USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 87
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provements were made in the interior arrangements and embellish- ments, until it was recognized as one of the finest church edifices in the state, while, with the handsome chapel that was added, it was one of the most complete in accessories and equipment. The chapel was erected by the late George Selden as a memorial to his wife, and was dedicated in February, 1892. The pastors, after Dr. Lyon, were, Rev. A. H. Carrier, who had been Dr. Lyon's assistant, April 30, 1871 ; Rev. T. Chalmers Easton, 1879; Rev. William S. Fulton, 1880; Rev. J. H. Selden, 1889, for a short period, when on December 5, 1889, Rev. Her- bert C. Ross was installed and served until March, 1906, when he re- signed after a period of more than sixteen years.
From time to time there had been some thought given to the sub- ject of uniting the First and Park Presbyterian churches into one body, and upon several occasions it might be said that it had devel- oped into a project. During the end of the decade of the nineties dis- cussion of the feasibility of such a union became active and for a time it appeared as though it might be realized. Both churches than had pastors and a good organization, Park church being especially ener- getic and progressive, but in need of better church facilities. Being located so near together it became a question whether it would not be wisest to effect a consolidation, which, besides proving more eco- nomical would undoubtedly, by concentration greatly increase the strength and efficiency in religious work of the enlarged church or- ganization. However, after being the subject of talk for a consider- able period the project fell through at that time, and Park church was rebuilt. When, however, the resignation of Dr. Ross left the First church without a pastor the consolidation scheme again came to the fore, and developed with rapidity. A majority of the members of both congregations seemed to favor it. On the same evening there were two meetings held, one in the chapel of the First church, the other at Park church, and the ballot at each was by a large majority in favor of the union, which was effected March 28, 1906. A short time later an organization was effected under the name of the North Presbyterian church, and a call was extended to Rev. Dr. B. Canfield Jones who had been pastor of Park church. The call was accepted and the united church started on what appeared to be a career of pros- perity and usefulness. Soon, however, there occurred disagreements, chiefly with regard to the disposition to be made of the property, and after a period it appeared as though there would be no satisfactory settlement of the matters in dispute. Accordingly, steps were taken to dissolve the union, and this was effected on April 17, 1907. the Presbytery restoring the First Presbyterian church to its former au- tonomy, and immediate steps toward a complete organization were taken. Later, the same year, a call was extended to Rev. Robert Cle- ments, which was accepted.
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Park Presbyterian church was organized April 29, 1855. when the first service was held in the hall of the Empire block, Fifth and State streets, with Rev. William Wilson and Rev. S. J. M. Eaton in charge. There were thirty persons present. It was a temporary organization which was made permanent at Gensheimer's hall on June 28, 1855, by a committee appointed by Erie Presbytery. From there the congre- gation moved into Park Hall, on French street, which had been built for their use by Myron Sanford, and was occupied until the comple- tion of a new church on South Park Row-the original of the present church-in the fall of 1857. The dedication took place December 22. of that year. Meanwhile Rev. William M. Blackburn was invited to become "stated supply" of the church, and began his work May 26. 1856. He was an energetic leader, and, efficiently supported, the con- gregation grew rapidly. On May 27, 1857, Mr. Blackburn was in- stalled as pastor, and, with a fine new church as a home and endur- ing interest the church continued to grow. Mr. Blackburn served nine years, and was succeeded May 11, 1864, by Rev. George F. Cain. Under Mr. Blackburn the church had increased to 127 members. Growth continued under Dr. Cain until the roll contained the names of 242 communicants. The history of the church seemed to be one of continued prosperity. In 1842 the manse, at the corner of Sassafras and Seventh streets was purchased, and the activities of the church continued unabated. Dr. Cain resigned in 1870 to go to a church in Philadelphia. His successors have been Rev. J. O. Denniston, 1871 ; Rev. Thomas Fullerton, 1873; Rev. J. G. Patterson, 1886; Rev. J. C. Chapman, 1891 ; Rev. Benj. Canfield Jones, 1895; Rev. S. H. Forrer, the present pastor, in 1908. During Mr. Denniston's pastorate a mis- sion chapel was built at the corner of Seventeenth and Chestnut streets, which became the Chestnut Street Presbyterian church. In 1877, during Dr. Fullerton's administration, the chapel, fronting on Seventh street was built, due largely to the generosity of Elihu Mar- vin. In the year 1899 the main church was enlarged and practically rebuilt, and in 1909 the chapel on Seventh street was taken down to be replaced by a new edifice, rendered necessary by the increasing de- mands of a growing congregation.
