September 25, 1041, HISTORY OF CENTRE HALL. ITS PEOPLE From Isabelle Murray of Lemont comes a forty-year old copy of The Centre Hall Reporter containing some interesting history of Centre Hall and its buildings and churches, written by the late J. D, Murray For many years Mr, Murray con- ducted the town's only drug store, now owned by Mabel Arney, who ac- quired it after the death of Mr Murray. The article compiled by Mr. Murray and published in 1801 follows Mr, Rothruff was stalled pastor of Lutheran charge. been reconstructed. The Bellefonte congregaton was taken from this charge in 1852, at which time there was no church here of any kind. | Rev, P. 8. Fisher, the Reformed | minister, who lived in Boalsburg | preached in the Loop, now called | Tusseyville, in the union church. It was custormary at that time for all church people of Reformed belief in this section to attend services in the Loop church, The same is true of | the Lutherans of that day. Each | denomination had their day for ser- vices. Half of the preaching by both Reformed and Lutheran min- | isters was in the German language or rather Pennsylvania Dutch, This would seem very strange today, but at that time there were many dutch people living in the neighborhood which made preaching necessary in that language It is surprising how rapidly this dutch run out once it began to decline in popularity. It disappear- ed so rapidly that in some instances it divided families. The writer has knowledge of several families where two or three of the first born chil- dren were pretty well grown up be- fore they pretended to speak a word English, and the younger chil- iren or second crop, as the parents saw fit to call them, never learned to talk in that dialect. When the writer came among these people in 1851, he found them to be an honest hardworking, frugal and prosperous people; much inclined to hospitality and religion. The proof of this can be seen by the number of fine churches that have been erected in this place at a great expense. In addition to these present churches three other have been built—one Reformed and two Lu- theran. The Lutherans during 1862 and 1863 built their first church on the lot now han family, now fully in- the Centre Hall which had Just very of caur 5 treet The structure dd back in the lo The foundat faulty sandy \ { soon the brick walls began to crack near the root NEAT q pronounced and sof le grew afraid to meet In it About 1873, churcl avaliable struction of fice acrm the bank bu occupied by Miller Goednd The tock place, November 18 A tine hou dwelling »o ¥ your husband is all that you want him to be—here’s how to keep him that way! Get him a Certified LES. Lamp for his favorite easy chair . 7, watch him relax and read under light that gives him new seeing comfort. ’ “i ly Look for the famous I.E. S. Tag when you buy lamps. This badge of honor signifies that they meet $4 standards of the INluminating Engineering Society for better light and better service. And you lean choose from hundreds of styles-to suit your taste, | who THE CENTRE DEMOCRAT, BELLEFONTE, PA. AND CHURCHES church only stood a short time. Oc- tober 13, 1884, the church took fire and was totally destroyed from the burning of two stables nearby. June 20, 1886, the present Lutheran church was dedicated, When the year 1804 came around the Reformed people, with perhaps a little more pride than plety, con- ceived the idea that thelr church was In a tumble-down condition The old structure was accordingly razed and the very pretty brown stone church, dedicated Nov, 29 1896, is the resuit, It is fifty-five years since this town was started, and today there are five very good churches stand- ing, and three were rebullt—an average of one in less than every seventh year An old gentleman from New York, used to visit this place fre- quently remarked that he could see no more thrifty enterprise going on in Centre Hall than church build- ing. Well, remarked one, it is all right to build churches, even if the men and women get a little too en- thusiastic and get to believe that a great effort on their part to bring the job to completion and liquidate the debt will cover a multitude of sins. A lady of our acquaintance was much attached to a large pet dog possessed of a vindictive spirit— a persistent fighter. He would fight at home and go away to punish some poor cur. One night when Major for that was the dog's name, came heme from a fighting expedition on three legs his mistress exclaimed: “Major, you didn’t get that by bulld- ing churches.” ‘The lady honestly thought that if it were possible for her dog to have been engaged in the | meritorious work of helping to build churches, he would be standing on four legs in place of three. Now this lady evidently looked