USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 4
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 4
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Her successor was Miss F. 1. Walsh, also formerly of Philadelphia, but more recently a teacher in a large school at Monticello, Ill. She still remains the principal, and the school under her wise, careful, and conscientious management has become all that its most sanguine projectors ever hoped or anticipated. Allu- sion has already been made to earnest sympathy and support received from the Rt. Rev. Bishop Stevens, in whose diocese the school was situated. Within a year or two after the opening of the school the new diocese of Central Pennsylvania was created, and this new diocese included Bethlehem. Bishop Stevens therefore resigned his position of president of the board of trustees, and the place since that time has been filled by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Howe, who has ever manifested the most cordial and sympathetic interest in the welfare of the school.
Mention has already been made of the offer of Mr. Jeter to give the use of the property, free of rent, for two years. He afterwards gave it, free of rent, for another year, at the end of which time the trustees decided to make an effort to raise means to purchase the property. This effort was undertaken principally by Robert 11. Sayre, Esq., and accomplished by him in a short time. The property was purchased in 1871 for thisty thousand dollars, of which amount one-third was contributed by the following gentlemen : R. 11. Sayre, $1000; S. Bonnell, 81000; J. 11. Swoyer, $500; Richard Sharpe, $1000; G. B. Markle, $500; Francis Weiss, $1000; Asa Packer, $1000; W. and C. M. Dod- son, $500; Tinsley Jeter, $3200.
Allusion has already been made to the old approach road to the building. In laying out the new streets in this portion of the town Mr. Jeter had preserved this avenne in part, and made it connect with Delaware Avenue at the head of Fiot Street. When, however, the purchase of the property was made, a majority of the trustees preferred that the school property should have rectangular bounds. This necessitated a com- plete change in the location of all the new streets in the vicinity, and the present arrangement, more utili- tarian, perhaps, but far less beautiful, was adopted.
The executive committee has remained without change for many years, and is composed as follows : Tinsley Jeter, chairman ; William L. Dunglison, sec- : retary and treasurer ; R. H. Sayre, William II. Sayre, II. S. Goodwin, Henry Coppie, LL.D.
St. Luke's Hospital .-- This institution, now so large, so wealthy, and so beneficent, had, like many other great works, a very small beginning. It owes its present position, power, and wealth, but not its origin, to the munificence of Judge Packer. The credit of its inception is due to the Rt. Rev. Conrtland Whitehead, then rector of the Church of the Nativity, South Bethlehem, but now bishop of the diocese of Western Pennsylvania. During the latter part of 1871 Mr. Whitehead, after a meeting of the members composing the executive committee of Bishopthorpe school, requested them to remain, as he wished to con- fer with them in regard to the establishment of a small hospital in South Bethlehem, to be in some way con- nected with the work of the church of which they were all members. He then laid before them some- thing of the outline of the project and asked their co- operation. There was a most cordial approval of the undertaking, and Tinsley Jeter, one of those present, was asked to aid in the preparation and passage of the charter.
The charter was soon after prepared by Mr. White- head and Mr. Jeter, and in due time its passage by the Legislature was secured by the latter during the session of 1872. This charter has since theu been very much changed, and it may not be out of place to state what it was before these changes. As already said, it was designed to be a purely church work, more or less intimately connected with the parish of the Church of the Nativity. The board of trustees was to be composed of the bishop of the diocese as ex officio president, and the rectors and two laymen from all the Episcopal Churches in the Lehigh Val- ley. From the Church of the Nativity, South Beth- lehem, where the institution was to be located, there were to be three trustees; these were John Smylie, Robert H. Sayre, and Tinsley Jeter. When these trustees were called together, it was strongly urged by several of the number that it would be advisable to make some changes in the charter, so as to render the institution less strictly denominational in char- acter. Judge Packer and R. II. Sayre were decided in their opinions that this was desirable. Changes were subsequently made, not so extensive as some desired, but more liberal perhaps than were deemed expedient by others. Under the charter as thus modified the bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese in which the hospital is sitn- ated is ex officio president of the board of trustees, and a majority of the trustees must belong to said church. There are no other liens binding the insti- tution to this church. The modifications referred to, and adopted by the board of trustees, were made by the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County,
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SALISBURY TOWNSHIP.
