USA > Maryland > Allegany County > Cumberland > History of Cumberland, (Maryland) from the time of the Indian town, Caiuctucuc, in 1728, up to the present day : embracing an account of Washington's first campaign, and battle of Fort Necessity, together with a history of Braddock's expedition > Part 33
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The order of Redemptorists afterwards purchased a lot west of their church, on which stood the old "Allegany County Academy," and upon this lot they
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erected a parochial school house. Hitherto, for some years, a parochial school had been taught in the basement of the church building. This school was continued in the old Academy until the new structure was fitted for occupancy.
In May, 1870, the church built a Convent on part of the same lot, immediately west of the school house, and the services of three sisters of the Ursuline order, from the Convent at Louisville, Kentucky, were obtained to instruct the children of the congregation.
The church was under the administration of the Redemptorist fathers from 1849 to 1866, at which time the Redemptorists gave place to the priests of the order of Carmelites, who came here from Leaven- worth, Kansas, and who were succeeded in 1875 by priests of the Capucin order, from the province of Muenster, in Westphalia, Germany, who are officiating at this time.
The number of communicants in this church, inclusive of children, is about 1,800.
The priest now ministering in this church is Father Francis, who is assisted by other priests of the order of Capucins in the seminary.
BEDFORD STREET M. P. CHURCH.
In the spring of 1836, the Home Missionary Society of the Maryland Annual Conference, of the Methodist Protestant church, sent Rev. Dennis B. Dorsey as a missionary to Allegany county. Among other of numerous places at which he preached, was the town of Cumberland, and here he formed a society com- posed of John Gephart, Addison L. Withers, and
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
William Haller, with their respective families. Ser- vices were held statedly in the basement of the English Lutheran church, until Rev. Dorsey was succeeded by Rev. John Elderdice, when it was found necessary to seek another place of worship.
In the fall of 1838, this little band went to work with a will, and built their first church edifice, a little "rough-cast" house, 20 by 48 feet, on Blocher, now called Bedford, street.
The congregation rapidly increased, until it was found that the little "rough-cast" was too small to accommodate the congregation, and it became neces- sary to build a larger house of worship. Accordingly, in 1849, under the pastorate of Rev. W. T. Eva, the original house was superseded by the present substantial brick structure, that stands at the inter- section of Front and Bedford streets, and in 1852 a comfortable brick parsonage was erected on a lot adjoining the church.
The history of the church from 1852 to the fall of 1871 is one of comparative success. In the fall of 1871, Rev. Henry Nice, appointed by the Conference of the Methodist Protestant church to this station, becoming dissatisfied with his church relations, desired to transfer his membership together with the Bedford street church property, to the Methodist Episcopal church. In this he was supported by a number of the members of his charge. This condition of things was duly reported to the President of the Maryland District Methodist Protestant church, (Rev. D. Evans Reese, D. D.) and the relations between Mr. Nice and the church were severed. In the interim the
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BEDFORD STREET M. P. CHURCH.
church property on Bedford street was leased to a board of trustees, elected or appointed by the Centre street M. E. Church, and Mr. Nice was received into the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. Strenuous efforts were made by the Method- ist Protestants to get the representatives of the Methodist Episcopal church to relinquish the occu- pancy of the building. Failing in this, the Maryland Conference, at its session in March, 1872, adopted a resolution authorizing the board of managers of the missionary society, of the Maryland Conference, to employ competent legal counsel, and under such direction, to proceed, without delay, to recover pos- session of the church and parsonage, of the Methodist Protestant church, in the city of Cumberland. In accordance with this resolution, suit was entered, and after all the postponements and delays common to a court of chancery, the property was remanded to the possession and control of the Methodist Pro- testants, in the spring of 1875.
After obtaining possession of the property again, the Methodist Protestant Conference, by its President, appointed Rev. T. H. Lewis pastor, in charge of this station, in the summer of 1875. Mr. Lewis was an earnest, zealous worker, and soon succeeded in re- organizing the church, and, with but few exceptions, the old members returned to their former place of worship. Rev. Lewis was succeeded in the spring of 1877, by Rev. Francis T. Little, the present pastor, under whose ministry the church has sensibly increased, having a larger number of members upon its church book than at any former period of its
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history. The church has also a large and flourishing Sunday school under its management. The number of communicants in this church is now 175.
