The Digital Annex

Worthington Evangelical Lutheran Church, circa 1889-1910

2010-04-22T13:04:00.000-04:00

A real photograph post card of the Worthington Evangelical Lutheran Church, Worthington, PA. The card is postdated May 9, 1910. The photo depicts the church as seen from slightly down hill on Worthington's West Main Street. The exterior of the church has barely changed since the time of this photograph.

This structure is the third home of the congregation. The church has its origin in a Lutheran Sunday School started by Peter Graff I, in the 1846. Graff began a village Sunday School in a harness shop located across the street from the current church's location. In 1847 Graff and others organized the first Lutheran Parish in the area since the failure of an earlier Lutheran Church near Slate Lick. That church seems to have collapsed in the 1820's or 30's. Graff was a local businessman and entrepreneur who had moved from upstate New York to Pittsburgh and from Pittsburgh to the then village of Buffalo Furnace to reorganize and develop several small industrial concerns. A devout Lutheran, Graff established the Parish and was it's chief financial and lay spiritual supporter during his life. The Parish was a member of the General Synod, a branch of American Lutheranism that was evangelical, low church and pro-English language use. As the Parish grew the members built a simple frame meeting house that served as a village school and as a church. This structure was replaced in the 1850's by a grander brick church with a steeple and the first church bell in the neighborhood, this structure was located on the same spot as the current church. It was replaced in the period of 1887-89 with the current structure.

The interior of the church was later remodeled in the early 1950's and substantially remodeled again in 1970/71, and a final and thorough restoration project was launched and completed in stages between 1996 and 2000, one that has greatly enhanced the appearance of the interior of the church and restored many of the 19th century architectural features. Currently the church is a member of the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The back of this post card carries the following information concerning the Detrich family of Worthington and Kittanning:

Transcription of text:

Mrs C. H. Detrich

420 Highland Ave.

Kittanning . Penna.

Dear Mamma, - Pap is about the same as he was when you left. We can not see the least bit of difference in him. I will call you up if we see any change. Nita [&?] John[s?] did not come down.

Senate Pass FDR style

2010-03-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

Considering the current bru-ha-ha over health care I thought this non-Armstrong County item might be of interest. It is a 1939 pass to the gallery of the US Senate.

St. Paul's Church - Kittanning, PA

2010-03-02T13:39:00.002-05:00

A color photo postcard of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Kittanning, PA. The photo was most likely taken in 1913. The photo shows the newly completed third (and current) church structure.

The church in the photo was designed by New York architects Frazer and Robb, and was constructed between 1911 and 1913. The service was held there on Ash Wednesday of 1913, although the church was not officially dedicated until after the mortgage was paid off, and a few interior details were left unfinished until the early 1930's. The actual dedication service featured the last act of Bishop Whitehead of Pittsburgh and was held on the feast day of St. Paul, January 22, 1921.

The second church that the current structure replaced was a Victorian brick Gothic-revival church begun in 1868 and remodeled and expanded twice before suffering a fire from a lightening strike in 1910. Rather than repair the damage, the Vestry (church officers) decided to demolish it and rebuild in a newer and grander style. The church was re-built in a more authentic English Parish Gothic style and had interior appointments copied from several ancient English churches. At the time of the building project there was also talk that the Diocese of Pittsburgh, which then comprised all of Western Pennsylvania, would be broken into three separate dioceses and Kittanning would become the seat of the middle diocese and St. Paul's the cathedral church. This rumored split of the diocese into three did not happened, nonetheless the beautiful church was constructed with all the resources available, including a new 27 rank pipe organ from the Erie firm of Tellers-Sommerhoff.

