USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume II > Part 3
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On the completion of the Broad Street Bridge in 1871, the west side of Monocacy creek, which had been separated by a gorge from Bethlehem which made it a natural barrier, became available for homes. The growth of the population became rapid and at a meeting held March 15, 1886, the question of incorporation of the borough was discussed. A majority of the citizens being in favor of the proposition, a charter was obtained, and became effective September 16, 1886, under the title of West Bethlehem, including the district heretofore known as Old South Bethlehem. At a borough elec- tion held November 2, 1886, Marcus C. Felter was elected burgess. He served three years and was succeeded by George H. Young for three years. Mr. Felter again was burgess for five years; Leo A. Stem, three years ; J. A. Eberts, three years; and A. C. Huff, one year.
A fire department was organized in 1887, styled Monocacy Hose Com- pany. After a corporate existence of eighteen years, West Bethlehem was consolidated with Bethlehem, August 16, 1904, becoming the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Wards of that borough.
In the decades between 1870 and 1890, the Bethlehems regained their industrial and financial life, which had been crippled by the disturbances caused by the panic of 1873. By the efforts of the newly constituted board of trade, great industrial enterprises were attracted and located in their midst- steel, silk, hosiery and worsted establishments becoming permanent local industries. The memorable smallpox scourge of 1882 was an unprecedented ordeal of that dreaded disease. In March of that year it became an epidemic, spreading at an appalling rate. Many weeks of tribulation passed before it disappeared.
Then came the dawn of the era of electricity. The Bethlehem Electric Light Company was incorporated in September, 1883, and at the close of the year their first private service was introduced. The borough gave its first contract for lighting the streets in February, 1885. The Saucon Electric Light Company of South Bethlehem was organized, and in April, 1886, was incorporated. The clamor of years brought Bethlehem's curbstone market to an end; a market house was formally opened November 10, 1884, and occupied by the venders three days later. An imposing building was also erected on the south side for the purposes of a public market. Street im- provements commenced to be agitated in 1884 and measures were taken to macadamize them. The first charter for a street railway was taken out in
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1887, and in April 16, 1891, the electric railways on the streets of the borough were legally authorized. In that year the first electric car entered Bethlehem from Allentown, crossing Broad street bridge to New street. On October 8th of the same year the cars passed over the Church street and Main street lines. In September, 1891, the first exhibition was held on the grounds of the Bethlehem Fair and Driving Association. The free postal delivery was introduced into Bethlehem in 1887, and in November, three years later, in South Bethlehem.
Improvements were made in fire protection and the water supply. A new fire company was formed in 1884 in the north part of the borough, and was named Fairview Hose Company No. 4. The water supply was improved in 1889 by the introduction of the third of the successive pumps at the Beth- lehem Iron Works. It was of far greater capacity than the preceding ones. A large iron storage tank was built near the one crected in 1872. The South Bethlehem Gas and Water Company constructed two large reservoirs above the site of St. Luke's Hospital. Experiments were made for the draw- ing of water from the Lehigh, filtered through the gravel from the river-bed. Two pumps, with a combined capacity of 7,000,000 gallons daily, were in- stalled, and a reservoir built, capable of holding 15,000,000 gallons, which was supplied by a pumping station erected in 1898-99 on the south bank of the river.
The growth of the population called for an increase in educational facili- ties. The Penn schoolhouse was erected in the summer of 1888 on the east corner of Main and Fairview streets. The Jefferson schoolhouse, corner of Maple and North streets, was finished and ready for occupancy in the autumn of 1890. The old Wall street building was demolished in 1892 and the George Neisser schoolhouse was built on its site and named in honor of Bethlehem's first schoolmaster in 1742. The one hundred and fiftieth anni- versary of the beginning of the Moravian missions to the heathens was observed with appropriate ceremonies August 21, 1882. The celebration of the one hundredth and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Bethlehem commenced with services being held in the original log cabin, Christmas Eve, 1891. The week of June 20-25, 1892, was set aside by the authorities for the official celebration of the event. Religious services were held, chil- dren's parades inaugurated, and a grand procession on the last day. Historic tablets were placed on eighteen buildings and sites. The population of the three boroughs in 1890 was as follows: Bethlehem, 6,750; South Bethlehem, 10.386; West Bethlehem, 2,757-totaling, 19,893.
