USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > Century history of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Vol. I > Part 77
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The congregation was known as Speers Spring until the elose of Dr. MeCahon's pastorate. It was called the Canonsburg Associate Reformed church until the forma- tion of tho United Presbyterian denomination in 1858. For many years the society was known popularly as the Bridge chureh, from the fact that its brick building, erected in 1831, stood near the bridge over Chartiers Creek at the end of East Pike street, on the present site of Speers Spring Cemetery. This structure was enlarged in 1851. The building was used as a place of worship for fifty-five years, being torn down after the erection of the present edifiee in Greenside avenue. This structure was erected in 1885, during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. John S. Speer, and dedieated March 25, 1886. The build- ing and lot cost abont $17,000. The congregation is one of the strongest in the community. It has 454 eommuni- cants.
First Presbyterian Church of Canonsburg-In 1830 the Presbyteriau presbytery of Ohio (now Pittsburg presby- tery) organized a distriet congregation in Canonsburg, called "The Presbyterian Congregation of Canonsburg." The society worshipped in the chapel of Jefferson College, the presidents of which institution performed the office of pastor when the congregation was without a regular installed minister.
The Rev. Robert L. Brackenridge was the first regu- larly installed pastor, having been installed December
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12, 1845. He resigned two years later. The Rev. A. B. Brown, was installed pastor in 1848, and remained in charge until April, 1857, when, on account of ill health, he resigned. The third pastor was the Rev. David H. Riddle, who served from 1863 to 1868. He was succeeded in 1870 by the Rev. W. F. Brown, who remained six years. The Rev. J. M. Smith was installed in the cen- tennial year, and remained twelve years, resigning in November, 1888.
At the time of Mr. Smith's retirement the congrega- tion decided to vacate the college chapel, and for a year or two worshipped in the Coliseum opera house. Out of about 320 members all left the college chapel but seventy, and those who went out took with them the charter name and franchise. In 1889 property in Cen- tral avenue was purchased and the present building, which occupies the site of the old Olome Institute, was erected. The corner stone was laid August 22, 1889, and the congregation first occupied the building on June 22, 1890, on which date Rev. Charles H. Pridgeon was installed pastor. The church building, including the grounds, cost about $32,000. The Rev. Mr. Pridgeon continued as pastor until December 1, 1901, when he resigned. The next pastor, the Rev. Robert Howard Taylor, was installed in 1902 and remained until 1906. The present pastor, the Rev. A. E. Linn, was installed October 5, 1906. The church has 454 members.
Central Presbyterian Church of Canonsburg is one of Canonsburg's younger church organizations, but while it has not a very lengthy history, it has during the twen- ty years of its existence, done effective work in the cause of Christianity. The Central congregation was organized December 1, 1888, at the time the Presbyterian congre- gation of Canonsburg vacated the Jefferson Academy buildings as a place of worship. The organization started with a membership of seventy, who decided to remain, but it has had a steady and permanent growth, and while not the largest numerically, it is one of the most active in the community. At every communion season but one in the past thirteen years new members have been re- ceived. The Sabbath School started with a membership of forty, but it, too, has grown greatly. The first pas- tor was the Rev. L. M. Lewis, who was installed Novem- ber 1, 1889, and remained until 1896, when he resigned. The present pastor is the Rev. J. M. Work, who was installed in November, 1896. This congregation has no church building of its own, but worships in the chapel of the Jefferson College buildings, where the Presby- terians have worshipped since March, 1833, when the "new college building" was erected, making a college hall 60x90 fect, always known as Providence Hall. Early in 1908, as a result of evangelistic meetings conducted at the Pennsylvania Reform School at Mor- ganza, between 200 and 300 of the inmates of that in-
stitution were received as members of the congregation. Before these were received the congregation numbered 252.
Methodist Episcopal Church of Canonsburg-In 1845 J. C. Pershing, who later became a well-known clergyman and educator of Pittsburg, was a student at Jefferson College. Being a Methodist and apparently alone in that faith among the hundreds of students, he cast about to find others of his religious views, and came upon one John Hagerty, a stone mason; and these, finding a few others whose views were akin to their own, formed a class which for some time met at the home of Mr. Hagerty. A little later a missionary named Sutton was sent into this field, and he preached at the town hall in Central avenue on alternate Sundays. During the next two years others were added to the society, and in 1847, on ground donated by John Ramsey on the east side of "Back" street, now Greenside avenue, was erected a modest brick chapel, which stood until the spring of 1907.