The house to the immediate right in the post card was the Parsonage that was demolished sometime in the late 1920's. The structure behind the Parsonage is the Parish House (in red brick). Built in 1895 the Parish House held a church office, gym, library, combination stage and meeting hall, and three Sunday School classrooms, it also acted as the first YMCA and was used by the Kittanning public schools for various activities until the Lutheran congregation of St. John's located on North Jefferson St. completed their larger and more modern Parish Hall in 1910; at that point those civic and school activities moved there. St. Paul's Parish House continued to be used by the church until it was heavily remodeled, both in terms of interior layout and appointments and exterior appearance in 1951-55. Currently the Parish house is covered in a stone facade to match the church and is still used for church offices, classrooms and parish functions.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 21 of 21

2010-02-20T15:27:00.002-05:00

Front Cover of the Union Baptist 150th Anniversary History Book, Published in 1948.

This is the last blog post in a series of image scans of the 150th Anniversary booklet, produced in 1948 for Union Baptist Church, Cadogan/Slate Lick, Pennsylvania. The church is often known as Old Union, and is the starting point for the religious history of many Armstrong County families, notably the Claypool(e)'s.

I have scanned all the images from the booklet in reverse order. So while this is the last blog entry, it is the beginning of the book.

This allows you to progress through the book in normal order. The booklet lists no copyright and no publisher.

Some of the individual articles are attributed, others are not. The book has an embossed cardboard wrap (off white/cream with brown printing) for a cover and features 35 numbered pages, one un-numbered page, and an errata slip taped to the inside rear cover.

My thanks to James H. Cook, Jr. for allowing me to reproduce this book from his library.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 20 of 21

2010-02-20T15:25:00.001-05:00

Inside Cover and Page 1, Title Page

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 19 of 21

2010-02-20T15:23:00.001-05:00

Pages 2-3, Introduction.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 18 of 21

2010-02-20T15:21:00.001-05:00

Pages 4-5, List of Officers in 1948 and List of Pastors 1798-1948

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 17 of 21

2010-02-20T15:17:00.001-05:00

Pages 6-7, Narrative History 1798-1842.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Part 16 of 21

2010-02-20T15:15:00.001-05:00

Pages 8-9, Narrative History, 1842-1875.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 15 of 21

2010-02-20T15:13:00.001-05:00

Pages 10-11, Narrative History, 1871-1900.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 14 of 21

2010-02-20T15:08:00.001-05:00

Pages 12-13, Narrative History 1904-1914

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 13 of 21

2010-02-20T15:04:00.001-05:00

Page 14-15, Narrative History 1912-1929.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 12 of 21

2010-02-20T15:00:00.001-05:00

Pages 16 - 17, Narrative History, for the 1930's.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 11 of 21

2010-01-20T21:19:00.002-05:00

Pages 18-19. End or narrative history and beginning of Church Membership Roll, 1798-1948.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 10 of 21

2010-01-20T21:14:00.001-05:00

Pages 20-21. Church Membership Roll, 1798-1948.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 9 of 21

2010-01-20T21:11:00.001-05:00

Pages 22-23. Church Membership Roll, 1798-1948.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Part 8 of 21

2010-01-20T21:08:00.001-05:00

Pages 24-25. Church Membership Roll, 1798-1948.

Old Union Baptist, Church History Post 7 of 21

2010-01-20T21:06:00.001-05:00

Pages 26-27. Church Membership Roll, 1798-1948.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 6 of 21

2009-12-22T11:29:00.001-05:00

Pages 28-29. Church Membership Roll, 1798-1948, Post of VI of IV.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 5 of 21

2009-12-22T11:11:00.003-05:00

Pages 30-31, Part I of III of the Church's then Constitution.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 4 of 21

2009-12-22T11:08:00.002-05:00

Pages 32-33, Part II of III of the Church's then Constitution.

Old Union Baptist, Church History, Post 3 of 21

2009-12-22T11:06:00.003-05:00

Pages 34-35, Part III of III of the Church's then Constitution.

Old Union Baptist Church History, Post 2 of 21

2009-12-20T14:49:00.004-05:00

Page 36 which is un-numbered, and blank, and the interior of the back cover with attached errata note.