and were not obtained till late in the year 1872, or early in the year 1873. During the latter part of the summer and fall of the year 1872 much of the in- terest felt in the enterprise seemed to have died out, and during several months it was impossible to get together a quorum at the monthly meetings to trans- act any business. The meeting held on the 27th was the first for several months when a quorum was present. At this meeting Mr. Jeter earnestly urged ! on what is now called Broad Street, a building con- taining altogether more than twenty rooms. It was approaching completion, and was offered to the com- mittee for eight thousand dollars by the owner, Mr. Abraham Yost, then largely engaged in building operations in Sonth Bethlehem. The committee at the next meeting unanimously reported in favor of. this purchase, and expressed the opinion that the price was a very reasonable one. This report was that an effort should be made to obtain a sufficient : adopted, and the committee above named were au- thorized to make the purchase, which they did imme- diately afterwards. Preparations were at once made to make the necessary changes and alterations in the building to fit it for its new uses.
amount to purchase a small building as a commence- ment. He expressed his confident assurance that, if authorized by the meeting, he would be able to raise five thousand dollars within a short time. This pro- posal was agreed to, and a committee of three were appointed to solicit subscriptions for the object in view. This committee consisted of the following persons : Tinsley Jeter, South Bethlehem; Francis Weiss, Bethlehem; Rev. Mr. Whitehead, South Bethlehem.
The latter remained on the committee, but pre- ferred not to undertake to obtain any funds. Mr. Weiss had never attended any of the trustees' meet- ings, and declined to join actively in the work of raising money, but expressed his warm sympathy for it, and generously contributed one thousand dol- lars.
This committee immediately issued the following circular, and were more successful than they had an- tieipated in raising funds. Within a month nearly nine thousand dollars had been subscribed, and was reported to the next meeting held at the end of Feb- ruary :
" At a meeting of the board of trustees of St. Luke's Hospital, South Bethlehem, held on the 27th day of January, 1873, the undersigned were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions and collect funds for the purchase or erection of a suitable building. Our earnest desire is to be able to commence our work at the earliest day possible, and we therefore invoke the help of every one for our undertaking. The beue- fits of the hospital are for all who need them, without distinction of creed, race, or nationality. At the first meeting of the board of trus- tees the following resolution was adopted ns the basis for all future action :
" Resolved, That the board of trustees, among its first acts, does hete- by declare that no distinction shall over be made in the reception or treatment of patients on account of creed, mace, or nationality, and that whito the ministries of the Christian faith shall be freoty offered to all the inmates of the hospital, they shall not be obtraded upon any who are unwilling to receive them, and also that any patient may, under proper regulations, have the privilege of such religious ministrations ax he may request.
" Wo therefore solicit subscriptions and contributions from all. The smallest as well as the largest amounts will be thankfully received. Our object is to heal the wounds and lessen the pains of suffering hn- manily. Will not every oue who reads this give us something ?
" 'PENSLEY JETER, " FRANCIS WEISS, " CORTLANDT WHITEHEAD, " Committee."
Having this amount assured, the trustees proceeded at once to look for a suitable building, and the follow- ing committee was appointed to find one: Robert II. Sayre, South Bethlehem; Henry Colt, Allentown ; Dr. Swift, Easton. They selected a double building
During the summer, in order to meet many ex- penses connected with the furnishing of the building, the ladies of both Bethlehem and South Bethlehem were invited to lend their assistance in such way as they might deem best. At a meeting of ladies called for this purpose, Mr. Whitehead and Mr. Jeter com- monicated to them the wishes of the trustees of the hospital, and asked their co-operation. It was at once decided to have a fair in the hospital building. This fair was held during the month of June, under the direction of a committee of ladies, Mrs. Jeter being president, and was eminently successful, the amount raised being nearly a thousand dollars. With this and other amounts contributed by churches and by individuals, who furnished separate rooms, the build- ing was arranged for the reception of patients, and opened in October, 1873, when the first patient was received.
