The following items of history about Falls Presbyterian Church appeared in the Church Bulletins during the 150th Anniversary Year of 2006

 

This is not intended to be a complete history of the church.  These are random items of interest concerning that history.

 

 

1.            Where and when did our church begin?  In 1855 several Presbyterian men and women of Falls of Schuylkill first met in several of their own homes for Bible Study.   After just a few months they rented a room in the Old Academy building on Indian Queen Lane .   The Old Academy was the birthplace of Falls Baptist Church (1938), St.  James the Less Episcopal Church (1846), Falls United Methodist Church (1837), St.  Bridget's Roman Catholic Church (1850), Grace Reformed Episcopal grew out of a mission of St.  James the Less, Falls Presbyterian (1856), Redeemer Lutheran Church (1889)

 

2.            The First Presbyterian Church Falls of Schuylkill was officially organized or "born" in 1856.  Also born in the year 1856 were: Booker T.  Washington (Educator and Human Rights Activist), George Bernard Shaw (writer and playwright), William Willett (the inventor of daylight saving time), Sigmund Freud (developed modern psychoanalysis), Woodrow Wilson (28th President of the United States), Lyman Frank Baum {author and creator of the Wizard of Oz), Robert Edwin Peary (first to reach the North Pole), Eddie Foy (father of the Seven Little Foys)

 

3.            The first preaching service as a group of believers, before official formation of the church, was January 1856 in Old Academy building.

 

4.            Prior to 1854, East Falls (Falls of Schuylkill) was a "town", a part of Philadelphia County, but not part of the City of Philadelphia .   The city and county were consolidated into the city in 1854.   The Mayor of Philadelphia in 1856 was Richard Vaux after whom Vaux Street was named.  He was Mayor and East Falls was part of the city at the time our church was born. 

 

5.            In October, 1855, a petition, signed by 34 individuals, was presented to the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia requesting that body to organize them into a distinct church to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of the Falls of the Schuylkill.   The petition was favorably received and a committee to attend to the business of organization was appointed.    The committee consisted of Rev.  Job F.  Halsey, Rev.  Joseph Nesbitt, Rev.  Joseph Beggs, and Elders Robert Magee and Francis H.  Latch.

 

6.            The committee to form a new church convened on the 7th of November, 1856.  Rev.  Job F.  Halsey preached a sermon from the Gospel of St.  Mark, Chapter 5, Verse 19, after which the church was duly organized by the admission of ten members by certificate and twelve on profession of their faith.  

 

7.            At the time the church was formed in 1856, it had no regular pastor.  Various pastors and lay people conducted services for the first 4 years, including Rev.  Joseph Beggs. 

 

 

 

8.            The Sabbath School , which for many years acted as a somewhat separate entity, was actually organized before the Church itself, in February 1856 in The Old Academy building, by Mr. John Kinnier.  The Church and the Sabbath School had their own leadership and total control of their own treasury until the mid 1940's.  Even though many of the people involved were leaders in both organizations (John Kinnier was a Session member of the new church as well as the head of the Sabbath School), the independence of the Sabbath School (later known as the Sunday School) was considered to be extremely important.  Over the course of the first 100 years of the church there were some conflicts between the two groups.  These seemed to have generally been resolved each time.  In general both segments of the church worked together to fulfill the overall mission of Falls Presbyterian.  In the last 25 years, both organizations have worked as one, with what is now called Christian Education actually being directed by a committee of Session.

 

9.            The new church elected two persons as their first elders.  Mr. John Kinnier (who organized and lead the first Sabbath School ) and Mr. John Hope were elected at that same time.  Mr. Hope served only until 1859 when he moved to center city and joined another church.  Mr. Kinnier continued to serve as the only elder until 1873 when he transferred his membership to Germantown Presbyterian.  

 

10.        The first Communion Service of the newly organized church was conducted at the Old Academy in December 1856.

 

11.        The church’s first pipe organ (not the current organ) was played for the first time on Nov 27, 1870.  That Organ was gift of Mr. James Dobson.  James Dobson was one of the owners of Dobson’s Mill of East Falls .  In the 150 years of this church, we have had only two pipe organs. 

 

12.        Our current pipe organ was originally built into the church building on Ridge Avenue , near School House Lane .  It was first played on March 13, 1906.  Then in the 1940’s it was moved into our current church, here at Vaux St and Midvale Ave.   The organ was built by a company called Bartholomay.   Funds to purchase this organ came from church members and from the Carnegie Foundation  (Falls Methodist obtained their pipe organ in very much the same way and at the same time).  The cost of moving the organ into the new church was paid for, in part, by Dobson Family.

 

13.        The Bartholomay Pipe Organ in this church has always been repaired using restoration methods.  While individual components have been periodically replaced, the organ functions exactly the same as it did when it was first built, 100 years ago.  It contains no new electronic or microprocessor parts.  It operates with basic electric and pneumatic control.  The fact that it has not been modernized makes it a truly classic and historic instrument.  Chimes were added later.

 

14.        After meeting in the Old Academy for over ten years the growing congregation was quickly outgrowing that space.  Rev.  Joseph Beggs had for some years envisioned a church building of its own for Falls Presbyterian.  A site was purchased for our first church building on Nov 30, 1866, for $1,800.  It was located on Ridge Avenue , close to School Hose Lane and backed up to what is now known as Kelly Drive . 

 

15.        The cornerstone of the Ridge Ave church was laid on September 7, 1867, and our very own church building was dedicated on October 11, 1868.  It cost $8,000 to build.  It was made of stone and stucco and had no steeple.  Inside, the Sanctuary was finished in dark wood pew, trim and carved wood ornamentation and light plaster walls.  We are still not sure what type of window glass was used when they were first installed.  However, the general shape of the windows was very much the same as the windows in our current church.

 

16.        Major renovations to church in 1879 included, the interior ceiling being raised to the level of the outside roof, two large chandeliers added to increase the sanctuary lighting, the redesign of the front of the church, the sanctuary and basement Sunday School room frescoed with "beautiful designs" and new carpet put in the aisles.  This was all done for $1,900.  In 1884 new cushions for the pews and all new carpeting were installed.  These textile products appropriately came from the Dobsons Mills of East Falls,

 

17.        A new Sabbath School Building was added to the church in 1890.  This addition was made to the back of the original sanctuary building, adjacent to what is now called Kelly Drive .  Ground was broken by Miss Sarah Dobson on April 22, 1889.  The total cost was $10,000.  The building was dedicated on May 11, 1890 with addresses by the Hon.  George S.  Graham, then Philadelphia District Attorney and Mr. John Wanamaker founder of the world's largest department store of its time.

 

18.        The church's first manse was built at 4504 Ridge Ave , very near the church in 1875.  We know very little about this house.  It was described by Rev.  Beggs as a "fine large and commodious edifice built of brick".  But for many years it had no city water and no inside bathroom.  The cost of the new manse was $3,600

 

19.        Starting in early 1856 with just a few members, by 1897 the Sunday School attendance had reached 438.  Similarly the church itself started in the later part of 1856 with 22 people, the membership of the church grew to 418 in 1906, just 50 years after its founding.

 

20.        Brothers James and John Dobson were born in England and moved to Philadelphia around 1854.  They bought a small textile mill at Ridge and the Wissahickon Creek.  That mill was later moved to Ridge and Scotts Lane and was greatly expanded.  It became perhaps the largest commercial textile ventures in the country at the time and was certainly the largest employer in the community through the second half of 1800's and into the early 1900's.  Both Dobsons had large mansions in East Falls .  James and his family became members, generous benefactors and leaders of this church.  John and family joined St.  James the Less, Episcopal Church.

 

21.        The longest pastorate of the church: Rev.  Joseph Beggs 1859 - 1894 (35 years), second longest Rev.  Elvin Kessler 1956 - 1987 (31 years)

 

22.        The shortest fulltime pastorate was Rev.  Samuel Wilbert Steckel 1914 - 1917 (3 years)

 

23.        There have been 12 fulltime ministers of this church; Beggs, Doyle, Thompson, Glasgow, Royer, Steckel, Cooke, Muyskens, Harvey , Kessler, Potts, Rick-Miller.

