USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 27
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
The first Methodist society in this vicinity was organized in 1810, but there had been stated services here by circuit riders from 1802. The first effort of Methodists to own a church building was January 19, 1816, when Richard McAllister, William Burton, Alex- ander Glasgow, Ludwig Kelly, Jacob Allen and William Musgrave, as trustees of the Methodist Society of Harrisburg, entered into articles of agreement with Joseph Mitchell for the purchase of a lot on Pine street marked 90 and 91 in the borough plan, thirty-eight feet front on Pine street, and running back a depth of one hundred and five feet, for the sum of two thousand dollars. This lot is part of that now occupied by the Pine Street Presbyterian Church build- ing. These trustees paid in cash the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars and seventy-five cents, and agreed to convey to Mitchell lot No. 207, bounded by Third street, Mulberry and Cherry alleys, which they had, prior to that time, bought for the use of the Method- ist society, as part of the consideration for the Pine street lot. The Methodist society entered upon this lot under their article of agree- ment, and altered and arranged a two-story brick house erected thereon for use as a meeting-house, and there held their stated and devotional services for several years. This lot after various pro- ceedings in the law was finally sold by the sheriff to satisfy a claim of Frederick Kelker, assignee of Samuel Gehrman, vs. Joseph Finley, who had owned the ground, and encumbered it before it was sold to Joseph Mitchell. It was sold in December term, 1818, for the sum of seven hundred and two dollars, to George Pearson and Jacob M. Haldeman, and the deed made to them February 3, 1819.
After vacating this building the congregation worshiped in a small one-story log house, on the southeast side of Locust street, be- tween Second street and River alley, and afterwards in the school- house of Mr. Maginnis, a one-story frame building which formerly stood in Raspberry alley, east of Chestnut street, on the lot subse- quently owned by Jacob Miley. In October, 1818, the following persons composed the church: John Funk, Joseph Mitchell, Jane Mitchell, John Bond, Rebecca Bond, Harriet Henry, Amelia Henry, William Musgrave, B. Barret, John Hosler, Alexander Buffington, John Rigg, Jane Wood, E. Wood, Louisa Power, Jacob M. Awl, Aurora Callender, Mary McMichael, George Linketter, John Bur- kett.
In 1820 the society erected the brick building on the eastern corner of South and Second streets, at a cost of fifteen hundred dol- lars. The trustees were then John Funk, John Bond, and James
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Gallagher. It was dedicated in December, 1820; the preachers on the circuit being Rev. J. Gruber and Rev. H. G. King. It con- tinued to be a circuit church until 1834, when it became a station, with Rev. Francis Hodgson as pastor. The congregation then numbered one hundred and seventy-five. A few years subsequent to the erection of this building some unknown persons entered it at night and, with an auger, bored holes in the sills of the church. These they filled with powder, which they ignited by slow matches, and the explosion that resulted shattered the pulpit. The governor of the state and the town council each offered a reward of one hun- dred dollars, but the perpetrators of the deed were never discov- ered. The outrage excited such sympathy that by means of the liberal donations of money which flowed in the congregation was not only enabled to construct a new pulpit, but also to pay a large debt on the church edifice itself.
On June 16, 1836, the society was incorporated by the supreme court under the corporate name of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Harrisburg, Maclaysburg and vicinity. The property consisted of the church building and the burying ground on North street, which was afterward taken by the borough authorities and is now built upon. In 1837 they purchased a lot on Locust street from Dr. Luther Reily, seventy-five by seventy-eight feet nine inches, for the sum of $1,600. It had erected thereon a church building, origin- ally owned and built by the Unitarians. The trustees at this time were Jacob Awl, John Davies, John A. Bigler, Joseph Black, Henry Antes, James Canning, Alexander Buffington and Jacob Ettla. On this lot a church building was erected at a cost of $8,5 12 .- 16. It was dedicated August, 1839. The society then numbered 209 members. The old church on Second street was sold to the United Brethren, who, after occupying it several years conveyed it to the Sons of Temperance, who greatly enlarged and improved it, subsequently passing into the possession of the Jewish congregation.