During the summer of 1873 the board of trustees decided that the annual meeting of the board should be held on St. Luke's day, the 18th day of October. The general management of the hospital was confided to an executive committee of nine persons, who were elected at the annual meeting in October of that year. Three of these were elceted for three years, three for two years, and three for one year, so that there should be an election for three members of this committee every year. In order to make the active participation in the duties of the management of the hospital more general among all the members of the committee, it was arranged that the position of chairman should not be held by one member longer than two years in succession. This committee was composed as follows : Tinsley Jeter (chairman), John Smylie, Robert 11. Sayre, Joseph Laubach, B. C. Webster, William H. Chandler, H. S. Goodwin, William H. Sayre, William L. Dunglison.
It is proper to say that the Rev. Mr. Whitehead was the first one named for a place on the executive committee, and would have been its first chairman had he not given way to leave a place thereon for Mr. Chandler.
It will be proper now to say something of the present location and its acquisition by the hospital. As the property is now it consists of more than
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416
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
twenty aeres of ground, of which about eleven acres formerly pertained to the old Hoffert farm of the Moravians, subsequently belonging to Mr. Fiot. The remaining nine aeres had long been known as the Water-Cure property, and belonged to Francis HI. Oppeldt, whose first purchase from the Moravians was made in 1846. He erected a large frame or wooden building, and opened it as a water cure. The spring which furnished the water issues from the ground above the buildings, and furnished a supply of from five thousand to ten thousand gallons per day, according to the time of the year. The water has no mineral qualities of any special value, but is a very clear, pure, soft water, and remarkably adapted for all domestic purposes.
During the early years of the war of secession this water cure was well patronized, and the owner considered it expedient at the close of the sum- mer of 1863 to commence extensive additions or enlargements for the summer of 1864. These changes, however, took a longer time and cost a far larger sun than Dr. Oppeldt had anticipated. The sum- mer season of 1864 was lost, and this, with the larger expense incurred, produced pecuniary difficul- ties and embarrassments from which he never fully recovered.
In May, 1871, the place was sold by the sheriff, and was bought by Mr. James T. Borheck, one of the ered- itors, who held it for sale for about a year, Dr. Oppeldt continuing to carry on the business as before, but as lessee. Such was the status of this property in the early part of the year 1872, when the trustees of the hospital first came together. At one of their earliest meetings attention was called to this place by Mr. Jeter as in every way one of the most suitable and beautiful places in the State for such an institution. At his request a number of the trustees, after one of their meetings, visited the place with him and made an examination. All were of the same opinion, but few then thought it possible to raise the money neces- sary to buy it. During the month of June, Mr. Jeter, fearing that the place might be sold before the trustees had an opportunity of raising the necessary means, determined to purchase it himself and hold it subject to the wishes of the trustees, in case they could obtain the funds required. This purchase was made in June, and the place was thus held for several months, The trustees hesitated, however, to undertake what seemed so large an undertaking, and during the fall, as al- ready stated, nearly all interest in the future institu- tion seemed to have died out. It was not until the 27th of January that a quorum could be obtained for the transaction of any business. As already related, at that meeting a committee was appointed to solicit funds, with the object of buying a much smaller property in the town.
This was done, and the institution was opened in the building on Broad Street. The committee on location, who had reported in favor of the building
on Broad Street, also recommended in their report that the trustees should seeure without delay a larger piece of ground, of ten aeres or more, as the future site for the hospital. No further offer of the Water- Cure property was ever made to the trustees. Mr. Jeter, the then owner, being one of the trustees of the hospital, naturally forbore to make any suggestion looking to its acquisition, and no negotiations of any kind were ever initiated on the subject between him and the trustees of the institution.
Soon after this the Rev. Mr. Whitehead strongly urged that Judge Packer should be applied to to give a few acres of some of his land lying between the Le- high University and the cemetery of the Roman Catholic Church, cast of the town. Mr. Whitehead stated that he thought that a very suitable location could be found there, and that he felt sure that Judge Paeker would willingly make a donation of a suitable site.
The trustees acquiesced in this proposed applica- tion, and Mr. Whitehead was appointed a committee to make it. Judge Packer expressed his perfect will- inguess to make such a donation, but stated at the same time that he did not think any of his ground suitable, and that he would much prefer contributing an amount sufficient to purchase a suitable site to giving an unsuitable one from his own ground.
