USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland, (Vol. 1) > Part 55
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Miss Josephine M. Hartzell, Miss Eva E. Sheppard, Charles F. Olney, Isaac P. Lamson, J. M. Curtiss, A. D. Hudson, A. C. Caskey, W. J. Sheppard, Mrs. George W. Kinney, Mrs. H. C. Holt and Miss Ruth Curtiss. Thus the Institute became a department of the church. During the dedication of the new church, which continued for an entire week, many prominent men, who took part in the exercises, seeing the magnitude of the new undertaking, expressed the opinion privately that the church had taken on a "white elephant," that is a burden too heavy to carry. On the contrary, as the writer has been informed, there has never been a time of financial embarrassment since the Institutional Church was launched.
The activities have been many and during the first year the Institute maintained Fine Arts, History and Travel clubs, a literary society, kitchen garden and kindergarten classes, a gymnasium, with classes for men, boys, women and girls. There were classes in bookkeeping, business arithmetic, penmanship, piano and vocal music, a microscopical exhibition, and a reading room with an attendance this opening year of nearly 8,000. The recreation rooms were in evidence with an attendance of 2,354. The variety and scope of the institute work has been added to from year to year. Additional recreation room has been added by the erection of a new building a year ago. The Sunday school grew into large pro- portions and at one time was the largest Congregational Sunday School in the state. It is still large and the church membership is nearly 1,300. Dr. Dan Bradley, the present pastor, has been prominent in the civic life of the city during his nearly nineteen years of service as pastor of Pilgrim Church. He believes in good citizenship and in all that makes for better government. In the changes that have come to the city by reason of the great increase in foreign population, he has believed in the power and value of the American "melting pot," and his church to quite a degree is cosmopolitan.
Mount Zion Congregational Church, the only colored church of that denomination in the city, was organized in 1864, something over a year after the Proclamation of Emancipation by President Lincoln. It was organized in Plymouth Church, at that time located on Prospect Street west of Erie (East Ninth) Street, and has ever regarded Plymouth as its "foster mother." The first minister was Rev. J. H. Muse. The congregation built a brick church on Erie but got much in debt. This was sold and a modest church built on Maple Street, free from debt. Among the early ministers were Revs. C. E. Ruddick, A. J. DeHart, S. S. Calkins, S. N. Brown and Daniel W. Shaw. The present pastor is Rev. Harold M. Kingsley.
On October 9, 1870, a Welsh Congregational Church was organized on the West Side. They met at the home of Rev. John M. Evans, had a Sunday school at his home on Bradford near Lorain. This is not now in existence. A Harbor Street mission was established in 1874 by the First Congregational Church, which continued for some time.
In 1875 the East Madison Avenue Congregational Church was organ- ized with twenty-two members. This started with a mission Sunday school at a home on Lincoln Avenue. Rev. O. D. Fisher was the first pastor. He was succeeded by Herbert Melville Tenney. After a pas- torate of four years he accepted a call to Grinnell, Iowa, and Rev. William L. Tenney succeeded him. Revs. William A. Knight and D. T. Thomas were early ministers. The membership grew to some four hundred. A few years ago this church disbanded. The Franklin Avenue Congre- gational Church was organized in 1876 and this was the outgrowth of a Sunday school started in 1857. The church building was located at
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Franklin and Waverly avenues (Waverly being now West Fifty-eighth Street). Rev. S. B. Shipman was the first pastor. The early pastors have been Revs. Herbert O. Allen and others. This church was disbanded about the time that East Madison surrendered its separate existence.
We have thus mentioned a few of the early churches of the Congre- gational denomination. Of the thirty-one churches in the city there are, besides the Welsh, Bohemian and Swedish churches. Among the pastors of the city may be mentioned Revs. Tobias A. S. Homme, S. Paul Stowell, J. Henry Horning, Andrew J. Moncal, Philip C. King, John G. H. Couch, Samuel Fritch, Roy E. Bowers, Howard L. Torbet, Lewis D. Williams, Charles J. Dole, Harry Palmer and Franklin L. Graff. Philip C. King is a son of President Henry C. King of Oberlin College.