Locust Street Church was remodeled in 1852. The edifice be- coming too small, it was decided to erect a more spacious one. Ground was secured on West State street, corner of Myrtle avenue, and the present Grace Church building commenced, and the corner-stone laid in 1871. On the 28th of December, 1873, the chapel was dedicated by Bishop Simpson, while the main building was consecrated on the 10th of March, 1878. The lot on which the church was erected cost nineteen thousand six hundred dollars, and the structure one hundred and five thousand dollars.
This edifice is still in use. When the State House was burned in
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February, 1897, this church was occupied by the State Legislature during one session.
Methodist Church. Rex Francis Mentesen DD Faster.
Methodist Church on Locust Street, between Court Avenue and Third Street.
The above was the beginning of Methodism in Harrisburg. To-day there are seven Methodist Episcopal societies, including Ridge Avenue, formed in 1861; Mt. Pleasant Church, formed in 1869; Fifth Street Church, organized in 1871 ; St. Paul's, formed in 1860; Thirteenth Street Church, which erected a $40,000 edifice in 1905, at the corner of Thirteenth and Vernon streets; St. Luke's, Cumberland street.
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was the title chosen in 1816, by Rev. Richard Allen and his associates in Philadelphia, when what is known as "Bethel" connection was first formed, and in order to make the proper distinction and to avoid controversy the word "Zion" was subsequently made a part of the title. From this time every year the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church held its two annual conferences in New York and Philadelphia. In the meantime Rev. Christopher Rush, born in North Carolina, but a resident of New York City, from 1798, had been elected superinten- dent, and the connection in Pennsylvania had grown to extensive proportions, so in 1830, when the Philadelphia conference met, the churches represented were: Philadelphia, membership, 382; Attle- borough, 27; New Market, 15; Shippensburg, 17; Chambersburg, 72; York, 40; Swatara, or Middletown, 40; Reed's Gap, 9; Lewis-
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town, 35; Bellefonte, 27; Jersey Shore, 17; Williamsport, 14; Huntingdon, 31 ; and ( for the first time) Harrisburg, 115 ; making in Pennsylvania 841 members.
The Wesley Union Church, containing then one-seventh of the whole state membership, was organized on the 20th of August, 1829, by Elder Jacob D. Richardson, Deacon David Stevens, and a brother named Dorsey. Rev. Richardson's home was York, Pennsylvania, but he removed to Harrisburg. The organization took place in a log building at the corner of Third and Mulberry streets.
At this conference in 1830, Rev. David Stevens, of Harrisburg, who lately deceased, was ordained an elder and appointed to the charge of what was then styled the Harrisburg Circuit, composed of New Market, Chambersburg, Shippensburg, York, Swatara or Middletown, and Harrisburg. Under Elder Stevens were Deacon David H. Crosby, Deacon Samuel Johnson, and Preacher George Galbraith, who, though he afterwards became superintendent of the connection, was that year admitted only as a preacher on trial. His widow is still living in Harrisburg, an honored representative of the good man who so long and so faithfully served the church.
The ministers in charge of Wesley Union Church, following Rev. David Stevens in the log building, were Jacob D. Richardson, George Galbraith, Thomas Jones, and others whose names we have not been able to secure. In the meantime the old log church was enlarged, being lengthened sixteen feet, under the immediate direc- tion of Rev. Jacob D. Richardson and Rev. David Stevens. In order to eke out his salary and at the same time afford opportunity to the colored children to secure the blessings of education, Rev. Jacob D. Richardson opened in the old log church (Third street) a day- school, the compensation for which was paid by the commissioners of Dauphin county, Messrs. Archibald Orme, John Imshoffstall, and Abraham Bombaugh; but in November, 1832, they informed the teacher that "in future the colored children under his tuition shall be taught in the Lancasterian school (Walnut, opposite Short street), as the law directs, and that the commissioners will hereafter allow him no compensation for teaching said children." It is an interesting fact that the colored chidren were removed to the Lancasterian school. One of "the boys," Joseph B. Popel, one of the sanitary officers of the city, is yet living. This was evidently subsequent to the time when the Wesley Union Church had been made a "station" or entitled to the services of a resident pastor. This congregation in- creased in members, and realized that they must remove their church property further up in the city, more readily to meet the convenience of the membership. After considerable delay a lot was purchased
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from the Forster estate at the corner of Short and South streets, and including Tanner's alley, and a small, plain brick edifice was erected at the junction of Tanner's alley and South street, facing on Tanner's alley. This building was a great improvement upon the old log church, which had outlived its day. Into the new building the congregation removed on Sunday, November 24, 1839. The pastor in charge at this time was Rev. David Stevens, the first and last in the old church and the first in the new, and there were present to take part in the interesting dedicatory services the first elder set apart in Pennsylvania and one of the founders of the African Me- thodist Episcopal Zion connection in this State, Rev. Edward John- son, of Philadelphia, Rev. Jacob D. Richardson, and others. Here, with varying success, this congregation worshiped until 1860. The needs of the increasing population and their better circumstances forced upon them at this time the propriety of enlarging the house of worship or of entirely rebuilding. This latter was determined upon in view of the fact that the church lot was capacious enough for any needed church improvement. The war of the Rebellion break- ing out in 1861, it was impossible then to carry out the idea; but in 1862 the present brick edifice was completed, facing not as for- merly, on the alley, but on South street. In the interval of building, the congregation worshiped in the hall, Tanner's alley. The first pastor in "the little church around the corner" was Rev. David Stevens; the first in the new edifice, Rev. Abram Cole. In 1886, a new church was built on the same ground, which served until 1895, when the present edifice was erected. It is a modern brick structure.
