CHURCHES
BY REV. JAMES VERNON WRIGHT

A history of Braddock! And that for fifty years! So many are the influences that go to make up a city; its development, its strength, and its permanency; that care must be taken that all of these be recognized and traced in a survey such as this history claims to make. The Church ministers to the spiritual and moral well being of individuals and communities. The men and women who have made Braddock what it is today—and they are not just a few, who are far-famed, but many humble toilers in mill and shop—were inspired and helped by the sacred ministries of the Church. Our social and industrial development was paralleled by religious fervor and devotion to the ideals of Christianity. The Church has laid deep and broad the foundation of our splendid history. And today our heritage is enriched by the constant appeal of the Churches of this community to the fine things of the spirit.

The history of Braddock could not be written without considerable mention of her Churches, whose buildings and equipment are a credit to this thriving industrial center. There are about forty-five Churches and Missions in this community and in their work, they reach most of the nationalities represented in our cosmopolitan population. Long before there was any municipal organization for this community, ministers visited this region and formed the people into Church groups. Sunday Schools were organized, Church buildings were erected, and as the population increased the influence of the Churches became more evident in the upbuilding of the City.

This short chapter has been written from what material has come to the hands of the compiler after most careful and persistent efforts to secure information from each Church in the territory covered by this volume of historic data.

CHURCHES - BRADDOCK, NORTH BRADDOCK AND RANKIN

The Braddock Church of the IJnited Brethren in Christ is located at Jones and Hawkins Avenues, North Braddock. This Church was organnized in 1854 and now has a property valued at $50,000. The membership of the Church is 438 and there are 552 scholars in the Sunday School.

Five dates stand out in the history of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. They are 1842, when services were held in the old Log-still House on Jones Ave.; 1856, when the Church was organized in the little School House in North I3raddock; 1857, when services were held in the First Ward School House, Braddock; 1859, when the first building was erected, Sellers Chapel, on Braddock Ave. at Tenth St.; and 1890, when the present Church building at Library and Parker Avenues wass dedicated. "Mother" Barkley, a colored slave, who was brought from Louisville, Ky., by Col. Wallace, was converted and became the first Methodist in Haddock. The first white Methodist convert in Braddock was a Mr. Fink, who was a shoemaker. About 1840 the mother of Mr. J. E. Corey opened up her home in Port Perry and for three years the settlers around Braddock's Field, Brinton, and Turtle Creek and the Methodists from these villages gathered there to hear preaching by the preachers who traveled the circuits. In a little one-story brick school house which would seat about 100 people, Rev. B. F. Sawhill organized the first Methodist Church and Sunday School. The present Church building was erected during the pastorate of Rev. T.N. Boyle and is valued at $55,000, and the Parsonage on Parker Ave. is valued at $8,000. The present membership of the Church is 850 and the Sunday School has an enrollment of 760. The Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal Church was organized and fostered by members and workers from the First Church. This was in the year 1895, when J. W. Miles, D. D., was the Pastor at First Church. This Church has grown to be a flourishing Church of 367 members, with a Sunday School of 384 scholars. The Church has property valued at $6,000.

The First United Presbyterian Church of Braddock was informally organized June 16, 1864, at which time a Commission representing Westmoreland Presbytery received into membership twenty-five persons in the mission. When this was done members were allowed to proceed to complete the organization by the election of elders. The following named persons were elected: Mr. Matthew Henning, Mr. Alexander Claney, Mr. George McCague and Mr. Daniel Cain. These elders were inducted into office July 22, 1864, and the organization was completed. For two years the organization held its Sabbath School and Sabbath services in a two-room school house, on the site now occupied by the First Ward School building on Eleventh Street.

Mr. Matthew Henning donated the congregation a lot on the corner of Eleventh Street and the B. & O. Railroad. On this lot the congregation erected a building which is still standing. In August, 1867 the congregation entered its first house of worship in which it worshipped for almost twenty-four years. On April 16, 1893, the congregation dedicated its present church building on Parker Avenue. The congregation has always been self-sustaining, never having received any aid from the boards of the church. The Brinton Avenue Church is a child of this church. The following have been the pastors of this congregation: Rev. Johnathan G. Fulton, stated supply from June 16, 1864, to April 11, 1868. Rev. John S. Easton, D. D., December 21, 1869 to September 5, 1876. Rev. William S. Fulton, December 31, 1877 to October 16, 1898. Rev. George E. Hawes, D. D., December 28, 1898 to October 8, 1911. Rev. Wm. Chas. Wallace, D. D., March 1, 1912 to July 2, 1916. Rev. Wm. H. McPeak, Febr nary 2, 1917.