 

24.        The church has had three homes (manses) for the use of previous pastors.  The first was at 4504 Ridge Avenue (adjacent to the Ridge Avenue church building).  The second manse at 3413 Midvale Avenue .  It was a few doors below our current church building.  The third manse at 3400 Coulter Street , adjacent to this church, was designed by Mr. William K. Harrison and was built in 1962, and is currently being rented.

 

25.        For many years Falls Pres did not have a Board of Deacons.  It is likely that the functions of the Deacons were performed by the Session and other church organizations such as The Ladies Aid Society.  However, on April 13, 1932 our church elected its first Deacons.  They were Frederick Kehs, Samuel McClenahan, John Morrow and Russell Weer

 

26.        Among our current members the person with the longest service as a Deacon of this church, (both active and reserve) is Joan Spedding Goffredo.  She became a Deacon of this church in January 1971

 

27.        Among our current members the person with the longest service as an Elder of this church, (both active and reserve) is William K.  Harrison, who began his service in January 1971

 

28.        As was stated in a previous item, our first Elders were John Kinnier and John Hope, both elected to the Session in 1856.  Our first woman Elder was Miss Margaret Jones, elected to the Session January 31, 1971.  The second woman to be an Elder is Mrs.  Lorraine Harris, elected December 30, 1973.

 

29.        Falls Presbyterian has always been a "family" church, with Session leadership often crossing many generations within our church families.  For example: In 1891 Josiah Linton was elected to the Session, Ross Beggs Linton (named after our first pastor) in 1911, W.  Horace Linton in 1915 and James S.  Linton in 1946.  Similarly, William J.  Harrison in 1951, his son, William K.  Harrison in 1972, Bill's son Keith Harrison in 1985, and Bill's other son, Eric Harrison in 2001; Samuel McClenahan in 1969, his son David in 1981 and his other son Robert in 1985; Walter MacIndoe Sr.  elected in 1911 (was also Clerk of Session for many years), son Walter Jr, in 1939 (clerk of Session for over 40 years) and Walter Jr's brother, Laurence in 1940.  This listing is not intended to include all families represented on our Session.

 

30.        Falls Pres adopted a "Unicameral" System on Feb 11, 1996.  As an incorporated entity, in the eyes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we are required to have a Board of Trustees.  As a Presbyterian Church, we are required to operate under the leadership of a Session.  For the first 140 years of the church the Trustees and the Session took care of the temporal needs and the ecclesiastical needs of the church respectively.  In 1998, at a time of declining membership, the church joined a growing trend to combine the functions of the two boards into a single, unicameral board, under the name of the Session.  Even as membership has increased again, this unicameral system has turned out to be a very effective way to lead Falls Pres at this time in its history.  

 

31.        The last persons to be elected as "Trustees" of Falls Presbyterian, before the unicameral system was instituted were: Eric Harrison, Robert McClenahan, and Melvin Rummell.  They were elected in 1995.

 

32.        The current member of Falls Presbyterian that has been a member, continuously, for the longest time is Mrs.  Bessie Groves Congdon.  She became a member in June 1929.  She is also the oldest member of the church.  Her family connection to the church goes back to Martha Groves who became a church member on March 19, 1869.

 

33.        The following persons all joined this church on Apr 1, 1945: J.  Dell Shivers, George W.  Minges Jr., Dorothy Minges, Inger Henrickson (Harrison), Eleanor Furman (Fletcher), Edna Crooks (Ames), Eleanore MacIndoe (Butler ), Edith Furman (Miller), and Margaret Jones, Mary Schwartz, Helen Wahl and others.  These forty (40) persons were the first people taken into membership in the new church on Vaux Street . 

 

34.        Jean Mackey and her sister Harriet were in a group of 12 that were the first new members at the very beginning of Rev.  Elvin H.  Kessler's 31 year pastorate. 

 

35.        Carol Conway Dougherty, Robert McClenahan, Charlotte Scavetti Dobson, Norma Sharp Hawk, Thomas Kessler, Deborah Deming, Mary Deming and several others all became members on April 18, 1957.  This group was the first young adult Communicants Class conducted by Rev.  Kessler.

 

36.        The first person baptized during the 31 year pastorate of Rev.  Elvin H Kessler was Beth Ann Angle on March 18, 1956.  He conducted the marriage of Beth Ann and James Broach on October 23, 1987.  The next to the last person that Rev.  Kessler baptized near the time of his retirement was Beth Ann and James' son, Alexander Broach, on August 9, 1988.  (The last person he baptized was Courtney Kyle on September 24, 1989). 

 

37.        Around 1913, the famous Evangelist, Aimee Semple McPherson, held Revival Meetings in the hilly woods near Midvale Avenue and the present Vaux Street , the location of this church building.  McPherson was born in 1890 and died in 1944.  She was a very controversial, Pentecostal, itinerant preacher.  She was a real rarity at the time, in that she was a female preacher in a male dominated field.  She was the founder of the Foursquare Gospel Church which is still in existence and was run by her son Rolf for many years.  He was born in 1913, the same year she visited East Falls .

 

38.        Articles placed in the cornerstone of the Vaux Street church: Holy Bible, pictures of Mr. & Mrs.  James Dobson and some of their family, picture of Rev.  Muyskens, some coins, newspapers, history of the church, church, and Sabbath School , choir and officer roles.

 

39.        In the year 1917, Mrs.  Florence Dobson Spencer made provisions in her will to leave a significant sum of money to the church for the purpose of building a new church, to be known as The James and Mary Dobson Memorial Church , in memory of her parents, .  This happened over 8 years before the members of the church decided that they needed a new church building.  Mrs.  Spencer met an untimely death on June 19, 1930 in an automobile accident at Ridge Ave and Butler Pike.  Negotiations with the Dobson family resulted in a compromise about the name of the church.  At the request of most members, it was agreed that the name of the church would remain unchanged.  However, to honor Mrs.  Spencer's request and the memory of all that her parents had done for our beloved church, the new building would be known as "The James and Mary Dobson Memorial Building ".  Please see the bronze commemoration plaque in the Narthex.

 

40.        The Groundbreaking Ceremony for our current church building was held on Jan 26, 1941.  The first spade of earth was turned by Mrs.  Bessie Dobson Altemus, daughter of James and Mary Dobson and sister of Mrs.  Florence Dobson Spencer whose bequest helped to make it possible.

 

41.        As has previously been stated, the congregation voted in 1925 to build a new church building.  The plan was to complete the construction in just a few years.  The parcel of land at Vaux Street and Midvale Ave.   (a location requested by Mrs.  Mary Dobson) was purchased for $27,000.  However, actual construction was not started.  Because of the Great Depression there was not enough money collected to engage a contractor.  It took several years and Mrs.  Spencer's tragic death (her bequest) to allow us to accumulate enough money to sign a contract with a contractor. 

 

42.        The first Service held in the new (our current) church was a Christmas Eve Service on December 24, 1944.  At that time, the interior and some of the outside of the church was not yet finished.  The building was not officially dedicated until November 1945.

 

 

43.        The last Wedding in old church on Ridge Avenue was that of Mr. Samuel McClenahan and Miss Clara Neely, on Mar 28, 1941.  The first Wedding in the new church on Vaux Street was the marriage of Mr. John Napier and Mrs.  Emily Clark Shepley, on Oct 10, 1945

 

44.        The first Infant Baptism in the Vaux Street Church (Feb 18, 1945) was Alan James Conway, son of Edith Haviland Conway (Gotwals) and Howard Conway Jr., and brother of Carol Conway Dougherty

 

45.        The first baptism with "new" (current) Baptismal Font (gift of Mr. and Mrs.  Guy P Bible in memory of a beloved son) was on July 19, 1945.  At that time Eleanor Snyder Drain, daughter of James and Mildred (Kyle) Snyder was baptized.