There were fifteen early German churches organized in the city, all evangelical, but not of the same denomination, exactly. In 1834 there were only fifteen German families in the city. These joined and organized the Schefflein Christi Church (Ship of Christ). This was the first German church in the city. The members first met in the old Bethel Building at the corner of Superior and Water streets, then at the corner of Hamilton and Erie (East Ninth), and then in various places of worship, until a fine brick church was built at the corner of Superior and Dodge (East Seventeenth) streets. The early pastors were Revs. John F. Tanka, William Busey, Edward Allard, Theodore Stenmear, William Schmitt, Frederick Porus, Benjamin Fieth, Henry Schorsten and Charles Muench. Salem Church of the Evangelical Association was organized in 1840, and Rev. Mr. Stroch was its first pastor. Their church home was at the corner of Erie (East Ninth) and Eagle. It was first frame and then brick. Zion Church, Evangelical Lutheran, was organized in 1843. The early pastors were Revs. D. Schuh, August Schmidt and H. C. Schwan. They located at Erie and Boliver Road. Trinity Church, Evangelical Lutheran, was organized in 1853. The first pastor was J. C. W. Lindeman and he was followed by Rev. Frederick Wynchen. They located on Jersey (West Thirtieth) Street. This rapidly grew in numbers and in the '80s there were 1,400 communicants. Zion Church began as a mission of the Evangelical Association and was organized as a church with eight members in 1856.
There was St. Paul's (Evangelical United) organized in 1857 by Rev. Mr. Steiner, and among its early pastors were Reverends Groemlein, Young, Bank, Zeller and Buttner. Calvary Church (Evangelical Associ- ation) was organized in 1862 by Rev. S. F. Crowther. It was incor- porated in 1864 when located at Woodland and Perry (East Twenty- second) streets. The United German Church (Evangelical Protestant) was organized in 1860. They built a brick church at the corner of Bridge and Kentucky (West Thirty-eighth) streets. Emanuel Church of the Evangelical Association was organized in 1864. Their church building on Jennings Avenue (West Fourteenth Street) was dedicated in 1874. Among the early officers were John Herr, Jac. Weith, and George Becker. Zion Church (German Evangelical) was organized on University Heights in 1867. A church building was erected at Branch Avenue and West Fourteenth Street. The early pastors were Revs. A. Bauer, G. Boohest, O. Shetler and Albert Klein. The First German United Evangelical Protestant Church was organized in 1869 by Rev. William Schmidt and located at Ohio Street (now Central Avenue) and Erie (East Ninth) Street. Among the early officers were Charles Wable, Fred Hamm, John C. Wagner, N. Heisel, H. Keller, J. G. Denzel, C. Koenck, H. Schmidt, John Rock, P. Schuethelm, J. Hoffman and F. Burgart. We will mention specifically Trinity Evangelical organized
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on East Madison Avenue (East Seventy-ninth Street) by Rev. S. J. Gam- mertsfelder, and Friedenskirke (Church of Peace) organized as a mission by the Evangelical Association in 1873. And about 1878 Trinity Evan- gelical Protestant at Case (West Fortieth) and Superior with Rev. August Kimmel as pastor, and St. Johns German Evangelical Lutheran on Bes- semer Avenue with Rev. August Dankworth as pastor and Oscar Schmidt and Frederick Hoppensack, deacons.
Mention should have been made in advance of the foregoing paragraph of the First Reformed Church, which was the first German church on the West Side. It was organized in 1848 by Rev. F. J. Kaufholtz. A church building was erected. This church was independent until 1860, when under the pastorate of Rev. H. J. Ruetenik it united with the Reformed German body. A new church was built in 1863. Then as the German population of Cleveland increased until it became 40 per cent of the entire population, the church organizations increased in a corresponding ratio. After the First Reformed Church there was the Second Reformed German Church organized in 1863, the Third in 1868, the Fourth in 1872, the Fifth in 1872, and the Sixth in 1877. The First Church, United Brethren, German, was organized in 1852 and the Second of the same denomination in 1874.
The variety of religious expression began quite early in the life of the growing city. Ebenezer Bible Christian was organized in 1852, and The Bible Christian Church out in the eighteenth ward (Newburgh) was organized in 1872. The Church of God in 1860, the First Reformed Church (Holland) in 1864, the True Dutch Reformed Church in 1872, and the Free Dutch Reformed Church in 1875 came into existence. As early as 1856 a Friends Church (Society of Friends) was organized and in 1874 a church building erected at Cedar and Sterling (East Thirty-second) streets. James Farmer, who always wore a broad white felt hat, indicative of his creed, was an elder in this church. "Jimmy" Farmer was prominent in Cleveland business circles, promoted and was the first president of the Valley Railway, built from Cleveland to Akron, now a part of the Baltimore & Ohio system. He was the soul of honor. A Church of the Unity (Unitarian) organized in 1867, and the New Jerusalem Church (Swedenborgian) in 1868 add to the variety. In the '70s The First Religious Society of Progressive Spiritualists came into being.
