The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-24
Harrisburg's First Church

Harr1sburg's S First Church
The first church building in our city
has date coeval with the founding of
the town-it was built on lot 1877 of
the original plot, which was the loca-
tion at Third and Chestnut streets, do
mated by John Harris, the founder, for
church purposes. 1t was log structure
occupying but small portion of the
lot, and was erected by subscriptions
from citizens of the town without re-
gard to denominational lines.
Various sects held services there
from time to time, but as a vast ma
jority of the citizens were connected
with the Lutheran or German Reformed
churches, the ownership was vested in
those denominations, and they were the
only ones to have regular pastors.
From 1887 to 1895, these two bodies
worshiped together, substantially as one
congregation, although there were sep
arate ministers. The first Lutheran min
lister at Chestnut street was the Rev.
i. ID. Schaeffer. residing in the much
older town of Carlisle. The first Lu-
theran officials of whom l have been
able to find record were elected Sep.
tember IL, 1890. They were:
Trustees, John Dentzel and George Ret
tlg; elders, Christian Kunkel and John
Hocker; deacons, Mlchael Won Kenen
and john Ebert.
In 1895, there was a more marked
division in the congregations, although
both continued to occupy harmoniouslv
the same edifce. The articles drawn
up in that year for the systematiziug
and consolidating of the Lutheran CON
gregation have twenty-five names ap-
pended to them, all males, thus indi-
eating that it is not by any means a
full roll of the church membership. At
the same time the Lutherans secured
their first resident pastor, the Rev.
Henry Moeller.
Founding of Zion Church
In 1913 the Lutherans bought
ground On Fourth street, and January
26, 1914, the following building com
mittee was appointed: Christian Kun
kel, George Youse, George Iigler. John
Shock and Christian Stahl. The build
er of the church was famous architect
of those days, Stephen Hills, the same
man who, in the same decade. built the
old State Capitol of classic proportions.
~ thdb lAht lHcIC was HU Sharply
drawn line between the professions of
architect and builder.
The cornerstone of the Fourth Street
church was laid June %, 1914. the
ministers officiating in the ceremonies
being the Revs. George Schmucker, of
Yorktown, as York was then called:
George Lochman. of Lebanon; Heidrich
Danhoff, of Jonestown; w. G. Ernst, of
Marietta, and j. P. Hecht, of Carlisle.
The church was dedicated October
/, 1915. The forenoon sermon was de-
livered in German 10y the Rev. George
Schmueker; the afternoon discourse, in
English. by the Rev. Mr.. Armstrong;
while there was an evening sermon.
again in German, by the Rev. Mr..
Hindel, of the German Reformed
church.
The exercises were continued on the
following day, Monday, by forenoon
sermon, in German, by the Rev. Mr..
Vanhoff, and one in the evening, in
English, by the Rev. j. P. Hecht.
This was memorable and Joyous
occasion. Lutherans from settlements
many miles distant came pouring into
the little village of Harrisburg. All
pioneer peoples are noted for their
hospitality, and none were more so than
the early Germans of our own State.
All these visitors were greeted with
brotherly affection aud most cordially