USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 50
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Mountain Council No. 9, Royal and Se- lect Master Masons was instituted Dec. 16, 1857, and has a membership of 206. The roster of officers for 1910 follows: Thrice illustrious grand master, Homer F. Hanson; D. I. M., Joseph M. Howe; P. C. of W., John C. Peightal ; treasurer, Robert C. Wil- son; recorder, Timothy Davis; rep. to G. C., George B. Koch ; C. of G., Lynn D. Talbot; chaplain, Robert D. Steel; marshal, Jacob Segmiller ; pursuivant, Samuel C. Walker; sentinel, Harry W. Swoope; trustees, D. Howard Crawford, John H. Fiske, Ply- mouth W. Snyder ; stewards, John C. Peigh- tal, Joseph M. Howe.
Mountain Commandery No. 10, Knights Templar, was instituted Sept. 20, 1855, and has a membership of 376. Officers are: Emi- nent Commander, John B. Anderson ; generalis- simo, John Dowling; captain general, Chas. F. Breisacher ; treasurer, D. Howard Craw- ford; recorder, Wilson A. Turner; prelate, Samuel B. Beattie; assistant prelate, Her- man L. Delo; senior warden, John C. Peigh-
tal; junior warden, C. Calvin Nugent; stan- dard bearer, Harry A. Jacobs; sword bearer, Samuel C. Walker; warden, Samuel A. Martin; captain of the guard, Joseph M. Howe; third guard, Joseph S. Wakefield ; second guard, William J. Smith ; first guard, Robert B. McCune; sentinel, S. Grant Steel; quartermaster, John C. Schomberg; trustees, Andrew S. Stayer, James G. Humer, Samuel B. Beattie.
The Free Masons' Mutual Benefit associa- tion, with offices in the Masonic temple, has a membership of 311. Its officers are as follows. President, William S. Lingen- felter ; vice president, W. E. Rodkey ; treas- urer, J. D. Levan; secretary, Samuel B. Trees; directors, T. Davis, A. P. Kready, H. R. Hughes, J. C. Peightal, P. C. Moore.
The Masonic temple, the home of the va- rious organizations, was erected in 1889-90, and was dedicated with imposing ceremo- nies in the latter year. An excellent library has been established and is maintained in the temple. It is open every day except Sunday from 7 a. m. to 9:30 p. m. The offi- cers are, president, George W. Kuebler; treasurer, M. H. Canan; secretary, Wilson A. Turner. The school of instruction which meets 'every Monday evening, except first Monday, has the following officers : President, Boyd C. Steel; vice president, John H. Fiske; secretary, Samuel B. Trees.
Outside of Altoona there are four other Masonic lodges and one chapter in Blair county, as follows. Portage lodge No. 220, and Juniata lodge No. 282, at Hollidays- burg ; Tyrone lodge No. 494, at Tyrone, and Woodbury lodge No. 539 at Roaring Spring and Mount Moriah Chapter No. 166, at Hollidaysburg.
Purity lodge is probably the oldest frater- nal organization in the county, having been organized at Hollidaysburg Sept. 7, 1846, the same year the county was created. Its officers are as follows: W. M., Christopher B. Heverly; S. W., J. Alton Heller; J. W., C. Roy Isenberg ; treasurer, John W. Cliber ; secretary, Isaac M ._ Irwin; S. D., John G.
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Sellers ; J. D., Harvey N. Hyle ; S. M. of C., Mark E. Lykens; J. M. of C., George B. Miller ; pursuivant, Charles C. Mong ; chap- lain, George R. Curtis; tyler, John W. Rohr- back; representative, James S. Mundorff; trustees, Jacob R. Fink, Thomas A. Nokes, George R. Curtis.
