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Date: 08/31/2004 9:27:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: gtparker@epix.net (gary & theresa parker)
To: JoyceTice@aol.com
HISTORY OF
THE EAST POINT CHURCH “EBENZER”
Copied from
the 75th Anniversary Homecoming Bulletin, August 9, 1970
Original
history written by Wm H Krise, 1956
Copied by
Gary Parker
Some of the
early German settlers came to the western part of Liberty Township in 1830. The
Frederick Harer and John Beiser families were among the first to settle in this
area.
Bishop John
Seybert, traveling to New York State and Canada found open doors of service in
Blooming Grove, Lycoming County and Blockhouse, Tioga County. Samuel Hartman,
Blockhouse was the first to receive the Bishop into his home. Michael Sindlinger
also opened his home for services and during the next conference year Bishop
Seybert stationed Reverend Barber on this charge. Among the first families to
become associated with the movement were Hartman, Harer, Beiser, Roupp,
Sindlinger, Schanbacher, Dier, Gloeckler, Landis, and Diebler. At these visits
class meetings were held. John Sindlinger was elected leader. In 1832 he entered
the ministry and later became one of the first presiding elders of the
Evangelical Association. Eight years later Michael Sindlinger , brother of John,
entered the ministry.
On Feb. 26,
1855 a plot of land was given by Jacob Gloeckler and his wife to the trustees
for the erection of a church called the Bethlehm Evangelical Church. This served
its purpose for 31 years. This church was located where the present old
blacksmith shop now stands. On the site where the hall now stands, Peter Scheik
erected a blacksmith shop. In this shop was established the first post office.
Peter Scheik gave East Point its name and was its first postmaster. This was
established about 1875.
In 1895 the
Ebenezer Evangelical Church (now the Ebenezer United Methodist Church) was
built. The trustees and pastor met in September, 1894, to consider the building
of the church. Over $1000 was subscribed in 20 minutes. One-half acre of land
was purchased from Charles Gloeckler. A building committee consisting of Daniel
Boger, William Roupp, J.J. Schanbacher and Hollis Taylor, Canton builder and
contractor, submitted plans for the building which were accepted.
The church
at East Point was founded by a Board of Trustees and the pastor, the reverend
W.H.Stover, father of the late Harry Stover, Canton. A charter was granted in
1895 by Judge Mitchell to the trustees of the church, the same to be known as
the Ebenezer Evangelical Church. The dedication service was held August 11,
1895. The church was dedicated debt free, the building costing $3000, and had a
membership of 94. The Reverend W.E.Detwiler, District Superintendent was the
speaker.
It is
interesting to note the labor involved in the construction of the church. Large
foundation and finishing stones were hewn out one large rock on Briar Hill. The
mason work was done by Bruce Tarbox, Charles Adaing, and Reese Dibble. The rough
lumber was sawed at the Roupp and Hallett Mill. The church bell was cast by the
McShane Bell Foundry Company and bears the inscription—“The God of heaven, he
will prosper us; therefore, we his servants will arise and build.” Nehemiah
2:20. An organ was purchased by individual subscription secured by the faithful
solicitation of Leonard Harer, 86 years old.
A large
group gathered for the laying of the corner stone. A small vault constructed in
the center of the corner stone contains a Bible, an Evangelical paper and a five
dollar bill. These were cemented in the vault during the laying of the corner
stone at which time the Rev. W.E.Detwiler was the speaker.
What better
caption could we use 75 years later than “ Faith of Our Fathers” to describe the
continuing growth of the church as ministers and congregation have worked
together to keep pace with the growing need of our community.
Many
changes have taken place over the years. In 1937 the East Point Church was
united with the Grover Charge, with the Pastor residing in Grover, the parsonage
here, built in 1905, no longer needed for the Pastor was rented for several
years, and unfortunately burned July 2, 1954.The East Point school property
which adjoins the present hall property was purchased by the Trustees, in the
name of the Ebenezer Evangelical United Brethern Church at a duly authorized
public sale April 1 ,1958at the cost of $250. The school building has been sold
for $75 to Willard Beck and is to be removed from the premises.
In the
early fifties the basement of the church was enlarged to provide space for two
Sunday School rooms that are used by the Kindergarten and Primary groups, other
projects were floor covering in 1958 and repair of the steeple in 1961. In 1963
we were transferred from the Grover Charge to Liberty Charge with the Pastor
residing in Liberty.
The organ
was purchased in 1966 and paid largely by individual subscription. The next
major project was in 1967 when aluminum siding was installed on three sides of
the church.
The
following improvements to the church structure and grounds were given in loving
memory, the Bulletin Board, shrubbery, redecoration of vestibule, including
paneling, doors, carpeting and lighting both inside and out, and the completion
of the siding on the rear of the church.
MINISTERS
WHO HAVE SERVED
W.H.Stover
1894-1895
D.W.Miller
1896-1899
S.Smith
1899-1902
W.H.Dice
1903-1906
J.H.Hertz
1906-1907
C.B.Snyder
1907-1911
J.H.Welch
1912-1915
J.M.Dick
1916-1918
E.L.Kessler
1919-1922
J.F.Dauberman 1923-1926
C.E.Portzline1926
L.W.Kline
1927-1928
H.F.Springman1928
L.W.Bartges
1929-1934
R.M.Jarret
1934-1939
F.A.Kurz
1939-1946
F.E.Stetler
1946-1948
J.B.Kleffel
1948-1953
W.J.Otto
1953-1956
Richard G.
Hoover 1956-1960
Jason
Hollopeter 1960-1965
C.G.Walters
1965-1970 (date of this bulletin)