USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Catasauqua > A history of Catasauqua in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania > Part 10
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THE WELSH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The iron works attracted a number of people from Wales. Among them were many pious souls who longed to worship God in their mother tongue. " Mother Thomas" (the title by which Mrs. David Thomas was known) offered a lot at Fourth and Pine Streets for a Welsh Church.
The Rev. David R. Griffith was ordained a Congregational clergyman at Slatington, Pa., in the fall of 1881. He at once inspired zeal for the House of God among his countrymen and so led in the organization of the Bethel Welsh Congregational Church, which was effected with thirty charter members, No- vember 26, 1882.
The corner stone of the new Church edifice was laid by Elizabeth ("Moth- er") Thomas assisted by her two sons, Samuel and John, while the pastor, Rev. Griffith, spoke the appropriate words.
The total cost of the property was $5,600, three thousand dollars of which was solicited by Rev. Griffith and the balance was contributed by Mother Thomas. Thus the Church was begun free of debt, and has remained unencumbered ever
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OF CATASAUQUA
since. It was consecrated to the service of God. December 2. 1883. Within a year of its organization the membership of this congregation grew to a hundred or more souls.
The first governing body, called Deacons, consisted of Edward Davies, David Griffith, John Williams, David Thomas, and Richard Thomas, Secretary.
The Rev. Griffith served the congregation as pastor for fourteen years. In 1897 the Rev. Tidwell Williams succeeded him, when this Church was united with the Slatington congregation to constitute a parish.
After a short time followed the Rev. T. C. Davies, another Mr. Davies, and the Rev. T. I. Williams. The present pastor is the Rev. Griffith, who was instru- mental in founding the Church. He preaches a sermon in Welsh at the Sunday morning services and in English at vespers. There are still twenty names on the membership roll.
ST. STEPHEN 'S EPISCOPAL CHURCHL.
The first attempt to establish the Episcopal Church in Cata- sanqua was made by the Rev. F. W. Bartlett, rector of the Church of the Mediator, Allen- town, who held services in the old school house on Willow Street, where for nearly two years the people worshipped reg- ularly. On the removal of the Rev. Mr. Bartlett from Allen- town, the services were held at ST. STEPHEN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH intervals by the Rev. Cortlandt Whitehead, D.D .. then rector of the Church of the Nativity at South Bethlehem, and now Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
In 1873 the Rev. C. E. D. Griffith of the Church of the Mediator, Allentown, took up the work, holding services in the Lehigh Valley station for nearly two years, when he removed from the diocese. After this time no efforts were made
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THE HISTORY
to continue the services for ten years. 1875 to 1885, when the present Bishop of Georgia, the Rt. Rev. C. K. Nelson, then rector of the Church of the Nativity, Sonth Bethlehem. came occasionally and administered the Holy Communion.
On Sunday, the 23d day of April, in the afternoon, the Rev. R. II. Kline of Grace Church, Allentown, held a service in the Town Hall, with sixty people present. This service was the begin- ning of a permanent movement, from which the present Church and congregation have
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INTERIOR ST. STEPHEN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
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REV. J. B. MAY
come. Through the devotion of Mr. Kline, with the assistance of Layreaders Packer, Fiehter and Meixwell, services were main- tained in different places, until the coming of Bishop Talbot to the diocese, to whom the Rev. Mr. Kline committed the Mission. Bishop Talbot immediately appointed the Rev. Mr. H. Heigham, Ph. D., who re- mained for two years in charge of the work. Dr. Heigham was succeeded by the Rev. George A. Green in 1900. It was through the untiring energy of the Rev. Mr. Green and the loyalty of the people that the Church building came to be. The lot was the generous gift of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Peckitt. Ground was broken for the
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OF CATASAUQUA
foundation Sept. 25, 1900, and the corner stone laid Sunday, Oct. 28, and the church opened for the first service Easter, Day, April 7, 1901. The church was consecrated on Sunday, May 21, 1905.