Juniata lodge No. 282 was constituted Dec. 8, 1853, and its roster of officers fol- lows: Worshipful master, George W. Will- iams; S. W., Blair B. Young; J. W., J. Alpheus Martz ; treasurer, Harry A. Jacobs; secretary, Plymouth W. Snyder; S. D., Charles W. Bosler; J. D., A. Jesse Nicode- mus ; S. M. of C .. Morris D. Pryor; J. M of C., Thomas B. McFarland ; pursuivant, John M. Bobb; chaplain, James R. Humes ; tyler, John W. Rohrback ; representative, Harry A. Jacobs; trustees, Harry M. Henshey, Jonathan T. Leet, Marion D. Patterson.
Tyrone lodge No. 494 was constituted July 10, 1871, and has a membership of 224. Its officers are as follows : Worshipful master, D. Hayes Burnham; S. W., Elmer Crawford; J. W., James C. Wray ; treasurer, D. S. Kloss; secretary, William M. Reed; S. D., Edgar L. Gates; J. D., Milton D. Hoffman; S. M. C., Clyde M. Cameron; J. M. C., Harry M. Widney; pursuivant, Wal- ter Trimble; chaplain, Thaddeus Stine; tyler, Aaron L. Koons; representative Ma- sonic home, Conrad J. Kegel; representa- tive to G. L., Frank K. Matters; district deputy, Boyd G. Steel; trustees, John K. Ray, Adie Mingle, William F. Wise; stew- ards, G. C. Boecking, William G. Scott.
Woodbury lodge No. 539 at Roaring Spring, was constituted at Woodbury, Pa., Aug. 19, 1875, and moved to Roaring Spring Dec. 27, 1887. It has a membership of 108, the present roster of officers being as follows: Worshipful master, Dr. Will- iam M. Bolger; S. W., E. S. Kagarise; J. W., Lawrence P. Swoope; treasurer, George E. Harker; secretary, Isaac S. Mock; rep. grand lodge, Frank M. Bobb; S. D., H. Norman Fox; J. D., J. Wayne Lingenfelter; chaplain, Roland Smallwood;
S. M. C., Gerald B. Hair; J. M. C., L. Oder Burket ; pursuivant, John D. Hagey ; tyler, Levi L. Biddle; stewards, Jacob P. Martin, J. Edward Gorsuch ; trustees, Dr. W. Albert Nason, Dr. Frank B. Herkheimer, Prof. E. S. Kegarise.
The roster of officers of Mount Moriah Chapter No. 166, Royal Arch Masons of Hollidaysburg, is as follows; High priest, Homer C. McKillip; king, Wayland R. Palmer; scribe, Charles W. Bosler; treas- urer, Harry A. Jacobs; secretary, Harry M. Henshey ; C. of H., James R. Humes ; P. S., Plymouth W. Snyder; R. A. C., Samuel Mc- Curdy ; M. of 3V., J. King Henry ; M. of 2V., C. B. Heverly ; M. of IV., J. Rudy Fink; S. M. C., H. M. Hull; J. M. C., Blair B. Young; chaplain, G. R. Curtis ; pursuivant, A. J. Nico- demus; tyler, John W. Rohrback; trustees, J. R. Humes, Samuel McCurdy, J. W. Stitzel.
ODD FELLOWS.
Odd Fellowship is represented in Altoona by six lodges, as follows Altoona lodge No. 473; Archie Maxwell lodge No. 145; B. S. Davis lodge No. 1069; Logan lodge No. 1059; Mountain City lodge No. 287, and Veranda lodge No. 532. B. S. Davis lodge and Logan lodge own their own homes, the first being located at Seventh avenue and Twenty-fourth street, and the second at Sixth avenue and Fourth street. The auxil- iary organizations are Altoona Canton No. 24; Altoona Encampment No. 129; Alti En- campment No. 89; Eleanor lodge, Daugh- ters of Rebekah, and Rudora lodge, Daugh- ters of Rebekah.