upon church building as a righteous act and a shield from danger Going back to the early history in church bullding in Centre Hall let me say that in 1851 and 1852 the few Reformed and Lutherans who lived on the north side of Penns Valley began to contempiate the erection ol a place of worship, as all were tring of going to the Loop to church. Mr Witmer was at that time the bone and sinew of the town as well as of the Reformed church. Mr. Wit- mer was well prepared to go five miles every Sunde); He wep a great horse fancier; he had a pair of carriage horses, also a very fine saddle horse, called Perry, he was almost as fleet as an antelope The at that time boarder at the hotel and he soon learned the rule in the Witmer family was to go over to the Loop five miles to the union church to hear Rev. Fisher or Rev. Rothruft preach either Dutch or English ther of them could speak any- like good English, but were tly good German scholars nes it was difficult to know language they were using The principal part of the hearers were hardworking people, and on a warm day after driving from ong to writer Was 4 hing was done cused another sleeping all the time. Oh, well, he replied I feel our preacher will make it al] right; I dont need to stay awake to wailch him At nf Od this time the Reformed people were the strongest, both numerically and financially, on this side the valley and when ii came to building a church the most difficult question that arose was to decide whether to bulld a Reformed, a Lutheran or a union church. Rev. Fisher claim- ed it would not be best to build union church and have it dedicated as such. He proposed to have built a Reformed church and not a union church. But as he was feel- ing very kindly towards the Luth- eran brethren he wanted them to be accommodating to them, yet he was opposed to a union, or as ne called it, a comma sheftlich a Ker- jich. It was finally settled to build it a Refromed church, be dedicated as such and owned by that congre- gation. But how were the Luther san to be treated? A subscription was circulated among the members of both churches for the purpose of building a $3000 church, and each member subscribed as much as they felt able to pay. It was counted that the Reformed people would subscribe largely in excess of the Lutherans but there was then an agreement made between the two congregations so that each congre- gation would enjoy all the rights and privileges of the other as far as the use of the church was concern- ed. In summing up it was found i i the Lutherans had paid about one- third of the cost of the structure It was then agreed that the Luth- erans should pay a rental of $8.00 a | year and one-half the sexton's fee, | each one to find their own light and fuel. Things turned out just as Rev, Fisher predicted—after they had a place to worship both congr- gations increased and later Luther- ans built thelr own church as stated | above. So far as the writer knows there was never any trouble between these congregations. Shortly after the writer made his | appearance among these good people they called him the Irishman or that Irishman, because he could | not speak the Pennsylvania Dutch Certified by Jamous Electrical Testing Laboratories New York Bette! 8 Sight LAMPS | The appellation was accepted with- out & murmur. One lady remarked, | well he is Irish; 1 knew his mother | dist Sunday School met last Tues-: and his two sisters; the mother can't speak a half dozen words until | Glen Fye to help celebrate her Mrs. | you con notice the Irish brogue, and besides he was born and raised in an irish settlement, There was no use denying his nationality with this | array of evidence—circumstantial, ! primafacia and direct—against him, | The young Hibernian concluded that the best thing to do was to acquaint | himself wi the Pennsylvania | Dutch, and thus become more like | the people of the plains, When the | writer thought ne had mastered the | language fairly well he was humil- {fated to hear a lady remark that | she liked to hear him talk because it | sounded so funny. They seemed to be a little prejudice against the Irish and their descendants. When any thing was done that did not show skill or good workmanship, the Dutch said it was Irish; when a horse showed the marks of a poor | svoom, that was Irish; a farmer who | kept his fences in poor repair was | designated as Irish farmer, When a woman was found to be a little ne- | gligent in her domestic affairs, ta'k English and read something outside | of the Reformed Messenger or the Lutheran Observer, she was a Yan- kee, There was, however, no real antipathy existed between the Irish and the Dutch, the expression was only used to show disapproval of methods, ete When the writer came to Centre Hall he found