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South Solon Meeting House Historical Timeline<\/strong><\/p>\n 1796<\/b> Jonas Jewett is the first settler of the South Solon community and comes from Pepperill, Massachusetts. James and Nathan Jewett arrive shortly after Jonas Jewett.<\/p>\n 1806<\/b> The South Solon residents establish the First Congregational Church of Christ.<\/p>\n 1824<\/b> Elder Fargo is installed at the home of Deacon Nathan Jewett. He remains pastor in South Solon from 1824\u201343. However, he lives in Phillips, Maine, during 1837.<\/p>\n 1837<\/b> Residents of the First Congregational Church of Christ build the Meeting House in Solon Village.<\/p>\n 1841<\/b> The South Solon Meeting House is designed. The architecture of the SSMH represents a traditional colonial church. However, the addition of Gothic ornament suggests outside architectural influence. <\/p>\n 1841<\/b> The South Solon Meeting House Corporation is formed. The corporation decides that shares could be purchased and considered one church pew to be a share. <\/p>\n 1842<\/b> Residents of the First Congregational Church of Christ hire John Doe to build the SSMH.<\/p>\n 4 January 1843<\/b> The SSMH is completed.<\/p>\n 1842\u20131904<\/b> Very few changes in the Meeting House and its congregation. <\/p>\n 1904<\/b> Church services in the SSMH are relinquished. This is mostly due to World War I. <\/p>\n 1930s<\/b> The Meeting House reopens. Willard H. Cummings and Helen Warren Cummings purchase the fields next to the Meeting House. Mrs. Cummings has a strong desire to repair the SSMH.<\/p>\n Summer 1940<\/b> Services in the SSMH are held regularly every other Sunday afternoon. People who could not get to the Meeting House are picked up by Miss Flora Bond and the Meeting House committee.<\/p>\n Summer 1941<\/b> Mr. H. Gardner Anderson becomes South Solon resident pastor. Mr. Anderson was invited by Mrs. Cummings through the Rural Department of Andover Theological Seminary. <\/p>\n 1942<\/b> There are four services held in the Meeting House with East Madison.<\/p>\n 1950s<\/b> The SSMH frescoes are completed. The fresco project is created by Margaret Day Blake. Mrs. Blake gives three annual Fellowships for five years, under the supervision of the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. The fellowship becomes known as the Margaret Day Blake Fellowship. The first fellowship is awarded in 1952 and the last in 1956.<\/p>\n 1952<\/b> William King paints the west wall of the SSMH. King is assisted by Philip Bornarth and Michelene Beaumont.<\/p>\n 1953<\/b> Alfred Blaustein paints the north wall and Tom Mikkelson paints the south wall.<\/p>\n 1954 <\/b>John Wallace paints the gallery.<\/p>\n 1955<\/b> Edwin Brooks paints the ceiling.<\/p>\n 1956<\/b> Ashley Bryan paints the center of the east wall and Sidney Hurwitz the sides of that same wall. Sigmund Abeles paints the south panel in the gallery and Judith Shuman paints the north panel. The vestibule is painted by the permanent members of the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. This includes Anne Poor, Henry Varnum Poor, Sidney Simon, and Willard H. Cummings.<\/p>\n