USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lititz > Lititz, 1756-1956 > Part 3
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St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church had its origin in the needs of a number of families who had moved into Worwick from the Brickerville area. This congregation had built a church on the corner of Front St. and Water St. in 1904, and in 1905 was officially organized as St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the Rev. D. A. Roth, pastor of congregations in Brickerville and White Oak, also serving St. James.
26
LITITZ CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
It is not known when persons belonging to the Church of the Brethren first began living in Lititz. Undoubtedly, it began as soon as Lititz was opened to non-Moravians.
In the beginning, such members attended Brethren services in the rural Brethren churches surrounding Lititz. In 1887 a small church house was erected on Willow Street at a cost of $1800.00.
The Lititz Church of the Brethren was organ- ized as a separate congregation in January 1914 with 119 charter members. Prior to that time the local members were part of the West Conestoga congregation which had houses of worship at Middle Creek, Akron, Lexington, Millport, Lanes and Lititz.
The Lititz members worshipped in the small white edifice on Willow Street from 1914 to 1926. In 1926 the present church building on Center Street was erected at a cost of $61,887.79.
The ministry of the church through the years might be recorded as follows:
1914-1930-Period of the Free Ministry Pulpit supplied by:
John Myer
J. W. G. Hershey
Henry R. Gibbel
Harvey Eberly
John Hevener
1930-1935-Period of Part-time Pastor
Nathan Martin
John I. Byler
A. C. Baugher
1935-1955-Period of the Full-time Pastor
1935-1945-James M. Moore
1945-1952-Jacob T. Dick
1952-1955-Earl M. Bowman
1955- -E. Floyd McDowell
The progress of the church is depicted in these membership statistics:
1914-119 members
1930-239 members
1945-413 members
1955-521 members
27
EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH
In the fall of 1890 a few families of United Brethren, living in Lititz and having no church, organized a class and rented a room in what had been the old brewery, on Maple Street. Some of these families were Isaac Becker, William Ruth, and Christ Mohn, Sr.
In the month of August, 1891, they decided to build a church. Rev. John W. Boughter was the Pastor at the time. The location they chose was what is now North Cedar Street. The pro- perty, which had a two story house on it, was purchased from Wilhelmina Kreiter, widow of J. Monroe Kreiter. Trustees of the church were Isaac Becker, William Ruth, and T. Jefferson Hartranft.
At the time, Lititz and Brunnerville were a single circuit, one pastor serving both churches.
The building of the church was begun in August of 1891, and it was dedicated on the 20th of December 1891. Revivals were held and quite a number of new members were added to the church.
Reverend Boughter remained as Pastor until the Annual Conference was held in September of 1892, when Rev. C. F. Miller was appointed. He served seven years and was assigned by the Con- ference to serve another year. However, while at
the Conference he took sick. Returning home, he took to his bed with typhoid fever. He died about six weeks later.
He was succeeded by the Rev. P. A. Bowman, then from 1901 to 1909 the Rev. S. S. Daugherty. After Rev. Daugherty, Rev. James Keene served from, 1909 to 1914, Rev. S. G. Haas from 1914 to 1916, Rev. Clint S. Miller 1916 to 1919, Rev. John M. Walters, 1919 to 1922, Rev. Ira Funk from 1922 to 1925.
At the conference that year, Rev. J. C. U. Light was appointed. He served the Lititz church twenty years, until 1945. During Rev. Light's pastorate, a new educational building was erected. Ground was broken in July 1933 and the addition was dedicated on February 17th, 1934.
Following Rev. Light, Rev. Paul A. Miller was appointed. He had just been discharged from the army, where he had served as a Chaplain. He was appointed for his eleventh year of service by the 1955 Conference.
The church has grown from thirteen charter members in 1891 to 532 in 1955.
The church has three choirs: a senior choir of 30 members, an intermediate choir of 15, and a junior choir of 50.
EXE
LITITZ MENNONITE CHURCH
The turn of the century, 1900, marked the beginning of interest in a Mennonite Congre- gration for Lititz. To supply a place of meeting for the fifty members in Lititz and vicinity, the present main structure was erected in 1906 on a piece of ground located on the corner of Front and Water Streets.
Nathaniel B. Leaman was greatly interested in the building of a church. He had reserved a choice plot of ground for this purpose, and he virtually donated it to the congregation.
The dedication service was held February 2, 1907, and was attended by approximately 1000 people. The first communion service was held in the spring of 1908, with 100 communicants. Since then the membership has more than doubled.
