An article from the Pottsville Republican, December 6, 1974, reporting on the 100th Anniversary of Friedens Church, Hegins, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The photo with the article was too dark to reproduce, so a similar view, taken in 2010, is presented above. The photo caption, as it appeared in the original article, is as follows:
Little has changed in the appearance of Friedens Lutheran Church at Hegins since it was built 100 years ago, except the steeple which was struck by lightning and burned to the roof line on June 6, 1944. The present 40-feet steeple is 20-feet shorter than the original.
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Friedens Marks Anniversary
Century-Old Church Built Hard Times
So self-sufficient was rural Hegins Valley in 1873, that while financial panic seized the country, the Lutheran and Reformed members of Friedens Union Church voted to build a brick church that should be the “best and most beautiful in the region.” The pastors were Daniel Sanner, Lutheran, and Henry S. Basler, Reformed.
The log church built in 1817 was torn down and its timbers reused. During the winter of 1873-1874 rock was hauled for the foundation and wood for brick firing. A member, Jonathan B. Otto, furnished two stones for door sills at $12. A kiln was built on the the land of building committee member Nathan D. Yoder, where the yellow soil was scooped off the surface of 1 to 2 acres and baked into the soft-toned red brick at $5.50 per thousand.
The 200 members subscribed $4,800 in a two-week period.
Brick laying was begun after the cornerstone-laying of August 9 [1874], the ground floor was completed and plastered during November and December and dedication was celebrated December 25, 26 and 27 [1874]. The church minutes state that “sleighing conditions were perfect and all village doors were opened in hospitality.”
Today Friedens Church is the property of the Lutheran congregation, the Reformed sector having separated in 1937. The Rev. Raymond C. Hittinger.
Centennial celebrations are being observed December 12, 13, 14 and 15 [1974]. December 12 will feature a community service with seven area choirs at 7:30 p.m. On December 13 at 7:30 p.m. the Trinity Valley Senior Citizen Dutch Choir and the Leck Kill Dutch Choir will sing. Pastor Larry Neff preaching in dialect. A banquet at Tri-Valley High School at 6 p.m. December 14 will be addressed by Rev. Fred Blank. Guest pastor for Youth Sunday at 10 a.m. December 15 will be Rev. John Hattery.
The Centennial Committee members are: chairman, Arthur A. Hand, with members Naomi Hand, Dorothea Ressler, Alice Yoder, Jean Morris, Dennis Krammes, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Romberger, Nancy Kline, Iva Ney, Dorothy Klinger, Ruth E. Borchert and Rev. R. C. Hittinger.
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News article from Newspapers.com. Photo from author’s collection.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.