The First Presbyterian Church of Braddock began its career March 8, 1872. In April a petition was presented to Presbytery of Blairsville, asking for the organization of a Presbyterian Church at what was then Braddock's Field. At the home of Mrs. Robinson, September 3, 1872, the organization was effected, with twelve charter members. Services were held for a short time in the school house above the Pennsylvania Railroad, but on March 15, 1873, the congregation began to worship in Seddon's Hall, corner of Main and John Streets. Rev. William F. Kean was the first Pastor of this congregation and served the Church for nine years. During this pastorale ground was purchased and a Church building erected. In the winter of 1892-3 between 40 and 50 persons were dismissed to form what is now the Calvary Presbyterian Church of Braddock. Other ministers who have served this congregation are: Rev. John B. Dickey, 1883-1892; Rev. William G. Reagle, 1893-1906; Rev. L. F. Laverty, 1906-1908; and Rev. Percy H. Gordon, Jan. 12, 1909 until the present time. This Church has grown to a membership of 444 and reports a Sunday School of 307 members, not including Cradle Roll and Home Department.

The Calvary Presbyterian Church, located on Sixth Street, Braddock, was organized October 5, 1892. The first Minister was Rev. O. B. Milligan, D. D. The organization was effected and first services held in Carnegie Hall until the present Church building was erected. There were thirty-three charter members, among them being a number of prominent residents of this community. Other Ministers who have served this Church are Rev. E. M. Bowman, Rev. J. F. Clokey, D. D., Rev. R. P. Lippincott, Rev. F. B. Limerick, and the present Pastor, Rev. T. C. Pears, Jr. The Church now has a membership of 300 and about half that number in the Sunday School.

The First Baptist Church of Braddock was organized June 5, 1881, with 30 members. It was admitted into the Pittsburgh Baptist Association July 29, 1881, at a meeting held in the Christian Church. Rev. A. J. King was the first Pastor, taking up the work in 1882. At once lots were purchased at Talbot Ave. and Seventh St. and plans were drawn for a Church building. A mission Sunday School was formed, at Rankin under the direction of Miss Amelia Lee, a Church missionary. This later was organized into a Baptist Church and some of the members of this Church formed the nucleus for the present Swissvale Baptist Church. During the pastorale of Rev. George F. Street, in the fall of 1899, plans were completed for a new Church building, which was dedicated in 1901 and was the home of this congregation until the property was sold, June 15, 1916. Services are now being held in the old United Brethren Church on Jones Ave., North Braddock. The present membership of the Church is 115.

There are several branches of the Lutheran Church in Braddock. The first of these to be organized was the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church. The date of its formal organization was August 15, 1886, when Rev. Luther M. Kuhns was the Pastor. Services were first held in the W. C. T. U. Hall on Braddock Ave., near Tenth St., and later the present Church building on Fifth St., between Holland Ave. and Mill St., was erected. There were 16 charter members. From this small beginning the Church has grown until now the report shows 280 members, with a Sunday School of the same number. The present valuation of the Church property is $10,000. Eight Ministers have served this congregation as Pastors, the present Pastor being Rev. Curvin H. Stein.

The Emanuel Evangelical L,utheran Church of Braddock, Pa., was organized in the month of September, 1886. Prior to that repeated attempts were made to establish a congregation for the German Lutherans at Braddock. The last effort was made by Rev. Schmidt, at that time in charge of a congregation in East Liberty, Pittsburgh, Pa. Services were held on the third floor of the building, still in existence, on the S. E. corner of Talbot Avenue and 9th Street. During September of 1886, Rev. Frederick Brand was called and almost immediately an organization was effected. During the following months of the same year three lots were bought at the corner of 6th Street and Maple Way, and in the beginning of 1887 a frame building was erected. Seven years later, this building proving too small for the groveling congregation, a brick building replaced it. This building is still used by the congregation. At that time two additional lots with a house thereon were bought, the house to be used for a parsonage. The original cost was about $20,000, and the present value about $35,000. The present membership of the church is 450 and 125 are enrolled in the Sunday School. There have been three pastors of the congregation as follows: Rev. Frederick Brand, September, 1886-December, 1891; Rev. C. Engelder, December, 1891-September, 1904; Rev. F. Engelbert, October, 1904 to the present time.

