CLOSED CHURCHES WITHIN THE
PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THE
SUSQUEHANNA CONFERENCE OF
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The information for each
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BLAIR COUNTY PA
1. Altoona EV
Location: 11th Avenue
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Eleventh Avenue runs parallel to, and a block west of, the
railroad tracks and is in the old section of Altoona. The church building
stood on the east side of the street, between 14th and 15th Streets. The
1873 atlas of Blair County indicates the exact location.
Historic Conference:
Pittsburgh Conference of the Evangelical
Association
Journal references:
Brief History:
Altoona was included in the part of the Central
Pennsylvania Conference split off in 1851 to create Pittsburgh
Conference. This congregation/building dates from 1870, but appears to
have been short-lived. Emanuel is the only Evangelical Association
congregation listed in Altoona in Wiley's 1892 county history.
Final disposition:
The site is occupied by the modern building pictured
above.
2. Altoona Chestnut Avenue ME
Location: Chestnut Avenue and 10th Street
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Chestnut Avenue runs parallel to,
and 3 blocks west of, the railroad tracks and is in the old section of
Altoona. The church building stood on the southeast corner of Chestnut
Avenue and 10th Street.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation was organized in 1871 by members of
First Church who objected to the organ in use at that building. They met
in Elway's Hall and were served by the pastor of the Logan Valley
Circuit. The annual conference of 1872 granted their request to be
assigned a pastor. As the congregation grew, the cornerstone for the
above building was laid October 7, 1874, and the building was dedicated June
13, 1875. Membership peaked at 454 in 1894, and then began a gradual
decline. In 1913 Chestnut Avenue united with Walnut Avenue to form Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church and erect the structure on Fourth Street at Walnut
Avenue.
Final disposition:
A modern commercial building now occupies the site.
3. Altoona Eighth Avenue
ME
[Second]
[Faith]
Address: 712 13th Street
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair County
State: PA
Directions:
Eighth Avenue runs north-south, just
west of the main north-south [PA 764] routes through Altoona, which are 7th
Avenue (south bound) and 6th Avenue (north bound). The church property is
on the northeast corner of 8th Avenue and 13th Street, but the building was
destroyed by fire. The congregation is currently meeting off-site while
deciding whether to rebuild at the same location.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation was historically
known as Eighth Avenue Methodist Church. The need for a second
congregation east of the main tracks arose after the railroad split the growing
town of Altoona, and the First Methodist Episcopal Church was in the older area
west of the main tracks. When the cornerstone was laid in 1868 the
building known as the Second Methodist Episcopal Church, but the name had been
changed to Eighth Avenue by the time the structure was completed in 1870.
There was also a nearby congregation known as First Evangelical
Church, which became Faith Evangelical United Brethren [EUB] Church following
the 1946 denominational merger, and Faith United Methodist Church following the
1968 denominational merger. In 1972 that congregation sold their building
and united with Eighth Avenue, with the united congregation using the Eighth
Avenue building and the name Faith United Methodist Church. Over the
years the congregation decreased and the maintenance costs on the building
increased. In 2007 the congregation voted to raze the structure and to
rebuild a smaller, modern, energy-efficient church building either at the 8th
Avenue and 13th Street site or at some other location. After razing the
building pictured above and meeting at various locations for a few years while trying
to determine a course of action, the members opted to merge into the Wehnwood congrergation.
Final disposition:
The site is an empty lot.
4. Altoona Emanuel EV
Location: 5th Avenue & 5th Street
Municipality: city of
Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
In the city of Altoona, 5th Avenue runs north & south
and is one block east of 6th Avenue, the northbound lanes of PA 764. The
numbered streets cross the numbered avenues, with 1st Street at the north end
of the city. The church is on the southeast corner of 5th Avenue and 5th
Street.
Historic Conference:
Pittsburgh Conference of the Evangelical
Association
Journal references:
Brief History:
Altoona was included in the
part of the Central Pennsylvania Conference split off in 1851 to create
Pittsburgh Conference. This congregation was formed in 1884 with 21
charter members. The origin of the congregation was actually in Germany –
as 10 of the 21 charter members had been converted there under John C. Link at
an Evangelical mission established in Germany by American missionary Sebastian Kurz in 1851. This
congregation first worshiped in a schoolhouse between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
until the first church building was erected in 1887. The present structure was dedicated in
1906. It remained with the Evangelical
Association during the 1894-1922 denomination split, during which time the
Central Pennsylvania Conference established United Evangelical congregations in
the city. Following the 1922 denominational re-union, the old
affiliations were preserved and the city of Altoona was served by two
Evangelical Conferences. Emmanuel remained in the Pittsburgh
Conference and was surrounded by congregations of the Central Pennsylvania
Conference. The congregation was "discontinued" by the Western
Pennsylvania Conference of the EUB Church in 1956 when the pastor and members of
Emmanuel left the denomination.
