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History of |
| From John's Pursuit Arendtsville, 1790-1976, A Bicenntenial Community Published abt. 1976 Page 40-46 Transcribed by Vicki Hartman |
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The vicinity of Arendtsville was settled between the years 1736 and 1740. The tract of land on
which the town is located was known as "John's Pursuit," and was warranted January 9, 1739, by
Nicholas Curie. The first settlers of this community were Irish Catholic. They were followed by the
Germans, who who were Lutheran and Reformed in their faith.
The history of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church, Arendtsville, begins with the issuance of a deed in 1781. Stophel St. Mire (later written Sentmire) and Jacob Arendt on April 30, 1781, "sold, set over, and confirmed unto Frederick Steinour and Philip Hartzell, Trustees for the united congregations of Lutherans and Reformeds, two acres seventy-eight perches in Cumberland Township, County of York," deeded "to them and to their successors, to be kept for a Church and Burying Ground and School House." Along with this deed Jacob Arendt granted "the free use of his spring at all times unto the Congregations and School." The transcription from which the above is quoted was evidently made from the original sometime following 1852 since the same hand has recorded the fact that the "deed is recorded in Deed Book S, folio 55" by Daniel Plank then the Recorder of Adams County. In the same also appears the following note: "There being no record found of the first church or of the cost of the same or who was the builder of the church, the transcriber of the foregoing deed can state nothing further than that it was built in the year of our Lord 1787." The Rev. A. J. Heller, writing in the year 1880, states: "This date (1787) was preserved by being engraved on a tablet inserted in the wall over the door. The church, a log building, weatherboarded, was located on the east corner of the square, opposite the present Reformed Church. It was two storied having qalleries on three sides. The pulpit was in the snape of a barrel and set against the wall. The altar was enclosed by a chancel railing. The school house and sexton house formed one building, made of logs and weatherboarded. It stood where the present church stands, and was a story and a half high." In 1785 the first record book was purchased. The first recorded communion held by the Lutherans was March 9, 1790. These early records were written in German. For eighty-eight years both congregations used a joint record. The first burial in the old graveyard was in 1790, when Anna Maria Berrin was interred. The ministers who served the congregation while they worshipped in this first church building were: Rev. Meltzheimer, 1816, Rev. Heiney and Rev. John Herbst, 1819; Charles Weyle, 1830; Frederick Ruthrauff, 1832; and Benjamin Keller, 1836. The years given show the beginning of the respective pastorates. A Rev. Melsheimer was pastor at Bender's Church in 1871. As the Arendtsville congregation was served by supplies or circuit ministers until 1816, this may have been the same man who took the pastorate in 1816. A joint meeting of the two congregations (Lutheran and Reformed) was called on January 1, 1850, for the purpose of considering the rebuilding of the church. The vote in favor of rebuilding was nearly unanimous. Work was begun in the spring of 1851. The foundation of the new church was dug on the site of the old school house and sexton house which stood opposite the original church. The cornerstone was laid AAay 15, and the completed building was "consecrated to the worship of Almighty God on Christmas day 1851." The total amount subscribed for the erection of this church building was $2,399.93V&. The building was forty-two by fifty-five feet in dimension, of brick construction, and colonial architecture. There were two stories with galleries on three sides forming the second floor. The pulpit was high, without sounding board and was modern in style. The altar was made in the plainest manner possible. No steeple or cupola indicated to the stranger the sacredness of the edifice, and no church bell here ever called together the devout worshippers. It was used by both congregations until the separation of the Lutherans and Reformed Churches in 1881. Following that time until the rebuilding in 1886 it was used by the Reformed congregation. On April 25, 1854, Peter Scholl. trustee of Flohrs; John Walters, trustee of Arendtsville Evangelical; and Jonas Rauenzohn, trustee of Bendersville Evangelical Lutheran congregation bought from John Wert and his wife, Mary, a plot of ground containing approximately one half acre for the purpose of erecting a parsonage. This plot is still the location of our present parsonage. This deed is recorded in Gettysburg in deed book Z, folio 257 and 258. It is to be presumed from this deed that the three congregations jointly erected a parsonage and were served by ona pastor. The date of separation of the Bendersville congregation is not available from known records. However, it is known that when Bendersville did separate that the minister for the Bender's Lutheran Church also preached for the Bendersville Evangelical Lutheran congregation. 