The first Episcopal services were held in Braddock in 1881 in a hall on the corner of Ninth St. and Talbot Avenue. These services were held at intervals and were conducted by visiting clergy and occasionally lay Cortlandt Whitehead, Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. In 1890 services were held in a building on the corner of Library Street and Braddock Avenue, now known as the Famous Department Store, but at that time known as the Masonic Building. These services were in charge of Rev. Ingram Irvine.

The first building known as Trinity Church was located on the West side of Sixth Street, opposite Lillie Ave., and was built in 1890 and destroyed by fire in 1891.

A small frame building was then erected on the present site, where the congregation worshipped for the next ten years. In 1901 Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Kinsey, mother of Mrs. Chas. M. Schwab, built and presented to the Diocese the present building on Lillie Avenue, the name of the church being changed to St. Mary's. This building was dedicated June 29, 1901, and is valued at $30,000. Upon reorganization at this time, the Rev. G. A. Dyess became director and was followed in order by the Revs. A. C. Stengal, Fred Ingley, A. W. Kierullf, J. C. Fairlie, W. C. Cady and the present rector, the Rev. Frederic Welham.

From the time of its formal organization until 1906 the parish was recognized as a Mission. In June, 1906 the Reverend Fred Ingley became rector, and, under his leadership a vestry was formed and it became an independent Parish.

Like many other Churches, the First Congregational of Braddock had its beginning in the organization of a Sunday School. The meeting was held in the Public School building of the First ward, October 11, 1887. Mr. Thomas Addenbrook was elected Superintendent, which office he filled continuously until 1909. The first session of the Sunday School was held at the home of MY. Casper Winter on Seventh Street, with 24 present. After this the meetings were held in Sewald's Hall, Ninth St. and Braddock Ave. Here the Church was organized October 18, 1888, there being 29 charter members. The first Pastor in charge was Rev. John H. Young. Previous to 1890 a lot had been bought at the corner of Talbot Ave. and Sixth St. Here a temporary building was erected in ten days by the men and boys of the Church. The Sunday School room of the present Church building was dedicated in November, 1894, and in May, 1902 the auditorium was finished and dedicated. In 1911 the interior of the auditorium was destroyed by fire, but in a few months was restored, a new pipe organ taking the place of the one destroyed. The Church property cost $50,000. The present membership of the Church is 104 and there are 90 members of the Sunday School.

Rev. W. H. Gladden organized the first Methodist Protestant Church March 10, 1893 in Sewald's Hall. Rev. Leigh Layman was the first Pastor. A lot was purchased at the corner of Sixth St. and Margaretta Ave. and here a building, costing $2,700, was erected and opened June 1, 1896. The building was not completed until 1901. This served as the home of this congregation until the summer of 1904, when the property was sold to St. Mary of Mount Carmel Italian Roman Catholic Church. Services were held for some time in Braznell Hall and Odd Fellows' Hall, and in 1905 the congregation found a new location in Rankin on Braddock Ave., where a new building was erected. This congregation values its property at $14,000 and reports a membership of 170. The Sunday School numbers 125.

The Rev. William Swenson was the first Swedish Minister to visit Braddock. He preached in the First Methodist Episcopal Church in 1892. The next year a Sunday School and Class were organized and Ministers from Pittsburgh and McKeesport looked after the work until Rev. Theodore Peterson was sent here by the late Bishop Walden. Services were held in Stokes Hall, Braddock Ave., and this hall was the home of this congregation until 1912, when the present Church building was procured. This property was purchased from the United Brethren Church for $4,000. The building was recently remodeled at a cost of $2,100. This congregation places the date of its formal organization as January 12, 1897, and reports 13 charter members.

The Mubleman Memorial German Methodist Episcopal Church is located on Grandview Ave., North Braddock. The Church was organized June 15, 1914 with Rev. D. Worthman as Minister. There were 85 charter members and the enrollment of the Sunday School is 130. The first services were held in the Brinton Ave. United Presbyterian Church. A parsonage was built in 1915 and the valuation of the property held by the congregation is $12,000.

The United Evangelical Church was organized in September, 1904 in the building which is still the home of the congregation. There were 14 charter members, and the present Pastor, Rev. F. W. Barlett, D. D., was the first Minister. The Church membership numbers 70 with 175 on the roll of the Sunday School. The property valuation is $9,000.