Final disposition:
The building houses an independent congregation.
5. Altoona Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church
Address: 407 Fifth Avenue
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair County
State: PA
Directions:
Fifth Avenue runs north-south, just
east of the main north-south [PA 764] routes through Altoona, which are 7th
Avenue (south bound) and 6th Avenue (north bound). The church property is
on the southeast corner of 5th Avenue and 4th Street.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
In 1883, members of the Eighth
Avenue Church living in the area saw the need for a new congregation in this
growing section of Altoona. At a quarterly conference of the Eighth
Avenue Church, trustees for the new project were elected. The
congregation was officially charted in 1885, a frame structure was erected in
1886, and by the following year it was necessary to build an addition to the
church. By 1890 the congregation had 325 members, and in 1892 a parsonage
was erected. When the nearby Italian Methodist Church (northwest corner
of Eighth Avenue and 6th Street) closed in 1941, Fifth Avenue received a
plurality of its members and many of the church furnishings. Attendance
dwindled over the years and the congregation was placed on a two-point charge
with Jaggard Memorial. The congregation
eventually voted to disband, and the final service was held December 27, 2009.
Final disposition:
6. Altoona First EV
[Faith]
Location: 6th Avenue and 11th Street
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
In the city of Altoona, 6th Avenue runs north & south
and is the northbound lanes of PA 764. The numbered streets cross the
numbered avenues, with 1st Street at the north end of the city. The
church is on the southeast corner of 6th Avenue and 11th Street.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Since 1851 this part of Pennsylvania had been part of
the Pittsburgh Conference of the Evangelical Association. The 1896 annual
session of the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Evangelical Church
determined "that Altoona and adjacent territory be taken up as a mission
to be supplied as soon as possible." In 1898 a class was organized
with 13 charter members. A plot of ground was purchased, the existing building
remodeled for worship services, and a parsonage erected on the rear of the
lot. The original building was replaced with the present sanctuary in
1928. Following the denominational union of 1946 the congregation became
known as Faith Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1972 the
congregation joined with nearby Eighth Avenue [former Methodist] Church, with the united congregation taking the Faith
name and using the Eighth Avenue facilities.
Final disposition:
The connected parsonage to the rear has been torn down.
The church building remains and is now Mother Gethsemane Church of God in
Christ.
7. Altoona First ME
Address: 1208 13th Street
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair County
State: PA
Directions:
This church is in the old section of Altoona west of the main railroad
tracks, south of the Altoona Hospital. Seventh Street (westbound) and
Eighth Street (eastbound) are the arteries that cross
the main railroad tracks. Once in the western section of Altoona, the
church building is on the northwest corner of 12th Avenue and 13th Street.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal
References:
Brief History:
The 1850's influx of people associated with the development of Altoona
and the Pennsylvania Railroad included many Methodists, and they formed a
society and met in a school house. By 1853 the class had grown to the
point that they asked to be organized as a separate charge with their own
pastor. That same year they secured from Colonel John A. Wright the two
plots of land on which the present church stands and erected a large brick
building with, as was the style, the sanctuary on the second floor. That
building was remodeled in 1871, razed in 1905, and replaced by the present
structure in 1907. This is the mother church of Altoona Methodism.
Final
Disposition:
8. Altoona First UB
[Trinity]
Location: 1129 8th
Avenue
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
In the city of Altoona, 8th Avenue runs north & south
and is one block west of 7th Avenue, the southbound lanes of PA 764. The
numbered streets cross the numbered avenues, with 1st Street at the north end
of the city. The church is on the northeast corner of 8th Avenue and 12th
Street. The 1873 atlas of Blair County indicates the exact location.
Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren
Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
United Brethren camp meetings were held on the farm of
Samuel McGlathery, now the corner of 20th Avenue and
20th Street in the city of Altoona, in 1848. A class was organized in
1850. The congregation successively at the McGlathery
farm, a school house on Howard Avenue (between 10th and 11th Streets), the
Union Chapel on 16th Street (between 11th and Union Avenues). The Union
Chapel was a school house occupied on alternate Sundays by the Methodist and
United Brethren congregations. In the winter of 1855-56 the United
Brethren held a powerful revival in the Baptist Church then located on 11th
Avenue. The church became a station appointment and purchased the lot at
8th Avenue and 12th Street.