The Lititz church is one of a group known as the Hammer Creek District. Christian Risser, being Bishop of that district, became the Bishop of the Lititz church, and served until 1910. His successor was Noah L. Landis. Jacob H. Hershey was the first pastor and served from 1907 to 1947. Howard H. Charles was ordained as assis- tant pastor in 1943. He served four years, then left for Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana. Melvin H. Lauver was ordained minister in 1949.
Ephraim N. Eby, who was ordained in 1884 as deacon for the Hess and Hammer Creek churches, became deacon for the Lititz Church
and served from 1907 to 1937. J. Henry Eshle- man, being a deacon for the Hess and Hammer Creek churches, was given charge of the Lititz Church also, from 1932 to 1942. In 1942 Lester B. Wenger was ordained deacon for the Lititz Church.
The Sewing Circle was one of the early activ- ities of the congregation, starting with meetings in the homes. The pioneer of this worthy cause was Lydia Huber, whose interest induced a number of others to help. She became the first superintendent, and her inspiration laid the foundation for a work which has resulted in the making and distributing of thousands of gar- ments for Relief, as well as the gathering of much used clothing which is sent out for the comfort of the needy.
When the twenty foot annex was added to the church in 1951, a box was found in the masonry of the original building. Among other things it contained a letter written by the contractor in 1907. Following is a summary of material and labor rates as found in the letter:
Brick, Montello Brick Co., Reading $7.25 per M; Lumber from North Carolina $21 to $40 per M feet; Sand from Port Richmond $1.35 per ton; Lime from Tom Erb, Lititz .20 per bushel; Slate from Bangor, Pa. $4.25 per square; Tin Work by William Weitzel $35.00; Mill Work & carpentry by Neidermyer Bros. $2.00 per 10 hour day; Mason work $2.50 per 10 hour day; Brick Work $3.50 per M; Plastering $2.25 per day; Common Labor $1.50 per day; Painting $1.75 per day.
The total cost of the original building with lot was $6100.
29
ST. LUKE'S EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED CHURCH
Several Reformed churches in this area were founded prior to the American Revolution. Jerusalem Church, which was at Penryn, earlier known as "White Oak", had its origin between 1720 and 1727. Old Zion Church at Brickerville dates back to 1747. Members of these congrega- tions naturally had much to do with the begin- nings of a Reformed congregation in Lititz.
Sometime after the turn of the century loyal Reformed people who lived in Lititz felt the need for a congregation in the town. This con- tinuing desire expressed itself in a formal petition to the Lancaster Classis of the Reformed Church on November 29, 1907, asking for the privilege of organizing a congregation in Lititz. The request was granted and the Rev. H. H. Spahn, of the Bethany charge, administered the first Holy Communion on December 1, 1907.
At this service the congregation was formally organized and the following officers were elected: Elders, Michael Keath and James Shuemaker; Deacons, P. George Keehn and Phares Weit; Trustee, Benjamin Brookmyer. This Com- munion Service and organization meeting was conducted in the Brobst Hall, later known as the Malta Lodge Hall. It is the building now occupied by the Fickinger Jewelry Store. Services
St. LUKE
continued here for some time, with attendance continually increasing. The Sunday School was organized on the first Sunday in January, 1908. Some of the earlier church meetings were also held in the old G.A.R. building, located across from what is now the Post Office.
Dr. James Brobst, local druggist and friend of the congregation gave much encouragement to the small group in its early days. A large bell for the church tower was one of his many gifts.
The present church grounds on North Broad Street, consisting of 1/2 an acre, were purchased from Levi Brubaker for $3,000-Mr. Brubaker donated $100. The plans for the new building were drawn, and the cornerstone was laid in June of 1909. The building was dedicated on June 4, 1910. The building cost $3,350, and was built by Hershey-Leaman Co.
The Rev. H. H. Spahn served as supply pastor until 1910 when the Rev. James B. Musser be- came the minister of St. Luke's Church, and served until August 1911.
Not strong enough to support a full time pastor, the Lititz congregation united with the Zion congregation of Brickerville and the Jerusa- lem congregation at Penryn, to form the Warwick Parish. In 1919 this parish elected the Reverend George B. Raezer as their pastor. He served faithfully until his retirement in April 1946. Ministers who have served the St. Luke's congre- gation so well since that time include the Rev. William Arnold (student Pastor), the Rev. Carl S. Isenberg, and the Rev. Ray Harwick. The Rev. Alton P. Albright is the present pastor.
The new fourteen room St. Luke's Parish House, adjoining the former church property, was purchased and dedicated in June of 1955. The Parish House provides a home for the minister's family, and allows six rooms for church school classes, group meetings, and a church office. The cost of the building, with renova- tions and furnishings, exceeded $27,000.