Park church was an off-shoot of the "Old First church." The Central Presbyterian church was more directly so. Fifty-four per- sons, members of the First church, decided to separate, and with Rev. C. C. Kimball, who had been associate pastor with Dr. Lyon, on Feb- ruary 23, 1871, organized a new church which was given the name of Central. The meetings were first held in Walther's Hall, and then, until a building of their own was ready for their use, occupied Temper- ance Hall, in the Dreisigaker block. In 1872 a lot was purchased at the corner of Tenth and Sassafras and in August of that year work was begun on a church that was planned to be built of stone. The
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Sunday school section only was completed for the time being, and that was formally dedicated on June 8, 1873. In the new church growth was rapid, but in January, 1888, the building was destroyed by fire. A contract for a new church was made immediately, and the building was completed November 11, 1889, at a cost of $42,000. Mr. Kimball. the pastor at the time of the organization, served until 1878, and was succeeded by Rev. Solon Cobb. In 1895 he resigned and Rev. Hugh L. Hodge was called, and remained until 1909, when he resigned, to be succeeded the same year by Rev. Dr. George F. Bailey, the present pastor. No small measure of the success of the Central Pres- byterian church is due to its excellent Sunday school, which is the work of its very efficient superintendent. Charles C. Shirk, the most capable Sunday school worker that Erie ever possessed. From young manhood he has been identified with this work, and for over 45 years neither his interest nor his efforts have for a moment flagged. With Mr. Shirk's Sunday school for the foundation, Central church's prog- ress was never for a moment in doubt.
Chestnut Street Presbyterian church, like many another enter- prise of a religious character. had its beginning in a Sunday school mission. In July, 1820, a school was opened in the dwelling of C. W. Brown, by three lay members of the First and Park churches, with but a single scholar in attendance. The second Sunday after there was an attendance of seventy-five, and a room was fitted up for the accom- modation of the school. The effort now came into the care of the Y. M. C. A., until December, 1820, when Park church assumed charge. At the end of the first year the membership was 200, when Park church; resolving to make a contribution that would be a memorial of the reunion of the dissevered branches of the Presbyterian church, known as the Old School and the New School, decided to build a chapel for the Chestnut street mission. This was done, and on August 2, 1812, the chapel was dedicated. Rev. J. R. Wilson began to preach early in 1812, and a church was organized in January, 1873, with Mr. Wilson as pastor. He was very successful, and remained until 1879. when he was succeeded by Rev. A. C. Wilson, who served until the end of 1880. From then until 1886 the ministers in charge were Rev. J. D. Kerr, Rev. W. L. Hazlett and Rev. J. H. Edwards. In Novem- ber, 1886, Rev. R. S. Van Cleve became pastor and has served until the present, save that during a period of absence of fifteen months Rev. Geo. F. Reichel filled the pulpit as supply. A new brick church building took the place of the old frame one in 1891, and was dedicated on October 29 of that year.
The Eastminster Presbyterian church, the youngest of that de- nomination in Erie, was begun as a mission Sunday school under the First Presbyterian church, and the prime movers were Samuel F. Selden and Philip Leeche, both connected with the Erie City Iron
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Works, on East avenue. There was an extensive field in the extreme eastern part of the city for an effort of the sort, and these gentlemen, after looking the ground over, decided upon the Metric Metal section. A store room was secured on Payne avenue, and on May 27, 1894, the Metric Mission was organized with thirty scholars in attendance. Mr. Selden was made superintendent. In March, 1895, a movement to secure a building for the school was started. The Metric Metal Co. donated a lot on Seventh street near Payne avenue, and a new chapel was erected and occupied for the first time, June 30, 1895. On the second anniversary in 1896, the mission was reported free from debt. Soon afterwards a permanent name being sought, Mr. E. P. Schoon- maker, a visitor, suggested Eastminster, which was adopted. Mr. Selden died in 1897, when Henry D. Schoonmaker, one of the most active supporters the mission ever had, was chosen to succeed to the place. In 1899 Mr. Leeche was superintendent and during the sun- mer H. W. McCombs, then a theological student, took an active part in the work, winning many friends. In 1902 an addition as large as the original building was erected and Rev. V. P. Young was engaged as minister for a year, Mr. Schoonmaker again serving as superin- tendent. In 1904 Miss Frances McClellan was engaged to devote her time, to the interests of the mission. The next year Rev. A. D. Archi- bald came as minister, but, his health failing, Rev. J. P. Irwin served as supply until May, 1907, when Rev. P. N. Osborne became regular pastor of the church, which was that day organized out of the mission, and became chartered as a permanent body.