The Methodist congregation was associated with the Fawcett congregation, near Bridgeville, until 1878, when it was made a separate station.
The old chapel in Greenside avenue was abandoned in 1888 for the present building at the corner of West Pike street and Iron street, which was built by the con- gregation in 1887-8. This building was formally dedi- cated to public worship on April 22, 1888. The Canons- burg charge has 310 members.
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church of Canonsburg- The Catholic Church had little hold in the community until after the industrial development which began in the eighties. For several years following 1887 services were held at intervals. Later a room was secured in the Kerr Building, now the First National Bank Building, and services held once a month, and later more frequently. In the spring of 1891 the Catholics purchased the old brick building in Greenside avenue, which in 1888 had been vacated by the Methodist congregation. The build- ing was remodeled, and on April 12 of that year was dedicated by the Rev. J. F. Regis Canevin, now bishop of the diocese of Pittsburg, assisted by the Rev. Father Doyle, of Washington. At this time there was a mem- bership of about 100. For several years services were held twice a month, these being conducted by the Rev. F. J. Doherty, who was also in charge of St. Agatha's Church at Bridgeville.
In the spring of 1903, however, Canonsburg was made a separate parish, and the Rev. Apolonius Tyszka placed in charge. He is still the head of the church here. The present building in Greenside avenue was erected during 1905 and 1906, the corner stone being laid May 30 of the latter year. The church was formally dedicated with imposing ceremony on Sunday, April 7, 1907. The structure seats 500 or more, and is usually crowded at the services. The building cost about $30,000.
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Old Catholic Church of Cauonsburg-Tho Old Catholie congregation owus a house of worship iu East Collego street, tho priest iu charge being the Rev. Paul Urban, who located hero four years ago and organized tho so- ciety of which he has since been in charge. Tho memher- ship at present is not as largo as it was formerly. The first building, erected in 1905, was destroyed by fire on tho night of July 4, 1907, but later auother building was erected.
According to statistics furnished by Dr. H. K. Carroll, late special agent of the United States census, this de- nominatiou had iu 1908 ouly three priests, five churches and 425 communicants in the United States.
St. Thomas' Episcopal of Canonsburg-St. Thomas' Protestant Episcopal Church was organized October 1, 1890, tho late Dauiel Day being oue of the moving spirits in effecting the organization. The society started with a membership of fifteen, hut has grown materially since that time. For a decade or a little more public worship was conducted in various halls, the Rev. Fred C. Cowper beiug stated supply. However, a lot was pur- · chased about 1900 in Jefferson avenue, and the present brick structure was erected the uext year. The huild- ing was completed late in 1902 and formally opeued for worship Deeeuther 20, 1902. Its dimensions are 25x58 feet and the cost was about $5,000. Bishop Cortlandt Whitehead conducted the opening exercises. The rectors have heen the Revs. C. M. Young, S. E. Swan and Thomas L. Josephs, the latter being in charge at the present time. The church has seventy communicants.
First Baptist Church of Canonshurg-A little more than three years ago, a few Baptists held cottage prayer- meetings in their homes. A little later a room for Sun- day services was secured over Minton's drug store, and the first sermon was preached by Rev. W. Courson, pas- tor of the Allisou Avenue Baptist Church of Washington. David Morris supplied for Rev. Mr. Courson the uext day. On the third Sunday, the services were conducted by Mr. Morris, at that time a student in Washington and Jefferson Academy. Mr. Morris has continued with the eliureh as pastor since that time. On the fourth Sunday, the congregation was far larger than the room could hold, so it was decided to move into the MeNary hall, and on the second Sunday of February, 1906, in this hall, the First Baptist Church of Canonshurg was formally organized with ten memhers. Since then the work lias prospered with God's favor, until the memher- ship has reached a hundred, and a Bihle school with au enrollment of 130. On May 31, 1908, the beautiful and commodious building in North Jefferson avenue was dedicated, with all the expense provided for and most of it already paid.