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In our account of the English Lutheran church of Cumberland, we mentioned that the congregation of that church, then worshipping in a log building, near the site of the present English Lutheran church, was composed partly of Germans, and that the service was for some time conducted in both the English and German languages. .
In the year 1839, the Germans separated from the English Lutherans, and obtained the services of Rev. Mr. Kehler, to preach to them in their native tongue, every fourth Sunday, at 2 o'clock P. M. These ser- vices were held in the old log church of the English Lutherans. We have not the exact date at which Rev. Kehler left, nor how long he continued serving the German Lutherans, but he was succeeded by Rev. Winecoff, who remained until 1843. The German Lutherans materially aided their English brethren in contributions toward their new church, (the present structure). Rev. Winecoff was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Finkle, who preached for the congre- gation every two weeks. He came in the fall of 1844, and left in the fall of 1846. At the close of Mr. Finkle's ministry, the Germans obtained the services of Rev. Peter Rizer, the English Lutherans considering it impracticable to supply a pastor who spoke both languages. Rev. Rizer preached especially to the German Lutherans every Sunday.
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GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In the spring of 1848, the vestry of the German Lutheran church received a letter from the vestry of the English Lutherans indicating that the latter would in future require the sole use of their place of worship, whereupon the former, with a membership of thirty-five, begun the work of erecting the present massive structure on Bedford street.
This church, which is of Tuscan style of architec- ture, was designed by Mr. Henry Smenner, a member of the church. It has a steeple 150 feet in height from the ground, and 100 feet clear of the roof; in the tower of this steeple is fixed the only town clock, . or public time enunciator, we have at this time. The church was finished and dedicated March 17, 1850. The corner stone was laid the June preceding, with an imposing display, there being on that occasion a procession of Clergy, professional gentlemen, Mayor, and City Council, Freemasons, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance, Red Men, German Society, trustees, and members of the congregation. The church stands on Bedford, near Decatur, street, and is not only large and commodious, but is a monument to the indomitable energy and perseverance of the fathers who reared the house. Among those whose names are connected with the erection of this building are, H. Hanekamp, Deitrich Lear, Christian Ren- ninger, Henry Smith, Mr. Buckholtz, Mr. Stier, John Weibel, and George Martz.
Rev. Peter Rizer was pastor of this congregation from June 3, 1847, to October 15, 1849. He was succeeded in 1849 by Rev. C. Schwankoosky, who remained until 1852. Rev. Bauman succeeded him
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and remained until 1855, when the Rev. Daniel Maier was called, who remained until 1858. Mr. Maier was succeeded by Rev. G. H. Vosseler, who filled the pulpit until 1866; from this time until June, 1867, the pastoral duties were performed by "Father" Heyer. In June, 1867, Rev. John Philip Conradi was installed as pastor, and fills the position at this date.
Upon the record of this church we find the follow- ing entry :
"On the 10th of August, 1853, the cholera appeared . in this town, and took away sixteen fathers of fami- lies, and six mothers, from this church; many children also died, but as the force of the epidemic was so great, the burials took place at night, and I, myself, was for some time very ill, it was impossible to obtain names, ages, and dates of death." This record was made by Rev. Bauman.
The number of communicants in the church at this date is about 500.
BAIR CHAJIM CHURCH.
On the 27th day of April, 1853, a little band of Israelites, residing in Cumberland, met together for the purpose of organizing a congregation for religious worship, according to the faith of their fathers. The room in which they then assembled was in an upper story of No. 22 Baltimore street, and was occupied by the congregation until the spring of 1854, when the place of meeting was changed to an upper room on the corner of Centre and Baltimore streets, opposite the English Lutheran church. In
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BAIR CHAJIM CHURCH.
the spring of 1858, they again changed their place of meeting to the building on the west side of Will's Creek, nearly opposite Emmanuel Episcopal church, known then as Semmes' Law Building, which still stands at this day.
This first congregation of Israelites was organized with H. Rosenbach, President; A. Scheilds, Vice President; H. Adler, Secretary, and S. Nathan, Trea- surer. The following board of trustees was also elected at that time: Samuel Sonneborn, and S. Burgunder.
From this time it was the law of the congregation . to observe the Sabbath strictly, and all the holy days enjoined by the Mosaic Law; for the more regular observance of which, worship in congregational form was at once instituted.