THE CHURCH OF GOD.
The Church of God (Union Bethel) at Harrisburg, was es- tablished in 1826-7, by Rev. John Winebrenner, formerly pastor .of the First Reformed Church. In 1827, his followers in Harris- burg, having formed a congregation, erected a neat brick edifice on Mulberry street, between Front and Second streets. The building was forty by fifty-five feet, with a basement story, and remained standing until the summer of 1858. In 1854 the congregation erected a church edifice of brick at the corner of Fourth street and Strawberry alley. This building is still in use. The lot on which the first edifice stood was later occupied by the South Ward public school. The first pastor of this church, Rev. John Winebrenner, was the founder of the sect known at first as "Winebrennarians," but always against his wishes; so later it was and is universally styled "Church of God." (See Middletown Church history for its origin ) .
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All Workers' Bethel: In 1869 a mission and Sunday-school were established by the Union Bethel at the corner of Broad and Second streets. Henry C. Demming was superintendent of the school .. In the spring of 1871 George Yousling secured ground and erected the church edifice on Two-and-a-half street, corner of Calder.
Nagle Street Bethel, on Hanna, near Race street, was an out- growth of Union Bethel and All Workers' Church. It had its origin in the Sunday-school held by Henry C. Demming, at the house of B. F. Bear; it was opened in 1871. A lot forty by sixty feet was secured on which the church building was erected, thirty-four by fifty-seven feet. It was dedicated February 7, 1875.
Other buildings for worship by the denomination are the church edifices on Walnut, North and Cumberland streets.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church is a pioneer in Harrisburg. The earliest reference to the work of the Episcopal Church in Dau- phin county is made in the report of the church missionary at Lan- caster, Rev. Thomas Barton, who was sent to this section by the So- ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The headquarters of this society was London, England. The date of Mr. Barton's report was November 10, 1766; in this he says "Mr. John Cox, a merchant of Philadelphia, by a deed granted to the Society, gave a lot for church purposes in Estherton, lying northwest of Lan- caster, about forty miles, on the Susquehanna, where there are several families belonging to the church, who are at too great a dis- tance from any stated mission to attend divine services This gentle- man has also promised to give twenty pounds himself, and to col- lect one hundred pounds more among his friends in Philadelphia, towards building a church upon said lot, and his lady engages to furnish it with a good bell."
There is no record of any such church having been erected, but the above society appointed a missionary to travel about from one vacant church to another, and Estherton was included on his circuit. Although Estherton was older than Harris' Ferry, the latter place took the lead; but there must have been at one time established ser- vices there, as it is stated that Bishop White preached there on sev- eral occasions.
The first Episcopal service enjoyed by the people of Harrisburg was rendered by the Rev. William A. Muhlenberg, D. D., then rector of St. James, at Lancaster, who from December, 1823, to June, 1824, officiated here once each month in the old log church sit-
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uated on the corner of Third street and Cherry alley, which was given by the Reformed Church. The vestry was organized in 1825, and admitted to the convention at Reading in 1826. The vestry was composed of John B. Cox, William Mileham, John Depui, James Peacock, George Fisher, William Putnam, James Buchanan,
Episcopal Church Rev .. JA.Cott, Pastor.
