History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 147

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 147

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

820

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

church and had all those rare qualities of some and designed in memory of Mr. and mind and heart that endeared him to all his Mrs. Henry Myers, is constructed of quar- tered oak. The exceptionally beautiful

people.

pered under his ministry for a period of ten years. The seating accommodation of the

Emmanuel Reformed congregation pros- marble altar was made by Tiffany, New York, and purchased by Miss Mary Forney and sisters as a memorial to their parents.

church was not sufficient for the growing Memorial windows are in memory of

congregation and the pastor was one of the J. Wesley Myers and daughter; in memory of Rev. John Gobrecht, by his great-grand- daughters, and by the Ladies' Mite Society of all the pastors of the congregation. Other smaller memorial windows were placed by different members of the, congre- gation and organizations. The entire cost of the edifice was $70,000, whose interior is perhaps the handsomest in the Reformed Church. first to start the movement for the erection of a large church of modern architecture. While the building was in course of con- struction, Mr. Resser took an active interest in the work that was being done. One day while ascending to the roof of the church in order to observe the plumbing of the wall, he made a misstep and fell a distance of fifty feet to the pavement below. This 16, 1901 .. Before this sad event, however, ber of young men for the ministry in the Reformed Church. Those of recent years are Ambrose M. Schmidt, Robert Lee Bair, Charles Edward Myers, J. William Zehring and Irvin S. Ditzler. Emmanuel Reformed Church is justly considered one of the most vigorous and active congregations of the

accident caused his immediate death, April This congregation has furnished a num- the erection of the church had been nearly completed. The corner stone of the chapel adjoining the rear of the church was laid August 6, 1899; Rev. Frederick C. Seitz delivered the address. The chapel was dedicated July 8, 1900. The corner stone of the church was laid November 18, 1900, synod. Its members liberally support the Rev. H. H. Apple, of Trinity Church, York, literary and benevolent institutions of the delivering the sermon.

Rev. Frederick C. Seitz was installed as pastor December 4, 1901, and served until October, 1904. During his pastorate, under the building committee, composed of George N. Forney, president ; Paul Wine- brenner, treasurer; John C. Tanger, secre- tary ; Samuel E. Trone, Solomon Hoke, Ja- cob D. Zehring, Robert M. Wirt, Jacob H. Schriver and Rev. F. C: Seitz, the church was completed. It was dedicated Septem- ber 19. 1904, the sermon being delivered by Rev. Lewis Robb, of Altoona, Pennsyl- vania. This handsome church edifice, erected from a design prepared by J. A. Dempwolf, of York, and completed under his direct supervision, is of Gothic archi- Virginia, where he was pastor for six years.

church. The regular contributions for benevolence, apart from special gifts and congregational purposes, during the past ten years amounted to almost $15,000. In 1906 the congregation contributed for benevolence $1,550, for current expenses, $4,200, and for church building, $5,000. A congregational library endowed by Elder Henry Wirt in 1892, now contains almost 2,000 choice volumes and is especially rich in historical works. The present pastor, Rev. Ellis S. Hay, was educated at Franklin and Marshall College and the Theological Seminary at Lancaster, graduating in 1894. He began his ministry in this congregation January 1, 1905, coming from Roanoke,

tecture. The front wall is built of Avon- Trinity Reformed congrega- dale marble obtained from quarries near Trinity tion was organized January 4, 1884, with a membership of 125. Of the number, seventy- Philadelphia. This part of the structure Reformed. presents an attractive appearance. The in- terior of the church is beautiful in design five were members of Emmanuel Reformed with a clere story built in the shape of a Church, of Hanover, who joined the new cross. The sanctuary is separated from the organization.

The first elders were Dr. O. nave by a rood screen of quartered oak. An T. Everhart, Abraham Baker and Jonas ambulatory on each side of the chancel con- Rebert; the first deacons were William nects the nave and transept of the church Hoke and Jacob Siegfried. The congre- with the chapel. The pulpit, which is hand- gation unanimously called as pastor, Rev.

