Milton Historic Society presents – "The People's Windows" Lecture
01/09/2015 at 07:00 PM
Location: Milton Historic Society
Address: 210 Union Street
Milton, DE 19968
For immediate release:
December 29, 2014
Contact:
Allison Schell
302-684-1010
“The People’s Windows” – a Congregation’s Legacy
Mr. Phil Martin presents a talk about the meaning and significance of the stained glass windows at the Milton Historical Society’s museum on Friday, January 9 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm at 210 Union St. in downtown Milton. The beautiful stained glass windows provide testimony that the restored building that now houses the museum was once the Milton Methodist Protestant Church also known as Grace Church after 1940. What do the windows tell us about the roughly seven generations of Miltonians who worshipped here?
Although the congregation thrived for nearly 150 years in this location, there was a “golden age” lasting two decades in the early part of the 20th century during which the church building was extensively remodeled and modernized. It was during this time that the windows that we see today were created. Who were the people that prayed here, listened to sermons, taught Sunday School, came together to share in celebration and sorrow, and patiently collected the funds necessary to reshape the church building and commission the stained glass? What kind of lives did they lead? What was their relationship to the rest of the town of Milton? What do the symbols found on the windows mean? “The People’s Windows” tells a large part of that story thanks to the research undertaken during 2014 by Phil Martin, a Milton Historical Society volunteer.
Mr. Martin moved to Milton from Northern Virginia in 2012 after retiring from a 35 year career in information technology. He is a self-described history wonk since childhood who loves the vibe of a town like Milton where so many of the homes and street names speak of a bygone age. It wasn’t until he first entered the Milton Historical Society in early 2014 that the urge to know more about Milton’s past became irresistible.
Unearthing the story of “The People’s Windows” became the means by which he began the process of connecting with his new community, past and present.
This event is free and open to the public. For further information, contact the museum at 302-684-1010, email info@historicmilton.org or go to www.historicmilton.org The Milton Historical Society and Museum is located at 210 Union Street in Milton, DE. The museum and gift shop are open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 am to 4pm with free admission.