The first chapel in the Gemein Haus was used by the Moravians until 1751, when on July 10th of that year a new chapel of unhewn stone was built. This chapel forms the west side of Moravian road on Church street. Its walls were adorned with paintings by the Moravian artist, Valentine Hardt, representing incidents in the Saviour's life. The chapel remained in use until the consecration of a church, May 18, 1806, on Church, corner of Main street, which was erected at the cost of $70,000. This church, which was 145 feet on Church street with a frontage of 75 feet on Main street at the time of its construction, was looked upon as one of the wonders of the county, it having the greatest width of unsupported ceiling of any building
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in the State. The church, which was known as the Central Moravian Church, was entirely renovated in 1867. The Moravian chapel mentioned above was again devoted to religious purposes in 1856, its interior entirely renovated, and was used for services in the German language, which was discontinued in 1917.
The following clergymen other than bishops were engaged in ministerial work in Bethlehem from 1742 to 1844: Anthony Seiffert, Daniel Pryzelius, John C. Pyrlaeus, Christian H. Rauch, Samuel Krause, Jolin M. Graff, Amadeus P. Thrane, John A. Huebner, John A. Klingsohr, Jacob Van Vleck, Christian F. Schaaf, Charles F. Seidel, John F. Frueauff, Lewis D. de Schweinitz, John G. Herman and George F. Bahnson.
After the incorporation of the Moravian church, new rules were adopted, which remained unaltered until 1890. The Rev. C. F. Seidel retired in December, and Bishop William Henry Van Vleck took his place as senior pastor, and Rev. Lewis F. Kaufman became junior pastor. The death of Bishop Van Vleck in 1853 recalled the veteran Pastor Seidel from his retire- ment, until the arrival of the Rev. Samuel Reinke, who had served as senior pastor from 1844 to 1847 under the old organization. His second term existed only from November, 1853, to November, 1854, and the junior pastor, Kauf- mann, retired in September, 1855. After a temporary supply of the pastorate Rev. H. Shultz and Rev. David Bigler took charge of the congregation, commencing their duties in the latter part of 1855, the first as a German preacher, the second as an English preacher. The first-named remained until June, 1865, the last-named until 1864. The congregation was in charge from the above mentioned date to 1855 of Bishop Edward de Schweinitz, who was succeeded by Bishop J. Mortimer Levering, the latter being assitsed by Rev. Morris W. Lerbert. Bishop Levering was succeeded in 1892 by Rev. Arthur D. Thaeler, who resigned in 1918 to become principal of Nazareth Hall. The present pastor is Rev. D. S. H. Gapp.
The Moravians established a Sabbath school in a district school in South Bethlehem, May 1, 1859, and the number in attendance was eleven. A month after the opening of the school, preaching was commenced and was continued until 1861 by different members of the faculty of Moravian College and Theological Seminary. In that year Rev. L. F. Kauffmann was appointed pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. F. F. Hagen, who held divine worship November 20, 1864, in the first church edifice erected by the Mora- vians in South Bethlehem. It stood on the present campus of Lehigh University in 1865, and is known as Christmas Hall.
A plain brick church was built in 1867 on Elin street near Packer avenue. It was opened for divine worship March 9, 1868, Rev. H. J. Van Vleck being in charge of the congregation since the resignation of Rev. F. F. Hagen, March 12, 1866. Rev. Van Vleck was succeeded in June, 1874, by Rev. William H. Oerton. The services were originally held in the Ger man language, but on April 26, 1868, an English congregation was formed, under the charge of Rev. J. Albert Rondthaler. The German service was discontinued a few years ago, and a new church was built in 1910. For a number of years the Rev. D. H. E. Stocker was in charge of the congrega- tion, and was succeeded in 1919 by Rev. Arthur Francke.
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The first religious activities on the west side of Bethlehem, formerly known as West Bethlehem, were begun among the canal boatmen, who tied up over Sunday in the town. The movement was started at the instance of the Philadelphia Sabbath Association, the Rev. William Eberman officiating at the first of a series of services held in a room over a store in old South Bethlehemn.