These four original charter members remain active in the life and work of St. Luke's congre- gation: Benjamin Brookmyer, who was the first trustee; Mrs. Clara Roth; Mrs. Emma Bowman; and Allen Ditzler. Mr. Brookmyer observed his 97th birthday last December 20th.
30
ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH
At the invitation of the Right Reverend John W. Shanahan, D.D., Bishop of Harrisburg, the Redemptorist Fathers located at Ephrata, Pa. On August 5, 1914, they took up their residence in the old Willson mansion on the "Clare Point" Farm, which they had purchased from the owner.
Being a missionary Order, the first Redemp- torist Community, under the Very Reverend Thomas Jones, C.SS.R. as superior and pastor, occupied themselves with missionary activities throughout the diocese, giving Missions, Ren- newals, Retreats, Forty Hours, Novenas, Triduos, etc.
On November 6, 1915 Father William White, C.SS.R. was appointed to the Community at Ephrata to administer to the spiritual needs of the Catholics in that town and the surrounding districts.
On May 4, 1917, Father White rented a house in Lititz and fitted out the front room as a chapel, so the Catholics of Lititz could assist at
Mass. This house is located on the north side of East Main Street, the second building west of Cedar Street. Mass was celebrated there for the first time on June 17, 1917, the Feast of Our Mother of Prepetual Help. Mr. Frank Dengate, a member of the congregation, donated the altar.
On November 8, 1919, St. James Lutheran Church on the southeast corner of Front and Water streets was purchased at public auction. The transfer of the title to the property took place on February 27, 1920. Father White pre- pared the church for Catholic services, and on April 4, 1920, offered up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the first time in St. James Catholic Church. In 1949 the church was enlarged by the addition of a new sacristy.
This church still serves the needs of the Catholics of Lititz and surrounding country districts.
In 1917 there were about 30 or 40 Catholics in Lititz. Today they number about 300.
31
.
DUNKARD BRETHREN CHURCH
The Dunkard Brethren Church was organized in 1926. It is a conservative branch of the Church of the Brethren, or the original German Baptist Brethren.
The Lititz Church, known as the Northern Lan- caster County Congregation was organized February 9th 1930, with Eld. Jacob A. Miller in charge. For a number of years Eld. A. G. Fahne- stock has been serving this congregation alone in the ministry. He has also been Elder in charge since February 20th, 1937.
During the years the following have been elected to the ministry and have been serving in that capacity on an alternate basis: Eld. Benjamin Reinhold, Eld. A. B. Keller, and Laverne Keeney.
Services are held regularly each Sunday; Sun- day School at 9:30, Worship at 10:30. Love Feast
and Communion Service are held on the third Sunday of May and October. Revival Services are held during the two first weeks of November.
We extend a hearty invitation to all. You are Welcome.
The Lititz Community Tabernacle was organ- ized in 1942 as a fellowship of believers. The following were among the charter members: Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Adams, of Akron; Mr. and Mrs. Lester Adams, also of Akron; Rev. and Mrs. Monroe Carvell, of Rothsville; Miss Ruth Jones, who then lived in Lancaster; and Mrs. Ammon Weidman, of Lititz.
The group first worshipped in an empty room on South Broad Street. They later purchased the Kissinger Pretzel Bakery, in North Alley. After renovations it was used as a place of wor- ship; the building also now contains living quarters for the church' pastors.
Pastors have included the following:
Rev. W. J. Tompkins-Aug. 1942 to July 1944
Rev. A. J. Walters-Dec. 1944 to July 1947 Rev. Roy Lair-July 1947 to Oct. 1948 Rev. L. Brewin-Oct. 1948 to Aug. 1951 Rev. Glenn Bragg-Oct. 1951 to July 1954 Rev. A. J. Walters-July 1954 to the present
The group participates in foreign missionary work in India, Africa, and other fields, through the World Wide Missions, of Marion, Indiana. It presents a radio broadcast each Sunday morn- ing from 8:00 to 8:30 over the new Ephrata station. And it also holds extensive evangelistic revivals from time to time, securing evangelists of note to do the preaching.
The pastor gets a free-will offering as a salary, faith being the key-note of all of its Christian activities.
LITITZ COMMUNITY
TABERNACLE
POST-PROM DANCE
ORGANIZATIONS IN LITITZ
PEFICE
LITITZ' FIRST FIRE ENGINE STILL PUMPS
33
1756
200th ANNIVERSARY
LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA 1956
Highlights In The Borough Government 1888 - 1956
Council first organized on June 4, 1888, in the School Building. Members were: Presi- dent, J. H. Shenk; Samuel Seaber, William Evans, J. A. Buch, Aaron Habecker, and D. E. Light. Johnson Miller was Burgess.
