USA > Pennsylvania > Reminiscences of the early history of "Dark Hollow", "Slocum Hollow", "Harrison", "Lackawanna Iron Works", "Scrantonia", and "Scranton, Pa." > Part 4
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CHURCH EDIFICES.
An article in the Soanton Republican of May 18, 1884, states that the first church edifice in Hyde Park was Unitarian and stood
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Reminiscences of Early History.
on "Main Avenue," where Joseph A. Mears then resided, but gave no date of its erection. This edifice, and the Methodist or . Vil- lage Chapel " in Scranton, as it was called at first, were the only church edifices for some years after 1846, between Carbondale and Wilkes-Barre, except the old Baptist church in Blakeley, now standing near the forks of the road leading to Peckville. The earliest record of this " Village Chapel " to be found, is on the books of Scrantons, Grant & Co., July 23, 1841, when the following names were charged with subscriptions they had made and the chapel credited with the total amount :
William Henry
$10.00
Daniel Dodge
3.50
S. W. Nolton
2.50
George Whitman 2.50
Jacon Gerstle .
2.00
Henry R. Manness
2.00
Ferdinand Dulot .
1.00
Caleb Robins
1.CO
Patrick Hart
1.00
S. W. Clockglasser.
1.00
John Snyder
.50
John L. Travis .
.50
Simon Ward (September 3)
1.00
Total
$28.50
August IO, 1853, Mr. William Henry wrote Mr.
Charles Fuller in reference to the " Village Chapel, " We com- menced in 1841 and finished it early in 1842. While this house was to be under the supervision of the Methodists of this vicinity, other evangelical denominations were not excluded from using it as a house of worship." This "Chapel" stood on a lot 70x155 fi .. given by Scrantons, Grant & Co., partly in what is now Adams Avenue at its junction with Lackawanna Avenue, on a bluff some ten feet high, which has been removed in grading the avenues. The corner of the " Chapel " was almost exactly where the corner of Messrs. Jifkins' meat market is, but not in line with the avenue. The city plot was laid out in 1850-1, and in order that the two avenues named could be opened where they are now, Scrantons & Platt, in 1855-6, gave three lots, now occupied by the Methodist Church and parsonage, near by, on Adams avenue, and two thous- and dollars in building materials in exchange for the old lot one hundred feet front by one hundred and twelve deep. It being then impossible to move the " Chapel " through either Adams, Wasli- ington, Wyoming, or Penn Avenues, owing to the swamp or lily pond crossing them, the building was taken down August 20, 1856, and re-erected on the south corner of Adams Avenue and Vine Street, where it can now be seen on the alley on the rear of the
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Scranton, Pa.
lot. The only change in its exterior is that it has an octagon in- stead of a square cupola or tower. The "Chapel " was generally used on alternate Sabbaths by the Presbyterians and Methodists, the only real change being in the preachers and not in the au- diences.
The second church edifice erected here was the Roman Catho- lic, a wooden building, situated on what is now the west corner of Stone and Hemlock streets. It was raised on Saturday, June 24, 1848.
The third church building here was the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist. It was a small wooden building, originally standing on the westerly end of Rome Street in the old Slocum orchard, south of Roaring Brook. When the plot of 1850-I was laid out this street was abolished, and later the building was moved to front on River Street. The lot it occupied here was purchased by the German Catholics and is now occupied by the school connected with their church. The building was purchased by the Baptists and moved to block So on Pittston avenue. This building was first used March 18, 1849, and was dedicated July 8, following.
The next organization in order of date is believed to be what is now the "First Presbyterian Church of Scranton, Pa," on Washington Avenue. Early in the summer of 1818 a meeting of those interested in the Presbyterian form of worship was held, of which Mr. Nathaniel B. Hutchison-formerly of Belvidere, New Jersey-was made chairman, and J. C. Platt, secretary. At this meeting the chairman and Mr. Charles Fuller, both ruling elders in the churches to which they belonged, were made a committee "to examine the charters and by all other available means obtain knowledge which would enable the people to decide whether Lacka- wanna Church is here or at Pittston." "July 10, 1848, a meeting was held in the Odd Fellows' Hall, of Presbyterians, with their ad- herents, to hear the report of the committee appointed to learn the truth as the locus ubi of the church of Lackawanna. A letter was read from the pastor at this meeting, in which he stated his con- viction that the Harrison, Lackawanna and Pittston churches were all one, and that Harrison must be considered the head of the church, although it was called Lackawanna. At this meeting, after ' deliberation and consultation,' as the record states, it was unani- mously agreed that the interests of the church required a separate organization at this point. Mr. Charles Fuller was accordingly appointed as a committee to secure from the Presbytery such an organization, to be called the Church of Harrison. Another com- mittee was authorized to rent the Odd Fellows' Hall at $12 a year, for purposes of worship. Of this meeting Joseph II. Scranton was secretary, and, as it would seem, was one of the chief actors. * " The committee circulated a petition, and in due time, presented it
* Dr. S. C. Logan's sermon, November 16, 1873.