the young people courting in Dutch, getting married in Dutch, and living happy together | in Dutch, There was soon a great | effort made on the part of the young people to learn to speak Eng- | lish plainly, Parents avoided speak- | ing Dutch within the hearing of {their children. The schools were | English and Dutch talk among | schoo! children soon disappeared. | It was not many years until the | younger generation began to find | fault with the two old preachers Rothruff and Fisher. Old Mr. Fish- er was a very long headed man, and saw the signs of the time very well, which meant that he must get out of the charge. He wisely concluded | that the most opportune time LO leave would be during the discus- sion incident to the building of the church just cited. sta —————— COLLEGE TWP. Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Brion and children Jack, Tommy, Bobby and Nancy Lou from Williamsport, were guests on Sunday of Mr, and Mrs John Lee. Mr, and Mrs. W, L. Spicer and children Rena Cliare, Betty, Freda Wilbur II, Roy Bradley and Glenn were guests on Sunday at the home of his aunt, Miss Alice Walker and uncle William Walker at Tyrone Mr, and Mrs, John H. Shuey Mrs George Shuey and Mrs. Sarah Os- man were shoppers in Millheim on Thursday Mrs. Christ Houtz and daughter- in-law Mrs. Paul Houtz were guests of Mrs. Robert Bailey on Wednes- day. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph T. Hassinger and children Betty Jane, Harry Anna, Tommy ang Dickey had a picnic supper at Miller's Grove on Sunday evening. This represents their last supper outing for the 1941 season. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Spicer and family Alice, Ethel, Arthur, Raymond, Oddie and friend Glenn Glasgow spent Sunday aiternoon with Mrs, Spicer’ sister, Miss Alice Walker at Tyrone Mrs. John Lee was Mrs Jane Stambaugh Mrs. William H. Houtz visited on Wednesday with Mrs, Agnes Mayes Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shearer had as their dinner guest on Sunday, Mrs. Shearer's foster brother and sister-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Arthur P. Gill and children Minnie, Pearl, Ruth, Paul and Betty Irene ol Woodward. Afternoon visitors were Mr and Mrs Charles Witmer and Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Spicer and family Mrs. Frank Wasson visited at th home of Mr, and Mrs. John H Shuey on Thursday. A number of friends helped W. L Spicer celebrate birthday an- niversary on Saturday evening Those present were: Mr. and Mrs George W. Spicer, Alice and Ethel, Odie. Raymond and Arthur, Mr and Mrs Fred Wells, Mr. and Mra Lloyd W. Spicer and son Jimmie Mr. and Mrs, Grover Rockey and daughters Joan and Alice Refresh- ments were served Master C. Glenn Bpicer had his fifth birthday anniversary on Sun- day the 21 the chief attraction for him was a fine birthday cage bak - sister Miss Rena Claire. the guest of on Thursday ~ Wi b nis ed by his MOSHANNON There were 60 present at the Methodist Sunday School Sunday Bepi. 21st. Mr. and Mrs. Charles McConnell and family of Larryville, visited re- latives here Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Craft, of Wakefield, Quebec Canada, visited Mr. Craft's mother, Mrs. Cordelia Craft, several days the past week Mr. and Mrs. Adolphus Smith and Mr and Mrs. Rev Beadwell, and children, Ronnie and Connie of Clearfield, spent Sunday at the Charles Guenot home Mrs. Catherine Lucas, who spent severa] weeks with relatives in Re- novo and North Bend, has returned to her home here. The new Free Methodist preacher, Rev. John McCoy wife and two | daughters, arrived here Saturday | night from Tidiouie, Warren coun- | ty and preached on Sunday night Miss Patsy Ross, of spent last Wednesday afternoon with her friend Hope Lewis. On Sunday afternoon Mrs. A Hazel, daughter Jane, and her friend, Mr. James Horner, of Boals- burg, and Miss Ida Janet of Julian, | visited at the home of Mr. and Mrs. | LeRoy Lewis. Mrs. William Daughenbaugh, Mrs Alfred Smith and daughter Helen | and Mrs Bar] Donley, of Meadville, spent last Thursday at the home of Mrs, John Cartwright. | Mr, and Mrs. LeRoy Lewis, | daughter, Hope, and Mr, and Mrs. | John PF. Lucas motored to Coalport | Sunday and visited with Mrs. Amieia Benn, who is 80 years old. {| ‘The C. B. ©. class of the Metho- } | day evening at the home of Mrs. | birthday. N | Mr, James Beals motored to Bris- bin on Monday afternoon to attend the funeral of a relative, He was scoompanied by Hope Lewis, driv- er of the car, and her mother who | visited at the Morris home, ROMOLA There were 68 present at Sunday school Bunday morning, set aside to work on the church, Anyone’s help will be very much appreciated. Thursday evening. October 2, Har- vest Home services will be held at our