The students of the Moravian Theological Seminary held prayer meet- ings in 1859 in the old Vineyard street schoolhouse. The following year, on May 6th, a Sunday school was opened with thirty scholars, and this was the beginning of the West Bethlehem Moravian Sunday School. A move- ment was started in 1877 looking to the erection of a church, but nothing was undertaken until August 6, 1883, when the cornerstone was laid for a building on Third avenue. The chapel was formally dedicated and became known as the Moravian Chapel. Alterations and improvements were made in 1890, and it was reopened January 25, 1891. Rev. F. W. Stenzel, of Zoar, Minnesota, accepted a call as first assistant pastor of Bethlehem's Moravian congregation and assumed the oversight of the West End Chapel. He was succeeded June 25. 1911, by Rev. William H. Fluck, who was succeeded in 1917 in charge of the congregation by Rev. D. C. Meinnert.
The cornerstone of the Laurel Street Moravian Chapel was laid October 9, 1887, and in December of that year the building was completed. The consecration took place December 11, 1887; Bishop Edward de Schweinitz officiated on the occasion, and the following Sunday he died suddenly at his home on Church street. For a number of ycars Rev. J. Taylor Hamilton, then a professor in the Moravian College and Theological Seminary, now president of that institution, conducted services in the Laurel Street Chapel. Rev. George J. Crist, who was second assistant pastor of the Moravian church in Bethlehem in 1900, had charge of the congregation, and was suc- ceeded in 1905 by Rev. N. E. Kemper.
The theological students of the Seminary in 1904 opened a Sunday school in Edgeboro, a recently annexed suburh of Bethlehem. Services were after- wards conducted. and in 1917 a chapel was erected. Rev. Dr. W. V. Moses, a member of the faculty of the Moravian College and Seminary, was placed in charge of the congregation.
Members of the Lutheran church began to settle in Bethlehem in the middle of the nineteenth century, and as their number increased they felt the necessity of making provision for the worship of God according to their faith. In 1849 a number of preliminary meetings were held, which resulted in the organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Bethlehem. In October, 1849, the first regular service was held in the upper hall of the Armory on Broad street. The sermon on this occasion was delivered by Rev. Joshua Jaeger, of Allentown. The Rev. J. W. Richards, of Easton, visited Bethlehem. December 26, 1849, to assist in forming a constitution for a Union Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed church to be called Salem, to be built in the borough of Bethlehem, in which divine worship was to be conducted in the German and English languages. The Moravians were friendly to the movers of the effort and assisted in the project. The draft was signed by Rev. J. W. Richards, Lutheran minister; Rev. J. C. NORTH .- 1-29.
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Becker, Reformed minister; Rev. H. A. Schultz, Moravian minister, and a number of laymen. The constitution of the Union church was adopted August 24, 1850. The congregations worshipped alternately in the Armory. Efforts being successful in raising funds to build a church home, a site on High street was purchased from the Moravians; on September 1, 1850, the cornerstone was laid, and on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1851, the church was consecrated to the service of the Triune God. At this time the church had no steeple, clock, bell or pews. The windows were square at the top, port- able wooden benches were used as seats, and the church was lighted by common tallow candles.
For a time the congregation was supplied by the Rev. J. W. Richards, the first regular pastor being C. F. Welden, who entered on his duties in November, 1851. The congregation secured a charter September 27, 1852, and the same year a steeple was added to the building, in which a clock was placed, and in course of time the windows were altered to Gothic and the whole interior frescoed.
In the spring of 1865, after serving the congregation for fourteen years, Pastor Welden resigned and was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Rath. The separa- tion of the congregations was proposed July 8, 1867, and on June 22, 1868, it was effected. The Lutherans paid the Reformed congregation $4,850, and old Salem Church became entirely Lutheran. From this time religious services were held by the Lutherans every Sunday in both the German and English languages.
The third pastor, F. W. Weiskotten, assumed charge of the congregation in February, 1873, and two years later it was resolved to raise funds to crect a new and more commodious house of worship, as the present one was inadequate for the large and growing congregation of six hundred souls. The old Salem Church was dismantled and the present church was erected. Rev. F. W. Weiskotten resigned in 1881, and was succeeded by Rev. Enoch Smith, who gave way in 1892 to Rev. C. F. W. Hoppe, who resigned in 1909, and the following year Rev. H. C. Kline took charge of the congregation. The parsonage was first occupied by the present pastor in December, 1910. The official title of the church is the Evangelical Lutheran Salem Church.