 

46.        The first hymn sung in the new church was “ America ”

 

47.        One current member worked on the planning committee of the 100th Anniversary Celebration: Mrs.  Inger Harrison.

 

Minutes for History

 

The following five articles, each called a “Minute for History” were presented at various Morning Worship Services of the Falls Presbyterian Church during its 150th Anniversary Year 2006.

 

Minute for History for March 2006

 

Today I would like to talk about two people that have made positive differences in this church. 

 

The first of these is James Dobson.  For those of you who don’t know about the Dobsons, James Dobson and his brother John were born in England and moved to Philadelphia around 1854.  Together they bought a small textile mill at Ridge Ave and the Wissahickon Creek.  They quickly expanded the business and moved it to Ridge Ave and Scotts Lane , where it grew and prospered.  One source says that by the 1870’s the Dobson Mill was the largest commercial business in the world.  While this claim is probably an exaggeration, needless to say, the mill was the largest employer in East Falls for many decades, until it closed in the 1920’s.  The mill and its owners significantly affected the lives of thousands of East Falls residents and their many descendents. 

 

The list of contributions to this church from the James Dobson family is long and impressive.  As we have mentioned before, the church’s first organ, major renovations to the interior of the first church building, the installation of the current organ (Twice!), the renovation of the old manse on Ridge Avenue, the payment of many, many bills at times when the church couldn’t afford to pay them and major portions of the creation of this beautiful building come from either James himself or from his wife and children.  Remember that this is the James and Mary Dobson Memorial building.  In addition to his financial contributions, James Dobson served as President of the Board of Trustees for a number of years and was a true church leader.

 

Many years later, another man came into the life of the church.  His name was Frank Brook.  Frank had none of the remarkable financial and community successes that marked James Dobson’s life.  Frank was a worker for the Post Office for a number of years.  He had a slight deformity of his back that somewhat affected his physical abilities.  In almost every way, his life and that of James Dobson were very different.  But in a couple of ways they were remarkably similar.  Frank’s grandfather came to this country from Ireland about the same time that the Dobson’s arrived here.  His grandfather, John Neely, joined this church in 1872 followed by his father a number of years later.  (By the way, I should say that Frank’s grandfather was Bob’s and my great grandfather.   Frank was our cousin.) To continue, Frank’s family was a part of this church for many years.  He joined the church in 1932.  He was chosen as a trustee for a number of years and was elected as the Financial Secretary, serving in that important job for many years.  This is the same job that Inger Harrison has held for a few years herself.  When Frank retired from his job at the Post Office, (a bit early because of his back), he felt a call to spend several days a week working around the church.  He and another faithful member of the church, Elmer Hemphill, personally planted all the azaleas and the rhododendrons on the lower side of the church.  While his wonderful creation has faded some, please imagine this beautiful space before all these high trees grew up to create too much shade, crowding out the entire bank of flowering shrubs.  Through their hard work and dedication the beauty of our house of worship was enhanced for many years.

 

I believe that the story of these people has something to teach us.  Different as they were these two people both deeply loved this church.  Each gave generously within their means and capabilities.  Each made a strong impact on the physical and spiritual wellbeing of the church.  And most importantly, had they lived at the same time, they would have been joined, each Sunday, in worshipping the Lord together, sitting in the same pews, equal before their God.  Before the Lord their differences disappeared.  Their common love of the Lord and the church was all that mattered, and this church is better for the faithful service of Frank and James and many, many others like them.

 

Minute for History for April 2006

 

Today’s moment for history will be about Christian Education here at Falls Pres.  Presbyterianism has always emphasized teaching and Christian Education.  In fact the minister of a Presbyterian Church is known as a teaching Elder (Being different from a Ruling Elder or member of the session.) Our teachings also tell us that even Jesus was often called a rabbi or teacher.  The concept of teaching in addition to preaching and pastoring is central to our faith.

 

Here at Falls Presbyterian we find that our Sunday School, which can also be called a church school or a Christian Ed program) was actually started before the church was.  It was formally organized in February of 1856, nine months before the church was formed.  Bible studies and children’s studies had been conducted more informally for over 2 years prior to that.

 

For many years the Sunday School operated as a very separate organization.  While there was an obvious close tie between the two, they operated separately.  At Falls Pres the person that started the Sunday School, Mr. John Kinnier, was also the first person elected as a ruling elder when the church was formed.  There are numerous instances in the history of the church when the Sunday School and Church did not get along.  There were a few times when open hostilities existed.  These even led to one or two people leaving the church.  The arguments seemed to have been about independence and territory.  There never seemed to be great differences over theology or even teaching methods.  Even the treasuries of the church and the Sunday School were separate with different treasures until the 1990’s. 

 

After the Ridge Avenue church was built, the Sunday School met in the basement.  About 20 years later a very large addition was put onto the back of the church.  It was larger than the church itself had been.  In 1892 there were 236 members in the church.  In that same year Sunday School membership was 433.  Christian education was considered to be at least as important as was the worship service.  In the first half of the 1900’s Sunday School was held on Sunday afternoons.  The Church and Sunday School were the most important thing in the lives of many.  My mother, for example, having nothing to do on early Sunday mornings, joined the Grace Chapel Sunday School (which was a block and a half away on Ridge Ave.   Then she went to Worship at Falls Pres, Sunday School at Falls Pres, and Christian Endeavourer after dinner, followed by evening service.

 

In the mid 1800’s the Sunday School organizations throughout the city and really throughout the country often led the way in religious life.  There were several Sunday Schools in East Falls alone that were not really associated with a church.  These were not educational institutions associated with denominations.  These were actual Sunday Schools.

 

As I mentioned before, Christian Education is one of the hallmarks of Presbyterianism.  It is in fact one of the basic disciplines of most religions.  I thought it would be interesting to understand the role that Christian Education, Bible Study and Sunday School has played in the life of this church.  It would do us all well to consider their role in our faith lives today.

 

 

Minute for History for May 2006

 

As we look at the history of Falls Presbyterian Church we see that this church has been a living, breathing part of our nation and its history.  We spent some time last week, re-living the founding of the church.  In 1856, we saw that the church was, in part, a product of the beginning of the industrial revolution.  As you look at the nation and East Falls in those years you saw a country that was growing up.  Much of the country had been already been explored.  A new form of government had been formed.  A democracy, though very different from today, was in place and was about to be severely tested with Civil war.  People that had existed as farmers, fishermen and tradesmen were getting involved with business and manufacturing.  Large chemical plants and mills were springing up all over East Falls and Philadelphia .  Great population shifts were taking place.  Native Americans were being pushed out of their centuries old lands.  Large numbers of immigrants from Europe were streaming into the industrialized cities.  In Philadelphia these people were mostly from Ireland and Italy .

 

Racial tolerance of both the people brought here against their will from Africa and of those overpowered Native Americans was a new and fairly limited concept.  For a country and a city that had been founded on religious tolerance, there were great strains and separations between Jews, Catholics and Protestants.  Even the differences and isolation between various protestant denominations were highly evident in the mid 1800’s.

 

Into this scene stepped our church.  The people represented the nation in 1856.  Factory workers and even the factory owners joined in the church with the farmers and fishermen of the past.  With many people arriving directly from Ireland and joining the church right away, language difference probably was an issue.  Reading and writing skills most likely spanned the entire spectrum of literacy.   All of this reflected the society around us.

 

Immediately after the church got started at the Old Academy , the Civil War began.  Just four years before our first church was built, that same location along Ridge Avenue was the site of a very large Union Army encampment, housing hundreds of union soldiers preparing for a possible battle near Philadelphia . 

 

At the same time, the nation had to deal with issues that had been simmering for many years.  The church grew up in this era of uncertainty and of deep questioning; trying to determine in what value decisions the church should be involved.  It is clear to me that the people of the church were aware of racial injustice.  It is also clear that the church though not necessarily the leader we would now think they should have been, did make slow progress in understanding and change of attitude.  Maybe wishing it had been different, it seems that in some of these issues this church, for many years reflected the nation as a whole.  I think we can humbly and cautiously say that in more recent years this church is stepping forward in civil rights and mutual respect.

