Tri-Counties Genealogy & History by Joyce M. Tice  Churches and Church Records Bradford County PA Chemung County NY Tioga County PA History of Liberty's East Point "Ebenezer" Church, Tioga County PA

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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)

Bradford County PA Chemung County NY Tioga County PA

Published On Tri-Counties Site On 01 OCT 2004 By Joyce M. Tice Email Joyce M. Tice You are the  visitor since the counter was installed on 01 OCT 2004