The first building was erected in 1856, and the structure
picture above was erected at the same site in 1899. This is the mother
church of seven other United Brethren congregations: Second [Second Avenue]
1887, Third [East End] 1895, Juniata Otterbein 1910, Schum
memorial 1925, Pleasant Valley 1925, Wehnwood 1925,
and Garden Heights 1927. Following the denomination union of 1968 the
congregation became known as Trinity United Methodist Church. After years
of the declining membership experienced by many inner-city congregations,
Trinity merged into one of its daughters, Second Avenue United Methodist,
in1996.
Final disposition:
The building is unused.
9. Altoona Garden Heights United Methodist Church
Address: 109 Bellview
Street
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair County
State: PA
Directions:
The church is
in the southeast section of the city, just north of Logan Boulevard [PA 36]
between Pleasant Valley Boulevard [business US 220] and the US 220 [I 99]
by-pass. Bellview Street crosses Logan
Boulevard about halfway (about 4 blocks in either direction) between Pleasant
Valley Boulevard and the US 220 underpass. The church is on Bellview Street one block north of Logan Boulevard.
Historic Conference:
Allegheny
Conference of the United Brethren Church
Journal References:
Brief History:
This congregation began as a
union Sunday School meeting in an abandoned school
house. In 1926 the pastor and congregation of the Greenwood United
Brethren Church used this as a basis for outreach to the people of the growing Lakemont-Garden Heights section of Altoona. A canvass
of the area indicated a desire for a church, and in 1927 a two-point mission
was established consisting of Garden Heights and a similar year-old project
across town in the Wehnwood section. A
parsonage was purchased for the pastor at 201 Mosser
Street, and frame chapel with a cement block basement was erected adjacent to
the parsonage. The first service was held in chapel December 18, 1927,
and a United Brethren congregation was organized January 29, 1928, with 50
charter members. The present sanctuary was dedicated April 9, 1950, and
the educational unit was added in 1954. In 1959 the property across from
the church was purchased as the site for a new parsonage - which was completed
and occupied in 1966.
Final Disposition:
10. Altoona Grace EV
[Otterbein]
Location: 10th Avenue and 3rd Street, Juniata
section of Altoona
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Juniata, once a separate town, is the northwest section of
Altoona. Chestnut Avenue is the main north-south road one block west of
the railroad tracks in Altoona. Take Chestnut Avenue north into the
Juniata section, where it becomes 4th Avenue, to 3rd Street. Turn left on
3rd Street and go 7 blocks to 10th Avenue. The church is on the southwest
corner.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
2005,S2 - all members transfer
to Juniata United Methodist
Brief History:
This congregation was established by the 1906 annual
conference as a mission appointment. The Church Extension Society purchased
three lots at the present location, and a Sunday School
building was erected there in 1908. The worship auditorium was added in
1925. In 1969 the Otterbein (former United Brethren) congregation merged
into Grace, with the united congregation taking the Otterbein name and using
the Grace facilities. In 2005 the 3 United Methodist congregations in the
Juniata section of Altoona formed a single congregation worshiping in the
former Methodist structure at 8th Avenue and 4th Street and known as the Juniata
United Methodist Church of Altoona.
Final disposition:
The building is unused.
11. Altoona Grace ME
Location: 4th Street, Altoona
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
In the old section of Altoona, west of the railroad tracks, 4th
Street is a major east-west route running along the north side of the
hospital. Go about 4 blocks west of the tracks on 4th Street to Walnut
Street. The church is on the northeast corner of 4th Street and Walnut
Avenue.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
2009,S2 - end the year with 105
members
2009,360 - not in the list of appointments
Brief History:
This congregation was formed in 1913 by the union of the
Chestnut Avenue and Walnut Avenue Methodist Episcopal congregations. The
present building was dedicated in December 1914. The congregation
dwindled over the years, and efforts to merge with Fairview or some other
Altoona United Methodist congregation proved unsuccessful. The
congregation was dropped from the list of appointments in 2009, and the
building became the responsibility of the conference trustees.
Final disposition:
The building is now owned
and used by an independent Baptist congregation.
12. Altoona Italian ME
Location: 6th Street
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
In the city of Altoona, 8th Avenue runs north & south and
is one block west of 7th Avenue, the southbound lanes of PA 764. The
numbered streets cross the numbered avenues, with 1st Street at the north end
of the city. The church property was three lots extending west from the northwest corner of 8th Avenue and 6th
Street. The church building stood on the center lot, and the other
properties were used as the parsonage and as
rental units.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Because of its employment opportunities, Altoona
received hundreds of Italian immigrants in the late nineteenth century.