 

In the year 1900, a major hurricane struck Galveston Texas , thousands died.  What famous catastrophe took place just 100 years ago? , the San Francisco earthquake struck.  Just 2 years ago a deadly Tsunami killed hundreds of thousands of people throughout Asia and Africa.  What is the common thread to Falls Pres concerning these events? Our records show that the church made strong efforts to raise money and awareness for the victims in all these major disasters.  World War I involved about 15 members of our church in the fighting in Europe.  One member died in his country’s service in that war.   A few years later the great depression forced us to delay the construction of this building for a number of years.  The church also supplied food and supplies for many people suffering through that economic disaster.  A lack of available building supplies and building funds delayed construction for more years just as we were recovering from the depression.  The country and our members were totally involved with World War II.  Letter writing, bandage making and sending treats from “home” to the soldiers were just some of the activities Falls Pres did to support the soldiers and the country.

 

Another member was lost to the Viet Nam War.  We have gathered and prayed together when FDR died, when JFK was shot, when Martin Luther King was killed, when wars started and ended, and when 9/11 shook our lives and security.

 

I could go on.  But I hope you see that this church is not just a place to attend services on Sundays.  It is a place that lives with us.  It is family who we join with to get through the events of history, both great and small.  It is our connection with our God and our faith to guide us and support us as we encounter the uncertainties and challenges of life.  This church lives on, with us, as a reflection of us all, both in the past and in the years yet to come. 

 

Minute for History August 2006

 

This tribute to Dr.  Harvey was read to the Congregation of the First Presbyterian Church, Falls of Schuylkill (Falls Presbyterian Church) on Sunday, August 27, 2006 as part of its 150th Anniversary Year Celebration.  It was then sent to Robert and Mona Harvey in Florida along with a giant greeting card signed by many church members and friends.

 

Today I would like to tell you about one of the former pastors of Falls Presbyterian Church, the Reverend Doctor Robert E.  Harvey .

 

In the year 1943 this church was in one of the most interesting times in its history.  As you may remember in 1925 the church, under the pastorate of Rev Cooke, had decided to relocate from its former Ridge Avenue home to a new facility up the hill to what was then the newer, more residential section of the community.  The Ridge Avenue building was in need of many costly repairs and its location was becoming increasingly isolated and more commercial.  Money was raised and a new property was purchased.  However the realties of the great depression prevented actual construction.  A number of years later, due to a generous bequest the building program was re-started and ground was broken in 1941 during the pastorate of Rev.  Muyskens.  However within a few months construction ground to a halt with the beginning of World War II and the inability to obtain the needed construction materials.  We can talk more about the building of this church at a later time.

 

But here is the situation in 1943.  The Ridge Avenue church had been sold and had had to be vacated in 1942.  With the building of this church suspended, the congregation was meeting in the Young Men’s Association Building on Indian Queen Lane (now known as the Carfax Building ).  Rev Muyskens had left also in 1942 to accept another pastorate.  The prospects of finishing the new church building was uncertain, as the war was still going on and the projected costs of completion were rising with every month of delay.   The church was without a permanent home and without a pastor.  The dreams of a new church building, in an expanding part of the neighborhood and all the renewal that was to be happening was on hold.

 

Into this situation stepped a young man of 28 years, named Robert Harvey.  He was selected to be the new pastor and started in this role on May 25, 1943 In fact his installation service was held on that Tuesday evening in the Market Square Presbyterian Church in Germantown because we did not have a suitable facility for such an important service.  Mr. Harvey as he was known by many (he received his doctorate later in his career), is a man of unusual drive and purpose. 

 

I should add that Mr. Harvey is currently living in Florida at the age of 91.  Several of us here today have been privileged to know him.  Mr. Harvey is not well and struggles both physically and with the ability to stay alert.  I’ll fill you in on his condition in a moment. 

 

But right now I want to tell you about this pastor who was able to re-invigorate this church and its spirit.  He was faced with a lowering membership that was getting impatient meeting in a small gymnasium, sitting on folding chairs, with no organ and little of the beauty of this sanctuary.  But the Young Men’s building, our temporary church building sat in the literal and symbolic shadow of the Old Academy .  The people of the church in a time of uncertainty and upset could look out the window and see where it had all begun almost 90 years before.

 

Along comes Mr. Harvey with unbridled spirit and optimism and a true vision for this church.  First he tackled the financial issues that would hold back completion of this church building when the materials became available.  He led a number of church members in a drive to finish the church.  He and these others knocked on the doors of members, neighbors, businesses and other organizations to raise the needed money.  Enough money was raised to obtain a reasonable mortgage and church construction was finished enough to hold a service on Christmas Eve in 1944.  He has since mentioned that it was difficult to balance the need to ask for money while not begging.  He felt it important to try to maintain the church’s and his personal integrity.  I understand that a significant contribution from a local brewery was actually torn up when received because of his feelings about the business of its donor.  He also upset some members when he worked to consolidate a number of various treasuries and organizations within the church.  Changes that seem so reasonable and sensible now, made him vulnerable to some strong criticism.  As one reward for his work, Robert Harvey was married to his wife Jeanne in December of 1945 in this sanctuary that he had helped to completion.  He and his wife adopted 3 children and lived in our Midvale Avenue Manse. 

 

His next mission was to seek new members.  This he did with great enthusiasm and drive.  He used many so-called normal approaches and a few more unconventional methods that included a sound truck and greeting and speaking to people on street corners.  Some of these very evangelist methods did not go over with a few of the more staunch Presbyterians.  It is hard to access the success of theses methods.  But it is clear that Mr. Harvey ’s enthusiasm and purpose caught on.  Almost 400 persons became members during his 13 year pastorate.

 

Perhaps his greatest accomplishment, remembered by many of us, was that he was a minister of the people and especially of the children and young adults.  He led outings, picnics, played sports with us and was always into making the church experience more fun.  He was there in all parts of the people’s lives.  He visited, comforted and supported his flock.  He became a good and faithful friend, leader and pastor.  Mr. Harvey heard and followed a new call on November 30, 1955 as he moved to Trenton, Michigan.  Later he took several pastoral positions in the Miami area.  His wife Jeanne died a number of years ago and he married Mona, who lovingly takes care of him in his advanced years.  Inger received a wonderful letter from Mona just a few weeks ago.

 

So today let us honor this man who struggles in a nursing facility in Miami Florida .  His legacies are around us and his spirit is present in our new pastor and much of what God and our church are trying to accomplish today.

 

Minute for History for October 2006

 

During the past few months we have spent this time together to talk about our church and its history.  We have been looking at our history as a way to study what it means to be a church, to be a church family, and to understand what it means to be given the responsibility of being trustees of God’s church.  This is not just some organization that has a 150 year old history with a 60 year old building to maintain, a budget to keep, grass to cut and leaves to rake.  This is God’s Church.  A group of people that got together 150 years ago to be such a church.

 

Now please don’t think that I am not aware of the importance of these important building issues.  They are vital to us.  We all spend valuable time, effort and financial resources to maintain this beautiful facility and therefore to provide for its ministry.  It has been interesting to me that our written history is full of details of buildings and organizations, budgets and treasurers reports.  Clearly, without these things this church would not have become what it is. 

 

But the history of this church is about much more than buildings and administrative work.  Our church is about its people and a mission to spread God’s good news.  Our written history is aggravatingly missing detailed information about us, the people.

 

On Sunday, when we approach this Church, as we round the corner and gaze upward, what do we see? Do we see just a beautiful lawn and garden that requires lots of effort to keep it looking as good as it does.  Do we see only the jobs everywhere we turn, painting, rotting baseboards, water leaks galore, lights that burn out, speed bumps in our older carpet, window sills that have vanished over time, work, work and more work? We probably see committee meetings, weekly jobs, controversies and disagreements, myriad clerical and administrative jobs, endless duties and responsibilities? Yes these things are here.  Yes, God has entrusted this beautiful church facility to our care.