In June, 1905, the Rev. Mr. Green removed to Fishkill, New York, to become the rector of St. Andrew's Church at that place. In September, 1905, the present rector, the Rev. James B. May, came to Catasauqua. During this time the church has grown in numbers and influence, and many improvements and additions to the church property and its furniture, including a splendid pipe organ and large vested Choir, have been made. There is a large Sunday School and several other parish organizations.
The church is modeled after the most ancient of British churches, St. Martin's, situated just outside of the walls of Canterbury, and which was restored and used by Bertha, the first Christian Queen of England, about 580 A. D.
ST. JOHN'S UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
The Rev. D. S. Stauffer called a meeting of all persons who severed their connection from the Evangelical Association, October 5, 1894, for the purpose of organizing a new congre- gation.
A. E. Brown was elected chair- man at the meeting, and James Missi- mer, Secretary.
After some discussion a congre- gation was organized and the follow- ing trustees elected : P. J. Heilman, John W. Souder, George Minnich, Sr., James Fahler and C. W. Weibel.
The Class Leaders were :
Class No. 1, P. J. Heilman and George Minnich, Sr.
Class No. 2, J. W. Sonder and Frank Hepner.
Class No. 3, C. W. Weibel and Samuel Missimer.
ST. JOHN UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH
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THE HISTORY
The Officers of the Sunday School were :
Superintendent, (. W. Weibel; Asst. Superintendent, J. W. Souder : Seere- tary, Henry Weibel; Treasurer, George Minnich, Sr.
REV. A. W. WARFEL .
A meeting to consider the ad- visability of erecting a church was held October 30, 1894, and a resolu- tion favoring a new building was adopted.
The building committee consisted of James Fahler, David Graffin, A. E. Brown, C. W. Weibel and P. J. Heil- man.
The corner stone was laid with appropriate services by the Rev. D. S. Stauffer Dec. 2, 1894.
The building was completed and furnished for consecration on March 24, 1895. The present efficient pastor is the Rev. A. W. Warfel.
The following clergy have served St. John's Church :
Rev. D. S. Stauffer
Rev. R. M. Lichtenwalner
Rev. C. D. Huber
Rev. D. P. Longsdorf
Rev. J. Stermer
Rev. R. W. Hand
THE GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCHI.
The Russian Greek Orthodox Catholic Church, called the Holy Trinity Church The First, is located on the corner of Fifth and Liberty Streets.
The congregation was organized in 1899 by a small band of Russian Emi-
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OF CATASAUQUA
grants from upper Hungary, where the oppression and greed of the United Greek elergy and the Magyar government is felt most keenly.
All the holy vessels, vestments, icons (images) and iconostasis (picture
+1
GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH
standing) which adorn the churchly brick edifice of the Greek Church were imported from Russia.
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THE HISTORY
The congregation is composed of Russians mainly from Hungary and Russia, although there are also emigrants from Galitia, Servia and Romania. Some . Greeks and Syrians of Allentown and other towns also attend services on special occasions.
The congregation owns a commodious Parish House located beside the church, and a cemetery adjoining the Allen Union, near Dry Run.
Title to the property is in the name of Archbishop Platon, Archbishop of the Aleutian Islands and of North America.
The priest is under the jurisdiction of the Holy Synod of Russia whose head- quarters are at St. Petersburg, and whose chief representative in this country is His Grace, the Most Reverend Archbishop Platon, seated at New York City.
Rev. Myron Volkay left the Orthodox Greek faith and became a Greek United Roman Catholic priest, which caused this small band of loyalists great concern until their first acknowledged pastor, Father Alexander Nemolovsky, came from southern Russia.
Father Nemolovsky organized the parish, instilled confidence into his people, and "governed and ruled the Church" most successfully for six years, after which he became the Right Reverend Bishop Alexander of Alaska with his residence in New York City.