For a number of years the United Presbyterian church had con- ducted a mission Sunday school on East Eighteenth street, which, in 1884, it was decided to abandon. To save it the session of Park church decided to assume its control and support. For four years rooms were rented, but in 1889 land was bought and a building erected, in which services were regularly continued for years. In 1901 Miss Laura G. Sanford donated, for a mission, a piece of land on Ninth street near Cascade. During the same year, the workers in the East Eighteenth street mission, having decided to transfer their efforts to the new mission on the west side, the property on Eighteenth street was sold, and the proceeds of the sale were devoted to the erection of a chapel on the Sanford donation. This was begun in 1901 and dedicated in January, 1902, under the name of the Sanford chapel, this name be- stowed in honor of Miss Sanford and Mrs. M. Sanford, who had con- tributed three-fourths of the value of the property-the cost of the chapel was $6,600. While it remained a mission its interests were looked after by Rey. Robert G. Freeman (now pastor of Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian church, Buffalo), Rev. Robert Leech, Rev. Hugh Rendall, then divinity students, and Rev. Julius W. Brockway. who also served the Presbyterian church at Fairview. On November 15,
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1906, Sanford Presbyterian church was organized and Rev. Julius W. Brockway became its regular pastor, continuing still in that relation. Sanford church in 1909 had a membership of 200, largely young people, and a strong Sunday school.
A mission that had been established by the First U. P. church as the Southwest Mission, during the years of 1898-99 erected a church building at the corner of Twenty-second street and Brown avenue, the funds being raised by voluntary contributions supplemented when the church was near completion by a bequest from the estate of the late Samuel Pollock. The first service of preaching was on Thanks- giving Day, 1899, by Rev. H. L. Hodge of Central Presbyterian church. Pursuant to a petition presented to Lake Presbytery on December 12, 1899, a commission met a short time afterwards in the church and decided to take it under the care of the Board of Home Missions of the United Presbyterian Church of North America. On July 20, 1900, it was permanently organized under the name of the Brown Avenue Presbyterian church, with a membership of 42; MI. R. Barr, G. L. Dunn, J. A. Davidson and William B. Munn, elders, and C. J. Brown, J. F. Lawrence, A. F. Myers, George Frater and George E. Gibson, trustees. This church has always had a flourishing Sunday school superintended successively by Wm. B. Munn, J. A. Davidson and George E. Gibson. Rev. J. A. Henderson was called as first pastor, and began in September, 1900. Rev. Geo. W. Bovard succeeded May 1, 1903. The membership, 1909, was 102.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church claims an earlier origin than any other of the Protestant churches of Erie, dating back to 1808, when a number of Pennsylvania Germans came together in Eagle Village (then, to be sure, some considerable distance out of Erie) and effected an organization. The history of the early years of the church is not in the form of a well connected story, for the meetings were held in private houses, served by missionaries, and perhaps at irregular intervals. In 1835, however, a reorganization was effected upon a permanent basis and Rev. Karl F. Stohlmann was called as pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Michael Kuchler. Under Pastor Stohlmann the church secured the gift of a full city block, upon which Pastor Kuchler had the first Lutheran church building erected in 1842. Rev. F. P. Feysel succeeded, in 1845, and Rev. C. G. Stuebgen in 1848. During the administration of the latter (May 6, 1850) St. John's congregation was incorporated. Rev. F. W. Weiskotten, 1853. and Rev. C. A. Brockmann, 1855, were succeeded in 1859 by Rev. Jacob Blass, during whose successful term a new brick church was erected on the land deeded to the church by Conrad Brown, at the corner of Twenty-third and Peach streets, as we know these streets today. The new church was dedicated September 14, 1862. Rev. Wilhelm Schae-
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fer became pastor in 1863; Rev. G. Beck in 1866, but died during the same year ; Rev. C. F. Boehner in 1867, the parsonage being built dur- ing his term of service, which extended to 1872. In that year Rev. Adolph Leopold Benze came to St. John's from a very successful pastorate at Warren, Pa. He was able, efficient, faithful and very much beloved by a congregation that grew to be the largest in Erie, and the mother church of a numerous brood. The church thrived in every way under his directing care. The church edifice was altered and greatly enlarged in 1884. He died January 18. 1891, his pastorate being much the longest in the history of the church. His successor. the present pastor, is his son, Gustave .\. Benze, who was installed February 18, 1891. The congregation had again outgrown the church The Sunday school alone numbered 200, the largest in Erie. Accord- ingly another large addition was made, and this was dedicated in 1897. It is one of the largest Lutheran churches in the country. St. John's united with the Pittsburg Synod in 1898. The centennial anniversary of St. John's was celebrated August 16 to 21, 1908, and at that time it was reported that the regular communicants numbered 1,200; the contributing members of the congregation, 1,355; and the individuals in the families regularly connected, 3,500.