The present flourishing St. Thomas' Roman Catholic parish is the realization of the plans formulated by the little colony of Catholics who erected their small chapel on Tara Hill on the south side of the Monongahela river in 1854. This mission site was donated by Mr. Thomas J. Kinney, and building material was presented by Mr. West. The steady increase of parishioners augmented the demand for a larger church, on a more convenient site, and resulted in the purchasing of the present church property, by Rev. F. Tracey. In the year 1859 Martin Dowling secured the deed for the land, and April 22, 1860, Father O'Farrell laid the corner stone.

The first Mass was celebrated in the basement of the church, October 14, 1860. Owing to a financial deficit, caused by the War, the parish was threatened with ruin, but was permanently saved by the noble self sacrifice of Mr. Kinney, who paid the mortgage at the risk of personal bankruptcy. This congregation's pride in their parish was evidenced by an attendance so large that Father Hughes deemed it obligatory to extend the church thirty feet. Expenses were defrayed by the gratuitous services of the coal miners. More prosperous times enabled Father Hickey to formulate plans for a larger church. Foremost among those who were eager to cooperate in the good work, were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schwab, who generously offered to build the edifice in A. D. 1902. The work was carried on under the admirable direction of Mr. L. F. Holtzman, whose business sagacity secured most satisfactory results to the parish. The structure, Romanesque in architecture, with its exquisite equipments, is a fitting memorial to the.munificent donors. The property held by this parish is valued at $200,000. It ministers to 500 families and has 650 in the Sunday School.

The educational advantages afforded by St. Thomas' School have attained their excellence after years of labor. The primitive school under lay supervision was supplanted by the present one during the pastorate of Father Hickey. Rev. Robert McDonald has succeeded in realizing for the parish, not only a thorough grammar grade course, but also a High School, efficiently equipped for a complete scientific and classical course. With true scholarly instincts he has introduced the latest and most complete text books, free of charge, to the parish children. It is with commendable pride that the people of St. Thomas' parish review the history of their church and school, the present prestige of which they attribute to loyal and earnest cooperation.

Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, Braddock, Pa., was organized September 1, 1877, by Rev. Anthony Fischer. The first Mass was held for the newly formed parish of St. Joseph, by the above named Pastor in Sewald's Hall, Cor. Braddock Avenue and Ninth Street, Braddock's Field, as it was then called. The frame church which was in course of construction on George Street, was dedicated by Bishop John Tuigg of Pittsburgh. in August, 1880, and used as a church for thirteen years, and as a school for sixteen more. It was taken down, to make room for the present Parish School, erected in 1909, during the pastorate of Father May.

There were about sixty families at the time of organization and Father Fischer was succeeded by Rev. Jacob M. Wertz on February 3rd, 1888, who, on December 10th of the same year, was followed by Rev. August A. Wertenbach. It was in his pastorate that the congregation purchased the lot adjoining the parish house on George Street frown A. J. Spigelmire, and erected thereon the present permanent Church of brick with stone trimming, covering the whole space, after removing the Spigelmire dwelling across the alley to the lot on Verona Street, where it serves for a convent for the Sisters of Divine Providence who teach the Parish schools.

After the death of Father May on November 9th, 1911, Rev. F. J. Eger, the present pastor, was appointed on December 21, 1911. The school attendance averages two hundred and eighty pupils, who are in charge of the Sisters of Divine Providence, the Choir of sixteen (male choir) is in charge of Adolph Propheter, Organist. The present Church Committee, elected triennially by the congregation, appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese, consists of the following gentlemen: Lucas J. Walter, Joseph Netter, Edward Striebich, Philip Escher, Andrew Fischer, Henry Gelm and Henry Wells.

The Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Polish Church was organized in the month of March, 1897, and was attended by a non-resident pastor from Duquesne, Rev. Anthony Smelsz. The membership grew rapidly and soon lots were purchased at Talbot Avenue and Sixth Street, where the present church was erected, the work of building starting in 1904 and was completed and dedicated with impressive ceremonies the next year. In May, 1906 the present Pastor, J. A. Rykaczewski was appointed to the parish, and under his administration the present school building was erected, where about 450 children in all the eight grades are taught by the Felician Sisters. The rectory on Sixth Street was also built in 1914.

