Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/176

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES made to Rev. David J. Waller* a licentiate of the Newcastle Presbytery, who had preached in Bloomsburg in (he summer of 1837. H e accepted the call and w as installed in May* 1839* his charge consisting o f all of Columbia county. I ] is pastorate continued uninter­ ruptedly for thirty-three years* and his activi­ ties were such that not only did his congrega-' tion gain thereby, but the whole of the sur­ rounding country formed the scene o f his labors, as much in a material as in a spiritual way. Through his u n fla^ in g energy a rail­ road was built* industries establishcil* many families brought to swell the population o f Bloomsburg. and there w as not a movement for the betterment of the condition o f his people in w hkh he did noS take a prominent part. Ills home was the stopping place o f all sorts and conditions of people, who were en­ tertained with great hospitality. So many came to h is home at one time that when the landlord o f a neighboring inn put up a new Mgn some w ag hung the old one over the door of Mr. W aller’s house. Subsequent pastors o f this church have been Revs. Stuart Mitchell. D. D.* until 188S; I. M. Patterson, until September, 1896; Rev. Dr. G. H. Hemingway* 1807 to 190 9; and the present pastor, Rev. S. C. Dickson. When the county sent came to Bloomsburg the congregation prepared to build anew* and the site on M arket street w as purchased. N a­ poleon L e B ru n prepared the plans, and the second church w as built at a cost o f $3,000. The last services in the Third Street church were held in August. 1848. and the new church was dedicated the following Wednesday. Us site was that of the present Y o rk s home. The lot formerly occupied by the old church 00 Third street was also used fo r ccmctciv purposes, and had long been sadly neglected, ny proceedings in the court the remains were Ordered removed, and a fine brick parsonage, known as the Manse, w as erected upon this lot in tftSo. The subject o f building a new church had been under consideration for some time, and a fund started for this purpose. T his culminated in the purchase o f several tots at the com er o f Fourth and Market streets, and the erection of the present handsome edifice, whkh w as completed in 18 9 1, It is o f HummeUtown brownstonc, and is very complete and beautiful in all its appointments. The officers of the church at the time w ere: Rev. I. Mn Patterson, p astor: trustees, Willbim Neal. H. V. WTiite. C. A. M w e r, S, A. Wilson, I.. Run von; elders. William N eal. C. A. Moyer, Dr. J. Schuyler, C. G. Barkley. The building

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committee consisted o f C W. M iller and L. K, W aller, The last service w as held in the old church on Sunday* Ju n e 7* 18 9 1, and on June ilt h the new church w as dedicated* and with­ out a debt. A large pipe organ w as put in at this time. T he old brick church was used successively as a chewing gum factory* a printing othce and for other purposes until purchased in 1903 by F. G. Yorks* who tore it down and erected there the stately mansion that is one o f tlic ornaments o f Bloomsbuix* A t the time of the dedication of the present church the membership w as 136* now it is 448* and the Sunday school has an enrollment of 3 19. The present offkers a rc : C. W. Miller* W. L. White* R. J. Ruhl. V. B. Sutliff, A. N. Yost* elders; W, II. Brower* clerk; Arthur S. CLay* K. J. Ruhl* M. K. Y orks, trustees; M. Milleisen* treasurer; W. 11, Eyer* secretary. The superintendent of the Sunday school is F ro f. V. B. Sutliff. On Ju ly 13* 1914* Rev. D. J. W aller, Jr.* son of the fom ier pastor, and principal of the State Norm al School, delivered (he dedicatory address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Sundav school building, which will be a model o f utility* sanitation, convenience and beauty. It is 40 by 80 feet* connected with the church by a wing 28 by 54 feet, and is constructed of Hummelstown browmstonc* to correspond with the church. It is estimated to cost thirty thou­ sand dollars, Composing the building com­ mittee a r c : A rthur S. C lay, John Lew is Moyer* Fran k P. Pursel, David J . W aller, Jr.* and H icstcr V . White. The treasurer of the build­ ing fund is Robert J . R u h l; the architect of the building, George K. Savage, of Philadel­ p h ia; the contractor and bunder* Aaron C, Ju ry . Bloomsburg. M ethodists One of the most imposing edifices in this section of the State is the F irst Methodist Episcopal church o f Bloomsburg, at Market and Third streets. M assive in construction and artistic in design, it is a religious home o f w'hich the congregation may well feel proud. T he first Methodist service w as held in the Episcopal church in Bloomsburg in 1829 by Rev. George T.anc o f Ber%vick. Rev. Wesley Howe, stationed at Berwick in 18 3 1, preached occasionally in the churches in Centre town­ ship and at Bloomsdntf^, and in the latter part o f that year exchanged with Rev. ,Mem B rit­ tain, who prcachc<l to a large audience in the Bloomsburg schoolhouse. T his w as the be-