Evangelieal Lutheran Church of Canonshurg - The Evangelical Lutherans of Canonshurg have maintained
an organization for a number of years. The society has no houso of worship of its own, but meets on alternato Sundays in the Grand Army of the Republic hall, in Cen- tral avenue. Tho Rev. B. F. Schilliuger, of Martins Ferry, Ohio, is in charge.
Christian Church of Canonsburg-The Christian con- gregation of Canonsburg maintained regular Sunday services for several years, the Rev. J. F. White, of Wash- ington, beiug in charge. Owing, however, to being com- pelled to vacato their hall in the Ritchie diamond, on account of the remodeling of tho building, services have not heeu held for about a year. The society owns a lot in West College street, aud may later ereet a church building upon it.
Payne A. M. E. Church of Canonsburg-The colored people of Canonsburg have long maintained a house of worship, and generally they have heen fortunate iu hav- ing wen of ability iu the capacity of pastor. The first religious organization of the colored people in this viein- ity was temporarily effected at Morganza, and the wor- shippers for some time met at private houses. As 110 records aro known to exist, it is impossible to fix the date of this early organization with any degree of ae- curacy. It is helieved, however, to have heen as carly as 1833. Some years later a permanent organization as a Methodist Episcopal congregation was effected, with the Rev. S. Chinguian as pastor.
In 1853 or 1854 the congregation petitioned the Penn- sylvania Legislature to invest a hody of trustees with the title to a piece of land lying on the western edge of town, which had heen owned hy John Chase, a colored man who had died intestate without known kindred. The petition was grauted and the property assigned them for the purpose of erecting a church, and also as a place of sepulture.
In 1855 the corner stone of a brick building in Payne alley was laid, and this building was occupied for almost fifty years. In 1875 the building was remodeled, but some years ago it became too small, and steps were taken to erect a new house of worship. The new build- ing was completed and dedicated in May, 1903, and is a commodious and neat edifice, Rev. C. A. McGee is the present pastor, having succeeded Rev. W. S. Lowry. Other recent pastors have been T. E. Wilson and G. G. Skinner.
Mt. Olivet Baptist (Colored) Church of Canonsburg- The Mt. Olivet congregation was organized about eight years ago. At first services were held in a room in the Ritchie diamond, but later the frame sehool huilding, in the rear of the Central Avenue Schoolhouse, was se- cured, aud here serviees were held until the congregation. huilt, in 1908, a comfortable frame building in Vine street. This huilding was dedicated in the summer of that year. The Rev. H. Holdeu is the pastor in charge.
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Secret Societies and other orders are as follows: Chartiers Lodge, No. 297, F. & A. M .; Canonsburg Lodge, No. 846, B. P. O. E .; Aerie, No. 861, F. O. E .; Canonsburg Lodge, No. 893, I. O. O. F .; Canonsburg Lodge, No. 204, K. of P .; Canonsburg Council, No. 544, Royal Arcanum; Lilly of the Valley, Foresters of Amer- ica; Paxton Post, No. 126, G. A. R .; John R. Paxton Camp, No. 117, Sons of Veterans.
INDUSTRIES.
Industries are the making of any town, and they have been the making of Canonsburg. Withont the mills and factories that have been located here during comparative- ly recent years public improvements would not have come, and Canonsburg would still be a little country village. The industries of Canonsburg employ about 2,000 men and pay out about $1,500,000 annually in wages. The beneficial effect of this amount of money at stated in- tervals in the community can hardly be estimated. It keeps the wheels of trade going and makes the town the solid little city that it is.
But the industries now here were not secured without hard and persistent work on the part of the people of the town and surrounding country. They include a sheet iron and steel mill, tinplate mill, structural iron works, pottery, stamping works, casket works and some minor manufactories.
The Canonsburg Steel and Iron Works was the first industry, on a large scale, erected in the Chartiers Valley. It has run unusually steady since it was put in operation, over twenty-six years ago, and has paid out many hun- dred thousands of dollars to its hundreds of employees during that period. It is today one of Canonsburg's chief industries, and gives employment to 300 or 400 men: Its monthly payroll is about $30,000. Its location here in the early eighties gave Canonsburg a boom-some- thing with which the town was altogether unacquainted, and caused a large amount of building. Every branch of trade was stimulated, and the whole town and com- munity took on new life. Before that time Canons- burg had no industry that employed more than twelve or fifteen workmen. The mill also brought many new people to town, and cansed a brisk demand for houses.