The various churches of the same denomination in Erie sprang from St. John's. The first church to be organized out of the parent body was that known at first as the English Evangelical Lutheran church. The reason for this swarming from the original hive was un- doubtedly the matter of the language. In St. John's the official tongue is the German, though in recent years the English is coming steadily and increasingly into use. But in 1861, when the First English Luth- eran church was brought into being it was different. The church was organized through the efforts of Rev. J. H. W. Stuckenberg and had for its first elders M. Brown and Henry Gingrich, and John T. Brown and Henry Werther were deacons. There was a membership of 11 to start with, who left the parent church with the cordial blessings of St. John's. At first meetings were held in a frame building in Eagle Village, but land was immediately secured and a frame church build- ing, erected on the corner of Eleventh and Peach streets, was dedi- cated in 1864. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Stuckenberg, enlisted in the Union army as chaplain of the 145th Pennsylvania regiment, the pulpit being filled by supply until his return. The pastors who succeeded were Rev. J. L. Smith, 1866: Rev. J. R. Groff, 1872; Rev. J. H. Bruning, 1874; Rev. T. O. Baker, 1881. Rev. Mr. Baker's term was the longest pastorate in the history of the Lutheran church in Erie. He was an energetic man and the church grew rapidly so that in 1887, to meet the requirements a handsome new brick church was built and dedi- cated on June 5, 1887, as the Luther Memorial church. Growth con- tinued, but the policy of setting up new churches was adopted with sat-
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isfactory results. Rev. Mr. Baker resigned in 1906, and is now pastor of a church in Washington, D. C. He was succeeded by Rev. G. Franklin Gehr, the present pastor.
Zion's Lutheran church was the first offset from Luther Me- morial, and was organized in 1890 as a Sunday school and shortly after- wards erected a building on Poplar street between Nineteenth and Twentieth, became a regular church and was given in charge of Rev. W. E. Frey, who has continued to be its pastor until the present time. The membership of Zion's church is 260 communicants.
In 1893 another missionary effort of Luther Memorial became successful by taking on permanency. It was called Grace Mission; it is now Grace church. It started as a Sunday school, as most of the recently organized churches did, and soon grew into a regular church organization. The meeting-house, erected soon after the church was formed, is on the corner of Tenth and Wayne streets, and it has 130 communicants and 158 Sunday school scholars.
St. Stephen's Lutheran church is a daughter of St. John's, and was begun as a Sunday school in 1893. In 1896 it became self-sup- porting and in 1898 was organized as a congregation. Early in its history A. L. Benze, then a theological student, served it ministerially, but when it became organized, Rev. C. Theodore Benze was chosen as pastor and continued to fill that important place until elected presi- dent of Thiel College in the summer of 1909. It owns a lot and a plain but serviceable church and has 187 communicants. Rev. L. O. Benze was appointed in September, 1909.
St. Matthew's Lutheran church is the youngest of the offshoots of St. John's in Erie. In 1901 a Sunday school was begun in a rented shop on Poplar street near Eighth. In a short time it was deemed advisable to procure a permanent location, and this was found in the former Baptist chapel on the corner of Seventh and Cascade streets, which was dedicated as St. Matthew's church on Luther's birthday, November 10, 1901. It was organized as a congregation October 30, 1904, with Rev. J. J. Neudoerffer as pastor, who is still in service.
The Church of the Redeemer has had a varied experience since it was organized in 1892. At that time it was of the Emanuel Synod, and, with Rev. H. K. Müller as pastor erected the church building on Twenty-third street near Parade. Afterwards it was reorganized as the Church of the Redeemer, under Rev. J. Schubert, and affiliated with the Missouri Synod. Rev. Mr. Reichter succeeded in 1907, but in the spring of 1908 the congregation united with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Pittsburg, and became incorporated under its new name. Rev. J. J. Neudoerffer, of St. Matthew's, supplied the pulpit until Rev. J. A. Beighey was called in October, 1908. The congrega- tion then numbered 74, and the communicants 43, but the church is growing. Services are in German and English, the Sunday school
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taught in both languages and the Luther League employing English only.
