On the weekend of May 18-20, the Noank Baptist Church will celebrate 175 years of service to the Noank and surrounding communities.

The festivities will begin on the evening of May 18 with a special concert celebrating music’s important role in the church’s past, present and future. Church choirs, soloists and instrumentalists will be participating, and the concert will be open to the public.

The formal church service, also open to the public, is on May 20, concluding the festivities, including special music selected by the directors.

In the beginning, starting in 1826, some informal Baptist church services and Sunday school classes were held in the Noank Schoolhouse. In 1841, a small meetinghouse was erected on the present site, and on March 11, 1843, there was a formal vote to form the Noank Baptist Church. The first official service was held the next day, March 12, 1843.

The Civil War in 1860 caused a philosophical and political split with the congregation, and 72 abolitionist members moved to a new, small meetinghouse in the area now occupied by the present south parking lot, forming the American Union Church.

The two groups reconciled in 1867 when a new building, with more more modern amenities including hot air heat, was erected on the present site. In this move, “forgiveness was sought in exchange for comfort.”

During the period from 1890 to 1929, the church gradually became a stronger part of the overall Noank community and saw an increase in church membership along with improvements to the building. These included a new organ, new offices and classrooms to accommodate a large Sunday school attendance. In addition, a parsonage was constructed and new community-oriented groups were initiated.

A “Noank” hymn was composed by then Pastor Martin, later published as “My Anchor Holds,” appropriate for a seafaring community.

The years from 1929 to 1962 were a period of periodic crisis for the church, including the aftermath of the stock market crash, major lightning damage to the steeple in 1936, then loss of both the roof and steeple completely in the 1938 hurricane. This was followed by a gutting of the church building by a disastrous fire on Christmas Eve in 1959.

Through it all, the church maintained its position as a bulwark in the community, and at the same time, through prodigious effort by the congregation, a new church building, organ and steeple were erected on the foundations of the older church. The church stands today as a symbol of hope, as the lighted steeple still guides mariners back home.

In 1963, the Rev. James Pratt and his wife Nancy arrived and became the “dynamic duo” of energy that, for many years, led the church into outreach projects that exist today. These include Mystic River Homes and Congregate, Noank Baptist Group Homes for Girls (now Noank Community Services for young adults), the Church Street House Aids Program (now modified to assist families in need) along with a number of other programs including the establishment of a Memorial Garden, Peace Committee and the annual Mystic Area Ecumenical Choir Festival.

The church’s period after Sept. 11, 2001, to the present, much of it under the guidance of the Rev. Paul Hayes, is marked by the external challenges we face of war, gun violence, climate change and increased economic disparity. This is therefore a time in which the church focuses on being an inclusive and welcoming community, standing up for social justice and providing spiritual grounding in the face of these cultural, social, technological and political changes.

The 175th anniversary will therefore celebrate, with music and memories, the significance of the church in its service to the wider community as “A Village Church with a Global Vision for Christ’s Caring Community.”

Ed Johnson lives in Noank

The festivities will commence on the evening of Friday, May 18, with a special concert celebrating music’s important role in the church’s past, present and future. The church is open to the public. Church choirs, soloists and instrumentalists will be participating.

The formal Sunday service May 20 will conclude the celebration festivities. For further information, contact Ed Johnson at (860) 536-1589 or call the church office at (860) 536-7129. Office hours are 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Frida

Some months ago, the Noank Food Market on Pearl Street, which had gone through two different business names in recent years, closed down after a major storm. This was a major disappointment for many local residents, especially with summer approaching. The landlords, once again, began looking for a new tenant.

Following that, the large white building on the corner of Main and Pearl streets, which contained three businesses and some apartments, was shut down completely in preparation for a new buyer. Renovations were started and all tenants had to move out of the building, to everyone’s dismay.

This included the Corner Closet thrift shop, operated by women from the Noank Baptist Church’s Evening Circle. Then, to everyone’s further dismay, the building sale mysteriously failed to materialize, for reasons no one involved is discussing. There sat a large, empty building in the center of Noank.

However, just recently, the existing building owner allowed the Corner Closet thrift shop to re-stock and re-open on June 30 in the same location, much to applause by the neighborhood. Hours are 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

With patience, because of my large size, I’ve always managed to find some clothing in that store to fit me — the exception being my shoe size of 16EEEEE, but nobody’s perfect. And apparently, even if the building is subsequently sold, the Corner Closet can stay.