Four Jewish or Hebrew churches belong to the early history of the city. The Hebrew churches of the city now number thirty-two and with their fine synagogues and progressive congregations, their eloquent divines, they are a large factor in the religious life of the city. The Anshe Chesed Congregation was organized with twenty-five members in 1840. Their location was Eagle Street between Erie (East Ninth) and Woodland. Rabbi Seligman Stern was the first pastor. Tiffereth Israel Congregation was established by Rabbi M. Kalish. This was a radical reform body. They met first in a hall and then built a fine synagogue on Huron Street. Among the early pastors were Rev. Jacob Cohn, Dr. I. Mayer, and Dr. Aaron Hahn. Doctor Hahn left the ministry for the practice of law and is still a member of the Cleveland bar. The B'ne Yeshurun Congregation (Hungarian Hebrew) was organized in 1869. They first met in Halle's Hall, then at 71 Michigan Street, and later in the old German Theatre Building. Rev. E. M. Kline was the first pastor. Beth Israel Chebra Kadisha Congregation (Hebrew) was organized in 1874 on Hill Street. A division came and the Anshe Emeth was formed from this, on Broadway, with Rev. Henry Bernstein as pastor. Rev. Rabbi Moses J. Griese of the Jewish Temple Congregation was one of the most
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eloquent and influential of divines and his death was most deeply deplored. He became a figure of great prominence in the civic life as well as the religious life of Cleveland. Another in the present day is equally gifted and prominent, Rev. Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver. His addresses before civic bodies on citizen problems are equally eloquent and effective with those delivered before congregations of his church.
Of the nearly six hundred churches in the city, organized since Rev. Joseph Badger, the Baptist, preached to unresponsive ears, before the beginning of the nineteenth century, the variety and scope of the religious life of the city is shown. Perhaps the growth of the Christian Science Church in the last quarter of a century with its fine church buildings and large congregations has exceeded in these later years all the rest. There are eighty-six Baptist churches, including the colored churches, the same number of Catholic churches, with one monastery and fourteen convents, fourteen Christian and two Christian Reformed churches, seven Christian Science churches with the same number of reading rooms, thirty-eight Congregational, two Dutch Reformed, eleven Evangelical, three Independent Evangelical, four United Evangelical, seven of the Evangelical Association, and forty-one Evangelical Lutheran. There are two Free Methodist,' three Friends churches, and six Greek Orthodox. The Hebrew churches, as we have said, number thirty-two. The Holland Christian Reformed Church is represented by one organiza- tion. There are fifty-one Methodist Episcopal churches, two New Jeru- salem, two Polish National Catholic, thirty-one Presbyterian, one Reformed Episcopal, sixteen Salvation Army, three Seventh Day Advent- ist, seven Spiritualists, fourteen Independent Spiritualists, one Unitarian, five United Brethren in Christ, seven United Presbyterian churches and one Universalist Church. There are two of the Volunteers of America and sixty-four of miscellaneous denominations including the Church of God and others. The Methodist Church, although not excelling in the number of churches, has a large membership and is a particularly strong body among the galaxy of churches.
THE FEDERATED CHURCHES
The Federated Churches of Cleveland, an organization promoted by the Ministers' Union of the city, adopted its constitution at the Old Stone Church June 12, 1911, containing two cardinal propositions. The purpose being first "for comity in religious work amongst the foreign populations of the county, and in establishing mission centers and new churches." Second, "for united and aggressive action upon religious and moral questions." The constitution provides that any Protestant Church in Cuyahoga County may become a member by the appointment of delegates, namely, the pastor and one man and one woman elected by the governing body of the church. Sixty-seven churches were repre- sented at this organization meeting and officers and standing committees elected as follows: President, The Very Rev. Frank Du Moulin ; vice president, Rev. Worth M. Tippy; treasurer, Charles E. Adams; secre- tary, Rev. N. M. Pratt; standing committees-on religious work, Rev. H. F. Stilwell; comity, Rev. Dan F. Bradley ; social betterment, Rev. T. S. McWilliams ; civic, Judge Frederick A. Henry ; finance, F. W. Ramsey.