Swedish Lutheran Bethany church was organized and incor- porated in 1885, connected with the Augustana Synod, and built its first church on Tenth street near German in 1890. Rev. C. S. Renius was the first pastor, and at the conclusion of his term of service the membership numbered about 150. In 1895 Mr. Renius retired and for a year or two the church was supplied with theological students, Rev. John V. Carlson assuming charge as regular pastor in 1897. He was succeeded in 1903 by Rev. Olaf Glim, for two years, when, in 1905, the present pastor, Rev. G. E. Forsberg, took charge. In 1906 the lot on the corner of Tenth and German was bought and work begun on a handsome modern brick church, which was completed and dedicated in 1907. The church property, valued at $38,000, includes three lots at Tenth and German on which are erected the church and a fine par- sonage, and a lot with a neat brick chapel on the road between the Buffalo and Lake roads (that property being valued at $2,000). The congregation numbers 684, and the communicants 350.
The Finnish Lutheran church was organized in 1898, and meets in a hall at No. 115 Plum street. The pastor is Rev. F. V. Kava, who lives at Ashtabula, and gives the church in Erie two Sundays each month. The trustees of the church are Isaac Heittiko, John Karhu, Jacob Tammi, Jacob Komulainen, Edward Holmstrom, David Aho, and Jolin Heittiko. There are 200 Finnish families in Erie.
The German Evangelical Trinity Lutheran church was organized in the fall of 1881 by ministers of the Missouri Synod, a congregation of five members being formed in December of that year. Rev. H. Sieck was installed as pastor early in 1882; a house was rented at Sixth and Myrtle streets and meetings held there. In the latter part of 1882, a lot was bought on Eleventh street between Myrtle and Chestnut, upon which a small frame building was erected. Rev. Mr. Sieck was succeeded in 1886 by Rev. C. Morhart; Rev. C. Ruppel came in 1892 ; Rev. George Johannes in 1895; Rev. T. S. Keyl in 1899 ; Rev. R. von Niebelschuetz in 1905, and Rev. M. H. Hemann, the present pastor in October, 1908. A new brick church was begun in 1905, the old church having been removed to the back part of the lot and converted into a parochial school, and in 1906 the twenty-fifth or jubilee anniversary of the organization was celebrated by the dedica- tion of the new church. The congregation numbers 500, and the com- municating members 260, while there are 45 scholars in the parochial school.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church, of a different connection, however, than the Lutheran churches hitherto considered, was organ- ized in 1850, with Rev. H. F. Hartmann as pastor. Originally it was composed of twenty members of St. John's Lutheran church, who
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separated amicably, and it is attached to the German Evangelical Synod of North America. In 1851 a brick church was erected on Peach street between Tenth and Eleventh. The pastors, after Mr. Hart- mann, were: 1852, C. Goehling; 1856, W. Hasskarl; 1851, Z. Faber, who died while pastor; 1858, F. R. Ludwig; 1859, J. W. Semler, who also died while in service ; 1869, J. Keller; 1871. E. Jung ; 1876. Valen- tine Kern. Rev. Mr. Kern served St. Paul's for thirty years, during a period marked by progress and prosperity. In 1879 a large addition was undertaken and the rededication took place in June, 1880; in 1882 a parsonage was built ; in 1883 a fine Sunday school chapel was erected. Mr. Kern resigned in 1906, when a call was extended to Rev. F. W. A. Eiermann. The next year extensive betterments were effected by which the church was entirely remodeled and a large addition built, at a cost of $23.000. A Christian Endeavor society was organized, and under Mr. Eiermann the church took on renewed activity. The con- gregation numbers about 1,200, and is one of the largest Protestant bodies in Erie.
St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran church is an offshoot of St. Paul's, and was organized in November, 1896. In April, 1897, Rev. G. D. Bruegel, D. D., became pastor. The church built by the Uni- versalist society in 1844, being then unoccupied, was rented until December, 1897, when it was bought and thoroughly overhauled. Rev. Mr. Bruegel closed his service with St. Luke's in 1899, and died a few years later and was buried in Erie cemetery. Rev. J. H. Asbeck, Ph. D., followed, being installed in July. 1900, but resigned in May, 1904. Rev. J. G. Schulz followed in August, 1904, and served until June. 1906, when he resigned, and Rev. Frederick H. Krafft was called and took charge in December, 1906. He came from Troy, Ohio. There were additional church improvements made during his term, includ- ing a fine new organ, and lighting by electricity. The membership of the church includes 200 families.
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