Nathan Pasho, Kristina (Quinton) Liccketto; seven great-grandchildren: Miranda (Nick) Puorro, Christopher, Glenn, Zachary and Cassandra Hagan, Maya and Nico Liccketto; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband: Gilbert in 2000; her parents; her sisters: Theresa Roberts, Audrie Wright, Ellen Roberts; and brothers: Leland and Russell Powers.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Union Baptist Church, 932 US RT 5, Waterford, VT 05891, or to Rockingham VNA & Hospice, 137 Epping Road, Exeter, NH 03833, or to the Waterford Historical Society, P.O. Box 56, Lower Waterford, VT 05848.

A memorial service to celebrate Geneva’s Life will be held at Union Baptist Church in Waterford, Vt., on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at 11 a.m.

Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Waterford at the convenience of the family.