 

Today I ask you to look again the next time the church comes into your view.  Look beyond all the work that we do.  See the church within this building.  Here is our church family.  Here is a wonderfully diverse cross section of our world, gathered together under this one roof, under the outstretched arms of God.  Here, as a family, you are all my sisters and brothers.  The church is our mother and God is our Father.

We do not come here to shield ourselves from the world, to ignore our problems or to deny our differences.  We come here to join together in the many, many things that we have in common, to place ourselves into the care and wisdom of God, and to enjoy an exhilarating time in His presence.  Here we do not come to ignore our diseases, our cares and worries, our disagreements, but to place them into the hands of God.

 

Because the written history of the church regrettably has so little about the people how can we understand the people that helped to begin this church.  We do it by looking at us today.  We are just like our founders of 150 years ago.  People of simple, yet diverse faiths, working, playing, worshipping, and LIVING together.  We look at history to put into perspective what it is that we are all about, what it is that we are doing together.  We look at history to understand that adversities come and go, people come and go, the world spins on around us, but this church, not this building, this church goes on.  We are on a great mission.  We follow generation after generation that have shared this vision and this responsibility. 

 

The history that we are taking an entire year to study has taught us to keep our focus on the real church.  The people are the church, they are our family.  For example Mr. Kinnier who was our first Elder 150 years ago is like our great, great grandfather.  He is not just a name.  We share perhaps the most important aspects of our spiritual beliefs with this man we never met.  We share our faith, our love, our hopes, our dreams.  We learn from him, we are inspired by him.  His dream to start a church is our dream to sustain a church.  And he is just one of over 2000 that have come before us.

 

In about three weeks we hope to enjoy a celebration of the actual anniversary date of November 7th.  We have a wonderful anniversary/homecoming service planned for Sunday the 5th.  We already know that many people that have been associated with Falls Pres over many years will be here.  Former pastors, former choir members, former members and friends.  I know that most of you do not have immediate family connections that date back to the early days of the church.  Bob and I feel privileged to know that our great grandfather and grandmother joined this church in about 1872.  This is fun and exciting to know.  But what we have been talking about this morning is that all of us are part of this church family that dates back 150 years.  We relate to our founders because we share this church with them.

 

Following the service on November 5th will be a luncheon.  Its primary purpose is to provide us all a time to fellowship and interact together.  This would be impossible to do in the context of a worship service. 

 

Celebration is an important part of our lives.  This allows us to set aside some time to appreciate each other and what we are doing together, to meet old friends, to make new friends.  Celebration makes us feel good, it energies us, it brings us together.  Celebration allows us to take pride that we are involved in a very great thing in a very challenging world. 

 

Hopefully all of this year will have served to renew us, charge as and send us out to continue the good work.  Yes, that includes taking care of this building.  But most importantly in means that we must continue to build our church as a family and as a place centered on our God. 

 

Remember this old children’s game, with a slight modification: This is the church and this is the steeple, but be sure to open the door and see all the people.  

 

Roll of Elders for the first 100 years in the history of Falls Presbyterian Church

(List does not include elections or re-elections after 1956)

 

Name                                                  Years of Service on Session

John Kinnier                                                        1856 – 1873

John Hope                                                           1856 – 1859

James McMurtrie                                                1872 – died 1894

Samuel McKinney                                               1872 – 1875

John Maxwell                                                      1874 – died 1904

Josiah Linton                                                       1891 – died 1912

George B.  Gallagher                                           1891 – 1895

James Starrett                                                      1891 – 1940 (became Elder Emeritus)

Samuel H.  Mayberry                                          1895 – 1900

Charles E.  Hunt                                                  1900 – 1914

Alexander Starrett                                               1900 – 1940 (became Elder Emeritus)

Louis Floge                                                         1911 – 1915

Walter MacIndoe, Sr.                                          1911 – died 1946

Ross B.  Linton                                                    1911 – 1914

Herbert Johnson                                                  1913 – 1922

George Hamilton                                                 1915 – died 1928

David Borland                                                     1915 – died 1943

W.  Horace Linton                                               1915 – died 1927

Charles A.  Palmer                                              1 916 – died 1924

William J.  Porter                                                 1922 – died 1928

William H.  Halstead                                            1924 – died 1934

John Montgomery                                                elected did not serve

William A.  Fitzpatrick                                          1928 – died 1955

William J.  Calhoun, Sr.                                       1932 – died 1937

Frederick Kehs                                                    1933 – died 1938

John Morrow                                                      1935 – 1941

Russell M.  Weer                                                1938 – 1941 (Became Ordained Minister)

Walter H.  MacIndoe, Jr.                                    1939 - 1962

Laurence MacIndoe                                            1940 – 1943

James Snyder                                                      1940 – 1962

William J.  Calhoun, Jr.                                        1941 – 1952

William C.  Kyle                                                  1941 – 1943

Frank Beesley                                                     1943 – 1946

James S.  Linton                                                  1946 – 1950, 1955 - 1960

Edward L.  Caldwell                                            1946 – 1948

Dr.  John H.  Dugger                                           1946 – 1960

Earl A.  Kreiser                                                    1946 – 1948

Claude H.  Bean                                                   1948 – 1960

Leon Harvey                                                       1948 – died 1953

Raymond Stark                                                   1949 – 1954

William L Heck, Sr.                                             1949 – died 1955

William J.  Harrison                                             1951 – died 1959

Donald MacLennan                                             1951 – 1953

Ralph F.  Hamilton                                                1952 – 1961

William L.  Heck, Jr.                                            1953 – 1961

Donald Ford                                                        1953 – 1954

William J.  Sharp                                                 1954 – 1961

William D.  Crosbie                                             1956 – 1960

 

The First 100 Members of the Falls Presbyterian Church

 

Name                                                  Became a Member

 