Then followed : Rector John Kedrovsky, now at Coaldale, Pa., Rector Val- dimir Znosko and Rector Gergins Belozorov, both in Russia : and since June, 1911, the Rev. John Ossipovitch Olshevsky is in charge. He was appointed as parish priest of Catasauqua and Slatington, with a preaching point at Williamstown, by His Grace, the Most Reverend Platon.
About sixty families, scattered throughout the large territory bounded by the Blue Ridge on the north and the South Mountains on the south, constitute this parish.
An adjunct of the Church consists in the Saint Cyrill and Method Russian Orthodox Society composed of over one hundred and twenty members. This brotherhood belongs to the Russian Orthodox Mutual Aid Society of North America.
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OF CATASAUQUA
The officers of the Church are :
President, Joseph Stehnach ; Secretary. John Smajda; Treasurer, John Kresach.
These three men also serve as trustees of the Church.
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ST. ANDREW'S SLOVAK CHURCH.
In the year 1902, the congregation represented by committee, consisting of Mr. John Fischer. Joseph Yurko. Joseph Pasco, Martin Benko, M. Burda, Andrew Posozo. Peter Parlo, W. Boroski, Joseph Farkash, M. Nedorostek and
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THE HISTORY
a few others, asked the late Rt. Rev. A. Msgr. Wm. Heiner, of East Mauch Chunk, Pa., to help them to get their own house of worship, in the most central location of the settlement of the Slovak nationality and Roman Catholic faith. This place was most properly selected at N. Catasauqua. Third St., near the Hokendanqna Bridge.
REV. JOSEPH KASPAREK
The new church under the name of "ST. ANDREW'S ROMAN CATHOLIC SLOVAK CHURCHI" was started in October, 1902, and the people worshipped in the meantime in the John Small building, formally used as a school house of
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OF CATASAUQUA
N. Catasauqua. The church was finished and dedicated in November, 1903. The church is built of best local brick and cost with contents and the lots adjoining it-the whole square-$25,000.00 The first rector of this Church was Rev. Paul JJ. Lisicky, from 1905 to 1912, who during his time built the rectory adjoin- ing the said church for eight thousand dollars.
This congregation comprises Slovak Catholic people from Catasauqua, Fullerton, Hokendauqua, Coplay, Northampton, Siegfried, Cementon, Egypt and Ormrod.
The number of parishioners (souls) is seventeen hundred twenty-six.
The present rector is Rev. Joseph Kasparek.
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THE HISTORY
CHAPTER IV .- SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS.
Church and School are the two inseparable and irresistible forees by which a people are enlightened and a community is prospered in peace and happiness. The first school in Catasauqua was organized in the "Old School" Presbyterian Church with fifteen pupils at some time during the fortics. A gentleman by the name of Landis was the teacher. A Mr. Evans succeeded Mr. Landis.
BUILDINGS.
The first sehool building ereeted within the precinets of the town, according to the tradition of our oldest residents, was a frame structure built by the Crane Iron Company at the corner of Church Street and Limestone Alley. The second building was ereeted by Hanover township at the corner of Union Street and Railroad Alley. Upon its being declared a separate school distriet by the State Legislature in 1859, the Borough became the possessor of this property.
The third building was the Bridge Street school, located at Howertown Avenue and Bridge Street. A Mr. Alfred Cattemore solieited subscriptions for an Academy during 1848 and 1849. To the amount secured the Crane Company advaneed a mortgage loan of twelve hundred dollars for the completion of the building, which was ereeted during 1849. This was the original Bridge Street building, and was regarded as a model school in those days. There were indi- vidual desks equipped with a book shelf and ink-well. The builing also had ceiling ventilators.
In 1856 the trustees resolved to discontinue this as a private school and sold the property to the Catasauqua Sehool Distriet for two thousand five hun- dred thirty dollars. After satisfying the mortgage to the Crane Company, the balance was divided in equal shares between the First and Old School Presby- terian Churches. The trustees were: David Thomas, Robert McIntyre, Samuel Thomas, William Taylor, David Williams, Owen Rice, and John Peter. After
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OF CATASAUQUA
a teunre of forty-seven years, when the Lincoln Building was completed, the Bridge Street property was disposed of at public sale to James W. Fuller for six thousand dollars. This sale was ratified by the Board, JJanuary 5, 1903.