Mountain City lodge was instituted April 22, 1874; Veranda lodge, Feb. 21, 1857; Al- toona lodge, Aug. 25, 1852, Davis lodge, June 30, 1893, while Maxwell lodge is of comparatively recent formation. The Elea- nor lodge, Daughters of Rebekah, was or- ganized Dec. 29, 1869, and Eudora lodge in April, 1875.
BENEVOLENT PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS.
Altoona lodge No. 102, Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, was organized Oct.
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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY
22, 1888, and has now a membership of 472, being the strongest and most influential so- cial organization in the city. Its home for many years was in the Nicholson building, Eleventh avenue and Fifteenth street, and the present beautiful temple, devoted ex- clusively to the use of the order, at Twelfth street, near Thirteenth avenue, was erected in 1906. While it was in course of erection, on Oct. 19, 1906, it was almost totally de- stroyed in the fire which burned the Mishler theatre and the Rothert building. Only the walls were left standing, but it was com- pleted and dedicated the following year.
ANCIENT ORDER KNIGHTS OF THE MYSTIC CHAIN.
Mystic castle No. 27, instituted June 5, 1872, Fidelity assembly No. 4, Degree of Naomi, meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p. m. in Grand Army hall; Mrs. L. May Gearhart, secretary, Miss Mary S. Major, treasurer.
ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS.
Ancient Order of Hibernians, division No. I, meets on the third Sunday of each month in the McHale block; P. J. Reilly, president ; J. T. Doran, R. S .; A. J. Bradley, P. S .; Michael McDonald, treasurer.
Division No. 2 meets on the third Saturday of each month and first Sunday in the Hiber- nian hall; M. J. Gilmartin, president; E. J. Dunphy, F. S .; J. P. Horning, treasurer.
ARTISANS' ORDER OF MUTUAL PROTECTION.
Mountain Assembly No. 29 meets in the Eagle hall, William Robertson, recorder ; Charles Clare, cashier.
BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS.
Jerry C. Burley division, No. 287, meets in Stehle block; W. B. Stahl, I and J.
Mrs. S. J. Cover division, No. 64, auxiliary to B. of L. E.
BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE FIREMEN.
Altoona lodge, No. 287. Homer B. Saylor, Sec.
Mountain city lodge, No. 91. Ladies's So- city, B. of L. F.
BROTHERHOOD OF RAILROAD TRAINMEN.
United lodge, No. 174. G. A. McGregor, secretary.
Pride lodge, No. 174. Ladies' auxiliary to B. of R. R. T.
DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA.
Chosen council, No. 30. Mrs. Jennie
Daugherty, secretary.
Independence council, No. 8. Mrs. Lizzie Mallory, R. S.
DAUGHTERS OF LIBERTY.
Nettie Viola Kepple, council No. 113, Mrs. Clara Walters, R. S., Mrs. Theresa Harmon, treasurer.
DAUGHTERS OF MALTA.
Agnes Sisterhood, No. 3. Jessie Weaver, K. of A.
Olive Sisterhood, No. 2, Mrs. Lizzie Haz- lett, Q .; Mrs. Ella L. Jones, K. of A.
FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES.
Altoona Aerie, No. 286, organized 1901, own home at Eleventh street and Twelfth avenue; F. L. Schoonover, worthy president; Clyde E. Brown, secretary; William K. Gar- rity, treasurer.
IMPROVED ORDER OF HEPTASOPHS.
Altoona Conclave, No. 132, instituted August, 1878. Organized September, 1886; Charles A. Greer, secretary; E. F. Amick, treasurer.
IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN.
There are four tribes of the Improved Order of Red Men, who joined in the purchase of a home at Thirteenth avenue and Eleventh street. They are Chickalacamoose tribe, No. 364; Orinoco tribe, No. 424; Winnebago tribe, No. 35 and Wopsononock tribe, No. 356. The auxiliary organizations are Powhattan council, No. 59, Degree of Pocahontas, Silver Arrow council, No. 146, Degree of Pocahontas, and Haymaker Degree, No. 3641/2.