The meetings of this Federation have been full of interest. The effort has been made to work out the "golden rule" among churches. The question of church extension, establishing of missions, etc., due to the growth of the city, a delicate and interesting problem among so many denominations, was taken up at once. In the first year of its life
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the Federation adopted this cardinal principle: "That the first con- sideration in all matters of comity shall be the efficiency of the work and evangelization of the people, rather than denominational prerogatives." Conflicting claims to new fields arose. In one instance, three denomina- tions desired to enter a new residence territory in a community that was only able to support one enterprise. Referred to the comity com- mittee of the Federation, it was finally given to a fourth denomination, that at first had made no claim to it. Again: Five denominations were supporting churches in an old residential community that was filling up with foreign population. On the recommendation of the Federation four of the churches removed from the field and the fifth enlarged its activities. In some instances property had been purchased by different denominations in a locality and vested interests came up but these dissensions were ironed out by the Federation but with great difficulty.
At its meeting on April 9, 1913, the comity committee adopted a set of principles to aid in its work. Among them was this one: "That we deem it inadvisable to locate a new church enterprise within a radius of one-third of a mile of an organization already well established on the field." The articles also provided for submitting all questions of church extension to the Federation. But these are only items in the comprehensive work accomplished and mapped out to be accomplished by the Federation churches of Cleveland. The Federation has endorsed the Institutional Church as "next to the public schools, the most out- standing Americanization agency in the community." There are three prominent ones in the city : Pilgrim Congregationa, Broadway Methodist, and Woodland Avenue Presbyterian.
The presidents of the Federation in their order have been Revs. Frank DuMoulin, Worth M. Tippy, Judge Frederick A. Henry, Revs. Dan F. Bradley, J. H. Bomberger, Mr. David E. Green, Rev. Alexander McGaffin, Mr. Frank M. Gregg, Rev. Ferdinand Q. Blanchard, Mr. F. W. Ramsey, Rev. J. H. Goldner, and Rev. Gerrard F. Tatterson. There are now over three hundred churches in the Federation.
CHAPTER XXIX
CLEVELAND'S SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
The schools of Cleveland, unlike those of the other townships of the county, seemed to inherit the idea that Cleveland was a city, that is a city in imagination if not in fact. While the first schoolhouse was a one-room building with all the attributes of "the little red schoolhouse," that univer- sity of the pioneers, quite early the idea of graded and higher instruction schools took form.
The first school teacher in Cleveland was Miss Anna Spafford and the school room was the front room of Major Carter's tavern. This lady began on the "young idea" in 1802, but, in the present limits of Cleveland, Miss Sarah Doan may have preceded her. She was a daughter of Nathaniel Doan and taught at Doan's Corners in what was known as the Kingsbury neighborhood. This name came into being when James Kingsbury located out there to escape the sickness that ever seemed to hover about the mouth of the Cuyahoga. Andrew Freese in his history recites that "there is a tradition that the few Connecticut settlers of Cleveland set up a school for the five children in the settlement," but he gives no date. He says that in 1910, with the population at fifty-seven, there may have been a small school, but that the earliest school of which any record remains was taught in 1814 by a Mr. Capman.
There was no public school in Cleveland, as such, until the organization of the city in 1836. At first the schools were supported and the school- houses built by private subscriptions. The first schoolhouse was built in 1816 and by popular subscriptions as follows : T. and I. Kelley $20, Stephen S. Dudley $5, Daniel Kelley $10, T. and D. Miles (or Mills) $5, William Trimball $5, J. Riddall $5, Walter Bradrock $2.50, Levi Johnson $10, J. Heather $5, Horace Perry $10, John A. Ackley $5, A. W. Walworth $5, George Wallace $5, Jacob Wilkerson $5, Pliny Mowry $3.20, D. C. Hen- derson $15, David Long $15, Samuel Williamson $15, Alonzo Carter $15, John Dixon $5, N. H. Merwin $5, James Root $5, Joel Nason $3, and Edward McCarney, and George Pease $5 each, a total of $198.70. This first schoolhouse was built on the site afterwards occupied by the Kennard House. This was a frame, one-room building, and as a precaution against the pupils being drawn from their studies by outdoor attractions the windows were built up high so that they could not look out. The schools were conducted by various teachers, who had the free use of the building but whose services were paid by such tuition as they collected from the patrons. The building was also used for religious meetings and other assemblies as well. The Village of Cleveland, making the first move in the direction of public education, bought this building by returning to the subscribers the money contributed for the purpose and became the owner. No action was taken by the village further than this as the schools continued as before, the building and its free use being the only public contribution to the educational system of the town. The purchase of this building by the village was in 1817 and it may be added that it was 18 by 20 feet in dimensions and had a stone chimney and fireplace. The con-
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templation of a great wood fire illuminating the interior with its cheer of light as well as heat on dark wintry days is not at all unpleasant. In the Kingsbury neighborhood, by reason of the more healthful locality, the schools were kept in operation more regularly.