On April 10, 1868, the above mentioned trustees sold to John H. Raffensperger, from the parsonage
property, a triangular shaped piece of ground containing 1755 square feet.
In 1872 a movement was begun for the purpose of securing a lot of qround to be used as a public cemetery. A division in the selection of a location resulted in the establishment of two cemeteries; "Greenmount" chartered in April 1872, and "Fairview" not chartered at the time. The pastors for the period of the 1851 building were: Rev. A. R. Height, 1857, from spring to fall; Rev. George Roth, 1857; Rev. S. J. Bell, 1858; Rev. J. K. Miller. 1860; Rev. Michael Snyder, 1866; Rev. H. F. Long, 18.73; and Rev. David M. Blackwelder, 1877. By 1880 the membership of both congregations had grown and as a result there was more demand for use of the building. During that year the problem of a proper division of time in the use of the church building by the two congregations had become a serious problem. The first congregational meeting for the consideration of the building of a separate church by the Lutherans was held in Zion Church, February 6, 1881. A site on High Street was selected for the new building. After a number of meetings and an interchange of proposals it was decided on February 14, 1881, that the Reformed Congregation would buy for $1000 the share of the building owned by the Lutherans. At a meeting held on April 30, 1881, the Reformed Congregation decided to purchase, for $100 the Lutheran share of the "Piece of ground known as the Old Grave Yard." The subscription solicitating committee for the new Lutheran Church building was composed of Daniel Arendt, Solomon Hartman, Elias Spangler, and Isaac Byers. Peter Taylor, Henry Beamer, John F. Bushey, John Frank Hartman, and Michael Wright made up the building committee. The contracting mechanics were George W. Lady, mason; Amos H. Lady, carpenter,- John Jacobs, plasterer; and George Grammer, painter. Ground was broken for the foundation May 14, 1881. The sermon was preached in Zion Church by Rev. M. J. Alleman. Rev. Blackwelder, the pastor, laid the cornerstone. The dimensions of this first church building were 45 by 75 feet. On October 19, 1881, a deed was finally issued for the ground for this church building. Samuel Eyster, a trustee of Arendtsville Evangelical Lutheran Congregation bought what was known as lots number 5 and 6 from Elias Spangler and wife for $150. This land had previously been owned by John Raffensperger and lot number 6 contained the triangular piece of land purchased by him from the parsonage property. The first sermon was preached by the pastor in the lecture room of the new church June 11, 1882. On September 27, 1882, the building was finished. The new church was dedicated as Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Arendtsville, Adams County, Pennsylvania, on October 22, 1882. The president of West Pennsylvania Synod, the Rev. A. S Hartman, of Chambersburg, preached Saturday evening, October 21; and Sunday morning, the Rev. F. W. Conrad, D.D., editor of the Lutheran Observer, preached the dedicatory sermon. The Rev. Joel Swartz, D.D., pastor of St. James' Lutheran Church, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, delivered the closing sermon on Sunday evening. The ground and building cost about $8,000. Of this amount $1,500 was raised on the day of dedication. The church and all it contained was consecrated to God free of debt. Parking space gradually become an increasing problem, soon September 14, 1899, fourteen perches, one hundred twenty-eight and one half square feet of land were bought from Susan Hershey and husband Samuel by H. C. Lady, trustee, for $8.98 for the purpose of providing a hitching ground. This land was located at the rear of the church property. 