Episcopal Church, Harrisburg.
Alexander C. Wilson, James Woodman, Samuel Bryan, John E. Forster, and Joseph Curzen. At that date but six families could be found here avowing themselves Episcopalians. The corner-stone of their brick edifice was laid with imposing Masonic rites on St. John's Day, June 24, 1826. It was consecrated May 9, 1827. This building stands on Front street, below Pine. Fifty pews were rented, and twenty-five persons were confirmed at the opening day in 1827. With additions and improvements this old building still answers the requirements, and one beholding it would scarce believe it more than a quarter of a century old, but it is now about four-score years old.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, an outgrowth of St. Stephen's, dates from 1857. The building was erected in 1858, and is still used by this congregation.
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ST. PATRICK'S PRO-CATHEDRAL PARISH.
The first Catholic congregation organized in Dauphin County, according to a sketch of the parish written in 1897, was located within the present limits of the city of Harrisburg. As early as ISIO "Sylvan Heights" was church property. Apparently a chapel must have been in existence then, as the Jesuit Fathers from Cone- wago visited here at stated intervals and held services. The first Catholic cemetery was located on Allison's Hill, now "Sylvan Heights." At a later date this property must have been sold, but was purchased a second time by the Rt. Rev. J. F. Shanahan, first Bishop of Harrisburg.
In 1824 Father Levy, pastor at Lewistown, who, as well as Father Diven from Carlisle, attended to the spiritual wants of the Catholics of Harrisburg, took the first steps towards erecting a church by soliciting contributions from the men employed on the Pennsylvania canal. One year later the Rev. Michael Curran ar- rived from Mt. St. Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he had been a short time previously ordained, to assist Father Levy, and was subsequently appointed pastor.
The earliest official records of St. Patrick's Church begin with 1827. Several deaths, baptisms and marriages are recorded for that year. The original church, which later was transformed into the pro-cathedral, was built under the direction of the architect, Mr. William Rodrigue, a brother-in-law of Archbishop Hughes, at a cost estimated at six thousand five hundred dollars. The land upon which the church now stands was bought from George W. Harris and Mary E. Harris, his wife, who by deed dated November 17, 1824, for the consideration of four hundred dollars, "granted and conveyed unto Rt. Rev. Henry Conwell, Catholic Bishop of Phila- delphia, all those two certain lots of ground situate in Maclaysburg, County of Dauphin, bounded and described as follows : One lot be- ginning at a post on the corner of State street and Appletree (now Church) alley, thence by said alley 170 feet to Liberty alley, thence by the same 53 feet and nine inches, to corner of lot 22, thence by the same 170 feet, to State street, thence by the same 53 feet and nine inches to the beginning, containing one-fourth of an acre, marked and known on general plan of said town with the number 2I. Also one other lot beginning at a post on corner of lot last described, same dimensions as, and side by side with, lot 21, being the same lots which William Maclay Hall, surviving executor of Hester Hall, de- ceased, by his indenture dated October 18, 1824, granted to George W. Harris." The property whereon the parochial residence now
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stands was by deed dated April 27, 1840, for the consideration of one dollar, "granted and conveyed by Michael Bourke and Mary, his wife, to Rt. Rev. Francis Patrick Kendrick (sic) Roman Catholic Bishop of Philadelphia." The dimensions of the lot thus donated are one hundred seventy feet by twenty-six feet three inches, and of the total of church property on State street one hundred seventy feet by one hundred thirty-three feet nine inches.
St. Patrick's Church.
