The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-19


Brumbaugh is authority on Pennsyl
vania history and his address will at
tract great attention.
Six heirs of Baron Stiegel were pres
ent last year when payment of the rose
was made to Judge Brown on their be-
half. 1t is probable that they will at
tend the celebration again this year to
sign the receipt according to law. The
names of these honored descendants of
the baron are John Calvin Stiegel of
Harrisburg, Va; Mrs. Elizabeth M.
Luther, Pottsville. Pa: Miss Anna l..
Boyer, Harrisburg, Pa; Miss Bessie
Stiegel. Harrisonburg, Va. and Charles
M. Hill, Miss G. S. Hill and Mrs. e. s.
Du Nee of Philadelphia.
This annual feast of roses was inau-
gurated in 1892 In that year the con-
gregation of lions Lutheran church
placed a memorial window back of the
pulpit, in which the principal object OF
decoration was a large red rose. This
was symbolcal of the Indebtedness Of
the church to Baron Henry William
Sitiegel, the founder of Mannheim, and
the first glass and iron manufacturer
of note in the United States, who, in
December, 1772, conveyed to the trus-
tees of the Lutheran congregation a
plot of ground on which to erect
church.
This ground decided forever ITO the
congresation by indenture still pre-
served in the church archives, was to
be paid for by the annual presentation
to Baron Stiegel and his heirs of SIN
gle red rose. The clause in which this
payment is set forth can still be dis
tinotly read in the indenture. 1t says:
yielding and paying therefor unto
the said Henry William Stiegel his
heirs or assigns, at the said town OF
Mannheim in the month of June, yearly
forever hereafter the rent of one red
rose, if the same shall be lawfully de-
manded."
JTpon the northwest corner of this
lot the Lutheran congregation had in
ITO erected a little frame church
structure, two stories high, with small
belfry. In this church Baron Stiegel
worshiped and from it's congregation
he demanded in 1173 and liza the an
nual payment of the red rose,
Baron Heinrich Wilhelm Stiegel was
born in Germany, presumably near
Mannheim, in Baden, evidently of a no
BILE and wealthy parentage, in A. ID.
1880. At the age Of 20 he became dis
satisfied with the sowness of the good
old home and mother country and de-
termined to gather up his portion of
this earth's goods, which amounted TO
e40,000, and ventured forth into the
new world to prove the many stories
scattered broadcast over the old con-
corning the golden opportunities in the
new, and by so doing soon outstrip his
European friends, and especially ms
brothers, with whom he could not agree
because of his eccentricitieS, in wealth
and honor and fame.
The baron prospered greatly in the
new land and married a daughter of
wealthy ironmaster near Philadelphia.
On the death of his father-in-law he
bought the furnace and made fortune.
He bought tract of land and laid out
the town of Mannheim and decided the
land for the church to the congrega-
ton for the annual payment of one red
rose, an eccentricity which he little
dreamed would bear fruit 100 years af-
terward But misfortune overlook him
as it does so many men who reach out
too far.
The baron's great display of wealth
was not warranted by his income. Con-
seuuently he became deeply involved IN
debt and in August of 1774 he was COM
mitted to prison by his many creditors
while at the time he had decided the
property to the church he had been
considered one of the wealthiest men
in Pennsylvania. He had fallen behind
in his business and was forced to spend
five months in jail, leaving it on
Christmas eve, IVA The revolutionary
war prevented his retrieving his broken
fortune, and he died without ever again
demanding the payment of the rose.
When his fortunes were broken and his
health blasted by trouble and imprison-
ment Baron Stiegel removed in ITS to
Brickeryille, where he took up school
teaching, The old school house where
he labored is still standing near Wom-
elsdorf.
Years went by, the congregation of
lions church worshiping on the ground
given by the doughty old baron. with
out thought of how it came into their
possession. In 1891 plans for a modern
church building were prepared, and it
was erected on the old site during the
years of 1891 and 1882
Dr. j. w. Selling. treasurer of the
church. in looking over the old docu-
ments, came across the deed In read
ing it he was impressed with the pos
sibilities of a most beautiful symbol
cal festival upon the annual payment
of the rose, neglected for SO many
years. He made his plans and an
nounced them through the newspapers.
His idea was ITO have simply a feast of
roses. the church to be decked and
offerings to be made. He was some
what surprised to receive letter from
]. C. Stiegel of Virginia saying that he
was the great grandson of the old