Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-10-02
Burning of the Opera House.

Duiliilb Va bAlC OpCId IlOuSc.
Fifty years ago last Saturday, the briel
church building on S. McKean ST. wa
dedicated to the worship of Almighty Go,
by the German Lutheran congregation o
Butler
Last Saturday night what woodwork re
mained of the old church, together Will
the Opera House addition, furniture. seen
cry, etc., made the largest and hottest fire
that Butler has seen since the burning o
the Court House.
The old church lot and building were
purchased from the congregation in 1884
by Mr.. l. J. McCandless, who organized G
company, and changed it into an opera
House, at an expense of about 1000 in
all
They sold it, two years ago, to Mr.. An
dy Root, who has since been living in and
running it. On Saturday night last, just
as Comedy Co. was preparing for its
last act, one of the employees in the base
ment discovered fire raging in the large
room called the property roOm." he
gave the alarm, which was repeated up
stairs and the audience left the building
without serious accident or without
any great confusion, but the men,
bers of the Comedy Co. lost their heads
and jumped out of the windows in their
stage clothes, leaving everything else be-
hind That they had plenty oftime to save
their valuables is shown by the fact that
some men picked up the piano of the or
chestra and carried it out safely. One wo-
man of the company tainted and had to be
carried, and a child that was left behind
was rescued. Some boys jumped from the
gallery to the floor below, and from the
windows to the ground, but none of them
received serious injury.
The stage part of the building being en-
tirely of wood, high and dry, the flames
spread rapidly, and before the water could
be turned upon it, it was "past redemp-
ton F"
Mr.. Root lost the property which, we
| understand was all paid for excepting 81
900, also his household furniture, clothing,
etc., and he estimates his entire loss at
about $40, 900, with no insurance whatever,
he having allowed that to expire year
ago.
A slight current of air from the south
carried the heat and sparks across the
street to the old Miller furniture factory
and the stable back of it. The stable was
entirely consumed. and the furniture fac
tory partially. The fremen did remarka-
bly, good work there, and the Miller family
are under great obligations to them. How
ever some valuable machinery and lumber
were destroyed, and member of the fam
lily puts their loss at So, 600, with no insur
ance. The residence of Mr.. Jos. Balph on
the south side of the building. and but few
feet from it, was saved by the liberal use
of water and by the air current, that car
ried the heat in the opposite direction.
A strong wind that night would have
carried destruction with 1t, and that whole
neigh borhood can feel thankful that it did
not exist.
All the fire companies and also the
Hook and Ladder Co. were promptly on
hands, and some of the boys stayed on
guard all night. There was plenty of wa
ter and no delay was experienced during
the progress of the fire excepting in coup
ling the hose.
The walls of the old church building,
excepting the rear wall, which was torn
down when it was changed into an opera
House, are yet standing.
A citizen of the town furnishes us with
the following history of the old church.
THE BUILDING AND ITS BUILDER.
The burning of the Opera House last
Saturday night might be passed with the
usual notice were it not for the associa-
tions connected with the building, which
has an interesting local history. 1t was
the first Lutheran church erected in But
Ter, and was only converted to and known
as an "Opera House" within the last ten
years. Previous to that it was known as
St. Marks Lutheran Church. Upon a
stone placed in its front wall, facing Nc
Kean street, was hewn this inscription:
"Templum. Ev. Lutheranum st. Marco,
inscriptum cad. MDCCCXL." Which be
ing rendered into English reads, "Saint
Marks Lutheran Church, erected in the
year 1S40." When the present German
Lutheran church at corner Of Washington
and Jefferson streets was built, about ten
years ago, this stone was removed to and
placed in that building, where it can now
be seen.
The old church, just burned, was built
under great difficulties and trials. Some
of its building committee, among them the
late Mr.. Jacob Shaner and Jacob Walter,
had their personal property levied upon by
the sheriff to pay debts contracted in its
building. But it was finally completed, with
its strong stone and brick walls, which
yet stand. The church was dedicated on
Sept. 26, lS41, just fifty years ago from
the time it was burned-Sept. 26, 1891.
The late Rev. J. c. G. Schweizerbarth
was its promoter and pastor, and the ac-
tive spirit in its erection. He came from
Germany to our county about 1921, and
made Zelienople his home. He was schol-
arly, learned and able; but his marked
trait was wonderful energy. He visited
many places and cities to raise money 10
build this now destroyed building and among
them Philadelphia where he called upon
Stephen Girard for contribution. His
labors were such in this and neighboring
counties that he soon had eleven Lutheran
churches erected, in which lie had to
preach and visit as their sole pastor. 1t was
his habit to wear loose, flowing clerical
robe, week days as well as Sunday. The one
he used on week days was offine blue calico
and when he walked, which he did with
great rapidity, this loose gown could be
seen streaming in the wind behind him.
He was pastor over his people here for
about 2S years, ceasing his labors about
1850, and his remains lie at the church he
had caused to be erected in Zelienople.
Among Rev. Schweizerbarth's early men,
bers here were Jacob Mechling, father of
present Thomas Mechling; Jacob Shaner,
father of present Daniel Shaner; Jacob
Walter, father of George Walter; John
Mccullough, John 0esterling, John Serb
er, now written Sarver, John Handschuh,
now corrupted and put in English as Hen
shue in place of Handshoe, Isaac Yedder,
now changed to Yetter. A. Buechle, now
written Beighley, Peter Pfueger, now
written Fleeger, Henry Young, Joseph
Moser, Michael Zimmerman, and many