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.
Mountain city court, No. 1879. Organized June, 1895; H. A. Heverly, R. S .; D. H. Slick, treasurer.
Court Elkhurst, No. 4056. Organized April 21, 1899; J. G. Klein, R. S .; W. J. Russell, treasurer.
JUNIOR ORDER UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS.
Cresson council, No. 108, organized Sept. 21, 1870, with forty-seven charter members. A. J. Filler, R. S .; John Harlan, treasurer.
Pride of Mountain city council, No. 472, or- ganized as Mountain city council No. 198, March 22, 1869. T. C. Lower, recording sec- retary ; D. H. Plitt, treasurer.
Juniata council, No. 372. John Noggle, R. S .; J. O. Keagy, F. S .; J. L. Haffley, treasurer.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.
Altoona council, No. 551. Thomas B. Wehrle, grand knight; Thomas J. Lynch, deputy grand knight ; Joseph C. O'Donnell, re- cording secretary ; F. P. Barron, financial sec- retary; Owen Kelly, treasurer.
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE.
Elmo castle, No. 54; Altoona castle, No. 145; Centennial castle, No. 204, and Mountain temple, No. 5, Ladies of the Golden Eagle.
KNIGHTS OF MALTA.
Excelsior commandery, No. 66, Mt. Horeb commandery, No. 141, and Triune com- mandery, No. 201.
LOYAL ORANGE INSTITUTE.
Loyal Orange institute, No. 237, and True Blues ladies' auxiliary, to L. O. I., No. 237.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
There are three lodges of the Knights of Pythias and together they own a fine temple at Eighth avenue and Eleventh street, erected in 1908.
White Cross lodge No. 354 was organized March 28, 1872, being chartered and instituted on May 3, 1872, by Grand Chancellor James MacIntosh of Philadelphia, and Grand Vice
Chancellor James Bains of Pittsburg. The first name chosen for the lodge was St. John, but finding there was one already by that name in the state the change was made to White Cross.
Logan lodge No. 79, was instituted May 19, 1868. The other lodge is Blair lodge, No. 281. The auxiliary organizations are Altoona division No. 26, Uniform rank, and Mountain city assembly, No. 4, Pythian sisterhood.
MACCABEES.
Altoona tent No. 407, and Altoona hive No. 198, L. O. T. M.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA.
The Modern Woodmen of America was or- ganized in Altoona, March 20, 1900.
ORDER OF RAILWAY CONDUCTORS.
Mountain city lodge, No. 172, and Lake- mont division, No. 88, ladies' auxiliary to O. R. C.
PATRIOTIC ORDER SONS OF AMERICA.
Washington camp No. 31, Washington camp No. 54 and Washington camp No. 60.
ORDER OF OWLS.
Order of Owls, No. 149. Organized 1908.
PROTECTED HOME CIRCLE.
Goodwin council, No. 434.
ROYAL ARCANUM. Altoona council, No. 580.
YOUNG MEN'S INSTITUTE.
Columbus council, No. 120. There were originally four councils, but they consolidated in 1902.
LOYAL ORDER OF MOOSE.
The Loyal Order of Moose was organized in Altoona in 1908 and the lodge now has a mem- bership of about 1,000 and owns a home at Eighth avenue and Twelfth street.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
There are two posts of the Grand Army of the Republic in Altoona, both instituted shortly after the organization was formed
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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY
in the country at large. They are Stephen C. Potts post No. 62, which meets every Thursday evening in the Hare building, Chestnut avenue and Ninth street, and Fred C. Ward post No. 468, which meets every Saturday evening at 801 Eighth avenue.
Each post has a ladies' auxiliary, Ladies' Circle No. 8 of S. C. Potts post, and Ladies' Circle No. 16 of Fred C. Ward post.