1.  John Kinnier                                                   1856 (Charter Member)

2.  Mrs., John (Mary) Kinnier                              1856 (Charter Member)

3.  John Hope                                                      1856 (Charter Member)

4.  Mrs.  John (Janet) Hope                                 1856 (Charter Member)

5.  Robinson McKinley                                         1856 (Charter Member)

6.  Mrs.  Robinson (Jane) McKinley                    1856 (Charter Member)

7.  John Morrow                                                 1856 (Charter Member)

8.  Mrs.  John (Jane) Morrow                              1856 (Charter Member)

9.  John Bailey                                                     1856 (Charter Member)

10.  Mary A.  Harper                                          1856 (Charter Member)

11.  Robert Stewart                                             1856 (Charter Member)

12.  Elizabeth Scott                                              1856 (Charter Member)

13.  Alexander Thompson                                    1856 (Charter Member)

14.  Mrs.  Alexander (Margaret) Thompson         1856 (Charter Member)

15.  John Chadwick                                             1856 (Charter Member)

16.  Mrs.  John (Agnes) McClay                          1856 (Charter Member)

17.  John McClay                                                1856 (Charter Member)

18.  John Bell                                                      1856 (Charter Member)

19.  John Maxwell                                               1856 (Charter Member)

20.  William Cowan                                             1856 (Charter Member)

21.  Samuel McKinley                                         1856 (Charter Member)

22.  John Buchanan                                             1856 (Charter Member)

23.  Samuel Birkmire                                           1856

24.  Elizabeth Harper                                           1856

25.  Martha Chadwick                                         1856

26.  Elizabeth Stevenson                                       1856

27.  Mrs.  Mary Jane Cowan                                1857

28.  Sarah Bailey                                                  1857

29.  Henrietta Koofy                                            1857

30.  Susan Bell                                                     1857

31.  Fannie Creighton                                           1857

32.  James Beaston                                              1857

33.  Mrs.  James (Isabella) Beatson                     1857

34.  Eliza Jane Ewing                                           1857

35.  Janet McLardy Hope                                    1857

36.  Mrs.  Ann Anderson                                      1857

37.  Margaret Graham                                         1858

38.  Andrew Ford                                               1858

39.  Jane Ford                                                     1858

40.  David McElvain                                            1858

41.  Jane Maxwell                                               1858

42.  James Davenport                                          1858

43.  Dr, Joseph F.  Wilson                                    1858

44.  Margaret C.  Magill                                      1858

45.  Robert Magill                                               1858

46.  Annie Campbell                                            1858

47.  Margaret A.  Porter                                      1858

48.  Jane Evans                                                   1858

49.  Eliza McCaine                                              1858

50.  James Creighton                                           1858

51.  Mrs.  Diana Creighton                                  1858

52.  Mrs.  Marjory Greenwood                           1858

53.  Charles Robinson Greenwood                      1858

54.  Isaac Elder                                                   1858

55.  James Mooney                                             1859   

56.  Mrs., James (Jane) Mooney                          1859

57.  John Porter                                                   1859

58.  Mrs.  Elizabeth Magill                                   1859

59.  Mrs.  Margaret McGovern                           1859

60.  Alexander Cox                                             1859

61.  Mrs.  Matilda Taggart                                   1859

62.  Mary Jane Batty                                           1859

63.  Henry Ditty                                                  1859   

64.  Isaac Anderson                                            1859

65.  George P.  Eldredge                                    1860

66.  Mrs.  George (Elizabeth ) Eldredge               1860

67.  John McDugal                                              1860

68.  James Bell                                                    1860

69.  Mrs.  James (Anna) M.  Bell                        1860

70.  Martha Batty                                                1860

71.  Margaret Huey                                             1860

72.  Mrs.  Sarah Ann Bell                                    1860

73.  Martha Boardman                                        1860

74.  Samuel Frazer                                              1860

75.  Mrs.  (Samuel) Susannah Frazer                   1860

76.  Mrs.  Janie McLean                                    1860

77.  Ann Maxwell                                               1860

78.  Elizabeth Montgomery                                 1860

79.  John McLean                                              1861

80.  Mary Jane McClure                                   1861

81.  Robert Lynd                                              1861

82.  John Beatty                                               1861

83.  John Steen                                                 1861

84.  Mrs.  John (Ellen) Steen                             1861

85.  Job Johnston                                               1862

86.  Mrs.  Job (Margaret) Johnston                    1862

87.  Mrs.  Emily Spence                                  1862

88.  James Ditty                                              1863

89.  Mrs.  James (Margaret) Ditty                    1863

90.  William Blair                                            1863

91.  Mrs.  William (Mary) Blair                        1863

92.  Margaret Blair                                          1863

93.  Maria Regan                                            1864

94.  Anna Snowden                                         1864

95.  Archibald Lawson                                    1865

96.  Margaret Thompson                                1865

97.  Mrs.  Mary Thompson                             1865

98.  John Sherly                                               1865

99.  Samuel Maxwell                                      1865

100.  Elizabeth Thompson                               1865

 

 

The following section tells the history of the Falls Presbyterian Church from its very beginning until the time when Rev.  Joseph Beggs, the church’s first pastor, completed his pastorate in 1894.

 

The History of The First Presbyterian Church, Falls of Schuylkill is a story of people and community, tradition and new ideas, faith and spirituality, buildings and activities.  This history will try to help us understand what it means to be a church that formally began in 1856 and continues to serve the people 150 years later.  It will also begin to explain what we were and who we were, and how that makes it easier to understand our present church and faith lives.

 

There are a number of sources that were used to develop this history.  Church records, collected memorabilia, previous historical narratives and community records all aided in this task.  We are very lucky to have a handwritten notebook that contains a detailed narrative of the beginning of the church through the end of the Pastorate of Rev.  Joseph Beggs.  This first historical account of our church is written by Rev.  Beggs, himself.  Additional information came from the memories and musings of the church people and community friends.  We have attempted to be as accurate as possible.  Any speculation is identified as such.  Certain contradictions of data within the documents, as well as in people’s memories, have been found during research for this history.  These differences will be explained where necessary. 

 

Unfortunately, there are not as many detailed narratives or descriptions of a lot of what occurred during the history of this church as we might hope.  Many times during the research for this document the reasons for actions taken or not taken and the details of the teachings, thinking and theology of the church are not explained.  It is also disappointing that we don’t know more about the individuals that made the church happen and who made changes so that we are the church were are today.  Since it is people, with the divine hand of God, that made things happen, it would help us understand better if we knew more about the people.  We can take this as a call to record more about ourselves as we are now living tomorrow’s history

 

Falls Of Schuylkill – East Falls

 

While this is not intended to be a history of East Falls, our community has played an important role in defining the church in our lives, so some aspects of East Falls will be explored.  The community, now known as East Falls , was originally inhabited by Native Americans.  It was where they lived and worked.  It later became a place of respite and enjoyment and business, as early Philadelphian colonials would travel up the river, from the city, to a beautiful, cascading falls on the Schuylkill River .  In this very “country” location, small inns and fishing clubs began to spring up.  As the Native Americans moved out of the area to avoid the encroachment of a different culture, people of European background began to build country homes along the river and along the road from the city to the little village near the falls.  Fishing was not only a recreational activity; it was a vocation and a business for some residents of The Falls of Schuylkill.  The confluence of the Wissahickon Creek and the Schuylkill River provided some of the finest Catfish and Shad fishing in the area. 

                                     

 

 

In fact, some wealthy Welshmen built a fishing and hunting lodge, called Fort St Davids, around 1732, named after the patron saint of Wales .  For a number of years thereafter, the little village that grew up near the lodge was called “Fort St Davids.  That lodge was probably just south and east of where the Baltimore and Ohio and Reading Railroad bridges cross over the current Kelly Drive .  During the Revolutionary War, after the Battle of Brandywine, the British occupied Philadelphia , and stationed a force of Hessian Soldiers in the lodge.  When the British were forced to abandon the city, along with the Hessians, they burned down the lodge.  It was never rebuilt.  

 

As the 19th Century began, the same waterways that created the great fishing also provided a valuable source of power for mills of different types.  Grist mills, stonecutting facilities, textile and cotton mills, printing companies and even drug companies used the flowing, cascading water to power their equipment.  The nation was just beginning a new age of industrialization and manufacturing.  Falls of Schuylkill was right in the middle of the activity. 

 

Okay, so why the name The Falls of Schuylkill? First, the name of the river, “Schuylkill”, means “hidden river”.  It was so named by Dutch explorers that thought the river was so winding and was hidden in the many trees that lined its banks before the city’s encroachment.   “The Falls” was actually a number of large rocks in the river that created a cascade, with water tumbling over the great boulders.  The falls was located where the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Reading Railroad tracks cross the river on two beautiful and historic stone bridges.  These same rocks also provide the strong, natural foundations for the Roosevelt Expressway Bridge over the river.  So where are the falls now? In the year 1821 the dam at the Fairmount Waterworks was completed.  This caused the level of the river to rise behind it.  Almost all of the falls was covered by the rising waters.  Only the tops of a few of the rocks remain above the surface.

 

One more question.  Where did the community’s current name, East Falls , come from? The predecessor of the Reading Railroad; the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad, started to service The Falls of Schuylkill about 1834.  The name of the local station was Falls of Schuylkill.  It seems another town in Pennsylvania also had that same name.  There was also a small rail station on the west side of the Schuylkill River known as West Falls, Therefore, the Railroad decided to call the station on the east side of the river, East Falls.  It was printed on schedules and transit maps.  East Falls started to slowly replace The Falls of Schuylkill in common use.  Since the word, Schuylkill has always been a challenge to spell and even to pronounce, East Falls has, over the years become the name of our community. 

 

In the mid 1800’s East Falls was a growing community that existed as a number of “row houses”, single houses and a few public buildings.  Generally the “town” existed between the Schuylkill River and the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad tracks.

