Parish House; 199 Main Street

"The Parish House is perhaps the most historic building in our town. The old Parish House in West Medway was built in 1817.  The old meetinghouse near the old part of Evergreen Cemetery was torn down and its timbers were used in building the Parish House up on Rabbit Hill.  $315.00 was subscribed for the erection of a two story building with a hip roof.  - excerpt from the Second Congregational Church History website.

Starting in 1818 Town Meetings were held alternatively in East Medway, Medway, and West Medway.  When in West Medway, they were held at the Parish House.   The building was used by church and town groups for meetings.   There were Thursday night lectures by the Church.  The upper floor was at one time home to the Free Masons (1818-1837), the Third  Congregational Church, the Catholic Sunday school, and the first high school class (1851-52).   The second quarter of high school for that year was held at the Parish House in West Medway.  The cellar was used by the constable for lockup.  The first Church fair took place in 1849.  It was held over two nights at the Parish House with proceeds going to fix up the common.  In 1869, the Members of the West Parish Society sold the Parish House to AMB Fuller, who served as Justice of the Peace, Trial Justice, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer and Collector, VP of the Medway Savings Bank, and jeweler and clock repairman.  The building became known as “Fullers Hall”.  In 1871, Samuel Newman Metcalf of 2 Highland Street, wrote in his diary of a “sociable” held in Fullers Hall that included dialogues, song, and piano.    In 1876 AMB Fuller sold to the Town of Medway a small part of the Parish House lot, 26x62 ft, “on a line of the westerly sill of an engine house now standing on said land”.   This is the Torrent Engine House on Main Street opposite the Community Church.  In 1884, AMB Fuller put stores and offices into the first floor that included a jewelry store, law office, court room, market, and an oyster market.  The lockup was still in the cellar.   The second floor was rented out to various town groups.   AMB Fuller died in 1901.  In 1903, Medway’s Historical Society made the Parish House its headquarters, and presented there “old time things” at the first Old Home Day celebration held that year.    The Historical Society held lectures, vocals, and music presentations on the second floor, and the building became known as “Antiquarian Hall”.  In 1912, Mary A K Fuller (widow) sold the “Old Parish House” lot to Walter M. Cabot.  Cabots’ widow, Katherine, gave the building to the Second Congregational Church of West Medway in 1954.  In 1976, the Parish House was remodeled for Church offices and meeting rooms.   In the early 1990s, the Parish House housed the pastors study, church office, youth meeting center, and committee meeting rooms.   The Community Church moved out of the building when structural problems associated with the previous remodeling effort appeared.  Today, in 2006, the historic Old Parish House awaits new use, new friends, and more history.

This Information came from historical books on Medway by Francis Donovan, the diaries of Samuel Newman Metcalf, notes from Herbert Hixon, the Handbook of Medway History by Orion T. Mason, and the online church history of Medways’ Community Church.

1809   Norfolk County deed:  34:11
Jabez Shumway  from Timothy Whiting, 12 acres in West Medway

1818   Norfolk County deed:  58:126
Jabez Shumway from the estate of Daniel Aldrich of Rhode Island.  One acre with the Hartford and Dedham Tpke to the south, land of Ralph Mann to the north and west, and Shumways land to the east.

07/22/1869   Norfolk County deed:  390:277
Members of West Parish Society to AMB Fuller.  Old Parish House lot.

08/01/1876   Norfolk County deed:  483:1
AMB Fuller to Town of Medway land for engine house 26x62 feet.

10/30/1912   Norfolk County deed:  1233:441
Mary AK Fuller (widow) to Walter M Cabot, Old Parish House lot.

12/18/1954   Norfolk County deed:  3329:170
Katherine H Cabot (widow), to Second Congregational Church
Old Parish House lot Excepting 996.3 sq ft at the rear of the Torrent Engine House, deeded to the Town of Medway.