There is also a camp of the Union Vet- eran Legion, known as Union Veteran Legion No. 17, which meets the third Thursday of each month at Ninth avenue and Twelfth street, and there is an organi- zation of all war veterans known as the War Veterans' association of Blair county. The veterans of the Philippine and Chinese wars also maintain an organization, and those who as members of the Fifth regi- ment participated in the Spanish-American war, belong to an association of the surviv- ors of that organization.
The Sons of Veterans have .one camp, Lieutenant S. C. Potts camp No. 12, which meets every Friday evening in the rooms of Post 62.
MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES AND CLUBS.
Altoona Athletic association, Central Trust building, grounds at Columbia park, Fifth avenue and Twenty-eighth street. Organized January, 1902. Member of Tri- State league. President, W. H. McEl- downey; secretary and treasurer, G. L. Taylor ; manager, Henry Ramsey.
Altoona Board of Underwriters, M. R. Keesey, president ; W. G. Creighton, secre- tary.
Altoona Cricket club, organized 1878 by officers and employes of the Pennsylvania railroad company, with club house just east of city limits, built in 1903. George W. Creighton, president ; J. W. Nelson, secre- tary.
Altoona Division No. 133, Trackmen of America. Harry Hamley, president ; Charles Crimminger, secretary.
Altoona Lodge No. 10, Brotherhood of Car Inspectors, Car Builders and Railway Mechanics of America. C. E. Detrow, pres- ident ; W. H. S. Bahn, secretary.
American Typographical union No. 240. All but one of the city's newspapers main- tain open shop.
Amalgamated Society of Engineers and Machinists No. 582. George Hargreaves, secretary.
American Federation of Labor, Altoona lodge No. 9905. C. P. Weston, recording secretary ; C. Brakebill, financial secretary ; John Evans, treasurer.
Beacon Light club, a Jewish social organ- ization, organized in 1888. S. Bendheim, president ; Ferd Bendheim, vice president ; E. E. Engle, secretary ; H. Slutzker, treas- urer; A. Scheeline, financial secretary ; S. Bendheim, Samuel March and J. E. Bech- hoefer, board of trustees.
Belvidere club, organized 1888, disbanded 1909.
Blair County Medical society, organized 1848.
Branch No. 101, National Association of Letter Carriers. G. A. Hahn, president; W. C. Walker, secretary.
Branch No. 159, United National Asso- ciation of Postoffice Clerks. G. H. Richi- son, secretary.
Brotherhood of Freight and Baggage- men of America. Edward Peters, presi- dent ; M. J. Gill, secretary.
Car Builders' lodge No. 12, Brotherhood of Car Inspectors, Car Builders and Rail- way Mechanics of America. W. W. Orner, president ; J. Fred Creeger, secretary.
Central Labor council. Louis Casey, president ; John W. Barnhart, recording secretary ; W. C. Hamakaer, corresponding secretary.
Christopher Columbus society, organized in 1904. Lawrence de Barber, president ; Joseph Fusco, vice president; A. Faticante, secretary; Benjamin de Barber, treasurer.
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
Crawford Gun club, club house corner Kettle street and Fifth avenue. Frank Wright, secretary.
Deutscher Unterstuetzungsbund, District 45, Leonard Geig, secretary.
Electrical Workers' union No. 271I. F. T. Kleffman, secretary.
Fire Department Relief association. Theodore W. Alleman, president; Walter Brown, secretary ; Fred Klink, treasurer.
German Beneficial union No. 45. Leon- ard Geig, secretary.
Juniata Rod and Gun club, chartered June 18, 1900. C. H. Brooks, president ; J. I. Col- lins, secretary and treasurer.
International Association of Machinists No. 333. Charles W. Conrad, secretary.
International Bartenders' league No. 449. C. H. Rhodes, secretary.
International Order of Railway Teleg- raphers. J. W. McCoy, president; R. A. Myers, secretary.
