140.9/15 The Little Brown Church in the Vale

Iowa Corn Fields

As we angled across Iowa on our way to Winnebago Industries in Forest City, we passed through miles and miles of fields of tall corn.

Entering Chickasaw County, we made a brief detour through Nashua to The Little Brown Church with the Old Bradford Pioneer Village next door.

The Little Brown Church in the Vale

Dedicated 1864

The Little Brown Church has an interesting history. In June 1857, William Pitts, a young music teacher was traveling to nearby Fredericksburg to visit his bride-to-be. When the stagecoach took a noon rest at Bradford, Mr. Pitts was moved by the lovely setting among large oak trees. On his return home to southern Wisconsin, remembering his vision, he wrote The Little Brown Church in the Vale.

As It Must Have Looked

When Mr. Pitts returned to teach music at Bradford Academy, he was amazed to find a small church being erected across the road at the very spot he had visualized in his hymn. On dedication day in 1864 his vocal class gave the hymn its first public rendition. The church and the song became forever linked.

Mr. Pitts sold the song to a Chicago publisher for $25.00 and used the money to help earn a medical degree, then returned to Fredericksburg and set up practice.

Office of Dr. Wm. S. Pitts
Fredericksburg, Iowa

His office building is preserved in the Old Bradford Pioneer Village. The little community of Bradford, once a thriving village along the wagon trail west, had gradually disappeared when the railroad by-passed it for Fredericksburg.

Dr. Pitt’s Office

The Chickasaw County Historical Society has saved cottages, log cabins, a country school, general store and the first Fredericksburg railroad depot. Each of the 15 buildings is furnished appropriately. A barn is full of old agricultural equipment and one of the houses displays a collection of children’s toys.

Log Cabin Interior

Cast Iron Stove

Buffalo Skin Coat
Bill’s grandfather Henry Field,
seedsman wore one.

Early Washing Machine

Wall Phone and Telephone Switchboard
“Mrs. Brown this is an emergency call,
please get off the line!”

Iowa Tall Corn

We enjoyed remembering the old days, a pleasant break from tall corn fields.

The Little Brown Church ..in the Vale..