church. October 5th will be Rally Day. Everybody come and bring your Karthaus | | : | | The Loyal Daughters class held their regular monthly meeting in the social rooms of the church on Mon- lday evening. After the business | posting a weiner roast and ice {cream and cake were served Rey, and Mrs. Walter Merrick of | Vandergrift, spent several days the | past week at the Sherman Confer home and visiting friends { Willlam Haines of Howard, spent Thursday night at the Paul Lom- Ison home | Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Chatman of Howard, spent Thursday night at {the Earl Lomison home Mr. and Mrs. John Daley of Bal- timore, Md., spent the weekend with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clair Butler and Mrs. Blanche Daley Mr. and Mrs. George Shady of Monument, spent Sunday with Mr and Mrs. Walter Butler Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hunter of State College, spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Willlam Bamn- hawt Verna Shank of Tyrone, spent the weekend with her parents, Mr, and Mrs AM. Shank Mrs. Beulah Condo, who is going to school at Williamsport, spent the weekend at her home Mr. and Mrs. Charles Heverly of Lock Haven, visited on Wednesday afternoon with Mrs. Bertha Condo Mrs. William Gillespie is keeping house for her brother, Joseph Con- fer Milesburg, for several days while Mrs, Confer is in the hos- wital a Caroline Confer of Beech Creek, spent the weekend with her parents, Mr. and Mrs, Clyde Confer Mrs. Stanley Confer had her ton- sils removed at the Lock Haven Hospital on Friday Mr and Mrs. Robert Confer are the parents of a son born at the Lock Haven Hospital cn Monday Vern Spencer, of DuBois, and Verna Belle Young of Monument, spent Thursday evening at the Clair Butler home Ron | at —————————————————————— | ORVISTON Page Thres There were 137 present at Sunday | school Mr brated birth and Mrs. Clair Butler cele- their daughter Emeline's anniversary by serving a | chicken and waffle dinner. Mrs. David Confer and two child- ren, Bobby and Carol, Blanche and Ann Lomison and Mrs, Blanche Daley spent Sunday afternoon in Btate College with Mr. and Mrs Milford Oyler | Rev. and Mrs. Garland and Mrs, Ethel De-Vree of Cherry Tree, spent a few days In Orviston and Jersey Shore calling on old friends. Mr. and Mrs, William Crispen and Miss Toots Green of Julian, Charles Aber of Renovo, and Miss Maxine Watson of Lock Haven, were Sun- day visitors at the Clayton Watson heme On Saturday* the team played the final Avis at Avis, the score 4 In Avis’ favor Stanton Packer, of Williamsport visited with his parents, Mr and Mrs. William Packer, on Sunday On Sunday the children and friends of Mrs. Clyde Confer gath- ered at her home to help celebrate her birthday. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Edward Griffin, of Indiana; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Fry and family, Glenn Miller and Miss Helen Hoover, of Altoona: Mr. and Mrs Howard Woodring, of Nanty-Glo Mr. and Mrs. George Hoover, Miss Virginia Jones, Patty Hoover, Elaine Hoover, Miss Woodes and Harvey Hoover, all of Port Matilda; Mr. and Mrs, Joseph 1. Leathers and baby Mildred, of Howard; Mr. and Mr: McDowell Peters and children, John and Junior, and Mr. Victor Smith of Blanchard: Eleanor Confer and Caroline Confer. of Beech Creek; Billy Elwood and Marjorie Confer Mrs. Confer received some very lovely gifts, among them being a 100-piece set of china dishes large birthday cake from her chil ren. They all departed In the eve- ning wishing Mrs. Confer many more happy returns of the day Patter. Orviston ball game with being 8 to and a PORT MATILDA R.D. 1 wr Kerin, Mrs granddaughter Joan Tubridy ang Mrs Moshannon spent Sunday at the home of Mr and Mrs. M. A. Kerin, Other day guests were Joe Duffiey of Os- eania Mills Mark J and Marie Schell of Tyrone Mrs Sue S8hasick has been on the sick list a couple of weeks Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Walk and family spent Sunday at OscCeoia Milla Miss Prances Lewis, who has been on the sick Me UUme improved at this writing Mr. and Mrs. Robert N of Washington, D. C, weekend with the istters Mr. and Mrs. M, A. Kerin Sunday the home Mr nd Mrs Sherman Nearhoo! were Mrs. Lennie Burke ang Mr and Mrs. David Horzone and son, of Tyrone, also Mr. and Mrs Jacod Diehl! of Portage Mr. and Mrs Edward © MARTHA he Women's Society of Chris- tion Service of the Methodist churca met at the home of Mrs. Chariots Wellers last Priday evening, wit the following members present: Mrs Erna Steele, Mrs. Martha Williams r= Belle Bailey, Mrs, Ethel Rich- rds, Misses Helen and Lois Steele, Mrs. Gladys Spackman, and Mrs Nannie Gingery. A chicken and waffle supper wil be held in the Methodist church basement Friday evening, October 10th. from Sto 8p m Mr. and Mrs. Merrill Alexander and son Jack of Tyrone, spent Sun- day at the N. R Stover home. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill Hoover and daughter lois of Altoona, visited Sunday with Mr. and Mrs, Boyd Lrensames Mr, and Mrs Willard Williams and Dewey Williams visited at the home of Mr, and Mrs, Harry Maurer | last Sunday | Mr. and Mrs. B. D, Ross of Ty- rons spent Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. E, Spackman. There will be a Hallowe'en party! in the Methodist church basement, Thursday evening, October 30. A very pleasant home coming was | enjoyed by the family of Mr. and! | Mrs, A. C. Williams, on September | 21. The occasion was in honor of Mr. William's birthday. Mr. Wil | liams has lived a useful, busy life. | He has not only lived the allotted | | time of man, but Sunday marked’ the passing of his four and one-| fourth score years, although he has | been in poor health for some time | yet he is quite active and interested in the affairs of the community and | | country, his mind is as keen and] | active as a young man. AN of his] | children were home and all but two| {of the grand children and three | great grandchildren, A bountiful | | dmmar wag served and enjoyed by) Those present besides Mr. and | Williams were: Blaine Wil) | Hams and wife, Joseph Acton and | ‘wife and daughter, Mildred, Prof. ! { Roy Morrison and wife and daugh- | | ters, Marjorie ang Patsy, Dr. Heaton | | and wife, B. C. Erhard, Rev. Clark ‘ang Mr, Ken Stratton and daugh- | ters all of Philipsburg; Mr. and Mrs. | | J. Martz of Altoona; Mr. and Mrs. | | C. W. Williams and daughters Hel- | [ en, Joan, and Jane of Barnesbord; | | Mr. and Mrs, Foster Klett and sons { Harold, Stanley and Donnie, Austin Julia of Katie Sun- ; (0 ust or £ William: spent Lhe parents ¥ visitors al Brightblll | all, {her son Donald, Mr. 8.| cial Altoona visited piace Mrs. E R Beckwith and ci spent Sunday wit Dora Woomer of Mr. and Mrs W family spent Saturday Mrs. Richard Fink is on the si list at this writing Mrs of in Tyrone who has now ad.e Elizabeth Dixon been sick for some Lime, is to be around again The Port Matilda High 8ch Band played at Hecla Park on Sat- urday 100. Mr. ang ) Chester Thompson foal of re oc Arriva: © Mother Lhe fre wa ed { *r g over other daughter and family are ge Miss Pear] Harshbarger Sunday beth Harshbarger Mr. and Mrs. Hugh of Blormstown, spent the jatter’s parents Orlando Walk Mr and Mrs George Carnes Saturday in Tyrone FURNACE nor Williams of Barberton Oh Mr. Quay Williams and wile a little Alfred: Mrs, Roy Calhoun and Ardery Calhoun Miss Betly Royer and Darius Waite and Miss Ida R Williams to- dilie ng fine aspen Ez fhivee MDE ad Harshbarger Sunday wiil Mr Mr and : pen Alter a pleasant day W gether the family separated wishing the father and mother another year of lifes enjoyment These fine September days are appreciated by the farmers Potato raising and corn culling are quite i% vogue. Mr and Mrs. Lundy Flick ida Margaret and “Th boys” were guests of Miss Ida Williams on Sun- day also Mrs Alince Kincaid and her friend of Pittsburgh, Mrs. Kin- cald was returning from Ithaca, N Y. where she had taken her daugh- ter to Cornell University. Alice had been one of Miss Ida's favorite pu- pils in the Regent Square school. Mrs. Ora Yoder of Altoona and were guests al Sylvan Crest, one day last week Other guests were Rev, Rissmiller | and Edward, Mrs, Elizabeth Harsh- barger of Hannah Mrs Emma Smith of Mt. Union and Mr. A. C Williams, Many of the Taxpayers of Worth Township have taken advantage of the rebate by paying their taxes before Oct. 1st. Just an other vreek for this rebate period. Franklin said a penny saved is a penny earned, Mrs. Verna Ardery and Mrs. Roxy Knarr were State College visitors on Saturday. Ardery Calhoun, landscaper, is di- recting the Jandscaping al Sylvan Cresi BUFFALO RUN Grove and five children spent Sunday at the Glenn Lyons home Walter Yeager is working [for Henry Rockey till his fall work is done. George Owens got another cow for | his own use, on Saturday. The farmers are sowing and cutting off corn. We hear that Bdward Moyer is going to move to Bellefonte. Alice Jones was at her brother's | funeral on Saturday at Lewistown For persona] security and finan- | i independence—buy Defense | Saturday, September 27, has been | Woomer all of Akron ang Miss Elea- Savings Bonds and Stamps today! | i i H | J. M. Keichline | — ee ee nsurance Agency One of the Oldest Agencies in Centre County, ANN W. KEIOHLINE, gighbors and friends. Our goal | Temple Court . - Phone 190 wheat New 1942 Studebaker Champion » Here is Studebaker’s entry in the lowest price field for 1942—the C gers. 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