In 1899 a room for the Primary Sunday School was built at a cost of about $400. All hauling of stone, brick, sand, and excavation for the foundation was done gratuitously. The pastor, Dr. Koser, donated the chairs and the piano. By 1914 the parsonage was in need of extensive repairs. The joint councils of Trinity Lutheran Church and Flohrs decided to rebuild the parsonage rather than make the necessary renovations. The old parsonage was torn down and the new building completed in 1915 at an expense of $3,500. In 1924, a modern Sunday School building was erected adjoining the church at a cost of $4,500. Electric lights and a heating plant for the church and Sunday School were installed at a cost of $3,400. With several other minor improvements, the total cost was about $8,000. At a congregational meeting held June 26, 1927, it was decided to remodel the church building. George Oyler, Hiram Lady and M.E. Knouse composed the building committee. The building treasurer was George E. Hoffman. The improvements made included the refinishing of the walls, new pews and pulpit furniture, mem- orial windows, Moller pipe organ, carpeting the floor, repapering of the Sunday School room. The interior of the church was completely remodeled. On the outside of the church the old stone steps leading from the church to the street were removed and a series of brick and stone steps built. Total cost of these improvements, $23,000, was paid prior to the dedicatory services, and the remodeled church was dedi- cated free of debt. The following services were held: dedicatory service April 15, 1928, by Rev. George B. Ely, pastor,- dedication sermon by the Rev. H. D. Hoover, D.D.; organ dedication by the Rev. J. B. Baker, D.D., who also preached the dedication sermon on Sunday evening, April 15. Community night was observed on Tuesday evening, April 17, with addresses by the Rev. C. M. Ankerbrand, pastor of the United Brethren Church, Biglerville, and the Rev. Murray E. Ness, pastor of the Reformed Church, Arendtsville. The Rev. John Aberiy, D.D., was the speaker for Ladies' night, Friday evening, April 20. At the Sunday School dedication service the afternoon of April 22, Dr. Hadwin Fischer taught the lesson and delivered a sermon. An organ recital was given Sunday evening, April 22, by Frederick Albert Hoschke. The Rev. Abdel Ross Wentz, D.D., was the speaker for Men's Day, which was observed Sunday morning, April 29. On September 25, 27. and 29 of 1935, the Flohrs and Trinity Congregations celebrated their 150th Anniversary. The program booklet contained a summarization of the known history of the two congre- gations. On February 5, 1942, the pastor, Rev. George H. Berkheimer was called into the service. He served as chaplain, with the rank of Major in the United States Army and was stationed in the South Pacific theater of operations. During his absence the Rev. A. R. Longanecker and Rev. Paul Gladfelter were the principal supply ministers for both the Flohrs and Trinity congregations. In July, 1945, Major Berkheimer received his discharge from the United States Army. Upon his return, a welcome home picnic was held for him by the Flohrs and Trinity congregations at the South Mountain Fair Ground. Rev, Berkheimer returned to his first council meeting with Trinity July 29, 1945. During the summer of 1947, an extensive repair and redecorating program was undertaken under the supervision of a committee consisting of M. E. Knouse, chairman, A. J. Carbaugh, L. W. Garretson, A. E, Orner, and the Rev. George H. Berkheimer, ex-officio. The cost of this program amounted to $16,742.49. The cost of these improvements had bsen subscribed before the program was undertaken. On Sunday, September 14, 1947, three services of rededication were held with the pastor, the Rev. George H. Berkheimer, in charge. The Rev. Harry D. Hoover, D.D. was the guest speaker for the 9:30 A.M. rededication service of the church school. The Rev. Harry F. Baughman, D.D., was the guest minister for the rededication at the morning worship service at 10:45 A.M. The Rev. Carl C. Rasmussen, D.D., was the guest minister for the rededication at the evening worship service held at 7:30 P.M. The following memorials were dedicated at these services. Two bronze plaques erected in the vestibule on the first floor were presented to the congregation by Mr. and Mrs. P. S. Orner. One honored our young men who served the country in World War I and the other honored those who served in World War II. Four brass offering plates were the present of Mrs. George E. Hoffman, Mr. and Mrs. Cameron L. Hoffman and children, and the Rev. and Mrs. H. Walter Webner, in loving memory of husband and father, George E. Hoffman. Chancel appointments, consisting of altar; reredos,- pulpit; lectern; cross; candlesticks; floor candelabra; missal stand; linen; and complete set of altar, pulpit and lectern hangings for the four seasons, were the gift of Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Knouse. They were presented to the congregation and dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Knouse's father, Mr. George E. Fohl. 
