of the most influential people on our town. Rev. E.F. Slafter was the
first regularly settled rector, assuming his duties September 1846. The
beautiful stone edifice erected upon land bequeathed by General William
H. Sumner, son of Governor Increase Sumner, was ready for the enlarged
church congregation in 1882.

General Sumner's old residence on the hill near the present church is
beautiful in situation, and still very attractive.

Near the north corner of Pond Lane was built in 1732, a plain,
comfortable house by Benjamin May, great grandson of Captain John May,
one of the earliest settlers of our village. Captain John Parker married
the daughter of Benjamin May, and afterwards resided here for many years
which accounts for its still holding the name of the "Old Parker house."
Here were the high-decorated wooden mantels over large chimney-places,
the paneled wainscoting and ornamental cornices, which adorned many of
the better houses of that period. The grounds were ample, extending to
the pond and covered with a variety of fine fruit and shade trees. Now
crowded by modern buildings into the background, deprived of its garden
gray with weather stains, this old house shows few signs of its
birthright. About the middle of this century the small cottage still
standing on the lot adjoining the Parker house was the quiet home of two
much esteemed old ladies, Mrs. Shepard and her daughter Abby. Miss
Abigail P. Shepard died October 4, 1878 at 82 years of age. The mother
was then totally blind, but possessed the sweet contentment which not
even so great a deprivation and trial could affect. Miss Abby devoted the
little front room to a store for small wares, school children's utensils,
and candies and it was the delight of the girls and boys to leave their
coppers there in exchange for her good things.