 
This is an historic town.   We know that Washington's army, on its way to Valley Forge, crossed the 
Schuylkill River just below the falls. Immediately before and after the battle of Brandywine his army 
camped on ground not far from our present church.   Also in the Falls of Schuylkill was the mansion of 
Governor Thomas Mifflin, the first governor of Pennsylvania.   This mansion was located on that tract of 
land which is today bounded by Ridge Avenue, Midvale Avenue, Stanton Street, and Frederick Street.  
Here Governor Mifflin entertained Washington, Lafayette, and many other distinguished personalities.
 
Among the earliest settlers in this district was a Swedish family named Garrettson which owned a tract of 
land bounded by what is now School House Lane, Indian Queen Lane, Fox Street, and Conrad Street.   
So we see that our present church is built upon a portion of the original Garrettson property.

 

The people of the little town were a combination of upper class families with country and vacation homes, fishermen, tradesman, factory and mill workers and some new industrialists.  Throw in some politicians, educators, clergy and retailers, and you have the community of Falls of Schuylkill in the 1850’s.

 

Nationwide, the United States was growing into the vast areas west of the older cities on the east coast.  The southern part of the country was primarily a farming economy, depending heavily on the use

of slavery for its economic success.  The economies of the northeast were a combination of trades, manufacturing, finance and farming.  Philadelphia was no longer the center of the nation’s government.  However, it still loomed large in national and world trade and commerce, in finance, in education, in industry and in religion.

 

Democracy and territorial expansion led most Americans to feel optimistic about the future.  These forces, reinforced by widespread religious revivals, also led many Americans to support social reforms.  These reforms included promoting temperance, creating public school systems, improving the treatment of prisoners, the insane, and the poor, abolishing slavery, and gaining equal rights for women.  Some of these reforms achieved significant successes.  The political climate supporting reform declined in the 1850s, as conflict grew between the North and South over the slavery question.  The seeds of the Civil War had been planted by the 1850’s.  However, the actual war had not yet broken out.  A country and a city that had been founded on new ideas of political, religious and social tolerance were struggling to understand how to breathe real life into these concepts. 

 

The early population of East Falls was primarily Caucasian, Christian, Protestant, free, and male dominated.  In was not until about 1825 that the first Roman Catholic was to take up residence in East Falls.  Various economic and social distinctions were represented in the community, from the worker to the mill owner, from the fisherman to the tradesman, from the seamstress to the educator.  While slavery was legally banned in Pennsylvania, racial tolerance was limited at best.  Even the different European backgrounds of the people of the community were important factors in every day living.  Philadelphia was born with the religious tolerance concepts of William Penn, but in real practice people of various faiths and country origins did not mix all that much in economic and social aspects of life.  People of Roman Catholic and Protestant faiths were very separated in their church lives.  In many areas, including East Falls, Roman Catholics and Protestants were somewhat separated in residential areas.  Persons of Jewish faith and culture generally lived in the city and had not yet significantly moved into East Falls. 

 

It is estimated that a million people immigrated to the USA from Ireland in the 19th Century.  By the 1850’s many of these people had settled into the Philadelphia area.  East Falls attracted many of the new nation builders to its growing industries.  People of Italian and Irish origins came to East Falls in large numbers.  But in many ways life in East Falls reflected the issues of the day that were going on in Europe.  The Irish brought to America the antagonisms that existed in Ireland between Protestants and Roman Catholics.  So it was in East Falls.  The good news was that the intensity of the conflicts was much muted in East Falls compared to many open hostilities in Europe. 

 

Gratefully there were exceptions to many of the differences mentioned here.  However, the Protestants generally lived, played, schooled and worshipped together, as did the Roman Catholics.  Children’s friends were often the same religion as they were.  A neighbor often went to the same church that you did.  The churches of the community got along well enough as community institutions, but theological and social differences were more pronounced.  Later, as the history of East Falls continued to be developed, religious cooperation and understanding was one of the first social advances to be seen.  More significant progress toward resolving some of the other social divisions of 19th and 20th Century society would come later. 

 

In the early to mid 19th Century, Philadelphia was a very important religious center for the “New World”.  East Falls was a small community then.  There were larger communities all around East Falls, such as Germantown, Wissahickon and Manayunk.  In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s people from the little, rural community of East Falls would go to churches in these larger communities.  Starting around 1810 a small group of Christian believers started to meet in private homes in East Falls.  These were the first formal religious gatherings in East Falls.  This first group of worshippers eventually became the Falls Baptist Church in 1838.  The Falls of Schuylkill United Methodist Church was actually the first church to formally organize in East Falls in 1837.   Both of these churches met for a number of years in the same building, known as the Old School House or as the Old Academy.  A little information about that building will be discussed below. 

 

East Falls seemed to have drawn a number of Scotch and Scotch-Irish to its growing population.  In the fall of the year 1855, believers of this often Presbyterian heritage had no place of worship in East Falls.  Individuals and families started to meet together, in their own homes, for Bible Study and worship.  First Bible meetings were assisted by Rev, Andrew Culver of New School Presbyterian Manayunk and Rev William Fulton of Reformed Dutch Church Manayunk.  Their numbers grew.  Leadership emerged from within.  They decided to find a place where they could meet that would accommodate more people than could fit into their homes.  

 
It was decided to engage a room in the building on Indian Queen Lane which we know as the
Old Academy.  This building came to be known as the mother of churches of the Falls, and is still standing.  
Falls Methodist, Falls Baptist, St Bridgets, Redeemer Lutheran and Falls Presbyterian all were founded in 
that building.  
 

                      

 

The Old Academy

    
As the Presbyterian meetings were proving highly successful, it was decided to put the meeting room on 
the second floor of the building in proper condition for worship.  This was done at a cost of $70.00.
 
The first sermon in the newly renovated building was preached by the Rev.  Mr. Knox of Germantown.   
So much were the people encouraged that in October of 1856 a petition, signed by 34 individuals, was 
presented to the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia requesting that body to organize them into a distinct 
church to be known as the Presbyterian Church of the Falls of the Schuylkill.  The petition was favorably
received and a committee to attend to the business of organization was appointed.   
The committee consisted of Rev.  Job F.  Halsey, Rev.  Joseph Nesbitt, Rev.  Joseph Beggs, 
and Elders Robert Magee and Francis H.  Latch.
 
The committee convened on the 7th of November, 1856, and Rev .Job F.  Halsey preached a sermon 
from the Gospel of St.  Mark, Chapter 5, Verse 19, after which the church was duly organized by the 
admission of ten members by certificate of transfer and twelve on profession of their faith.   
Mr. John Kinnier and Mr. John Hope were elected ruling elders and thus became the first 
Session of the church.
 
Even though Rev Beggs’ association with the church started as one of several ministers participating in 
the Presbytery Committee that presided at the meeting that founded the church, on April 28, 1859 Rev.  
Joseph Beggs, D.D., began his ministry with the new congregation as a supply preacher on half time.  
The other half of his time was spent at the Roxborough Presbyterian Church.  
He had become part of their staff in 1856 when that church changed from being a  Reformed 
Church to a Presbyterian Church.  Joseph Beggs was born near Duncannon, County Tyrone, 
Ireland in 1831.  (One source has the date as 1830).  He had graduated from Lafayette College in 1851 
and from Princeton Seminary in 1855. (He later received his Doctor of Divinity from Lafayette College 
in 1882 and an LL.D.  from Washington College, Tennessee in 1893.  Dr.  Beggs served as Stated Clerk
 of the Presbytery for a long 23 years, from 1869 to 1891.) 
 
                                                            
 
Rev.  Joseph Beggs
 
Eventually, the room in the Old Academy building could not accommodate the growing congregation and
it was decided to build a church.   A call was extended to Dr.  Beggs to be pastor on a full time basis.  
He resigned his charge in Roxborough and devoted himself to the building up of the new congregation and
the building of a new church edifice.
 