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Reminiscences of Early History.
to the Presbytery of Luzerne, asking for a church organization. This petition was signed by eighteen communicants and a number of citizens who proposed to identify themselves with the congre- gation, though not professing Christians. In answer to this peti- tion, a committee of the Presbytery, consisting of Rev. John Dor- rance, D. D., and Rev. N. G. Parke, called the people together on the 14th day of October, 1848, and, atter a sermon by Mr. Dor- rance, proceeded to the organization of a church according to the order and discipline of the Presbyterian confession. They received and enrolled in this organization seventeen persons -- eight men and nine women. Its name was afterwards changed to the " First Presbyterian Church of Scranton, Pa." The Rev. J. Delville Mitchell first preached here August 18, 1848, and occasionally afterwards. Thursday evening, August 2, 1849, at a general meeting of the citizens, it was decided to give him a call to accept the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church. There were thirty-two persons present. Twenty-eight of them made voluntary subscrip- tions amounting to four hundred and thirty-eight dollars, which was increased to five hundred and one within an hour. This was then thought to be a very liberal support when compared with pre- vious subscriptions, which had never exceeded one hundred dol- lars per annum for Presbyterian preaching, besides the mission- ary's stipend. O11 the 27th of the same month a subscription was started to build a Presbyterian Church edifice. The first place se- lected was on ground partly covered by the writer's residence on Ridge Row, and grading was commenced under the superinten- dence of the late John W. Moore. Upon further consideration it was decided to locate the building where it now stands, on Wash- ington avenue, between Lackawanna Avenue and Spruce Street.
Sunday evening, November 25, 1849, Rev. John Dorrance, of Wilkes-Barre, presiding, a regular call was unanimously made out for the Rev. Delville Mitchell to accept the pastorate of the Pres- byterian Church. Mr. Mitchell having accepted the call, Wednes- day evening, April 17, 1850, " the pastoral relation between Rev. J. D. Mitchell and the Presbyterian Church in this place was con- stituted by the Presbytery of Luzerne. The Rev. P. E. Stevenson, of Wyoming, preached from John iii: 33; Rev. John Dorrance, of Wilkes-Barre, presided, proposed the constitutional questions and ming, gave the charge to the pastor. A large congregation at-
gave the charge to the congregation. Rev. T. P. Hunt, of Wyo- tended upon the solemn services, which were held in the Odd Fel- lows' Hall. On April 29, 1851, Mr. W. W. Manness commenced raising the First Presbyterian Church edifice; on September 30 the steeple, and on November 26 put the bell in its place, it being the first bell put up between Carbondale and Wilkes-Barre. On No- vember 27, it was first used for assembling a congregation to wor- ship, it being Thanksgiving Day, and the services were held in the Odd Fellows' Hall. From that day to this the sound of " the
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Scranton, Pa.
church-going bell" has been heard here regularly on Sunday. The church edifice was dedicated by the pastor, September 19, 1852. The cost of this church, for the main body and steeple, was about $15,000. The firm of Scrantons & Platt gave the lot, 155 feet front by 150 feet deep. The general and special partners con- tributed personally $3.200.00, and their non-resident friends $335.00. Scrantons & Platt deducted from the indebtedness of the church to the firm $5, 128.62.
STATEMENT.
Total cost of church .
$15,000.00 General and special contributions,
personally $3,200.00
Their non-resident friends 335.00
Scrantons & Platt .
5, 128.62- 8,653.62
Balance paid by congregation and locally . . $6,336.38
Since then the congregation has built the parsonage, added the wings to the church in December, 1859, built the lecture room, and put in the organ.