On the 19th of November, of the same year, the congregation concluded, after due deliberation, to engage a reader, and the services of Rev. Juda Wechsler were at once secured. Mr. Wechsler remained in charge one year, and at the end of that time was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Hermann. Mr. Hermann remained two years, and was followed by Rev. Isaac Strauss, who was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Freundlich, who officiated one year, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. A. Laser, who continued in charge until the year 1860, when he was followed by Rev. Isaac Gottlieb, who served the congregation four years, and was succeeded by Rev. Isaac Baum, who remained until 1869.
In the year 1866, during the ministry of Rev. Baum, the present synagogue, corner of South Centre
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and Union streets, was erected. The building is a neat brick structure, with a seating capacity for about one hundred and fifty persons. Attached to the synagogue, and situated in the basement of the building, is a school room, where the children of the congregation are taught, by the minister or reader, who contracts with the church for this duty when he enters upon his pastoral charge. The school dates its organization from the time of the establish- ment of the congregation.
On the 2d day of March, 1867, the synagogue on Centre street was dedicated with religious obser- vances, on which occasion Rev. B. Szold, and H. Hockheimer, of Baltimore, and Rev. Baum, of Cumberland, officiated.
In 1869, Rev. A. Openheimer succeeded Mr. Baum as reader, and held the position until the 24th day of April, 1871, when he died, suddenly, of heart disease, and was buried in the Hebrew cemetery, in this city.
Rev. Openheimer was succeeded in 1871, by Rev. A. Bonheim, who remained until 1873, and was followed by Rev. G. Levi, who officiated until 1875, when Rev. M. Wurzel was called to the charge. Mr. Wurzel continued here two years, and was succeeded in 1877 by Rev. L. Eiseman, the present incumbent. In the year 1853 the congregation pur- chased a piece of ground on the Baltimore pike, east of, and contiguous to, the city, for burial purposes. They have since greatly enlarged and improved the same.
The congregation numbers at present twenty mem- bers, and the number of pew holders is about eighty.
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TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Trinity congregation, of the Lutherans who adhere to the "Unaltered Augsburg Confession of Faith," was once a part of, and in affiliation with, the congre- gation that worships in the church on Bedford, near Decatur, street, but who separated from the latter about the year 1852.
About this date, Rev. E. G. W. Keyl, of Baltimore, came to Cumberland, and preached for this body. The meetings were held in the old Court House. Following Mr. Keyl came Rev. Mr. Nortman and Rev. Sommer, who preached for the congregation alternately. These services were held at irregular intervals, and continued until the year 1854, when the present house of worship was built, although a congregation had been previously organized, with a pastor in charge.
By reference to the records we find that Rev. J. F. Biltz came to this charge in October, 1853, and remained about seven years. He was succeeded in the spring of 1860 by Rev. Conrad H. Steger. In June, 1854, the corner-stone of the new church, on North Centre street, was laid. This building is a neat and substantial brick edifice, 50 feet long by 30 wide, and capable of seating about 300 persons. It is built in modern style, to show full two stories. The house was completed the same year, and dedi- cated to religious worship. Rev. Steger remained in charge of this church two years, and was succeeded by Rev. W. Kaehler. Mr. Kaehler was followed, in 1865, by Rev. Conrad Schwankoosky, who re- mained until 1871. Rev. Schwankoosky had been pastor of the United German Lutheran church, in
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former years, but had separated from that organiza- tion, and connected himself with those who held to the "Unaltered Augsburg Confession." The next pastor in charge of this church was Rev. Frederick Kuegele, who came here the 20th of May, 1871, and is officiating at this time.
There is a parochial school attached to the church, which is taught by the pastor. The present number of pupils registered is 33. The number of commu- nicants in the church is 142.
KINGSLEY M. E. CHAPEL.
The idea of erecting a Methodist Episcopal chapel in South Cumberland, originated with a few zealous members of Centre street M. E. church, among whom were S. T. Little, John Kellenbeck, and Samuel Milford, who, taking in view the wants of the mem- bers who were settling in that part of the city, in consequence of the establishment of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company's Rolling Mills, wished to place them in more convenient reach of a house of worship.
In the month of August, 1870, the lot on which the chapel and parsonage stand was leased, at an annual ground rent of $30, and the chapel, a plain frame building, 30 by 45 feet, was erected. The structure was completed on the 5th of December, 1870, at a cost of $1,000, and on the 10th of the same month was subsequently dedicated to God's worship, by Rev. E. J. Gray, then pastor of the M. E. church in Frostburg, Md., at which time sufficient money was collected to relieve the church from debt.