Judge Packer had from the first given his most. cordial sympathy to the establishment of the hos- pital, but had never been applied to for any contri- bution in the effort made to obtain funds for the purchase of the first building. It had been wisely decided to obtain the required amount elsewhere, and that the well-known liberality of Judge Packer should be left to act in such way as he might deem best at some future period.
In 1875, therefore, he anthorized Mr. E. P. Wilbur to enter into negotiations for the purchase of the Water-Cure property, and this was consummated in the early part of 1876. In laying out his streets in the vicinity an addition had been made to the place, which now consisted of a little more than twenty acres. The price paid was twenty-five thousand dol- lars, whereof twelve thousand dollars was paid cash by Judge Packer and sons, the other thirteen thousand dollars remaining ou mortgage until it was finally paid by the trustees, principally or entirely out of the proceeds of several very large excursions, which were undertaken under the care of the Ladies' Aid Society of the hospital. Subject to the mortgage above men- tioned, the property was presented to the institution by Judge Packer in the early part of the year 1876.
Mention has already been made of the fair held by the ladies of Bethlehem in June, 1878, to aid in furnishing the building. It was afterwards thought by the trustees that a permanent association of ladies might be made an important auxiliary in raising funds for the institution, and a committee, consisting of Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Jeter, and Mr. W. H. Sayre, was ap-
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SALISBURY TOWNSHIP.
pointed to select officers to undertake the formation of such an association. Mrs. Robert II. Sayre was made president, Mrs. Bejamin C. Webster, treasurer, and Mrs. Jeter, secretary. This association went actively to work in various ways, and during the next four or five years succeeded in raising about fifteen thousand dollars, much the larger part being raised by means of the large railroad excursions which were organized and carried out, the entire proceeds of which, through the liberality of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, went into the treasury of the association.
During the year 1876 the new location was ocenpied by the hospital, the Water-Cure building being used for this purpose. In 1879 the new building was com- meneed, and finished in 1880. Down to 1881 the hospital had been under the charge of a matron, so far as domestic arrangements were concerned. The medical direction was under the direction of Dr. A. Hont, of Bethlehem, assisted by one or two resi- dent physicians. To his care, skill, and devotion, for a period of nearly ten years, the institution is largely indebted for its success. In the year mentioned it was deemed best to place the entire charge of the hospital in the hands of a resident physician as sur- geon and superintendent, and Dr. W. L. Estes, who so worthily fills the place at present, was elected.
Judge Packer, who died in 1879, left the hospital the income of three hundred thousand dollars in stock of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, which now pays eight per cent., thus giving the institution twenty- four thousand dollars per annum. There is also a provision in the will of Judge Packer by which the institution may hereafter receive a large addition to this amount. Early in the year 1884 Judge II. E. Packer, the only surviving son of Judge Asa Packer, died, and by his will the hospital will receive three- twenty-thirds of his estate after the deccase of his widow.
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Soon after the opening of the hospital, it was the recipient of a portion of the various and liberal char- ities of Mr. I. V. Williamson, a merchant of Phila- delphia, who presented it with nearly ten thousand dollars in ground-rents, secured on property in Phila- delphia. In addition to the above sources of income should be added the amounts received from the an- nual Thanksgiving-day collections which are taken np in all the Protestant Episcopal Churches of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.
As has been already stated, the bishop of the diocese of Central Pennsylvania, the Rt. Rev. M. A. De Wolfe Howe, is president of the board of trustees; The town was first laid out and settled by a thrifty set of Germans, who soon felt the need of religious privileges, and therefore, by request, the Moravians began a domestic mission in it in the year 1742. In July, 1747, a Moravian congregation was organized ; the Rt. Rev. Edmund de Schweinitz, of Bethlehem, is first vice-president; the Rev. W. C. Cattell, late president of Lafayette College, second vice-president ; Treasurer, E. P. Wilbur; Secretary, W. II. Chand- ler ; Chaplain, the Rev. C. K. Nelson, rector of the | in 1747 a church and parsonage were dedicated by
Church of the Nativity. The executive committee is as follows : Tinsley Jeter, chairman ; IT. S. Goodwin,
secretary ; William L. Dunglison, William H. Sayre, W. II. Chandler, Robert H. Sayre, Samuel Thomas, E. P. Wilbur.
