Show historic church plans faaili facilities ties for newlyweds NASHUA IOWA special accommodations are being planned tor for honeymooning couples who are married in the little brown church in the vale the historical small church which was made famous by a song written before it was built harry ot of worthington minn has purchased the former bradford academy property across the street from the church he plans to erect honeymoon cabins on the property A photographic studio to accommodate the newlyweds and facilities tor for wedding dinners and receptions also are planned the church built in 1864 long has been popular tor for wedding ceremonies the peak was reached in 1940 1940 when 1549 couples were mar ried the bride and bridegroom usually ring the church bell alter after the ceremony the pastor admonishing them to pull through life together just as you are pulling on the bell zope rope the small neat church in a pleasant rustic setting once served the religious needs of 0 old bradford a town ot of persons two miles aules from here the town died after it was bypassed by a railroad in 1868 but the song has kept the church alive i attracted by the be beauty auty ot of the site upon which the church later was built william S pitts a young visitor from wisconsin wrote his moving hymn the little brown church in the vale in 1857 he put his manuscript away and it was forgotten in 1864 when the church was completed pitts who had returned to the town as a singing teacher was asked to sing a solo at the dedication ceremony and he obliged with his own song written a seven years before |