---

THE BOROUGH OF HANOVER

Henry Hilbish, who, at the time, was pastor largely of members from Trinity Church. of several congregations surrounding Han- 'In the spring of 1907 a convenient church over. His charge was reconstructed when building was erected on Franklin Street, he accepted the pastorship of Trinity west of the railroad. Religious services Church, and he still continued to preach for and the Sunday School were first conducted in a school house until Grace Church was completed and dedicated. two other congregations, viz .: Sherman's and Bartholomew's. Trinity congregation worshiped for a time in the United Brethren Rev. James Reed, in the year Chapel, of Abbottstown Street. A build- Methodist 1808, first preached the doc- ing committee, composed of Samuel Church. trines of Wesleyan Methodism in Hanover, holding services in a log house on Frederick Street, owned by Richard Chester. He preached once a month for nearly a year, when the services Swartz, A. Baker, and Charles Bowman, was appointed and a lot on York Street was purchased of Peter Flickinger, for $1,800. The corner stone of the church was laid on Whit Monday, 1884. The chapel was were discontinued, and Methodist preach- dedicated October 19, of the same year, ing was not again regularly heard in Han- by Rev. Clever, of Baltimore, and Rev. Dr. over until 1825. In that year a young man Santee, of Cavetown, Md.

from Hagerstown, Maryland, visited Han- over and arranged for services. The first minister who came was Rev. Kennerly, an eloquent speaker. In December, 1825, a school house that stood at the southwest corner of Carlisle and Railroad Streets, was used. Shortly after, a school house on Frederick Street was rented from Mrs. Ritz, where services were held for five years. In 1827, Hanover was placed in the Gettys- burg Circuit under Revs. Samuel Clark and George Hildt, and in September of that

The church, which cost $15,000, was dedicated November 22, 1885, Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, D. D., President of Ursinus College, officiating. In November, 1893, an annex to the chapel was built and dedi- cated. Rev. Hilbish was succeeded as pas- tor of the congregation, in 1889, by Rev. Joseph D. Peters. He remained until 1895. During this year, when Rev. M. J. Roth be- came pastor of the congregation. it had 375 members. Through his energy and enter- prise, in April, 1901, the entire debt of year the first class was formed of four mem- $6,000 on the church was paid, and the bers. By the end of 1827, the class had event was celebrated by a jubilee service, doubled its membership. Class meetings which was largely attended. In 1903, an were held at the house of Abraham Lam- Estey pipe organ, costing $2,800, was pur- chased and dedicated December 13 of that year, and the Sunday School room was re- modeled.

In 1904 they purchased a house adjoining the church, and remodeled it for a parson- age. The entire cost of this property was $5,000. In 1905 the audience room of the church was handsomely frescoed. During that year, the church membership num- bered 720, and the Sunday School had a membership of 650. J. Edwin Hartman, Adam C. Renoll, Charles Hartman and Dallas R. Krebs were members of this con- gregation, and after graduating at college and seminary, have entered the ministry of the Reformed Church, during the pastorate of Rev. M. J. Roth.

mott, on Baltimore Street, and afterward at the house of Alexander McIlvane, on York Street. In 1827-29 Revs. W. O. Lumsdon, T. H. W. Monroe and J. H. Brown were circuit preachers ; in 1829-30 Revs. Samuel Kepler and John C. Lyon, and in 1830-31 Revs. J. Monroe, R. Clark and Wesley Howe. In 1829 a lot on Baltimore Street was bought for $60, from George Himes. A brick church was built at a cost of about $1,000, and was dedicated November 27 and 28, 1830, Rev. Monroe officiating. In 1859 Hanover was made a station. In 1863 William Wirt presented to the congrega- tion a lot of ground on Frederick Street, and in the spring of 1864 the erection of a new church was commenced thereon, which was dedicated June II. 1865. The old In the fall of 1906 Rev. S. P. church on Baltimore Street was sold to St. Mauger, of New Oxford, moved Joseph's Catholic congregation. In 1867 to Hanover and organized a Re- the church at New Oxford was added to formed congregation, composed this station. The following is a list of the

Grace

Church.

822

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

names of the ministers in charge since 1864: struction in catechism. With the removal Revs. A. W. Guyer, J. C. Stevens, W. A. of Father Cotting from the chapel, the in- Houck, J. A. Ross, F. Gearhart, J. A. Dixon, W. H. Keith, Milton Frost, A. W. Miller, A. F. Gibson, William McKendree Reily, J. C. McCord, W. H. Hesser, Charles

structions ceased. An entire decade passed away, till Rev. Peter Dompieri, in 1863, made a successful attempt. The holy sacri- fice of the mass was once more offered up, T. Demming, Horace Lincoln Jacobs, Alex- about thirty persons being in attendance. ander Lamberson, P. F. Eyer, J. Emory The place of worship was in the dwelling Weeks, and Norman D. Smith.