The Kelsey Gun club, club house and grounds Cherry avenue and Lloyd street. F. E. Cherry, secretary ; J. F. Nugent, treas- urer.
Liveryman's Association of Altoona, Pa. Organized July 1, 1900.
Local Union No. 229 Plumbers' United Association of Journeymen Plumbers, Gas and Steam Fitters and Steam Fitters' Help- ers. Walter Goodman, secretary.
Mountain City lodge No. I, Brotherhood of Railway Signalmen of America. D. C. Brubaker, president; John Harlan, secre- tary.
Mountain City lodge No. 41, Railway Car- men of America. T. M. Buchanan, secre- tary.
Pennsylvania Railroad Beneficial and Div- idend association. Phillip McGarvey, presi- dent.
Philharmonic Orchestral society. Organ- ized March, 1896. Fred Ball, secretary ; Benjamin Dreyfus, treasurer ; F. P. M. Gip- prich, musical director.
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. R. L. Wolf, secretary.
Universal Workingmen's Sick and Death Benefit association, Branch 53. William Butz, secretary ; Anton Steyer, treasurer.
University club. Organized 1904; owns home at 1222 Twelfth avenue. W. H. Hah- man, president; H. S. VanScoyoc, secre- tary.
Volunteer Firemen's association. Organ- ized 1895. Richard Smith, president; W. W. Smith, secretary.
Altoona Merchants' association and
Chamber of Commerce. H. K. McCauley, president ; C. H. Brown, secretary; H. W. Culp, solicitor.
Moses Montefiore lodge No. 308 of the Independent Order of B'Nai B'rith, organ- ized Nov. 17, 1878.
MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS.
The Altoona City band was organized in 1854 and has been in existence ever since. The director and manager for thirty years has been Julian A. Neff. The present offi- cers are: President, P. M. Canty; secre- tary, J. K. Weiser ; treasurer, S. J. Zolner ; trustees, George Lehman and W. Reed. This band long had an enviable reputation and fills many important engagements on notable occasions.
Other bands in existence at the present time are the Juniata, formerly the Logan band, the Central Pennsylvania and the St. Donato bands. The following have long since ceased to exist: The Mountain City band, organized Sept. 10, 1875; Junior Greys' band, organized Sept. 1, 1877; Citi- zens' cornet band, incorporated January, 1878; German Social Cornet band, organized in September, 1878, and the Emerald band.
The Frohsinn Singing society was organ- ized Jan. 8, 1870. Their hall, known as the East Side theatre, was erected in 1891.
The Concordia Singing society was or- ganized January 8, 1870. The founders were George Koelle, Sr., George Koelle, Jr., Fred
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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY
Koelle, Balzer Koelle, Fred Ehredt, Sr., and Gottlub Hauser. Jacob Sauder was the first president.
Gipprich's orchestra, F. P. M. Gipprich, leader.
Leman Brothers' orchestra, George M. Leman, leader.
Blose-Lingenfelter orchestra, Mrs. Marie Blose-Lingenfelter, leader.
Mishler's theatre orchestra.
Russell's Harp orchestra.
Vallade's orchestra, Julia Vallade, leader.
Hoover's orchestra, Cora M. Hoover, leader.
Colonial orchestra, J. Mahlon Duganne, leader.
High School orchestra.
Central Grammar School orchestra.
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CHAPTER XXV.
ALTOONA CHURCHES.
History of the Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic, United Evangelical, Church of Christ, Hebrew, and Other Religious Organizations in Altoona.
Altoona is pre-eminently a city of churches and of church-going people. It is doubtful if there is another city in the country of equal size having so many beautiful church edifices and in which the work of Christianity is so well sustained as in Altoona. During the past ten years more than a score of magnificent structures have been erected by various de- nominations, at a cost ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 and several are now in process of building. The people have always displayed a most liberal spirit in their support of the churches and the various lines of work in which they are engaged; quite a number of the con- gregations support missionaries in the foreign fields, and innumerable young men have gone out to labor in other parts of the Lord's vine- yard.
