Was This a Water Well?

Was this once a well, I wonder? Was a brick casing built over what was once a water well? I see these things throughout rural areas, particularly in North Carolina. They may be located on the property of private homes or places likes churches such as this one on the land of Plumbline Holy Church in Enfield, NC.

Photo taken July 4, 2009

Sacred Sunday - Plumbline Church Sign and Bell

This was the church attended by my great grandparents Minor and Morrisette (Marcia) Thornton. Both of them are buried in the cemetery located in the back of the church. During my previous visits to the church, I remember the sign, but not the bell. Perhaps the bell was added recently. This photo was taken on July 4, 2009 during a holiday visit to the area. Like some rural churches, Plumbline church continues to hold services only twice a month.

Sacred Sunday

Plumbline Holy Church
My maternal grandfather, Minor Elwood Thornton (1913-1979) and his parents Minor Thornton (1893-1966) and Marcia Ashe Thornton (1892-1954) were members of Plumbline Holy Church in Enfield which is located in Halifax County, NC. This church was founded in 1884 by Elder Joseph Silver. In the early years of the church, services were held in the home of Elder Silver during the winter months and under a brush arbor during the summer. Plumbline Holy Church represented the beginning of holiness as a denomination in the Enfield area.

My grandfather Minor Elwood served as an Usher at Plumbline prior to moving to Newport News, VA in 1940. His father Minor, Sr. served Plumbline as a Deacon and Church Secretary and his mother, Marcia Ashe Thornton served as a Minister.