100 Main Street, Middletown

On Monday, August 4, 1862, Daniel Otis left his family’s Maromas farm for good and made the trek to Main Street in Middletown, and enlisted as a volunteer at Elijah Gibbons' recruiting office above the Chaffee and Camp General Store (Flavius Chaffee and Samuel T. Camp opened their store together in 1858). The Chaffee and Camp Store was on the east side of Main Street on the block between Court Street and Centre Street, which street is now vacated. 

Here is a copy of Elijah Gibbons recruitment ad as it appeared in the July 30, 1862 Middletown newspaper, "The Constitution." Gibbons’ ad says that his “Recruiting Office is op. [opposite] North Cong. Church.”

Source: Middlesex County Historical Society

Let's find the location of North Congregational Church first. Above is a circa 1860 photograph of North Congregational Church as it would have appeared in Daniel’s day. The church was built in 1799 and sat on the west side of Main Street (near the southwest corner of Main St. and Court St.) In this photo, the church is between the Middletown Bank (left) and the Customs House (right).

Source: Middlesex County Historical Society

This is a pre-1873 photograph of North Congregational Church. 

Notice the under-construction spire of the 'First Church of Christ' in the background (right). First Church of Christ is on Court Street.

Today, the former spot of North Congregational Church is now a small parking lot! 

Notice the now spire-less First Church of Christ in the background. The spire was damaged in a hurricane in 1938, and was removed, but never replaced. Now it's just a poor little stump. 

The old post office (1916) sits where the Customs House used to (right)—which is now used by Wesleyan University as administrative offices, and the bank is still a bank (left)—which is now Bank of America.

100 Main Street, Middletown
The spot where Daniel Otis enlisted at Elijah Gibbons' recruiting office above the Chaffee and Camp General Store,
now Riverview Retail & Office Center

Now we can find the location of Elijah Gibbons recruiting office! Remember Gibbon's July 30, 1862 ad said: “Recruiting Office is op. [opposite] North Cong. Church.” Opposite from where North Congregational Church used to be is 100 Main Street!  This spot is where Gibbons' recruiting office was in July 1862, and where  Daniel H. Otis enlisted on August 4, 1862. Now, it is Riverview Retail & Office Center, and currently home to the wonderfully delicious (and always friendly) Tschudin Chocolates. 

What ever happened to North Congregational Church?

The current location of the old North Congregational Church is at the north end of Main Street next to O’Rourke’s Diner. It is now New Hope Bible Way Church.

History has it that in 1873, the church building was moved up Main Street by a team of oxen to its current location and positioned with its back to the street! This building is one of Middletown’s oldest surviving structures.

You actually have to walk behind the building to see the original front side of the church—the side that would have faced the street! Why the building was put in backwards is anyone’s guess. Though I’ve heard that it was a mistake and by the time it was in place, it was just too much trouble to correct it. I also heard that it was put in backwards on purpose, to separate it from its religious heritage by having the less recognizable backside facing the street. Not sure if I believe that one, though.

This side was originally the back of the church, which now faces Main Street.

The back is now the front, and....

This side was originally the front of the church, which now faces a rear parking lot!

....the front is now the back!

The old church no longer has its beautiful steeple, which housed a bell and a clock. Also, storefronts were added to the original back of the church, which now faces the street. The original front now faces the back parking lot. Basically, it's now all backwards, but at least it's still standing! :)

Different perspectives, different times—same building.