The next school was located on Second and School Streets. It seems this was a substitution for the building on Union Street, but the date of its erection is nowhere traceable. On July 26, 1897. it was sold to Dr. H. Y. Horn for nine- teen hundred dollars. This is now the property of the Lenox Manufacturing Company.
In 1858 the School Board leased the building at the corner of Front and School Streets (now the house of Mr. Frank Hunsicker) from Samuel Messimer
SECOND STREET BUILDING
for one hundred dollars per annum. February 26, 1859, the Board purchased a lot on the corner of Second and Walnut Streets from Adrian Barber for one thousand dollars. Contracts for the new building were awarded, June 9: car- penter work to William Biery, brick and plaster work to Knapp and Miller, brick to David A. Tombler, and lumber to T. H. Moyer. This is a substantial three story building containing six rooms, five of which are occupied at this time.
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THE HISTORY
The Board purchased a lot on Front Street below Wood, April 14, 1868, from John T. Matchette for twenty-five hundred dollars: and erected thereon a two-story building which was sold, after a service of thirty-two years, September 10. 1900, to the St. Lawrence T. A. B. Society for five thousand dollars.
The Board resolved. December 5. 1894, to purchase from the Crane Iron Company the lot on Howertown Avenue and Peach Street for thirty-five hundred dollars. On the third of April, 1896, an additional lot, adjoining the former. was purchased for one thousand dollars. On the 8th of June, 1896. the Borough Council passed an ordinance vacating that portion of Peach Street between the
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THE LINCOLN SCHOOL
two lots. It had previously been resolved, February 10, 1896, to erect a ten- room building on the original plot, but now it was decided to locate the building almost centrally on the enlarged grounds. The architect was Mr. P. Rudrauff, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. ; and the contractors were James Nagle and Son of Allen- town, Pa. The total cost of this property was approximately $35,000.00. This building, called the "Lincoln School," was dedicated March 8, 1897. Dr. E. L. Kemp of the State Normal School at Stroudsburg, Pa., delivered the principal
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OF CATASAUQUA
address. A beautiful "marquee, " which is a greatly valued shelter to the main entrance, was erected during 1909 at a cost of three hundred ninety-five dollars.
The High School was quartered in different buildings at various times. Upon the completion of the Lincoln Building, the problem of its location seemed solved : but a very few years revealed the need of additional room for the grades. The Board resolved, September 1, 1909, to reconstruct and to equip the third floor of the building on Second and Walnut Streets and soon transferred the High School to that building. This afforded no relief, it only transferred the congestion. Already in October, 1909, efforts were made to secure a lot for High School purposes on the corner of Howertown Avenue and Walnut Street. This endeavor failed. During March, 1910, the Board essaved to buy the Koehler lot on Bridge Street and Limestone Alley, but this also defaulted. The Board finally resolved, January 16, 1911, to erect the High School building on the large plot located on Howertown Avenue next to the Lincoln building.
Since the debt on School properties still amounted to $17.377.12, the Board concluded to submit the question of a new High School building and the increase of indebtedness to a vote of the tax-payers. The result of the election was four hundred twenty-five ballots in favor of progress and one hundred eighty opposed. The election was held March 7, 1911. On the 25th of March, Ruhe and Lang. Architects, were engaged to draw plans, etc. Plans having been adopted. the contract for the erection of the building was awarded to Franklin Goldsmith and Son for $35,905. Including plumbing (Schick and Hausman at $2095). ven- tilating system (The Monarch at $3582) and some extras. including equipment, the cost of the whole enterprise was about fifty-five thousand dollars.