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, on East Broad street, was the fruition of a desire for Lutheran services in English. In the early part of 1872, Rev. J. B. Rath, then pastor of Salem Church, whose ministrations were almost exclusively in the German tongue, expressed himself as strongly in favor of services in the language of the children, but found little support for their introduction. He expressed his disappointment on a certain occa- sion to John B. Zimmele, one of his active laymen, who, the very next morning, took up the need of such services with a number of members, and found them willing to assist even to the extent of forming, if need be, a separate congregation. Their desire was duly presented to the mother church and formal permission was granted them to go ahead with the movement. On Reformation Day, October 31, 1872, the society was organized under the name and title of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church by enrolling eighty- eight persons, adopting a constitution and electing officers. On that same eventful evening, Rev. J. B. Rath was unanimously chosen and called as the
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first pastor of this, the only English Lutheran Church outside of Easton in Northampton county.
Prior to this the present site had been secured at a cost of $3;000, ground broken for a church edifice, and the cornerstone laid, the date of the last- mentioned event having been August 25. The basement was first completed and was consecrated on the first Sunday of January, 1873. This served as a place of worship until the completion and dedication of the main sanctuary, exactly twelve months later. The first auxiliary organization to be formed was a Ladies' Aid Society; and in this connection it is interesting to note that two years later they requested permission to furnish for the pastor a suitable robe. Permission having been granted, one was imported from London, England. It is still in good condition, and is a cherished heirloom of the congregation.
Rev. Rath served faithfully and successfully until his death, August 5, 1885. For one year the pastorate remained vacant, the pulpit being supplied by a number of clergymen, among them being the late Prof. Matthias Richards. D.D. Finally, on August 1, 1886, the Rev. Charles H. Hemsath assumed charge of the congregation and continued until the close of 1890. He was succeeded by the Rev. Franklin F. Fry, who entered upon his duties on New Year's Day, 1891, and served until October 15, 1901. During his incumbency the entire church building was extended sixteen feet, to provide additional chancel space on the main auditorium floor and meeting rooms in the basement; the Sunday school department was enlarged and rearranged ; and the present parsonage acquired and remodeled. The improvements thus made and the refurnishings necessitated an outlay of upwards of $20,000. On November 20, 1901, the congregation called Rev. Aden B. Mac- Intosh, of Spring City, to the pastorate. He accepted, and assumed the charge on the first day of the following year. During 1904 the church was again remodeled, this time by adding the present imposing stone front and beautifying the interior. At the same time improvements were made to the parsonage. These together cost in the vicinity of $27,000. In 1912, Rev. MacIntosh resigned to accept a call to Norristown. Then, following a brief vacancy, Rev. Harry P. Miller was called from the Church of the Reforma. tion, Brooklyn. He entered upon the pastorate January 1, 1913, and is at present in charge.
From its inception, Grace Church has been especially active along lines of missionary and charitable effort. and numbers among its societies the following: The Ladies' Aid, the Women's Missionary Society, Grace Mis- sion Workers, the Dorcas Society, the Luther League, Grace Brotherhood and Grace Mission Band. The enrollment of its Sunday school, according to the last report, is 456, and the membership of the congregation 750. The value of its property is $60,000. Plans are now being considered for a commodious parish house, which is to be erected on the property adjoining the church on the east, the site having been secured for this purpose by a number of progressive men of the congregation.
The founder and for many years the pastor of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church was Rev. A. T. Geissenhainer. The cornerstone of the first church was laid August 30, 1863. The building was of brick. 25 by 65
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feet in dimensions, situated on Vine street. On the occasion of holding the first services, March 13, 1864, twenty persons signed their names as original members of the church. The church was formally dedicated June 26, 1864. to the services of the Triune God. In the spring of 1867 the first pastor removed to Philadelphia, and Jacob Zentner served the congregation in connection with St. Peter's of Allentown for little over a year. The church was then connected with the Bethlehem charge and was served by Rev. J. B. Rath, who continued to minister to the congregation until 1870, when Rev. C. J. Cooper became the resident pastor. The latter was in charge of the congregation sixteen years, and is living at present at Allentown, serving St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran Church, also the missions at Friedsville and Jerusalem, Lehigh county. The congregation decided in January, 1873, to tear down the old church and erect a new one. The cornerstone of the new building was laid June 22, 1873. The dimensions of the new church were 41 by 71 feet, two stories high, the site being the present location on Vine street and Packer avenue. On Christmas Eve, 1873, the first services were held in the partially completed basement by the Sunday school, and on Christmas morning the pastor preached the first sermon. On the follow- ing Palm Sunday, March 29, 1874, this part of the building was dedicated, Rev. A. T. Geissenhainer preaching the sermon. On account of the money panic of 1873, the auditorium remained unfinished until 1878, when steps were taken to complete it.
