This handout was distributed at the Meetinghouse during the 250 celebration week 2022
MILLVILLE MONTHLY MEETING
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
HISTORY OF MEETING PREPARED FOR THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOROUGH
In 1796, Exeter and the Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting endorsed the establishment of the "Cotowesey Monthly Meeting." This was to be composed of residents "residing within the verge or belonging to the several meetings of Roaringcreek, Cotowessey, Fishingcreek and Muncy." The Monthly Meeting is the business organization of the Society.
The first meeting house here was built in 1795. The first Meeting Houses were of logs and that at Catawissa still stands. The Meeting had grown so large that by 1845 it needed more room. Early minutes show that subscriptions were raised, and the building was completed in 1846. Through the concern of George Masters, this was of brick. In his will dated the eleventh month, 1845, Samuel Eves left $50 to the building fund should the Meeting House be completed by a fixed date. It was, and the amount was paid.
John Legget was the bricklayer and his sons, William and John, were the plasterers. Carpenters were John W., Wilson M. and John K. Eves and Uriah Mills. The larger posts were turned by Amos Heacock at the Eves Wagon Works. The lumber was dried in the little schoolhouse that had been built at the western end of the lot. This wood has grown more beautiful with the passing years.
All early Meeting Houses had a dividing center partition with shutters that could be closed. The women sat on one side, the men on the other. During the worship service, the shutters remained open, but during the business meeting, they were closed. Each sex had its own problems, conducted its own business meetings, had its own secretary and kept detailed accounts of the Meeting as a whole as well as incidents in the lives of individual members
The benches with the two panels in the back are original benches from the log Meeting House, as is the latch on the middle door. The west porch was added in 1905. The grandfather clock, the original John Eves clock, was loaned to the Meeting by members of the Henrie family.
The Millville Meeting House had changed little in the last hundred years. Only the heating system, the interior paint and the carpet on the floor have made any difference in this place of worship since the first decoration was done. The heating system originally consisted of two wood-burning stoves located on either side of the center wall. They were replaced by two oil-burning heaters seventy years ago. Then with propane in the last twenty years. The floor on the north side (the Meeting room) which originally was bare board, had later been covered with a thin carpet, more to protect the floor than adorn the hall. In 1970 this covering was removed and a layer of chipboard was installed to level the rough boards. Over this, a heavy wool carpet was laid. Some structural work has been necessary over the years to renew the floor stringers that slowly decayed with dry rot. No records have been maintained of early repairs. Recently the joists were replaced in several sections and major floor repairs were made on the south side. This side which at first served as the women’s side has changed more markedly. The pews have been removed, the raised front platform lowered to floor level, and the area converted to serve as a classroom for the First Day School sessions. Even a small kitchen was added and is now being remodeled.
The membership of the meeting continues to decrease with the passing of the years. The total membership of 52 now is recorded for the Monthly Meeting. This is down from 185 in 1881 when the Meeting was at its peak. Even the present membership does not accurately reflect the condition of the society. Today attendance is bolstered by the relationship with the Greenwood Friends school that is under the care of the meeting.
Over the years, several changes were made to the external structure of the meetinghouse. In the 60s, two brick outhouses were added to the south end of the building. These were then changed to indoor plumbing. In 2018 an addition was added to the south side. This replaced the restrooms with two modern handicapped, toilets and another meeting room and added an entryway.
In the old burying ground along the right side of the third row are the graves of John and Edith Eves. Nearby are graves of several Indians who lived with members of the Society in the early days. This area to the east of the meetinghouse is now full. Recently, a purchase was made that expands the graveyard to the south behind the IH museum.