The building is a model, fire-proof structure. The auditorium has a seating capacity of six hundred eight. The stage measures twenty by forty-two feet and has dressing rooms on either side besides a centre door opening into a fire-proof stairway leading to the main floor and the school yard in the rear of the building. There is school room capacity sufficient for two hundred fifty students. Thirteen rooms are available for departmental work. The Science department is fully equipped with an "Instructor's Table" and other appliances suitable for experi- ments in Chemistry and Physics. There is also a fully equipped Chemical Labora-
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THE HISTORY
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HIGH SCHOOL
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OF CATASAUQUA
tory in the basement for students' use. The Commercial department is quartered on the second floor front, a large, well lighted room furnished with desks of the latest and most approved pattern and ten type-writers. The Gymnasium is placed in the basement and for the present is equipped for Basket-Ball. There are also a Museum, Alumni Hall, Directors' Room, Library, Superintendent's Office, cloak
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TAYLOR BUILDING
rooms, drinking fountains, lavatories and all other accessories contributing to the comforts of teacher and pupil.
With the annexation of East Catasauqua, as the Third Ward of the Borough, came the accession of that portion of the schools of Hanover Township to the Borough ; and incidentally also an indebtedness of $2277.12. The asset of the Third Ward is, however, a handsome recompense for all her liabilities. In order to enlarge the children's playground, a lot adjoining the Third Ward property was purchased October 6, 1910, from the Davies and Thomas Company for eight hundred ninety-two dollars and fifty cents. February 13, 1913, it was resolved to remodel and enlarge the Third Ward building. Jacoby and Weishample drew plans and F. Goldsmith and Son fulfilled the contract at nine thousand one hundred dollars.
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THE HISTORY
VALUATION AND ASSESSMENTS.
The first authentie records of the valuation placed upon Catasauqua's school properties is dated 1862, and the amount is thirteen thousand five hundred dol- lars. In 1869 the amount was fixed at forty-eight thousand dollars. The tax rate for 1868 was ten mills for the current, and eight mills for the building fund. For 1871 the rate was thirteen and nine mills; for 1872, thirteen and six mills. The valuation for 1875 was sixty-four thousand dollars with an indebtedness of $14.555. In 1877 the rate of taxation was five and two mills; and in 1884 it shift- ed to six and one and one-fourth mills; in 1891, six and three mills; in 1901, eight mills; and in 1913, eleven mills. The property valuation in 1911 was eighty thousand dollars with an indebtedness of $17,214.47, and in 1912, it rose to $130,000 and $62,000 respectively ; and in 1913 the indebtedness stood at $76,- 801.34. The sinking fund held $4198.35.
CURRENT ACCOUNTS AND SALARIES.
For the term of ten months, September 1. 1858, to July 1. 1859. the teachers' salaries ranged from twenty dollars to forty-five dollars per month. In 1859 the Board elected Misses M. A. Davis, M. Duff, and J. Darling "to serve in case they are needed at fifteen dollars per month." In 1860 Mr. Reuben Lichten- walner was elected at twenty dollars per month. The receipts for the year ending March 21, 1862, were $2,236.51 and the current expenditures were $1,969.20. In 1867 the salaries ranged from thirty-three to eighty dollars. The average cost per pupil per annum for 1871 was $8.61. In 1875 the total receipts were $15,010.71 and expenditures $13,875.74. Salaries ranged from thirty dollars to one hundred dollars. For 1895 the report shows : receipts $15,838.74, expendi- tures $15,484.29. For 1913 the receipts were $27,295.09 and expenditures $23,- 215.17. The salaries range from forty-five to one hundred forty-five dollars per month.
ORGANIZATION AND ENROLLMENT.
From the records of County Superintendent, C. W. Cooper, we note that in 1855 the enrollment numbered ninety-seven pupils. The teacher, Stephen Connaton, observed the following program :
Open by hearing "A. B. C."
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OF CATASAUQUA
Reading English Text.
Frost's United States History.
Cobb's Third Reader.
"Spelling in and out of the book."
Writing Copies.
Arithmetic. Clap's Geography. Grammar-occasionally. Close with definitions.