I’m also told by the building Realtor that the possibility of a new sale may be imminent.

Additionally, there will now be a new business moving into the former Noank store facility, which will be operated as a grocery with produce, a deli counter, serving grinders, fish & chips and also catering services. Anticipated opening will probably be mid-July or later. We’ve met the experienced business owner along with the head chef who has been in the business several years. Local residents are very happy to hear about this, especially with summer already here.

If a sign in the window is any indication, it might be called the No Anchor Market.

Ed Johnson lives in Noank.

On Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 6:30 PM, Bank Square Books in Mystic will host a sale and book signing event for “Plumbelly,” a novel by Gary S. Maynard, who grew up in Noank. A brief history on the author indicates the extent of his familiarity with boats, which plays strongly in this new book.

Gary and his family sailed around the world for five years on “Scud,” built in Noank by his father, George, as a replica of Joshua Slocum’s “Spray.” His mother, Mary, supported the family as a feature writer and local reporter for The Day. The family returned, Gary rowed varsity and majored in linguistics at Brown University, then built and repaired wooden boats at Vineyard Haven.

He met Kristi Kinsman, who helped him rebuild a 45-foot Scots Zulu fishing boat into “Violet,” a family cruiser. They married, continued working on boats, had two children, and later took the family on a long trip through the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Upon returning, Gary and Kristi started a new company, Holmes Home Builders, which has become a leading contractor for large, custom-designed residences on Martha’s Vineyard.

“Plumbelly” is a coming-of-age fiction as narrated by 15-year-old Gabe, who describes his experiences in the South Pacific involving hostility, abuse, death, running aground on reefs and dealing with the awkward pain of teenage romance. The physical descriptions of handling boats and navigating open seas are colorful as well as accurate; the salty language among the characters is topical and sometimes very funny, and it is a book that mariners or non-sailors will both enjoy. The author draws from his own experiences and observations, which enhance the realism of the characters.

The basic plot concerns the adventures of two teenage boys and one girl who, for various reasons of their own, decide to escape on an abandoned sailboat they have recovered in the harbor. They have dangerous, dramatic and tender moments, and the story is realistic all the way to the end.

The author has previously written many non-fiction articles, primarily about wooden boat building. This novel is his first work of fiction, developed over a decade, and it hits the mark. It could be made into a feature film, although in some cases, the films are not as good as the books or are much different.

In any case, should Gary Maynard decide to write another novel, he has set a high bar for himself.

Ed Johnson lives in Noank.

On Thursday, Aug. 9, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a book reading, signing and slide show of “Connecticut River Ferries,” hosted by Bank Square Books in downtown Mystic.

The book is co-authored by professors Wick Griswold and Stephen Jones, published by the History Press, and covers ferryboat activity on the Connecticut River starting over four centuries ago.

Wick Griswold teaches sociology of the Connecticut River at the University of Hartford, has authored three books on the river and hosts a Connecticut River radio program. His experiences include being a short-order cook, commercial fisherman, construction worker and truck driver.

Local author and retired Avery Point professor Stephen Jones has served as a lobster-man, dock worker, filmmaker, publisher and lighthouse keeper, among many other things. He and son Captain Geoffrey Jones manage two maritime operations on the Mystic River.

It is an understatement to say these two authors know their subject and present it very well, with a history that covers the 1600s to our present day. At one point, there were approximately 100 separate ferries crossing the river, prior to the industrial revolution, steam power and bridge constructions. Ferries were initially constructed by birch-bark or dugout canoes, or logs rafted together, powered by oars, sails, poles, cables and horses.

Steam power came later, followed eventually by diesel engines. They transported livestock, wagons, people and then later, autos and trucks. There are still two river ferries in operation today, largely state supported, covering Rocky Hill-Glastonbury and Chester-Hadlyme. Local towns help rally support for the continuation of those ferry services.

In addition to a thorough factual history and detailed timeline of the ferry services, the authors bring to life the individual chief characters and families involved, their conflicts, frustrations, failures and achievements, along with a number of anecdotes concerning various passengers and travel situations.

In short, what could have been a rather dry historical record of activities is instead an easy, lively, entertaining piece of work. I started reading it, and 158 pages later, finally put the book down, after eating only one sandwich, which is a record.

Ed Johnson lives in Noank.