of the late Jacob Hilt, on Carlisle Street,

The congregation in its early history in- later the property of Charles J. Delone, creased in membership slowly. After the Esq. His zeal and untiring efforts'estab- church on Frederick Street had been built, lished a regular weekly divine service, held in 1864, the congregation began to prosper. on Wednesday. The room, changed into a chapel, did not meet the wants of the grow- ing membership, and the following year the In 1903, the building was renovated; the old pews in the auditorium were removed and comfortable new ones took their places; Methodist Church on Baltimore Street was the floors were carpeted. The Sunday purchased for $900. After the proper re- pairs to the building, the Wednesday ser- vice was increased by mass and sermon twice a month, on Sundays. In 1868 the church was enlarged by an addition of 40x35 feet at a cost of $2,145. The old church served also as a school room. The school had nearly 100 children, taught by Miss Alice Delone. A cupola was built and a bell of 1,834 pounds, costing $945, was placed in it. It was then the largest School room on the first floor was enlarged and supplied with modern improvements. The cost of the improvements was $1,600. This work was done under the pastorate of Rev. J. Emory Weeks. The congregation in 1907, under the pastorate of Rev. Nor- man D. Smith, had 230 members. There is flourishing Sunday School connected with this church. A Bible class, taught by Dr. Charles Wagner, contains 100 members.

Members of the Catholic faith bell in Hanover.

St. Joseph's were among the first to settle in

Church. Hanover and vicinity, coming here as early as 1729. In 1735 they were visited by traveling missionaries. Shortly after this date, the Conewago Chapel, the mother of all the Catholic Churches west of the Susquehanna, was founded. It is situated four miles north- west of Hanover. In this historic church ple, the limits were staked off in the spring all the early Catholics of Hanover and many miles around worshiped. In 1795, on the Seminary Farm, at the foot of Pigeon thousand people. Rev. Joseph Enders, of

Hills, the first Catholic Preparatory Semi- nary was founded by Father Nagot. The school continued to exist until the year 1809, when its doors were closed and the

students transferred to Mt. St. Mary's Col- with vigor. The church was consecrated lege, at Emmittsburg.

Between 1820 and 1830 the first mass, of which there is any record, was celebrated in Hanover by Rev. Father DeBarth, from place of worship.

After seven summers had passed, the new structure which had been completed by Rev. Father Manns, proved to be too small for the growth of the Catholic population. Adjoining lots were secured, with a two- story brick building, which was remodeled for school purposes and a dwelling for the teachers. A draft was made for a new tem- of 1877, and in October following the cor- ner stone was laid in the presence of several Conewago Chapel, presided on the occa- sion, having been the chief promoter of the new edifice. The work lay dormant till May, 1878, when it was plied in earnest and November 1, 1880. The entire expense, together with the tower, steeple and stained glass windows, was $20,000.

Rev. John B. Emig. a noted theologian Conewago Chapel, a shop being used as a and one of the foremost clergymen of the Father DeBarth ex- Catholic Church in Pennsylvania, became changed Conewago for Baltimore in 1828, the pastor in September, 1877. He was the and no traces are left of any service until first priest to reside in Hanover. To him 1853. when Rev. Father Cotting gathered is due the completion of the new church the Catholic children for an occasional in- and he was, notwithstanding his age at the

823

THE BOROUGH OF HANOVER

time, full of zeal and activity in building up preaching by visiting ministers, and as the parish at Hanover. Father Emig had early as 1832 Rev. Jacob Erb preached the old church remodeled and fitted up for at school purposes. At the time of dedication

regular intervals. His uccessors kept up this plan until 1847, when a the church was clear of debt. The building church for regular worship was erected on committee were Dr. J. P. Smith, William H. Overbaugh, Joseph Althoff, Joseph Delone, Ambrose Schmidt, John Klunk and Joseph Brockley.

Father Emig died at Hanover, December IO, 1889. He was born in Bernsheim, Ger- many, July 26, 1808, came to America in 1832, was prepared for priesthood at Fred- erick, Maryland, and was ordained March 12, 1839. He instituted St. Joseph's Bene- ficial Society in 1882.

Abbottstown Street. The land was bought from Abraham Rudisill, and the deed given February 6, 1847. The building committee was composed of Martin Lohr, Simon Bishop and George N. Stauffer. The church was dedicated October 24, 1847, the officiating clergymen being Bishop John Russel, Revs. George Miller, John Fohl, Samuel Enterline and Jacob C. Smith. The services were continued for eight days in the English and German languages. The

Rev. J. C. Foin was appointed the suc- plan then adopted for immediate services cessor to Father Emig in 1889, and the was the following: Rev. John Fohl every same year began the erection of a pastoral four weeks to commence November 6, in residence, which at present serves as a con- the evening in the English language; Rev. vent for the Sisters of St. Joseph. In 1893, Samuel Enterline to commence November a new school building and hall was erected 20, in the evening in the German language. on the site of the original church and school building, and was completed at a cost of $5,000. In 1896, he built upon the site of the old convent or Sisters' house, adjoining the church, the present rectory, at a cost of $4,500.