About the first of April, 1882, an offer was made to the citizens of Canonsburg by parties in Pittsburg to locate a rolling mill here, provided the people would raise the sum of $50,000. An effort was immediately made, and by the 3d of May the required sum had been secured. In this work Samuel Munel took an active part, and solicited subscriptions untiringly.
When the $50,000 subscription had been raised, the Pittsburgers were notified, and a meeting was held in that city on May 11, at which a company was organized
with a capital of $150,000, and the following officers and directors elected: John Ewing, president; L. A. Meyran, secretary; Charles H. Taylor, treasurer ;. H. S. Duncan and Samuel Munnel. The new company pur- chased a site of eleven and a half acres from William Ewing and S. B. McPeak, and ground was broken during the summer.
The work of erecting the buildings was prosecuted with vigor, and the plant put in operation January 1, 1883. At first about 200 men were employed, but during the following years the mill was enlarged, and at different times it has expanded. Mr. Meyran, one of the company's principal officials, died in the fall of 1891. John F. Budke, now the president of the company, became asso- ciated with the industry in the eighties, and he has been most successful in its management.
The mill ran steadily, and from time to time its equip- ment was increased, until 1899, when the American Tin- plate Company, usually designated as the trust, secured this plant along with many others in the country. Within a short time the mill was closed down, and there were frequent rumors, during the next two or three years, that it would be dismantled. In July, 1902, John F. Budke, who had formerly been superintendent of the plant, in- terested other in a project to purchase the works from the American Tinplate Company, and the deal was con- summated, the price paid the trust being $125,000, against $325,000 which the trust had paid the local company for the plant three years before. The new company effected an organization July 28, 1902, under the name of the Canonsburg Steel and Iron Works, with a capital stock of $250,000, which was over-subscribed to the amount of $25,000. John F. Budke was elected president; John M. Watson, vice-president and general manager ; George W. Retberg, secretary, and W. H. Pax- ton, treasurer. New machinery was purchased and labor- saving devices installed, and after these improvements had been made the mill was again placed in operation and has since that time run almost constantly. The com- pany owns almost twelve acres of ground, about one-half of which is covered with buildings. During 1907 the mill was again remodeled.
The officers elected in 1902 are still in charge of the business. The Budke Stamping Works, although owned and operated by a separate company, is closely allied to the steel and iron plant and uses a considerable amount of the material turned out by the older and larger mill.
Budke Stamping Works-In 1882 J. F. Budke, J. K. Mitchell and H. T. Halleck bought the old Coliseum skat- ing rink, opposite the railroad station, and converted it into a plant for the manufacture of powder kegs, elbow pipe, dripping pans, etc., the concern being popularly known as the "keg factory." The plant furnished work for a considerable number of men and boys. Mitchell
11.11
CANONSBURG POTTERY
FORT PITT BRIDGE WORKS. CANONSBURG
CANONSBURG STEEL AND IRON WORKS. CANONSBURG
M. A. HA
2014
PITTSBURG AND BUFFALO COAL TIPPLE. CANONSBURG
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1
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
purchased Haleck's interest and Budke and Mitchell sold to the Canonsburg Steel and Iron Co. In 1889 a brick building was erected east of the iron and steel works and the machinery and equipment moved to that place. When the Canonsburg Steel and Iron mill was sold in 1889 to the American Tinplate Company, the owners of the keg factory moved that concern to Park- ersburg, W. Va. However, after the iron and steel mill had been purchased back from the trust by John F. Budke and other local people, in 1902, a company was organized under the name of the Budke Stamping Works, with Mr. Budke at its head, aud this company has since operated the plant. It gives employment to a consider- able number of men and boys, and large quantities of elbow pipe, dripping pans and other sheet-tin material are manufactured. For years the plant has operated steadily. Shipments are made to all parts of the coun- try. The officers of the company are John F. Budke, president ; George W. Retberg, secretary, and Frank W. Budke, assistant seeretary and superintendent.