The Methodists, doubtless, like the Presbyterians and Bap- tists, had for many years considered this as one of their missionary fields or outposts. They had the " Village Chapel," heretofore referred to, and irregular preaching in it, which the writer attended from November, 1845, to the organization of the First Presbyterian Church, October 14, 1848. The following is from Bishop Simp- son's Cyclopedia of Methodism: "Scranton-The first Methodist Society was organized in 1840 in connection with Pittston circuit, and a church edifice erected in 1842. In 1854 it was organized as a station," by which it would appear that Scranton was considered as a part of the parish of Pittston, as the Presbyterians years be- fore considered it a part of the parish of Wilkes-Barre. After many inquiries of Methodists and others, it appears by their minutes and records, that the first steps taken towards the organi- zation of a Methodist Church in Scranton, were on August 2, 1854, when a meeting of the " male members of the M. E. Church," of what place or places is not stated, "was held." The following per- sons were elected trustees, and were directed to obtain a charter: John Major, John M. Washington, Thomas Biesecker, John R. Soucks, F. M. Etting, John H. Coleman, Barton Mott, Erastus Smith and William Silkman. A. H. Schoonmaker was the secre- tary. These trustees were all Scrantonians, except Erastus Smith, who lived in Lackawanna, and William Silkman, who lived in Providence. A. H. Schoonmaker was their clergyman. The charter was signed August 9, 1854, the trustees elected on the 2d inst. being named in the charter for that purpose.
The two following are copied from the conference minutes:
-
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Reminiscences of Early History.
"Scranton, 1854, First Quarterly Conference for Scranton and Hyde Park Mission met, Doctor George Peck presided. John M. Washington was chosen secretary." That with quotation marks is the first entry and all there is of the minutes of the meeting.
"Scranton, October 28, 1854, Second Quarterly Conference for Scranton and Hyde Park mission met, Rev. George Peck pre- siding. A. L. Horn was chosen secretary. Members present- A. H. Schoonmaker, pastor; local preachers, Noah Davis and A. L. Horn; leaders, N. Davis and A. L. Horn; stewards, N. Davis, John Coleman, J. M. Washington, Thomas Pearce, William Varnes and A. L Horn."
"April 18, 1855. At a meeting of this date, the pastor, A. H. Schoonmaker, also secretary pro tem , stated that the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Co. had proposed to take the "Village Chapel" lot, 100 feet front by 112 feet deep, and give three lots fronting on Adams, 110 feet front by 150 feet deep and pay the church S1, 700; the company to have the old chapel. A committee was appointed consisting of J. M. Washington. David Kemmerer and Noah Davis, "with the instruction to obtain, if possible, a better bid for them and retain the old church, at least until the basement of the new one is ready for use." April 25, 1855. At a meeting held this date, it was voted that "we accept the offer made by the Iron Co., on condition that they pay us $2,000 difference between the lots, and also that we be permitted to occupy the old church at least six months, or until we get the basement of the new one finished."
The present M. E. Church edifice on Adams avenue, near Lackawanna, was begun between the 6th and 16th of September, 1855.
January 8, 1855. The churches here at this date were: First Presbyterian, on Washington Avenue; St. Luke's Protestant Epis- copal, on Penn Avenue; "Village Chapel," Lackawanna and Adams Avenues; Welsh Calvinistic Methodist, Rome Street, west end; later moved to River Street.
Entry April 1, 1855: 'The first Roman Catholic, easterly end of Rome Street, not then used for church purposes; the second Roman Catholic Church, on the corner of Franklin Avenue and Spruce Street."
BAPTISTS.
Mr. Edward L. Bailey, in his "History of the Abington Bap- tist Association," states that as early as 1794, Rev. William Bishop, a Baptist, lived in Hyde Park and that he was pastor of the Pittston Church, and "a Baptist Church, however, was reor- ganized at Pittston in the autumn of 1833. William K. Mott, pastor of this church, preached occasionally at Hyde Park and bap- tized a number of converts into the fellowship of the Pittston Church." He further states that " the brethren and sisters liv- ing at Hyde Park and vicinity, however, finally decided to or-
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Scranton, Pa.
ganize as an independent church. The council of recognition was convened at that place, September 12, 1849; Rev. John Miller acting as moderator and Rev. Silas Finn acting as clerk. Twenty- three persons from their respective churches received fellow- ship at the Hyde Park Baptist Church. Rev. William K. Mott was one of the constituent members and pastor of the church. Messrs. E. A. Atherton and J. C. Dunn were chosen deacons of the church."