When the Methodist Church addressed many of the social and economic needs of
the newcomers, many of them turned to that denomination for their spiritual
needs. Since few of the immigrants spoke English, the
conference arranged in 1904 for an Italian-speaking pastor to lead the work.
The sanctuary was dedicated in 1910. Worship services in Italian and
other ministries to the community continued until 1941, when there no longer
appeared to be a need for an ethnic ministry. A detailed history of the
congregation is given on pages 50-63 of the 1995 volume of The Chronicle.
Final disposition:
The property was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad, the
adjacent land owners, in 1942. The church
building and the other structures were razed, and the site is an empty lot.
13. Altoona Otterbein UB
Juniata First ME
Location: 6th Avenue and 6th Street, Juniata section of
Altoona
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Juniata, once a separate town, is the northwest
section of Altoona. Chestnut Avenue is the main north-south road one
block west of the railroad tracks in Altoona. Take Chestnut Avenue north
into the Juniata section, where it becomes 4th Avenue, to 6th Street.
Turn left on 6th Street and go 2 blocks to 6th Avenue. The church is on
the southeast corner.
Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren
Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This building was actually built by the Methodists, and
was the site of the second church building of what is now Juniata United
Methodist Church at 8th Avenue and 4th Street ― their
first building having been at 5th Avenue and 7th Street. The building was
dedicated by the Methodists on January 3, 1903, and used until they moved to
their present building in 1927.
The United Brethren organized a Sunday
School in Juniata in 1910, attached the work to Greenwood in 1911, and
purchased lots on which to build in 1912 ― but then the work was suddenly
discontinued. The work was revived in 1923, and the following year a
sectional chapel was formally dedicated on the previously mentioned lots.
When the work prospered, the congregation purchased the former Methodist
building, which they repaired and dedicated as a United Brethren structure on
November 6, 1927. Otterbein Church functioned until 1969, when they joined
with Grace Church (former Evangelical) ― the united congregation
taking the Otterbein name and using the Grace facilities at 10th Avenue and 3rd
Street. In 2005 the 3 United Methodist congregations in the Juniata
section of Altoona formed a single congregation worshiping in the former
Methodist structure at 8th Avenue and 4th Street and known as the Juniata
United Methodist Church of Altoona.
Final disposition:
The site now houses an independent congregation.
14. Altoona Pleasant Valley UB
[Fourth]
[Grace]
Location: Pleasant Valley Boulevard
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Pleasant Valley Boulevard is business route US 220, the main
highway skirting the east side of the city of Altoona. The highway
divides, and the church is located on the northeast corner of the southbound
Pleasant Valley Boulevard and 13th Street.
Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren
Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
In 1925 the Church Extension and Missionary Society of
the United Brethren Church projecting establishing a congregation in the
growing Pleasant Valley section of Altoona. Devotional services were held
in the homes of various prospective members. A portable chapel was
erected and dedicated December 13, 1925. In 1926 a parsonage was
purchased, and in 1927 the present church property was purchased and ground was
broken for a permanent place of worship. The building pictured was
dedicated May 6, 1928. Originally known as Altoona Fourth UB, the name of
the appointment was changed to Grace in 1927 and to Pleasant Valley in 1938.
For most of its existence, Pleasant Valley was a station
appointment with approximately 200 members. In 1970 it was placed on a
two-point charge with nearby Jaggard Memorial [former
Methodist]. That arrangement lasted until 1995, when other charge
structures were experimented with. By 2000 the congregation had dwindled
to a membership of 87. In 2002 Pleasant Valley [former Fourth UB] merged
into East End United Methodist [former Third UB].
Final disposition:
15. Altoona Schum Memorial UB
Address: 4200 Broad Avenue, Altoona 16602
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair County
State: PA
Directions:
Broad Avenue is a major north-south street in
Altoona, about four blocks west of PA 764. The church is in the south end
of the city, at Broad Avenue and what would be 42nd Street. When going
south on Broad Avenue, there is a jog to the right at 40th Street. Broad
Avenue is also known as Oak Avenue in the neighborhood of 58th Street.
Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United
Brethren Church
Journal
References:
Brief History:
In the early 1900's, the people of
the community erected a church building which became Grace Lutheran
Church. In 1925 that building was purchased by the United Brethren
denomination, remodeled, and formally dedicated on June 7, 1926, with 70 charter
members. It was named Schum Memorial in honor
of Henry Schum, a
faithful layman and treasurer of the congregation's mother church, Altoona
First United Brethren (which stood at 8th Avenue and 12th Street, was re-named
Trinity United Methodist in 1968, and merged into Second Avenue in 1996).