Fort Pitt Bridge Works-This concern is one of the prineipal industries of the Chartiers valley. Located here in 1894 as the Pittsburg Architectural Iron Works, it has expanded wonderfully and has been enlarged time and again. Hard work was required to secure the plant here, but the town was greatly rewarded for the efforts put forth fifteen years ago. The Messrs. Butz, of Pitts- burg, in the spring of 1894 made a proposition to the people of Canonsburg offering to locate the plant here if certain conditions were complied with. These eondi- tions ineluded a free building site not less than 400 by 650 feet, a cash bonus of $5,000, the people of the town to purehase fifty shares of stock of $100 per share, and purchase at par $25,000 worth of first mortgage bonds. The plant was to employ not less than 250 men. The conditions were met by the people of Canonsburg through the Canonsburg Land and Improvement Company, which was formed at that time, and which optioned and pur- ehased the 185-acre Black Bros. farm adjoining South Canonsburg for about $30,000. The farm was laid out in building lots and many of the lots sold during the months of April and May, 1904. On May 25 the loca- tion was insured here of the plant, the papers being signed that day. Ground was broken for the buildings July 25, and the work steadily pushed to completion.
The plant, however, was to undergo change of man- agement before it was to be successfully operated. The Pittsburg Structural Iron Company evidently was unable to finance so large a concern and on February 8, 1896, the plant and machinery were sold by the sheriff at the suit of the U. Baird Machine Company, of Pittsburg, the price being $100, subject to numerous liens. The purchaser was William Eberhart, of Pittsburg, who bought the plant for the Fort Pitt Bridge Works, which
then obtained control and took over the management. After some improvements had been made to the plant, it was placed in operation, this being iu the summer of 1896. The works are equipped with all modern mna- chiinery and appliances. Sinee then the plant has been operated successfully, and many large contraets have been turned out. The company manufactures structural steel and iron for bridges and large structures.
The number of employes varies, according to the state of the iron and steel business and there has been as many as 700 inen on the payroll. Offices are maintained in Pittsburg, New York and Chieago. Theodore A. Straub is general manager of the company's plant, and E. H. Beazell, superintendent. Some of the recent large river bridges erected on the Washington County line were erected by this company.
The Canonsburg Pottery Company was located here in 1900 under the name of the Canonsburg China Com- pany, chartered February 21, 1900. Efforts to secure this industry were begun in 1899, wheu stock was sub- seribed by local people. October 11, 1899, sufficient stock had been subscribed to insure the location of the pottery here, and on that date an organization was effected by electing the following board of directors: W. S. George, Jr., Samuel Munnel, John L. Cockins, C. C. Johnson and D. R. MaeDonald. John L. Coekins was chosen president of that organization; C. C. John- son, secretary and treasurer, and W. S. George, manager.
The pottery was seeured for Canonsburg by local par- ties who interested Mr. George, whose residence was then, as now, at East Palestine, O., in the project. Papers were signed January 22, 1900, and the contraet let for the building April 17, following, to Taylor & Crawford for $18,192. The contract for laying of the 11,000,000 brick was sub-let by Taylor & Crawford to James F. Speer. The total cost of the plant, including the equipment, was about $50,000.
The pottery was placed in operation at the beginning of 1901, and has run steadily since that time. Originally a ten-kilu plant, the pottery has been inercased until today there are a total of 13 kilns, seven of these being ware kilns and six decorating kilns. The pottery has a normal capacity of a quarter of a million dollars an- nually with a payroll of $10,000 a month, or from $100,- 000 to $120,000 a year. In the neighborhood of 200 employes are furnished work.
Two clays are imported from abroad, while other clays come from Florida, North Carolina, Delaware, New Jersey and Kentucky. There is always a ready demand for the produets of the plant, which include high-grade semi- porcelain dinner and toilet wares, fancy shapes, plain and decorated, eable and D. T. hotel wares and deco- rated specialties. Almost one-half of the output of this industry is shipped direet to New York City, while the
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remainder goes to the Southwest, Middle West and Northwest. Quite a large portion is sent to Kentucky, and from there distributed throughout the Southwest. The company has never had any trouble to find a market for its goods, and, consequently, has lost no time on ac- count of a lack of business.
Recently the business of this company was purchased from the Canonsburg China Company by the Canons- burg Pottery Company, which was granted a charter March 2, 1909, last, with a capital stock of $150,000. The stock is now held principally by local people. At a meeting of the directors held March 17 of the present year W. S. George was elected president; John George, vice president; James Shaw, secretary, and John C. Morgan, treasurer. W. S. George is general manager of the company and John George, a practical potter, is superintendent of the plant.
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