In 1821 the citizens of the Village of Cleveland, by popular subscrip- tion, built a two-story brick Academy on the present site of Engine House Number One. This was a step in the direction of higher education. This was a very pretentious building. It had two rooms below and an upper room for meetings, lectures, shows, etc. In other words, it was the audi- torium. The building was of brick and had a steeple and a bell, and was 45 by 25 feet. The first teacher in the Academy was Rev. William McLean. He taught reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic for $1.75 per term, grammar and geography added for $2.75 and if Greek and Latin
CLEVELAND'S FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE
were included the tuition was $4.00 per term. As the school grew other teachers were added and the upper room used for higher departments. Harvey Rice was principal of the Academy in 1824.
The so-called "frills," so much discussed in later years, got into the schools while yet they were merely public to the extent of public build- ings for free use. In 1825 a young ladies' academy was established, which advertised to teach reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar and geography, painting, needlework and embroidery. Schools were established in various parts while Cleveland was yet a village, called free schools, which were supported by contributions. The village, anxious to foster schools in its territory, attempted to purchase the Academy, as it had the first school building, from the subscribers, but failed. In the winter of 1833 and 1834 the free schools supported by charity reported that 229 children had attended and that the cost of operating was $131.12. The next winter the cost of operating these schools was $185.77. These schools had some aid from the village as well as from individual contributions. A Sunday school organized in the Old Bethel Church was turned into a day school because the ability to read and write, which many of the members lacked, was fundamental to the proper teaching of the Sunday school lessons. This was supported wholly by contributions and was in operation when Cleveland became a city.
The City of Cleveland immediately took up the school question,
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appointed a board of education consisting of Silas Belden, Henry Sexton, and Henry H. Dodge, and voted to employ a teacher and assistant until a school system should be organized. R. S. Gazley was employed as the teacher or principal. On June 22d Mr. Dockstader introduced an ordinance in the city council for the levy and collection of a school tax. The next year, 1836, the school board consisted of Samuel Cowles, Samuel Williamson, and Philip Battel and in June of that year a general system of schools was established. The city council directed the loan of certain buildings and provided for the construction of others. It was decided to continue the elementary schools four months in the year. Three school districts were formed with separate schools for boys and girls. There were to be three male teachers for the boys and three female teachers for
ANDREW FREESE
the girls. Two more schools were provided for small children in the winter term. All these were free and were operated at a total cost of $2,830. In 1838 there were eleven schools and 588 pupils. In 1839 the old Academy was rented and later purchased for $6,000 and two lots bought for school sites on the recommendation of Harvey Rice. These were on Rockwell and Prospect. Buildings were erected on these sites the next year (1840) and these with the old Academy would seat 600 pupils but there were 900 to be accommodated. Thus in these early years the same trouble arose that has bothered the school authorities in later times, that of keeping pace with the rapid growth of the city.
In the Rockwell Building there were four schools. The Senior Boys Department with N. A. Gray as teacher and principal, and with Elizabeth Armstrong as teacher of the girls; the boys primary, with Abby Fitch as teacher and Louisa Kingsbury as teacher of the girls. There were 270 pupils altogether. In the Prospect School of 275 pupils, Andrew Freese taught the senior boys and Sophia Converse the girls, Emma Whitney the boys primary and Sarah M. Thayer the girls primary. In West St. Clair Street of 240 pupils (they called them scholars in those days), George W. Yates taught the senior boys and Louisa Snow the girls,
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