Borough of Etna - Centennial Festivities Yearbook (Etna, PA)

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FA 1 MR. DANIEL HIEBER- Father of the church and wife Front of the Church-paintings by Mr. C. Hcusy THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ETNA zzafj' 47' K, A-M 4 MEN'S BIBLE CLASS :fi ' 1 Ike, :Nt 4 YV LINCOLN BIBLE CLASS I 4 , en -T3 21? 1' if I 'TUM THUMBSWEDDING r The First Congregational Church is the oldest exist- ing church in Etna. The first records are dated Sept. 25, 1349. Some of the first members attended the Voegtly Church on East Ohio Street. A decision by that congregation to remodel their church building furnished the direct impetus for the founding of the Etna Church. ,lacob Von Ins, a man of Swiss origin, took the initiative. He called on Daniel Hieber, one of the leading citizens of Centerville fnow Etnal, and made the proposition that lVIr. Hieber use his great influence to persuade the German Protestants of this area to build a church in their own town instead of spending their money toward remodeling a city church. In the month of March. lf!-19. the first meeting was held in the house of Daniel Hieber. Seven men attended the meeting. They agreed to organize a new congrega- tion under the name of German United Evangelical Church of Centerville. Pa. At a second meeting more members joined and the organization proceeded to decide on fundamental points of its constitution. Six- teen charter members signed their names to this docu- ment. By the end of September, 1349, the new congregation was housed in a frame building of its own. erected on the same site occupied by the present church. The lot and building cost was 3300. A generous contribu- tor was Mr. Charles Spang, whose wife and Episco- palian friends were given permission to have occasional use of the church for Episcopalian services, Mr. Spang, also donated the little bell whichi s now mounted beside the larger bell in the belfry. From the time of the organization until the dedication of the new church. the congregation assembled every

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REV. MARTIN LEISEDER Sunday in the residence of Mr. Hieber. Services of dedication were conducted by the Rev. Carl Iveiter- shausen of Allegheny. In the year 1830. under the able leadership of Rev. Heinrici. the congregation undertook to replace the old frame church with a new structure of brick-the present building without the annex. New interior equipment and decorating was furnished by the Ladies Aid Society in 183-1-. A good pipe organ was installed in the choir loft in 1336. In 1891 the congregation pledged its annual support to the Home for the Aged now on Yvest Liberty Ave. ALL SAINTS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ETNA 96 l in Pittsburgh, and in 1893, the same pledge was given in support of the Orphan's Home, which has now been discontinued. On Christmas eve and on Christmas Day 1911, Rev. Martin Leiseder conducted his first service in this church. Due to his suggestion the annex on the south- side was undertaken. At the time of the 75th anni- versary in 1924, great things were achieved. The new organ was installed, the windows were provided with new art-glass, the church was painted inside and out, and the Hieber property adjoining the church was purchased. In 1925, by unanimous vote of a special congrega- tional meeting. the church joined with other independent churches of Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, to establish Wlihe Evangelical Protestant Conference of Congrega- tional Churchesf' In July 1929, the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny county granted the church its new charter, legalizing its revised constitution and its change of name from: Independent German United Evangelical Churchf' to, c'The First Congregational Church of Etnafi In 1929, when celebrating the 80th anniversary, the church was presented with two large pictures in the wall spaces adjoining the organ by 1VIr. Charles Heusy, who also painted them. Frames and stretchers carrying the canvasses were made and given by Mr. Edward Schor. They are now insured for 310.000 After serv- inff the church for over fifty years, Rev. Martin D Leiseder passed away in 1967. X 9 'A 1 BW.. -, 5. -- gag--. FATHER HOFFMAN FATHER KELLER I I