Old Union Baptist Church History, Post 1 of 21

2009-12-20T14:47:00.001-05:00

This is the first blog post in a series of image scans of the 150th Anniversary booklet, produced in 1948 for Union Baptist Church, Cadogan/Slate Lick, Pennsylvania. The church is often known as Old Union, and is the starting point for the religious history of many Armstrong County families, notably the Claypoole's.

I will be scanning each page or sometimes two pages per blog posting and I will be scanning the images from the booklet in reverse order. This will allow anyone to progress through the book in normal order when the scans are finished. The booklet lists no copyright and no publisher. Some of the individual articles are attributed, others are not. The book has an embossed cardboard wrap (off white/cream with brown printing) for a cover and features 35 numbered pages, one un-numbered page, and an errata slip taped to the inside rear cover.

This blog therefore begins with the rear cover:

Our common fate...

2009-12-17T16:35:00.000-05:00

A dual portrait that my wife picked up in a local antique store, it is apparently the same man as a young teen or maybe a little younger, and then as a young man in a bathing suit on a pier with the ocean just visiable behind him, circa 1910 and 1920.

The newer photo was over top of the other in a brass frame. Not bad for 50 c.

Just an odd and strangley evocative set of pictures, I wonder who he was...

and will we all end up as unknown photos in someone's Antique shop someday soon.

Sic transit gloria.

Short Skirts - Song

2009-12-02T11:12:00.000-05:00

An interesting cultural artifact from the beginnings of the feminist movement (on a popular level) from 1930 Pittsburgh, PA. The song was a companion piece to a matching Pittsburgh Post-Gazette news series. It is odd, very dated, but revealing nonetheless. The composer Sammy Mysels was recorded by Artie Shaw, The Inkspots, and Anne Shelton, (all still available via the internet as CD's or downloads - see the Naxos and IMDB websites) and a cursiory internet biography search reveals very little about him: born November 17, 1906 in Pittsburgh, and he dies in 1974. His music is noted as having been used in film and television including The Lawerence Welk show and several 1940's singing cowboy westerns some starring Gene Autry. Several online Jazz 78 collection catalogs list his works recorded by various artists in the 1930's and 40's. He frequently collaborated with other composers when writing (a common practice then and now in pop-music). The Lyricist, Joe Hiller, may be a psudenomn for Kim Josephson. Joe Hiller is found on a large variety of sheet music online or in collections dated from 1915 to the early 1950's. FAQ's website listed Hiller/Josephson's death as 1954. I cannot vouch for the realibility of this information. Hopefully an obit. for either or both can be located to those who may be interested in this item.

Short Skirts Song - Page 2

2009-12-02T11:11:00.000-05:00

Short Skirts Song - Page 3

2009-12-02T11:10:00.000-05:00

Short Skirts Song - Page 4

2009-12-02T11:09:00.000-05:00

John Dwight & Co., Cow Brand Soda - Advertising Card

2009-12-02T10:15:00.003-05:00

Late 19th century Advertising - Just for Fun!

John Dwight & Co., Cow Brand Soda

2009-12-02T10:13:00.002-05:00

Just some late 19th century advertising for fun.

Yellow Dog Limestone Mine and Plant, circa 1919

2009-11-24T15:09:00.000-05:00

My second photo of the U. S. Steel owned Limestone Mines at Yellow Dog (Shadyside Village), Pennsylvania (near Worthington, PA)

2 Tioga County, Sprague Family Documents

2009-11-02T11:39:00.002-05:00

Side 1 of a handwritten document from circa 1890 bearing a digest of family information pertaining to the Sprague family. Click on the image to see it full sized.

Here is the second side with the actual genealogical information. My transcription follows below the third image.

A Wellsboro Grange Memorial Card for Albert Sprague. 1914

All of these items were located in a volume of poetry by Lord Byron that I purchased Saturday at an auction in Richmond Township, Tioga County. If the Wellsboro & Tioga Historical Society will except them they will be donated there as soon as possible.

Transcription of Sprauge Family information from the document image above.