First Borough map drawn up in 1888.
First taxes levied by Borough were a one mill property tax, a one dollar per capita tax, and a dog tax, ranging from one to five dol- lars.
1888-Ordinance forbade driving on side- walks and allowing cattle and sheep to run at large.
1888- (September) Street lighting by ker- osene lamp installed.
1888- (November) Moravian Congregation turned fire apparatus over to Borough.
1891-Borough bought handcuffs for con- stable.
1891-Borough hired full time street super- visor.
1892-Epidemic of Asiatic Cholera.
1893-Installation of a water system by a private company approved by voters.
1893-Board of Health established. Israel Erb, Rev. C. B. Shultz, Dr. P. O. Roebuck, William Amer, P. B. Bucher.
1893-Lititz Electric Light Company given franchise.
1893-Built first Borough Hall on Orange at Raspberry Alley on ground leased from School.
1894-Dr. Roebuck's fountain in the Square dedicated.
1899-Borough approved franchise of Lan- caster and Lititz Electric Railway Company to bring tracks into Main Street along Broad Street.
1899-Bicycles, tricycles, motorcycles, and horseless carriages regulated.
1900-First ordinance regulating building construction.
1902-Typhoid epidemic
1904-Voters approve buying water system. 1906-Lititz, Manheim, and Ephrata Gas Company given franchise.
1915-Warwick Village annexed to Borough. 1927-Denver and Ephrata Telephone Com- pany given franchise.
1930-Sale and use of fireworks prohibited. 1932-Spruce Street standpipe built.
1940-Water pumping plant overhauled and converted to electricity.
1947-Lititz Sewer Authority established. to build a sewage plant.
1948-Water rates changed for first time since 1906.
1948-First parking meters installed.
1948-Borough took over garbage collection.
1948-First one-side street parking restric- tions.
1949-First traffic lights installed.
1950-Position of Borough Manager created.
1951-Orville Over named as first Borough Manager.
1951-Sewer construction began.
1951-All property required to install water meters.
1952-Borough employees put under Social Security.
1952-Borough leased sewer plant and sys- tem from Sewer Authority.
1953-Building Code established.
1955-David Bauer named as second Bor- ough Manager.
1955-Warner-Lambert had their land out- side the Borough annexed as the first step in building their $6,000,000 plant in Lititz.
1955-Comprehensive traffic ordinance pass- ed.
1955-Ordinance regulating subdivision pro- cedure passed.
PUBLIC EDUCATION IN LITITZ
The earliest report of the beginning of for- mal education in Lititz was recorded in 1765, when "a boys' and girls" school was com- menced. This was probably in addition to the school in the old Warwick Gemeinhaus. The next reference to education was recorded in 1815 when John Beck took charge of the village school for boys. While these schools were, in all probability, supported by the church, they were, nevertheless, attended by the children of the neighborhood.
The first reference to public education ap- peared in 1852. At this time a primary school was opened. The more advanced girl students were sent to Linden Hall and the more ad- vanced boy students were sent to the Lititz Academy. Their tuition was paid by the dis- trict. A grammar school was built in 1870, and the first high school classes were started in 1885, in the grammar school building. Be- tween the high and the grammar rooms on the second floor there was a removable panel partition which could be opened for enter- tainments and other public affairs. Both the high school and primary school buildings were enlarged from time to time.
A new building, housing both high and grade schools, was erected in 1918 on the same plot as the earlier buildings. This present
34
WARWICK UNION HIGH SCHOOL LITITZ: PENNSYLVANIA
MUHLENBERG BROS . REG WYOMISSING . PENNA
building is bounded by East Orange Street, South Cedar Street, Juniper and Raspberry Alleys. An addition to this building was added in 1940. It is now being renovated for use as an elementary building.
In November of 1953 the voters of Eliza- beth Township, Warwick Township and Lititz Borough voted to merge into a Union Dis- trict. At the time of the merger it was decided to build a new Junior-Senior High School at the edge of town on West Orange Street. This building was started in 1954 and will be occupied for the first time in September of 1956. It has a capacity for housing 1,100 students.
The public schools have always taken a leading part in extra-curricular activities, es- pecially athletics and music. This year the band, having been one of the earliest high school bands organized in this part of the state, celebrated its 30th anniversary.
The principals of the Lititz Schools, in the order of their tenure, are as follows:
Mr. Howard Kyle, September 1885 to the date of his death in the fall of 1885.
Mr. E. U. Bachman, finished the term, re- tired in June 1886, first class graduated in June 1886.