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KINGSLEY M. E. CHAPEL.
The Presiding Elder, for this circuit, appointed Rev. J. McK. Walsh, a supernumerary preacher, of Baltimore Conference, to take charge of the new chapel, which charge he held until the session of the annual conference, in March, 1871, when Rev. A. J. Gill became the regular pastor, who, on the 19th day of March, preached his first sermon in the building, and received into membership, by certificate, the following persons : S. T. Little, Samuel Milford, John Kellenbeck, George Johnson, Samuel Johnson, Henry Mahaney, Howard Deetz, John Kope, Eliza- beth Milford, Elizabeth Kellenbeck, Ellen Fisher, and Amos Fisher.
On the 6th of April, following, the first regular quarterly conference of this church was held at the residence of John Kellenbeck, and the following officers were elected: Trustees, Jesse Korns, S. T. Little, Samuel Johnson, Samuel Milford, and W. R. Mudge. Stewards, S. T. Little, John Kellenbeck, and Howard Deetz.
Rev. Gill continued to officiate in this charge two years, and was succeeded in March, 1873, by Rev. S. M. Alford, who remained three years, and was suc- ceeded in March, 1876, by Rev. W. H. Reed, who ministered to the congregation one year.
It was during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Reed that the parsonage, a neat frame residence, was erected.
In March, 1877, Rev. D. M. Browning, the present pastor, was appointed to this charge. The earlier history of this church was that of marked prosperity, but for the past few years it has suffered loss, on account of the stoppage and irregular working of the 61
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Baltimore and Ohio rolling mills, in which many of the members of this congregation found employment in more prosperous times.
The number of communicants in this church is about 90.
ZION GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.
This church congregation meets in what was for- merly known as the old Presbyterian church, a large brick edifice, with cupola and belfry, situated on north Liberty, between Baltimore and Bedford, streets.
The first misson of this church was established in 1867, with Rev. A. Wanner as missionary, who remained until 1871. Previous to the arrival of Mr. Wanner, preaching by ministers of this profession took place occasionally, at which times the Presby- terians kindly granted the use of their building on Liberty street.
In May, 1871, the congregation, having been fully established, made a provisional purchase of their present house of worship, from the Presbyterians, although a full title was not obtained until June, 1872, the price then paid being $5,500. From this time stated services were held in this building.
The first regular pastor was Rev. C. Cast, who was installed in 1871, and remained in charge until 1874, when he was succeeded by Rev. F. R. Schwedes, the present incumbent.
The congregation of this church own a cemetery, three acres in extent, situated on the Baltimore pike, a little east of the city.
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CHRIST REFORMED. EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
A Sunday school, under the patronage of the church, numbers about 125 scholars.
The number of communicants in this church is about 150.
CHRIST REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The inaugural services of this church were held in Trinity M. E. church, South, corner of south Centre and Union streets, on Sunday, May 14, 1876, when Bishop George D. Cummins, Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal church, officiated, assisted by John K. Dunn, the present pastor. At this time services were held morning and evening, the Bishop preaching on both occasions.
Two days thereafter (Tuesday, May 16), a num- ber of gentlemen met at the office of Geo. Henderson, Jr., on north Liberty street, and organized a parish, and established a church, under the name of Christ Reformed Episcopal Church. Rev. J. K. Dunn was chosen rector, and a vestry consisting of the following. persons was elected: Wardens, Dr. S. P. Smith, and George Henderson, Jr. Vestrymen, Thomas Johns, George A. Pearre, Jonathan W. Magruder, E. T. Shriver, C. J. Orrick, Dr. S. H. Fundenberg, J. W. Pearce and W. H. Harrison.
On the following Sunday, (May 21, 1876,) regular services of the newly organized parish were held for the first time, in the Hall of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, north Centre street, Rev. John K Dunn rector, officiating. In the course of a month about twenty-five members were enrolled upon the church book as communicants.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
A Sunday school under the management of this church was established on the afternoon of Sunday, May 21, 1876, in the same place.
The services of the church were continued in the Hall of the Young Men's Christian Association, until March, 1877, when the congregation purchased Trinity M. E. church building, on south Centre street, for the sum of $5,500 in cash, the congregation of that church having disbanded some months previous. The building thus purchased by Christ Reformed Episcopal church has been in their occupancy ever since, stated worship being held there at this time.