The successor of Rev. C. J. Cooper was Rev. William Francis Shoener. Ile was born at Lewiston, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1859, graduated June 15, 1886, from Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. He was or- dained by the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, June 22, 1886, and became pastor of St. Peter's, July 4th of that year. Owing to his enterprise and energy the church building was enlarged in 1896, and a $4,000 organ installed. He died while in charge of the congregation, July 2, 1901. The same year the present pastor, Rev. J. C. Leibensperger, took charge of the congregation. The fiftieth anniversary was celebrated during the week of August 31 to September 3, 1913. St. Peter's is the mother church from which spring St. Mark's, St. Paul's St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran churches.
A colony consisting of the English members of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1888 formed a congregation and was incorporated May 6, 1889, under the title of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church. A chapel was immediately built, and occupied for worship January 20, 1889. The con- struction of the church on Fourth street was commenced in 1895. The present pastor is Rev. P. J. Hoh. The St. John Windish Evangelical Church is a congregation of Bohemians whose place of worship is located on East Fourth street. The present pastor is Rev. Ernst Shegler.
As early as 1886 there was a strong sentiment on the part of the Lutheran constituency on the west side to have a place of worship of its own. Services were conducted from time to time in the Moravian Chapel. At a meeting held July 29, 1887, the congregation was duly organized, a building committee appointed, and a unanimous call extended to Rev. Wil- liam D. C. Keiter, of Allentown, who was installed as pastor September 4, 1887. The congregation became known as Trinity Evangelical Lutheran
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Church, and a site was purchased on Third avenue. The cornerstone for a new building was laid with impressive ceremonies October 30, 1887. The first services in the completed edifice were held on Palm Sunday, March 25, 1888. The formal consecration of the church took place April 8, 1888. Rev. Keiter served as pastor until November 9, 1909, when he resigned to become secretary of the board of trustees of Muhlenberg College. A call was ex- tended to Rev. Luther D. Lazarus, who entered upon his labors January I, 1910, and is the present encumbent. The old church was demolished in 1915 and a new building erected on the old site.
St. Stephen's Evangelical Lutheran Church is situated at the corner of Centre and Hill streets, where a small congregation worship regularly. These are ministered to by Rev. C. J. Cooper.
Christ Reformed Church was associated with the Lutherans in the building of Salem Church. The founder of the congregation was Rev. Jacob C. Becker, who was selected its first pastor, June 15, 1851. He was born in Bremen, Germany, January 14, 1790. His father, Rev. Christian L. Becker, an eloquent and esteemed minister of the Reformed church, emigrated to America in 1793, locating at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where his son was educated at Franklin College. Rev. Jacob C. Becker was ordained at Ger- mantown, Pennsylvania, and accepted a call to minister to congregations in Northampton and Lehigh counties. He died of a protracted illness, August 18, 1858.
The full organization of the Reformed congregation took place May 18. 1851. The first communion was held November 9, 1851, on which occasion thirty-five members partook of the Holy Supper. Services were held once in four weeks, but an arrangement was soon completed for services every two weeks. Dr. Becker resigned in 1857, and was succeeded by Rev. A. J. G. Dubbs, of Allentown, who served the congregation about one year. The third pastor, Rev. D. Y. Heisler, was elected January 12, 1858, entering upon his duties April Ist of that year. The eight years of Pastor Heisler's con- nection with the congregation were devoted to work at Bethlehem. Heck- town and Bath, and were accompanied with fruitful results. The member- ship grew rapidly, and the records of the congregation in 1861 show the names of 230 confirmed members and 175 baptized members. The congrega- tion accepted the resignation of Pastor Heisler in June, 1866, and on the following August 18th elected Rev. Isaac K. Loos as his successor.
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