From Page 1 is in pencil a note that reads: "Found what you want I think Al."

The rest of the folded note has written dates that have been subtracted to derive ages.

On the verso at the top is a strange and random string of words in pen. My wife remarked they almost read like a magic incantation, whatever they were, I have no idea, so I've omitted them here. Underneath the information is written out as a chart, any editorial notes are in square brackets [thus], the information is written in two hands using two kinds of ink, and some information in pencil - some of the pencil dates over-write and correct the original pen. I will list both if the original is still elgiable.

Born when and died

Thomas Sprague May 5 1799 Aug 1874

Moria [or Maria] Sprague Jan 3 1807 July 10 1881

George W Sprague Feb 5 1827 1876

Maria L Sprague Oct 18 1828 [blank]

Melissa B. Sprague July 15 1829 1859

[I think from the ink and the fact that this date runs agains the edge so closely that it actually refers to Josaphene below]

Josaphene Sprague April 20 1831 died July 4

[1859 - see above]

[Josaphene's birthdate may be 1836 the crease in the paper has obscured the date]

Hiram M Sprague May 18 1838 [blank]

Hellen M Sprague June 12 1837

Henrietta S [or J] Sprague March 20 1841 188

[Death date incomplete in pencil]

Hannah P Sprague Feb 16 1848

[For Hannah's birth date a pencil 8 written overtop of 6, no death date]

Arthur T Sprague Aug 20 1848 Dec 13 1884

[for birthdate a pencil 8 written over original 7]

Mary E Sprague Dec 20 1850 [blank]

Albert R Sprague Oct 26 1852 [blank]

The Worthington Presbyterian Church (United Presbyterian), Circa 1877

2009-10-26T10:28:00.002-04:00

A copy of the original owned by the church. I have a larger more detailed original print purchased from the Gladys Barr estate in 1999, but it was too faded to be fully restored. My thanks to the Session of the Church and to the Rev. Jonathan Speck for allowing me to have it copied.

Yellow Dog Mine

2009-10-26T10:15:00.003-04:00

A photo from the U. S. Steel owned limestone mine in Yellow Dog, Pennsylvania (Shadyside Village). This photo is from 1919, beyond that I only know the name of one man and the nickname of another. From left to right the third man kneeling is John Clair Ruffaner, the man standing behind him in bib overhauls was nicked named "Addie". A copy of the original that belonged to Clair Ruffaner.

Vernon Hotel, Kittanning, Pennsylvania, Old Photo

2009-10-18T17:35:00.002-04:00

Here is another photo from my collection. This one is of the Vernon Hotel, Kittanning, Pennsylvania. My guess for a date would be circa 1910-1915, no information was written on the picture.

The Vernon is now a bar and restuarant. The picture was a gift from my grandmother Alice Claypoole, who gave it to me in 1987 or 88. She was unaware of any family connection, but thought some of her Miller and/or McMunn relatives may have been in the picture.

H. F. Wanzer?

2009-10-18T15:32:00.002-04:00

Here is a late 19th century photo from my collection. The photo was purchased in 2007 at one of the two antique stores in downtown Mansfield, PA, it was sold by dealer JLH. The photography firm is identified on front and back as Sterry & Co. 520 & 522 Broadway, Albany N. Y.

The photo bears a rubber stamped name on the back bottom that reads "H. F. Wanzer,"

I don't know if the stamped name identifies the photographer or the sitter, still it is a delightful image, and if it is Mr. Wanzer, I hope one of his descendants will find it here.

The Digital Annex shall be...

2009-10-17T17:29:00.001-04:00

This shall be a place to post items related to the James Claypoole Blog, items that really don't belong there directly, but have some context in common.

Consider this that extra shoebox of photos in the attic. The ones you know are of long lost relatives that might some how be related to you, but you're not quite how or even who they all are, that's this blog.

I have a feeling these items might be of interest to many non-Claypoole relations and I would hope they will find them.