The present number of communicants is about 70, and the Sunday school now numbers about 170 scholars.
MCKENDREE (AFRICAN) M. E. CHAPEL.
The church now known as McKendree M. E. Chapel Congregation, is composed of colored people, who formerly worshipped with the congregation of the Centre street M. E. church, and were under the government of the Baltimore Conference, as their white brethren. In the fall of 1854, the colored portion of the Centre street M. E. church withdrew from the whites, and organized a separate congrega- tion. They purchased their present house of worship during that year, and have occupied it for religious purposes ever since.
The building is a modern brick structure, and was originally 30 by 40 feet, but during the pastorate of Rev. M. Spreddles it was lengthened eight feet. It is finished as a two story building.
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MCKENDREE .M. E. CHAPEL.
Among the first trustees of this church we find the names of Lewis Graham, Joseph Taper, James Tibbs, and Eli Robinson.
The congregation. at the time of its organization, numbered about forty. The first pastor was Rev. Henry Matthews, who remained one and a half years, and was succeeded by Rev. W. S. Wilson, who served three years, and was followed in 1869 by Rev. M. Spreddles, who remained until 1872, when he was succeeded by Rev. E. Lawson. Rev. Lawson served only one year, and was succeeded in 1873, by Rev. Thomas Davis, who, after a brief ministry withdrew from this conference, and united with another. In 1874, Rev. A. B. Wilson came here to fill the unexpired term of Rev. Davis, and remained until February, 1875, and was succeeded by Rev. Henry Cellers, who is the present pastor.
The church has a Sunday school under its man- agement. The number of communicants at this time is 90.
AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH.
For many years the colored persons of the Meth- odist Episcopal faith were accustomed to attend services at the Centre street M. E. church, where a portion of the gallery was set apart for their use. But in 1848 they determined to provide themselves with a house of worship, and therefore effected an organization, and elected a board of trustees, as fol- lows: Nathaniel Burgee, Philip Only, Jacob Mitchell, Wm. Hamilton, John Page, John Murdock, and Henry Robinson. Father Golden, of Baltimore, came
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here, and devoted himself to the work, and before the close of the year, succeeded in securing the erection and completion of a plain brick building, on Frederick street extended. In 1871, the house was rebuilt and enlarged, and in 1875, was again enlarged, to accommodate the increasing member- ship.
The pastors who have served in this church, from the date of its organization, are as follows, beginning, in 1848, with Father Golden: His successors were Rev. Thomas Henry, Dr. Watts, D. A. Ridout, James Sterricks, Mr. Russell, R. A. Hall, John F. Lane, William Smith, C. Sampson, Wm. H. Waters, Joseph Thompson, Jas. H. A. Johnson, J. B. Ham- ilton, and J. M. Cargill, the latter having been appointed to this charge early in 1877, and being still the pastor of the church, which is quite pros- perous.
EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH.
Ebenezer, African, Baptist church, was organized in the spring of 1875, by the Revs. H. J. Chandler, of Bedford street Baptist church, in Cumberland, and James Nelson, then of Georgetown, D. C., now of Farmville, Va.
The first congregational worship of this body was in the third story of the west end of Reynolds's Block, on Baltimore, between Liberty and Mechanic, streets. The number of members enrolled at the time of organization was about twenty, and Rev. Lewis Hicks, the present pastor, was then installed.
This church continued to worship in Reynolds's Block until their new church edifice was built, on
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EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH.
Cumberland street, on the west side of Will's Creek. The corner stone of this building was laid in August, 1875, Dr. 'S. C. Thrall, of Emmanuel Episcopal church, and Rev. H. J. Chandler, of Bedford street Baptist church, officiating, and the house was pushed forward to completion by the end of the year.
The lot on which the church is located was pur- chased of George Henderson, Jr., and deeded to Lewis Hicks, Willie Johnson, Robert Trent, Simon Bolden, and John H. Thomas, a committee appointed by Ebenezer Baptist church of Cumberland.
The building is a modern brick structure, finished to show two stories in height, and 40 feet in length by 28 in breadth.
The building of this house of worship evinced a degree of courage and energy truly remarkable. At a time when there was a great scarcity of money, and a prostration of business, the work was projected, and it was carried forward under trials and difficulties innumerable, by a class of men dependent on their labor for daily bread.
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