Eight murals in the nave of the church and the six symbols in the adult church school room were
the gift of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Oyler. They were presented in loving memory of Mr. Oyler's parents,
Mr.and Mrs. George C. Oyler and Mrs. Oyler's mother, Mrs. E. Kate Hoffman. The artists were Mr.
Hugo Ohlms and Mr. Carl Walter, of the Rambusch Decorating Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The murals were painted in a style known as Grisaille. Four of the murals depicted Old Testament studies
and four New Testament scenes. The Old Testament murals included Noah and the Ark, Moses Des-
cending from Mt. Sinai, David and Saul, and Hosea and the Isaiah in the Temple. The New Testament
murals included The Flight into Egypt, Jesus in the Temple, Jesus Walking on the Water, and The
Ascension.
Church School facilities had been overcrowded for quite some time so church council on December 26, 1948, appointed a building committee. Added Church School space and the development of a parish house program were considered. $24,809.18 was raised by subscriptions among the members. Mr. George Flickinger, architect from York, was retained and he returned the first set of plans to council July 18, 1949. This plan was presented to the congregation October 16, 1949, for approval. The necessary vote was not obtained and council shortly thereafter retired the building committee. As a result of a favorable description of the village of Arendtsville and its environs having been given the officers of the Lutheran Laymen Movement, Arendtsville was selected as the setting for a new movie entitled "For Good or Evil". The Cathedral Films Producing Unit began work July 20, 1950, under the direction of Mr. John Coyle and the supervision of the Rev. Henry Endress, Executive-Secretary of the Lutheran laymen's Movement. Great community interest was shown in this project. The filming took approximately ten days. The first showing of the new film was made at the South Mountain Fair Ground on September 21, 1950. Under the pastorate of the Rev. Robert C. Schiebel, a new building committee was named by the council on July 30, 1950. Shortly thereafter the same architect was again contacted and he returned December 15, 1950, with a new set of plans. These were presented to the congregation December 17, 1950, and the necessary vote for approval was obtained. Work on the new addition was started January 22, 1951. Following approval of the plans, the Trustees reviewed the church deeds to check property rights. It was learned that the proposed addition extended 3Vi feet onto a public alley at the rear of the church property, and further that this ordained alley extended front to High Street between the church property and the parsonage through what has now become parsonage lawn. The error in the length of the new addition developed during the drawing of the first set of plans when iron pins which had been placed in the alley by the State Highway Department for the rebuilding of the road to Cashtown were mistaken by the architect for the proper alley boundaries. The joint councils of Flohrs and Trinity were called into session. It was decided to petition borough council to vacate the public alley at the rear of Trinity Church and the unimproved alley between the church property and the parsonage. In return Trinity Council offered borough council an improved drive- way on church property adjacent to the William Oyler property for a new public alley 14 ft. in width. The necessary ordinances were passes by borough council May 7, 1951. The review of the deeds further revealed that the Bendersville Lutheran Congregation still owned a third interest in the parsonage property. A quit claim deed was signed by the Trustees of the Bendersville Lutheran Congregation February 3, 1951, before the aforementioned ordinances became effective. It became obvious as the new building developed that more parking space would be needed. Trinity Council therefore approached Flohrs Council and succeeded on June 26, 1951, in buying Flohrs half interest in a triangular shaped piece of land between the parsonage and the church for the purpose of providing an adequate driveway. The transaction also included a rectangular plot of ground comprising the rear of the parsonage property for addition to existing parking lot facilities. These two portions of ground were purchased for the sum of $100. Mr. P. S. Orner prepared the necessary deeds and resurveyed both parsonage and church properties marking the boundaries with permanent iron pins. This was necessary because some of the earlier boundary markers had been lost by relocation of the street in front of the church in earlier years. On December 19, 1950, the congregation approved the construction of a one story addition 45 ft. by 70 ft. with a second floor extension of 14 ft., such addition to add to the present Church School