Mr. Morris Metzger, September 1886 to June 1889.
Mr. Abrahamı Gehman, September 1889 to June 1894.
Miss Alice Bricker, September 1894 to June 1896.
Mr. G. Herman Goetz, September 1896 to June 1910.
Mr. Abram Longenecker, September 1910 to December 1914.
Miss Anna K. Miller, December 1914 to
June 1920.
Mr. Ira Mummert, September 1920 to June 1922.
Mr. M. C. Demmy, September 1922 to June 1951.
Mr. G. Marlin Spaid, July 1951 -
LITITZ HIGH SCHOOL BAND
It happened during the silence of a time out at a Lititz High School football game in 1926. Why not fill that period of silence with band music to help spirit the team on to vic- tory? That was the thought in the mind of M. C. Demmy, Supervising Principal of the school. It was this thought that led to the formation of the first Borough School Band in Lancaster County and at that time one of the few high school bands in this section of the state.
Mr. . Demmy's first thought was to contact some influential men in the town for finan- cial help. The late Senator H. J. Pierson was one of these men who realized the need for such an organization. He donated $1,250 for the purchase of the original instruments.
It was recalled that the first uniforms cost less than $5.00 each. They consisted of white trousers, white shirt, red sash, necktie and cap.
In the beginning the band numbered forty- two members, all of whom were boys. Mr. Demmy organized and directed the band for six years. They began to hold annual spring concerts, play for football games and during the summer months provide special music for Sunday School and Church picnics through- out the area. Participation in the parades of the Borough, City and County became a part of the band's civic duties.
When the band was only in its second year, it was entered in its first competition at Philadelphia. Mr. Demmy proudly recalls that they lost the contest 2,2261/2 points to 2,224, or by only 21/2 points to Montrose High School Band. Throughout the years and even to the present time the band has consistently been in the top running in the Pennsylvania Forensic and Music League Competition.
Mary Belle Nissley, the present director of the Women's Air Force Band, was the first Drum Majorette. Willianı Dengler was the first Drum Major of the band.
35
1756
200th ANNIVERSARY
The red and black uniforms with the Sanı Brown belts and Pershing caps, which so many of you people remember, were purchased in 1930.
In 1932, under the leadership of Herman Toplanski, girls were admitted into the band for the first time.
Mr. James Grimm took over the director- ship of the band in 1934. It was during his term with the band that Robert Hackman travelled to Des Moines, Iowa, to receive an excellent rating in a National Contest Ior Baritone Horn.
Joseph Sheckard, present Vocal Music Super- visor in Mineola, New York, served as the director during 1935. He was followed by Al- bert Ebbert who directed the band for three years. It was during Mr. Ebbert's leadership that such musicians as Ross Evans, Ralph Downey, Donald Mohler and Lanette Sheaffer got their starts on the road to success in the field of music. Miss Elizabeth Fluck, the band's only woman director, followed Mr. Ebbert, to serve as leader for one year.
Henry C. Steiner, the present director, has been serving in that capacity since 1943. Throughout the war years the band became very active in playing for the Bond Rallys and later on the Victory Homecoming Cele- brations. In 1946 the Lititz High School Band again entered the Pennsylvania Forensic Con- tests and succeeded in representing the South- ern District in the final contests in Johnstown Pennsylvania. The following year they not only won the Southern District Championship but placed second in the State Finals of Class B competition in York, Pennsylvania.
In the 1950-51 school term the band cele- brated its 25th Anniversary with brand new red, black and gray uniforms purchased thru the generosity of the fine people of Lititz. 'The purchase of a total of eighty uniforms is significant enough in showing how the band grew throughout the years.
LITITZ PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Lititz Public Library was started in 1935, primarily as the result of interest on the part of the Delphian Society. Backed by the Delphians, the High School, and Lititz Rot- ary, the library was first in the Amer Build- ing, then it was moved to the High School.
Miss Bessie Searle has been the libraian for the past fifteen years. However, when War- wick Union High School moves to its new building, Miss Grace Miller will take over the duties of public librarian. The public library will remain in the old school building.
LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA
19563
LINDEN HALL JUNIOR COLLEGE AND SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Linden Hall traces its beginning to a school of humble proportions founded in 1746. In November of that year the Moravians broke ground in what was then a part of Warwick Township, for a house of worship known as a Gemeinhaus, a building which served as a chapel, a schoolhouse, and a parsonage com- bined.
The school commenced with an enrollment of four boys and three girls, and the Reverend Leonard Schnell and his wife as the first tea- chers. For almost twenty years this school con- tinued at its original site. During that per- iod the enrollment reached a total of seventy- seven children.
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