Rev. Martin Lohr, who was the chief supporter of this church during its early history, possessed strong mental powers and great kindness of heart. As a citizen of Hanover, he was highly honored and esteemed. He was an able preacher and a was a director of the Hanover Saving Fund

The parochial school connected with the logical expounder of the Scriptures. He parish is entirely supported from the church fund. During the past thirty years, the Society for many years.

congregation has increased from eighty to A destructive conflagration in the year 1878 broke out in an alley to the rear of two hundred families. In 1903 Father Foin was appointed to a parish at Danville, the church and in its course reached Ab- Pennsylvania, when he was succeeded by Rev. James Huber. bottstown Street, and the church which had been erected in 1847 was destroyed. Mrs. In 1905 a beautiful and artistic St. Vincent's. house of worship was erected in Midway, the northwestern part of Hanover. It was dedi- cated by the Bishop of Harrisburg, in De- cember, 1905, as St. Vincent's Catholic Stearn, the presiding elder; Rev. J. R. Christiana Lohr, widow of the founder of the church, a woman of piety and benevo- lence, erected and paid for the present structure, which was dedicated July, 1879. Bishop Glossbrenner officiated. Rev. C. T. Hutchison, the pastor ; and Rev. Dr. Eberly assisted.

Church. The church edifice is one of the most ornamental in the diocese. The con- gregation, under the pastoral care of

The following is a list of ministers who Father Welch, contains about one hundred have served from the year 1847: Samuel families.

Enterline, John Fohl, William B. Raber, This church was built as a memorial to George W. Showman, William Miller, Vincent O'Bold, by his sister, Mrs. Ga- Thomas F. Hallowell, Samuel L. Minnick, briella Smith, and cost $45,000. The erec- Jacob Gideon Schaff, Alexander Tripner, tion of the building was superintended by C. J. Delone.

Daniel Eberly, I. C. Weidler, Thomas F. Bushong, H. A. Schlichter, John H. Young, J. T. Shaffer, W. Owen, Alexander Tripner,

U. B. Martin Lohr moved to Hanover Church. in 1829. At his residence on R. H. Whitlock, Joseph R. Hutchison, G. York Street there was occasional. W. Kiracofe, WV. O. Grim, J. L. Nicholas,

824

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

W. J. Beamer, Lewis Kohr, John E. Kleff- supported. The pastors in 1907 were John man. Rev. Lewis Kohr was pastor of the Utz and David Baker.

congregation from 1893 to 1905, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. P. Koontz. In St. George's clergyman of the Episcopal

In 1881 Rev. S. P. Fugette, a

Church. Church, began religious ser- vices in Hanover under the direction of Bishop Howe of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. He continued for a

1902 the trustees, Rev. Lewis Kohr, David Newcomer, Noah Sterner, John Low and Rev. Dr. Eberly, purchased a lot at Middle and Locust Streets as a site for a new church large enough to accommodate the period of two years and then removed to increasing membership of the congregation Baltimore. In 1899 Rev. Robert F. Gibson and Sunday School. In 1904 the Sunday of York, under the direction of Bishop Tal- School purchased an adjoining site for a bot, started the work in the United Breth- parsonage. In 1907 Hanover Circuit com- ren Church. He continued to hold services prised four churches, Hanover, Barts, in Hanover for two years, and then was Wentz's and. Bixler's. Hanover Church called to the rectorship of a church at Steel- will soon form a separate station. ton. In February, 1907, the Episcopalians of Hanover were organized into St. George's

Near the north end of Abbotts- Mennonite Street, Hanover, stands the Episcopal Church under Bishop Darlington Church. neat, plain and comfortable of the Diocese of Harrisburg. H. D. Shep- Mennonite Church, which was pard, Hanson Robinson, Luther P. Horn, John Greenaway, Charles E. Bowles and Charles E. Shultz composed the first vestry. This congregation is under the care of Rev. Mr. True who is also rector of the church of the Prince of Peace at Gettysburg. built in 1881, at a cost of $2,500. It is con- nected with Bair's Meeting House in Heid- elberg Township, and Hostetter's Meeting House in Adams County. All the members who worship in the three houses mentioned form a congregation of about 200 families. The United Evangelical con- United gregation of Hanover was organized in 1904, and a con- venient house of worship Early ministers were Samuel Myers and Jacob Hostetter, Sr. The services are con- Evangelical. ducted in English and German. The com- mittee who superintended the building of erected on Spring Avenue. This church for the Hanover church were David Forry, several years has been under the pastoral Samuel Witmer and Jacob Fry. The elders care of Rev. W. E. Detweiler who has were Samuel Grove and Samuel Forry. served as presiding elder of the Conference.