Superintendent Tilghman Good records for teacher HI. O. Clark, 1856 :
Enrollment 43.
Pupils are well classed and instruction is given in writing, reading, grammar, geography, arithmetic, and spelling ...
Geography and grammar are taught daily, except Saturday ...
Tables as often as convenient ...
Progress is slow-attention to books not good-teacher, competent.
The superintendent says of Miss Eliza MeKee that her enrollment was 52 and that the attendance was regular, attention to study good, room clean, well lighted and heated ... Teacher, competent.
Mr. C. H. Russell enrolled 56 and Miss A. E. Butcher, 56. Of both these teachers the records say that they were competent.
The total enrollment in 1868 was: High School, 35, and Grades, 527 scholars. In 1869 the numbers were 40 and 674. The grand total of scholars in attendance during 1871 was 833.
The course of study adopted under Superintendent J. O. Knauss, 1877, provided branches for Primary, Advanced Primary, Secondary, Grammar-First Class and Second Class, and High School (two sections, with two classes in second and three classes in first section).
The total enrollment for the term ending June 30, 1914, is: High School 115; Grades 664.
The percentage of young people attending higher grades a score and more years ago is much higher than at present on account of the many opportunities for the youth of the present day to find employment in stores, factories and offices not then in existence.
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THE HISTORY
HIGH SCHOOL.
The first High School teachers, Mr. W. MeFarland and Miss Kate M. Smith, were elected July 5, 1866. In 1867 a full four years' course of studies was adopted. The first commencement exercises were held in June. 1868, and the graduates were Alletta M. Earle and Frank M. Horn. Both graduated with honors.
In 1873 the Ihigh School course comprised studies for three years' work.
First Year: Written Arithmetic, Writing, Grammar, Natural Philosophy, Algo- bra, Geometry, Composition, Reading, Declamation, Drawing and Watts on the Mind.
Second Year: Spelling. Reading, Writing. Arithmetic, Grammar, Physiology, Algebra, Geometry, Composition, U. S. History, Drawing, Declamation.
Third Year: Spelling, Reading, Writing. Arithmetic, Grammar, U. S. History, Algebra, and Map Drawing.
By way of comparison, in 1911, the following course of study was adopted by the School Board for the High School :
Freshman Year :
1. English.
(a) English Grammar.
(h) English Composition.
(c) English Classics :
1. Irving's Sketch Book.
2. Longfellow's Evangeline.
3. Cooper's Last of the Mohicans.
4. Hawthorne's Twice Told Tales.
2. Mathematics :
(a) Algebra.
(b) Conerete Geometry.
3. Science :
Physical Geography.
4. United States History and Civics.
5. Latin and German.
6. Mechanical Drawing ( Elective).
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OF CATASAUQUA
Sophomore Year :
1. English.
(a) English and American Literature.
(b) English Classies :
1. Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.
2. Eliot's Silas Marner.
3. Scott's Ivanhoe. 4. Coleridge's Ancient Mariner.
2. Mathematics :
(a) Plane Geometry.
(b) Algebra.
3. Science : Botany and Agriculture.
4. History : Ancient and Mediaeval.
5. Latin and German.
6. Mechanical Drawing ( Elective).
Junior Year :
1. English.
(a) Rhetoric.
(b) English Classics :
1. Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.
2. Carlyle's Essay on Burns. 3. Webster's Reply to Hayne.
4. Tennyson's Idylls of the King.
2. Mathematics :
Solid Geometry (Elective).
3. Modern History ( Elective).
4. Science : Physics.
5. batin and German.
6. Higher Algebra (Elective).
7. Mechanical Drawing ( Elective).
Senior Year :
1. English Classics :
1. Burke's Conciliation with the Colonies.
2. Milton's Minor Poems.
3. Shakespeare's Macbeth.
4. Webster's First Bunker Hill Oration.
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THE HISTORY
2. Mathematics :
(a) Review of Plane and Solid Geometry.
(b) Trigonometry or Commercial Arithmetic.
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