The Welsh Baptists purchased lot 5, in block 34, on Mifflin Avenue, January 1, 1855, and on December 23, of the same year, dedicated a brick edifice they had erected thereon as a house of worship. This building now belongs to and is used by the Ger- man Lutherans, who have lately added a steeple and made other improvements to it. Elder William K. Mott, of Hyde Park, oc- cupied Odd Fellows' Hall for Baptist services a few times between May 30, 1858, and March, 1859. He had formerly preached oc- casionally in the "Village Chapel." Mr. Bailey states: "The public recognition of this church (Scranton) took place in the Odd Fellow's Hall. Twenty-five brethren and sisters had on the pre- ceding week, August ISth, at the house of Nathaniel Halstead, organized themselves into a church by a unanimous resolution, and by adopting articles of faith and a church covenant." The writer was treasurer of the Odd Fellows' Hall and rented it to the Baptists and all others using it, from its erection until taken down.
This church. with its Sunday school, occupied the Odd Fel- lows' Hall from August 1, 1859, to March 1, 1861, and afterwards Washington Hall, on Penn Avenue. On May 13, 1864, lots 12, 13 and 14, in block 64, on Penn Avenue, were purchased and a brick church built thereon which has since been enlarged and very much improved both inside and out. The basement was first used for a festival, June 20, 1865-the upper part not being ready to use.
The Welsh Congregationalists bought lot 2, in block 28, on Mifflin Avenue, July 31, 1854, and built a wooden church upon it in the same year, which they used a few years and then sold. It is now used for dwellings.
The German Presbyterian Church on Hickory Street, occupy- ing lots 17 and 19, block I, worshipped in the Odd Fellows' Hall from 1852 to January 1, 1858. The organization by the Presby- tery took place in the hall, June 25, 1856. During this year the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company presented the congregation with one lot and the members purchased the other. The corner stone of the edifice was laid September 5, 1857, and it was dedi- cated November 6, 1859. The late William E. Dodge, of New York, presented the bell to the congregation. The attendance has so increased that it has been found necessary to purchase the ad- joining lot to which it is proposed to remove the church building for temporary use, and on the present site build a much larger
·
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Reminiscences of Early History.
stone edifice, and when finished use the old building for Sunday school and other church purposes.
The first Protestant Episcopal Church service in Scranton, of which I have any knowledge, was held August 29, 1848, in the "Village Chapel." It was conducted by Bishop Potter, who was brought here from Salem by Judge Pettebone. The next day Mr. John S. Dewey, a book-keeper of Scrantons & Platt, took him to Wilkes-Barre.
St. Luke's Church and congregation occupied the Odd Fellows' Hall from October 24, 1852, to July 24, 1853. The church was organized August 5, 1851, at the residence of Mr. Charles Swift, formerly of Easton, Pa .; Rev. John Long, rector; E. Hitchcock and J. C. Burgess, wardens; B. H. Throop, M. D., Charles Swift, L. N. Clarke, E. S. M. Hill and J. Kirlin, vestrymen. The firm of Scrantons & Platt gave the church authorities lots 26 and 27, in block 30, on Penn Avenue. The Lackawanna Iron and Coal Com- pany, which was organized soon after, made the deed for them. The corner stone of the church building was laid April 19, 1863, "with ceremonies appropriate to the occasion." The services were conducted by Rev. John Long, the rector, assisted by Messrs. Miles, of Wilkes-Barre; Skinner, of New Milford, and Mendelhall, of Salem. Ten other clergymen of the Episcopal Church were present. The church was consecrated by Bishop Potter, Novem- ber 13, 1853. Doctor Throop presented the church with a bell which was first used May 22, 1859.
Mr. Platt intended to enlarge these notes but was prevented from doing so by the illness and death of his wife, who died July 4, 1887. Shortly after, he was stricken with paralysis and died November 15, 1887. At the request of friends they are now pub- lished, as he left them, by his children.
JOSEPH C., ELLA J. AND FRANK E. PLATT. Scranton, Pa., October, 1889.
HECKMAN BINDERY, INC. Bound-To-Please®
NOV 00
. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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