This religious denomination does not have a dedicatory service. When a house of worship is completed it is at once used. The first services in no way differ from the other regular services. In 1883 a Sunday School was organized. The pastors of the three churches mentioned at that time were Daniel Stump and Martin Whisler.

The German Baptist Church of

German Hanover was built in the year Baptist 1898, upon a lot presented to the Church. congregation by H. N. Gitt and for 110 years. This school was not secta-

William P. Stine. The con- rian. In 1810, it was discontinued and the

gregation erected a comfortable one- building sold in 1825, and afterwards used as a machine shop.

story building lighted by electricity. For a period of three years Rev. Benjamin John Mclaughlin, a good- F. Masterson, one of the foremost preach- Early natured jovial Scotch-Irishman, Schools. was one of the early teachers, who taught an English school. He began about 1800. In 1816, McLaugh- lin's school was called "an old established ers of the denomination, was pastor of this congregation, and in 1904 re- moved to California. The membership has regularly increased since its organiza- tion, and a flourishing Sunday School is institution." He taught his first school in a

SCHOOLS.

The pioneer schools in Hanover and vicinity were conducted under the auspices of the churches, and the instruction at first was largely given in the German language. A school of this kind stood near the site of the original Lutheran Church. In 1777, the Reformed congregation built a parochial school house on York Street near the site of Trinity Church, where the building stood

825

THE BOROUGH OF HANOVER

log building on York Street on the site of etry, geometry, surveying and algebra. the residence of Daniel Flickinger, who was Thomas W. Wiggins started select one of his pupils. Master Mclaughlin re- school on Baltimore Street. Lucian F. lated with zest many amusing stories, in Melsheimer taught a school in the female which he figured as the hero. In 1818, he department of the academy. Peter R. Riley, published at Hanover a little book intended for the use of teachers of mathematical studies. He also published a speller about the same time. afterward prominent as a Reformed clergy- man opened a "select school in Eli Spren- kle's new building on York Street." Be- sides giving instruction in the English branches, he taught the Latin, Greek and French languages. Mr. Riley gave as refer- ences Rev. Jacob Sechler, Jacob Forney,

In 1825, Seth Forrest opened a private school on Frederick Street. Samuel Martin, in 1828, opened a school in which he taught classics. In the spring of the same year,

English grammar and the Greek and Latin Jacob Young, Dr. J. C. Culbertson, Dr.

Goldsborough and M. E. Trone. Private Frederick Bogan introduced the study of academies were also taught by Rev. Henry English grammar and the Greek and Latin S. Koons, Charles A. Hay, Jr., L. R. Baugher and M. O. Smith. A. M. Trimmer taught a commercial school.

languages in his school which he taught for several years. M. Corr opened a school in the house of Luther H. Skinner on York When the common school ques- Street, in August, 1828, where he taught Public tion came up for decision, there were many in Hanover who op- posed it. Henry Wirt, Sr., and Luther H. Skinner were the delegates to the first convention at York, to decide whether Hanover should accept the new the regular branches and also "practical and Schools. rational arithmetic." English grammar and algebra. This building was later owned by Mrs. Louisa A. Grove. George WV. Stouf- fer succeeded Mclaughlin in conducting the English school. One of the leading system created by the act of legislature, schools in early days stood at the southwest corner of Carlisle Street and Park Avenue.

Luther H. Skinner, a native of New England, came to Hanover, early last cen- tury, and introduced improved methods of teaching the English branches. He mar- ried a daughter of Colonel Henry Slagle on a lot on which G. H. Shirk built a resi- and became one of the leading citizens dence. In 1847-49, a lot was bought on of the borough. Mr. Skinner conducted a

passed 1834; both voted in favor of it, and the new system was put into operation in 1836. George W. Stouffer and Dr. Smith taught the first public schools, one in the Reformed school house on York Street, and the other in a building on the same street.

Carlisle Street, and a two-story brick school private school for a period of ten years. He house built thereon, the children having the also organized and drilled a military com- pany known as the Warren Greys.

whole Public Common for a playground. This building is now owned by Reuben A few German private schools were started after 1830, but they declined for want of patronage. This was doubtless caused by the fact that though the Germans were erection of the first public school building. Young and serves him as a private office. George Young and Rev. Martin Lohr were the building committee in charge of the jealous of the English language as shown known as the "Academy." The two by their opposition to the introduction of schools held in this building were taught English preaching, they were yet sensible at different times by Nathan U. Buckley, that the English was the favored language, Matthias N. Trone, George W. Gist and J.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 147

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372