St. Michael's Greek Catholic Church, Third and Mound Streets, Rankin, was organized in 1900, and in 1907, on April 12, all Greek Catholics in Rankin decided to withdraw from the St. Peter and Paul's Church in Haddock, to which they belonged. The basement of the Church was built first, and for about five years the congregation worshipped there. The entire Church was completed in 1911 and the parish home was built in 1916. Rev. John Szabo was the first Pastor and the present Pastor, Rev. Constantine Roskovics, ministers to 130 families, or about 500 souls.

In 1916, April 23, the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of the Holy Resurrection was organized by Rev. Joseph K. Antonoff. The building was purchased from the Hibernian Society on Washington Avenue, between Eighth and Ninth Streets, and was re-constructed for Church purposes. This building, together with the Pastor's home, is valued at $18,000. A membership of about 1,500 is reported.

There are several Protestant Churches and Missions among the foreign speaking people in this community. Among them is the Bethlehem Slovak Congregational Mission Church. This work was started in July, 1890, by Miss Anna Hodous, a graduate of the Schauffle Missionary Training School for Young Women. Mr. Thomas Addenbrook was untiring in his efforts to effect this organization and has been a constant friend of this work ever since. Twelve members were enrolled at the beginning and now about 35 names are found on the roll. The work started in the home of Mr. John Jelinek, and after meeting in different halls, the present location on Talbot Avenue was secured and a Church erected, which is now valued at $12,000. This mission work inspired other denominations to start similar work; and from this Church members went out and effected the organization of at least five other flourishing Churches in other towns. Rev. Andrew Gavlic, Pastor of the Slovak Congregational Church of Duquesne, is at present looking after the interests of the mission work.

The St. Paul's Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in October, 1891, through the special efforts of Mr. Julius Wolf for the Slovaks from Hungary of the Evangelical Lutheran faith. Services were first held in a hall on Washington Avenue and in the Congregational Church on Talbot Avenue at Sixth Street. Very soon this congregation was able to secure the brick church building at Eleventh Street and Halket Avenue, which was originally a school house, but had been purchased by the United Presbyterian Church and changed into a church building. This property cost $8,000 and after repairs and changes were made a pipe organ was received from Mr. Andrew Carnegie, which is valued at $2,000. The present membership numbers over 800 communicants and the property, including Church building, Parsonage and school room, has an estimated value of $35,000. The Sunday School, started only two years ago, numbers 120 children. According to the Church records, during the 26 years of existence, there have been in this Church 2,718 baptisms, 597 marriages, and 679 funerals. Rev. Charles V. Molnar is the present Pastor.

Mission work started among the Presbyterian Slovaks in 1900, services being held in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church. The organization of a Church took place May 15, 1908 with a membership of 62 under the pastorate of Rev. Charles Molnar. A provisional session, composed of members of the First and Calvary Presbyterian Churches assisted in the completion of the organization. A building on Braddock Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets was purchased for $4,500 and was the first home of this mission Church. When in 1910 the Presbyterian Churches of Haddock were transferred from the Blairsville Presbytery to the Presbytery of Pittsburgh, the last named Presbytery erected a brick church building for the use of the congregation and for organized mission work. This Church was dedicated in January, 1913, and has a seating capacity of 250, the basement being used for Sabbath School, industrial work and social meetings. The total value of the Church property is $15,000. Since 1913 Rev. J. V. Kovar has been Pastor of the Church.

The Free Gospel Church on Hawkins Avenue was organized in 1902 by F. J. Casley. There are about 100 in its membership and 48 attend the Sunday School. The valuation of the present Church building is $3,500.

The Synagogue Agudath Achim was organized October 14, 1894. Rev. Jacob M. Hazel was the first minister and served until January, 1917, when the present Rabbi, Rev. J. Leon Hillkowitz took his place. The organization was effected in a room rented for worship purposes at Eleventh Street and Halket Avenue. Later a Synagogue was built on Talbot Avenue, near Eleventh Street, and ground was purchased for a Cemetery at Mucklerat and a Chapel built on this ground. There were 21 charter members and now the report gives 150 members with a Sunday School of 300. The valuation of the Synagogue property is $35,000. At present services are held twice daily in the Synagogue. On Friday evening (Sabbath eve), besides the regular service special children's services are conducted and a sermon is delivered by Rabbi Hillkowitz.

Other Churches whose history is not related in this chapter, are found listed in the complete chronological list on the proceeding pages. Any omissions are due to the failure of Churches or Ministers to furnish the material requested by the writer to make this chapter accurate and complete.