Saint Mary's Chapel, Lechanweki Springs, owes its existence entirely to the liberality of Messrs. John Smylie and Robert H. Sayre. These springs were first opened to the public in June, 1878, and August 10th of the same year the mission Sunday school was opened. Mr. Smylie soon after gave the ground on which the church stands to the Church of the Nativ- ity, and offered to provide the means of erecting a suitable building. The gift was accepted, the corner- stone was laid Oct. 6, 1874, and the building conse- crated April 19, 1875,-the cost being almost entirely provided by the two gentlemen above named. Mr. Sayre for nearly ten years superintended the Sunday- school, and to his fostering care and active work, ably seconded by Mrs. Sayre, the success of the mis- sion is very largely indebted. It is now, as ever, modestly pursuing its beneficent work, and aiding largely the great work of its mother, the Church of the Nativity, South Bethlehem.
Minor Notes .- The Shive Governor-Works were established by John Smiley, who built the present shops in 1872, and operated till his death. It is now operated by his son.
In 1873 the hotel at Lechanweki Springs was erected, and was conducted till 1882. It has not been opened since.
Fountain Hill Cemetery .- An association termed the Fountain Hill Cemetery Company was incorpo- rated April 10, 1872. This association purchased six aeres of land occupying the western limit of the old HIoffert farm, and which was known as " the buck- wheat field." It was laid out for the use of the people of South Bethlehem and vicinity.
Fairview and Strassburg are settlements that have grown up in the outer limits of the city of Allentown and in this township. The sketch of Fairview Cemetery will be found in the history of Allentown.
The Borough of Emaus.'-Ennus is a borough simated at the foot of the South Mountain, about five miles south of the city of Allentown, the county-seat of Lehigh County, near the junction of the East Penn branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail- road and the Perkiomen Railroad, another branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. It was ineor- porated as a borough in 1859. The population in 1880 was about nine hundred, and the increase since has been about two hundred.
1 By HI. W. Jarrett.
27
418
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Cammerhoff, a Moravian bishop, who came to America as missionary to the Indians.
In 1758 the Moravians purchased from the settlers one hundred and two acres of land, and in the spring of the next year laid out the town and called it Emans.
From the organization of the congregation the set- tlement for a time rapidly increased in population, but did not make any great progress in the way of business or building, as the residents were mostly of the poorer class, and had to depend upon the products of the soil for a living.
Emaus from all accounts, traditional or otherwise, was a close denominational town until about the year 1835, when a few people from other denominations moved to the place. The church at no time kept any store or house of entertainment in the place, but the stores were mostly kept and supported by the mem- bers and friends of the church. The first ordained and regularly appointed minister was Rev. Anthon Wagner, and not Rev. Anthony Wayne, as has been stated in former works.
Emaus was and has always been considered a very quiet place, and justly so, as the world's vices were kept aloof as much as lay in the power of the inhab- itants forty and more years ago. However, on the 1st day of August, 1858, when the advance-guard of the railroad-builders made their appearance, the people suddenly began to rouse up out of their Rip Van Winkle sleep to find that there were people and life in the world beside themselves and their own. Since then they have had all the vices and blessings that other favored communities have. Progress has been slow but sure, and the community now counts five general stores, hardware-, drug-, and shoe-stores, four churches and three flourishing Sunday-schools, and two hotels. The discovery of iron ore in the imme- diate vicinity has from time to time attracted a good many workingnien, mostly Germans, who as a general rule have been saving and industrious enough to be- come householders and land-owners. Some of the wealthiest citizens have started as workers at fifty cents a day to become worth their hundred thousands, with a great many men in their employ. Naturally, a furnace was commenced in about 1870, and after a great many ups and downs was put in blast; but the management never having been any of the best, it was finally sold to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, who leased it to Messrs. Arnnod, Fisher & Co., who worked it successfully until 1883, when the iron business became so dull and unprofitable that it was blown out, to remain idle until some future time. In the mean time the very enterprising Jessees deter- mined if possible to keep their laborers employed, and so built up large works to manufacture cast-iron gas- and water-pipe, in which they have succeeded admirably, having a market for all they can produce.
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