An interesting historical note by Father Curran, on the first page of the general register, informs us that "on the 2 1st day of Oc- tober, 1827, the church at Harrisburg was dedicated under the in- vocation of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, by Rt. Rev. Henry Con- well, D. D., Bishop of Philadelphia, assisted by Very Rev. Father Hurley, V. G., and Rev. Michael Curran, pastor of said congrega- tion. There were also present four priests and three clerics from Emmitsburg, Maryland, who during the solemn mass celebrated by the Rev. Pastor Curran, assisted by deacon, sub-deacon and servers, admirably rendered several choice specimens of musical composition. After the Gospel the Very Rev. Vicar General delivered a most elo- quent and powerful sermon on the text, 'Because seeing they see not,
19
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and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand' (Matthew xiii :3) against the errors of ancient philosophers and modern soph- ists. The conclusion contained a pathetic allusion to the dedication, and to the Real Presence. The city of Harrisburg has never wit- nessed, nor perhaps for a long time to come shall it witness, anything so magnificent. 'To God Alone Be Honor and Glory.' "
Before there was a Catholic church building in this county, the King of France, or his eldest son, donated a considerable sum of money with which to build a church for the pioneer Catholics. This was done in acknowledgment of the compliment paid his family in naming this county "Dauphin." However, for some reason, the money thus given was never utilized for this purpose. From 1827 to 1836, Father Curran's name as pastor occurs at intervals in the Register. Most of the entries for 1828 and 1829 are signed by Rev. Patrick Duffy. That Father Curran was in charge of the par- ish even during these years appears certain from an entry of June 23, 1828, in which he signs himself pastor, while Father Duffy's name appears on the register for June 27, 1828, with the title "Pr.," prob- ably meaning presbyter or priest. A possible explanation of Father Duffy's presence during those years may be that the number of Cath- olics employed on the construction of the Pennsylvania canal, opened in 1831, was temporarily increased so as to require the services of an assistant. The name of Rev. Patrick Leary, with the title of "Sacerdos," appears three times among the entries of 1828. In no other year does it reappear.
Following Father Curran's death, at Astoria, Long Island, came Father John Foley, who, after a few months, was succeeded by Father Pierce Maher. Father Foley had charge of the congrega- tion from February, 1836, to March, 1837. A deed in the parish archives dated July 1, 1848, states that the "Rev. Michael Curran, of the city and state of New York," conveyed a portion of the prop- erty on which the parochial school now stands, to Rev. Pierce Maher. Father Curran presumably resigned his charge about the beginning of the year 1836, and retired to New York, where he still lived in 1848. The Rev. Pierce Maher assumed charge of the parish June 5, 1837. This fact is noted in the second register of marriages and baptisms as follows: "Reverendus Piercius Maher, curam hujus congregatioris assumpsit die quinto Junii, A. D. 1837." During the long period of his pastorate, from 1837 to 1868, the congregation appears to have grown at a rate far in excess of normal. Twenty- six baptisms are recorded in 1838, and one hundred and eight in 1868. In thirty years, therefore, the congregation quadrupled, or from about five hundred increased to over two thousand souls. Not-
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withstanding the growth of the parish, the original church built by Father Curran remained unchanged until the resignation of Father Maher, in the latter part of 1868. The pastoral residence built by him in 1854 was about all the improvement he made.
Father Maher was succeeded by Rev. R. J. Barry about Sep- tember, 1868, and the latter by the Rev. F. Bastible in October, 1870. Father Bastible died in 1872 at Sylvan Heights, and about the beginning of 1873 the Rev. M. J. McBride was appointed pastor of what had now become the cathedral parish of the Diocese of Har- risburg. This diocese was erected in 1868, and its first Bishop, the Rt. Rev. J. F. Shanahan, D. D., was consecrated July 12 of the same year. St. Patrick's Church became the pro-cathedral of the new diocese.
From documents in the church archives it appears improvements were contemplated by Bishop Shanahan soon after his installment. Little was accomplished, however, during the brief administration of Fathers Barry and Bastible. Not before the appointment of Father McBride were extensive changes undertaken. More room was ยท needed and Father McBride extended the seating capacity to seven hundred people. A large sanctuary for diocesan functions was also provided, and the entrance formerly facing Liberty street changed to State street.
In 1882 the parochial school was built on land purchased from the Rev. Pierce Maher and May Agatha Helfer. The first Catholic school in Harrisburg dates to the early days of St. Patrick's parish. Sisters of Charity from Emmitsburg opened a school in a small house situated on part of the property now used for the same purpose, dur- ing Father Curran's administration.
Father McBride had charge of the parish up to the year 1891, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Shanahan. In May, 1893, Rev. Germanus Kohl was appointed pastor by Bishop McGovorn, and from that date to April 26, 1899, he performed the duties of that office. He was succeeded by Rev. Father Hassett, the present pastor.
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