facilities, and to also provide accommodations for the social functions of the congregation. The estimated building cost, without equipment, was given at $30,000.00. Total cost of the building was $31,271.88. Equipment, repairs, and outside paving cost $10,140.63. A registered architect, Mr. George S. Flickinger, was employed as supervisor to work with Mr. Hobart Heller as the builder and building committee. Considerable savings were effected by numerous members of the congregation, together with the pastor, contributing freely of their time and equipment during the various stages of construction. The building being dedicated provided 12 classrooms. The five rooms on the south side occupied by the Intermediate and Senior Departments can be opened into a large social room with a fireplace to add to the friendly atmosphere. Adjoining this room, for easy service, is a modern equipped kitchen furnished in knotty pine. The kitchen, being so located, readily serves the adjacent church parlor, which has been furnished in living room style. The north portion of the addition provides a Nursery and a Beginners' Department. The three new rooms on the second floor add to the present facilities of the Primary and Junior Departments. The outside, or west end partition, is of temporary construction so that new rooms can be economically added as the occasion may require. The new building is intended to be so planned that its entirety presents a well balanced program. The new gas heated hot water heating system is of the "forced flow" type and provides efficient "zoned" heating. The roof and ceiling are soundproofed and completely insulated against heat or cold. It is so constructed that the sheathing will provide the "sub-floor" for any future second story additions. Modern rest rooms and coat room space have been conveniently located. The electrical system had been so planned as to provide better service for the present demands and allow ample capacity for any future developments. Proper wiring had been installed throughout the entire church building to accommodate a public address system permitting communication from any portion of the building to other rooms or departments. Provision had also been made for the installation, in the church tower, of outside speakers to be used during special church seasons. Installation of ear- phones in the church pews can be completed at a very nominal cost in the future. During the summer of 1951, the kitchen of the parsonage was remodeled. The chimney, plumbing, and other necessary repairs were made at a total cost of approximately $1,600. This expense was shared equally by the Flohrs and Trinity Councils. By reason of the fact that the Trinity Council had purchased the plot of ground at the rear of the parsonage property it became necessary to move the parsonage garage onto parsonage property. The moving, new foundation, and necessary repairs to the building cost $230.25 which was paid by Trinity. The new addition to the church was sufficiently finished so that the joint council dinner could be held in the social room on January 24, 1952. All deeds to church properties and parsonage have been recorded at the Court House in Gettysburg. At this time Attorneys Eugene V. Bulleit and S. M. Raffensperger represented the Borough of Arendtsville and Trinity Lutheran Church and made a legal review of the aforementioned transactions and a title search of the church and parsonage properties. In 1969, the church and Sunday school rooms were renovated and an elevator was installed on the south side of the church. The following sons of Trinity have become ministers: Isaiah Crist, Harry Snyder, John Koser, Wilmer Hartman, AA. W. Lau, Abraham Longanecker, Calvin McCarney, Ira Trostel, John Rice, Charles Lady, William C. Jacobs, and Joseph W. Sabo. The following daughters of Trinity became wives of ministers: Sarah C. Eyster Crist, Grace Spangler Yeiser, Lula Snyder Hartman, Elizabeth Spangler Nicholas, Elsie Martin Robb, Mary Heiges Smith, Matilda Martin Sharpe, Mary Peters Stockslager, Ruth Knouse Carbaugh, Anna McCarney Hafer, Ellen Hoffman Webner, Regina Oyler Berkheimer, and Joyce Heckenluber Shaull. Earliest available records indicate that in 1934 Trinity had 220 communing members. Congregational expenses that year were $2,210 and benevolences $875. In 1951 the church had 360 communing members with congregational expenses amounting to $9,970 and benevolences $5,277. During this 18 year period of time the membership has contributed $116,945 to congregational expenses and $52,326 to benevolences. In pondering over this historical resume it is befitting that we humbly pause and ask for Divine guidance as we proceed into the future work of the Lord. Let us so labor that we may be deserving of the words of the Master, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." |
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