In the years of the mid 1800’s probably East Fall’s most significant employer was the Powers and 
Weightman Chemical Company, which started about 1847/48.  The large industrial plant was located 
between the railroad and Ridge Ave. and between School House Lane and Spencer (now called Calumet)
Street.  Company housing was built on the same site. 
This was a common practice of building homes and schools for the workers near the plant in which they 
worked.  The accompanying increase in population of workers at this plant probably provided fertile 
ground for a nearby church.  Powers and Weightman later became a part of the giant Merck Company 
of today.  
 
After many disappointments and trials, a suitable lot was purchased on Ridge Avenue below School 
House Lane.   On September 7, 1867 the cornerstone of the new church was laid with appropriate 
ceremonies.   The new church building was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God and the Lord Jesus
Christ on Sunday, October 11, 1868.  The dedication was commemorated by three services on that 
same day.  The Rev J.  H.  M.  Knox of Germantown preached in the morning, 
The Rev.  H.  S.  Dickson of West Chester in the afternoon and The Rev.  Thomas Murphy of Frankford
in the evening.  The cost of the church was $8,000.  A debt of $2,500 was paid off within a year.
 
                                
This stucco and gray stone building was of simple exterior design.  There was no steeple.  
The front entrance of the church, which was on Ridge Avenue, opened directly into the rear of the sanctuary.  
The windows were palladium style with carved wood frames and sashes, and small panes of glass.  
We are not sure of what color the glass was.  There was a basement that served as a Sunday School.  
It was later renovated and enlarged in January of 1882.  In the church somewhere was a room that is 
referred to as the “Lecture Room”.  It was the location of a number of meetings involving the church and 
the building in the early development years.  Where the room was (basement or first floor) is not known 
to this writer.
 
The interior of the church featured dark, carved wood ornamentation and pews.  The walls were a light, 
neutral color.  At this time we cannot confirm the exact color.  The organ was in the front.  On the front 
wall, above the organ pipes, the words, “The Lord is in His Holy Temple”, were painted.  
When the building was first completed, it seems that the ceiling was not right up to the roof.  
The shape and design of the ceiling is not known to us, but we do know that it was changed at a later date.
                         
This photograph was probably taken after the interior ceiling was raised.  The first pipe organ installed in 
the church was presented by Mr. James Dobson and was played for the first time on November 27, 1870.
 
A parsonage was built immediately to the left side of the church on Ridge Avenue.  While this writer does
not have exact knowledge of what the parsonage looked like, we imagine it to be like a “row” house.  
We are sure that it was next to, but not attached to the church.  Its address was 4504 Ridge Avenue.  
A house that It may or may not have actually been attached to still exists in 2006.  
This home cost $3,600 at the time of construction, finished and occupied on March 15, 1871.  
The church was thoroughly renovated in 1879, being completed on July 20, at a cost of $1,900.  
 
Sunday School (Christian Education) at Falls Presbyterian
 

Let us take a moment to talk about Christian Education here at Falls Pres.  Presbyterianism has always emphasized teaching and Christian Education.  In fact the minister of a Presbyterian Church is known as a teaching Elder (Being different from a Ruling Elder or member of the session.) Our teachings also tell us that even Jesus was often called a rabbi or teacher.  The concept of teaching in addition to preaching and being a pastor is central to our faith.

 

Here at Falls Presbyterian we find that our Sunday School, which has, at various times, been be called a church school or a Christian Ed program, was actually started before the church was.  It was formally organized in February of 1856, nine months before the church was formed.  Bible studies and children’s studies had been conducted more informally for over 2 years prior to that.

 

For many years the Sunday School operated as a very separate organization.  While there was an obvious close tie between the two, they operated separately.  At Falls Pres the person that started the Sunday School, Mr. John Kinnier, was also the first person elected as a ruling elder when the church was formed.  There are numerous instances in the history of the church when the Sunday School and Church did not seem to get along.  There were a few times when open hostilities existed.  These even led to one or two people leaving the church.  The arguments seemed to have been about independence and territory.  There never seemed to be great differences over theology or even teaching methods.  Even the treasuries of the church and the Sunday School were separate with different treasurers until the 1990’s. 

 

As we stated above, just after the Ridge Avenue church was built, the Sunday School met in that basement.  About 20 years later a very large addition was put onto the back of the church.  It was larger than the church itself had been.  In 1892 there were 236 members in the church.  In that same year Sunday School membership was 433. 

 

The Sunday School having outgrown its quarters, it was decided to construct a new Sunday School 
building. Ground was broken on April 22, 1889, Miss Sarah Dobson taking up the first spade full of earth.  
Sarah Dobson was the daughter of member Mrs.  Mary Dobson and her husband, who later became a
member, Mr. James Dobson.  (Se e details of the Dobson family connection in a later section of this 
document). The cornerstone was laid on June 8, 1889 by Dr.  Beggs.  
The building was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies  on May 11, 1890, with the superintendent, 
Mr. Josiah Linton, presiding.   
Addresses were made by the Hon, George S.  Graham, at that time district attorney of Philadelphia, 
and by Mr. John Wanamaker, founder of Philadelphia’s famous Wanamaker store.  
This is the store that became the center city Macy’s in 2006.

 

                                          

 

The cornerstone now resides in the garden next to current church on Vaux Street.

 

                                 

 

Christian education was considered to be at least as important as was the worship service.  In the first half of the 1900’s Sunday School was held on Sunday afternoons.  The Church and Sunday School were the most important thing in the lives of many. 

In the mid 1800’s the Sunday School organizations throughout the city and really throughout the country often led the way in religious life.  There were several Sunday Schools in East Falls alone that were not really associated with a church.  These were not educational institutions associated with denominations.  These were actual Sunday Schools.

 

Back to our story: On April 17, 1894, Dr.  Beggs resigned as pastor because of 
“advancing years and ill health”. We do note that he was only 63 at the time.  After reluctantly accepting 
his resignation, the congregation elected Dr.  Beggs Pastor Emeritus.   
He lived in retirement until April 14, 1899 when he died at his home in Germantown and
 was buried in Mt.  Vernon Cemetery, where his monument designates that he was 
“Pastor of Falls of Sch’ll Presb Church, 1856 – 1894”.  The date of 1856 reflects his first association 
with the church.  His official pastorate started in 1859.
        
                        
 
The Following is a segment of the text of a Sermon that Dr.  Beggs delivered on the occasion of the 25
th Anniversary of the Church:
 
Since the church has been organized, I have administered the ordinance of baptism to 349 children
and 18 adults, making in all 367.……..  I have united in marriage on hundred and sixty-six couples.  
………And of the fifty-four ministers composing our Presbytery at the present time, but three 
remain in the pastoral work whose names were on the roll when I was ordained. The hand of 
God can be clearly traced in this enterprise.  Neither the place nor the work was my own seeking.
God sent his messenger for me. That man is present with us this morning.  (John Kinnier).  
And being as thoroughly convinced as Paul was a Troas that this Macedonian cry was of God; 
I conferred not with flesh and blood.  The work was undertaken in faith and prayer.
 
This church is my own child: my pet.  I organized it, I laid the corner-stone thereof, and I have 
given the right  hand of fellowship to all who have joined on profession and welcomed those who
came by letter.
No wonder I am jealous of her welfare and desire to see all her members growing in grace and 
adorning their profession…………This church is on my heart.  I have given her the strength of 
my manhood, and the sacrifices I made for her in her infancy are best known to myself.  But I 
do not complain.
 
And this day I feel that I have abundant cause to rejoice, and bless, and magnify the name of the 
Lord our God, who has been pleased of his infinite mercy to give to our humble, but earnest and 
persevering efforts, such a measure of success.  For after all, the work is his, and the treasure of
gospel light and grace is in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God 
and not of us.  Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name would we give the glory.  
 
He concluded his sermon with the following poem.  The author is unknown to us:
 
    
“Peace be within this sacred place,
   And joy a constant guest:
With holy gifts and heavenly grace
    Be her attendants blessed.
My soul shall pray for Zion still, 
    While life or breath remains;
There my best friends, my kindred dwell,
    There God, my Savior reigns.”
 
So let it be with the Falls Presbyterian Church