LUTHERAN.
First Lutheran .- The Lutherans were the first to occupy the local field and they had a house of worship in the vicinity before Al- toona was thought of. What is now known as the First Lutheran church was organized in 1834. Its first meeting was held in a log schoolhouse, then located in a piece of woods in what is now the Sixth ward. For four years it worshipped there, then removed to the Union schoolhouse, on the site of the present African Methodist Episcopal church on Six- teenth street. In the spring of 1846 Rev. Henry Baker received and accepted a call to this congregation. During the same summer
the congregation built a church edifice in Col- linsville, now in the suburbs of the city, where they worshipepd for eight years. After Al- toona was laid out it became necessary for the congregation again to change its base of opera- tions. Two lots were selected on Eleventh avenue, above Fourteenth street, and a church and parsonage were built in 1853. The church was dedicated in 1854. The contractors were Peter Empfield and David Brubaker. The cost of church and parsonage was about $8,000. In 1870 the church was enlarged and greatly improved, at a cost of about $12,000. The congregation continued to occupy this building until 1896, when the present magnificent stone church, with parsonage adjoining, at the corner of Twelfth avenue and Fourteenth street was erected at a cost of $75,000. The pastors who served this church from time to time are as follows: Revs. Jacob Martin, John H. Huff- man, C. C. Guenther, Jacob Simons, William Weaver, Henry Baker, S. Curtis, Jacob Steck, C. C. Ehrenfeld, S. Holman, M. J. Firey, E. D. Weigle, M. W. Hamma, D. D., O. C. Roth, D. D, and Marion J. Kline, D. D. Rev. Henry Baker served the congregation for more than thirty-five years. It was during his first pas- torate that the church edifice on Eleventh avenue was built. The present structure was built during the pastorate of Dr. Hamma. Out of this, the parent church, all the other Lutheran congregations in the city have grown, and it is still the largest of all, having a membership of more than one thousand. It is free of debt,
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HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY
vigorous and active, always ready to unite in any enterprise which has the glory of God and the good of man in view.
The Second Lutheran church was organized in 1871. The first church had by that time attained a membership equal to its seating ca- pacity, and the organization of a second church was agreed upon. On July IIth the following persons met at the residence of William Bell to prepare the way for the proposed organiza- tion : Rev: J. B. Crist, William Bell and wife, D. K. Ramey, J. B. Westley, Louis Walton and wife, Mrs. Sue Patton and A. J. Riley. Rev. Crist was elected chairman and Mr. Riley secretary. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Ramey, Bell and Riley was appointed to procure a suitable place for public worship. This committee secured the rooms known as Bell's hall, corner Seventh avenue and Twelfth street, and on August 13, the congregation was regularly organized." The officers elected at this meeting were: Elders, William Bell and J. B. Westley; deacons, D. K. Ramey and L. F. Stahl; treasurer, A. J. Riley. Rev. S. Domer of Reading preached in the morning and Rev. Henry Baker in the evening, at which time the officers were installed. In the after- noon of the same day the Sunday school was organized. D. K. Ramey was elected super- intendent, A. J. Riley secretary, Louis Walton librarian and L. F. Stahl assistant librarian. The school, including officers and teachers, numbered twenty at organization. At a con- gregational meeting held Dec. 31, 1874, the ground upon which the church edifice stands, on Seventh avenue between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, was chosen, and the following building committee was appointed: William Bell, Geo. W. Heinsling, D. K. Ramey, D. C. Earhart and John B. Westley. February 22, 1874, the church was occupied by the congre- gation for the first time, worshipping in the basement, the audience chamber being yet un- finished. The entire cost of the church prop- erty, including parsonage, was over $20,000. The debt was liquidated within a few years. The church has had the following pastors since its organization : Revs. George Scholl, Charles
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