Major additions and/or separate buildings enlarged the congregation's
facilities in 1953, 1969, and 2002. In 2007 Schum
Memorial united with Fifty-Eighth Street to form Christ Community United
Methodist Church, operating out of the former Fifty-Eighth Street location, and
the Schum campus continued temporarily as community
ministry.
Final
Disposition:
The property is now the independent
Lighthouse Church and School.
16. Altoona Walnut Avenue ME
Location: Walnut Avenue and 3rd Street, Altoona
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
In the old section of Altoona, west of the railroad tracks,
4th Street is a major east-west route running along the north side of the
hospital. Go about 4 blocks west of the tracks on 4th Street
to Walnut Street. Turn right on Walnut Street and go 1 block to 3rd
Street. The church stood on the northwest corner of Walnut Avenue and 3rd
Street, on the site now occupied by the houses known as 1502 & 1504 3rd
Street.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This congregation began in the summer 1889 when a Mr. W.
Lee Woodcock noticed neighborhood children with no Sunday School
to attend. He arranged with a Mr. S.E. Hedding
to erect a second floor meeting room over his place of business. By the
end of the year the Sunday School was ministering to
over 100 persons each week and attracting the attention of members of First
Church and Chestnut Avenue Church who lived in the area. A congregation
was organized, property was purchased, and the cornerstone for the above
building was laid in June 1891. Originally, with Fairview, part of the
two-point North Altoona charge, it became a station appointment in 1901 and
continued to grow. In 1913 Walnut Avenue united with Chestnut Avenue to
form Grace Methodist Episcopal Church and erect the structure on Fourth Street
at Walnut Avenue.
Final disposition:
The site is occupied by two houses moved from the site
of the new Grace Methodist Episcopal Church on Fourth Street.
17. Altoona Wesley ME
Location: 6th Avenue and 15th Street, Juniata section of
Altoona
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Juniata, once a separate town, is the northwest section of
Altoona. Chestnut Avenue is the main north-south road one block west of
the railroad tracks in Altoona. Take Chestnut Avenue north into the
Juniata section, where it becomes 4th Avenue, to 15th Street. Turn left
on 15th Street and go 2 blocks to 6th Avenue. The church is on the
southeast corner.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Blair Furnace is now known as East Juniata, the northern
end of the Juniata section of Altoona. In 1900 a Union Sunday School was
operating in the area, and the farmland was being laid out in lots to
accommodate the northward expansion from Altoona and Juniata. The
Methodists from the Union Sunday School approached the conference about buying
lots and erecting a church in the new development, which apparently was
projected to ne known as Blair City. The
conference agreed. Lots were purchased, and a building was dedicated
December 13, 1903. The cornerstone reads "Cherry Avenue ME Church,
Blair City, 1903" ― as 6th Avenue was
known at that time as Cherry Avenue, and 15th Street was known as Spring
Street. The church was always on a charge with the nearby rural Asbury
Church. In 2005 the 3 United Methodist congregations in the Juniata
section of Altoona formed a single congregation worshiping in the former
Methodist structure at 8th Avenue and 4th Street and known as the Juniata
United Methodist Church of Altoona.
Final disposition:
18. Bakers Mines ME
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality:
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Final disposition:
19. Bellwood Grace EV
Location: N. Second Street
Municipality: borough of Bellwood
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
From the intersection east of Bellwood of business route US
220 and PA 865, take PA 865 west into Bellwood. Cross over the railroad
bridge to the second street, N. 2nd Street. Turn right on N. 2nd
Street and go 1 block to Antes Street.
The church stood on the right side of N. 2nd Street, on the
southeast corner of N. 2nd and Antes.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Evangelical Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
Since 1851 this part of Pennsylvania had been part of
the Pittsburgh Conference of the Evangelical Association. The 1896 annual
session of the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Evangelical Church
determined "that Altoona and adjacent territory be taken up as a mission
to be supplied as soon as possible." The presiding elder [district
superintendent] surveyed the area and found 12 persons at Bellwood willing to
form a congregation. The work was supplied for the rest of the year, and
in 1897 an appointment was made for a pastor to reside in Bellwood and preach
at Altoona, Bellwood and Pinecroft. The church
building at Bellwood was completed in 1900, and the adjacent parsonage about a
year later. The 1946 denominational union created two Evangelical United
Brethren congregations in Bellwood. In 1952 Grace merged into Calvary
[former United Brethren]. The church and parsonage were sold, and the
money was used to erect a Sunday School addition at
Calvary.
Final disposition:
The church site is an empty lot, but the parsonage shown
above at the right is still standing on N. 2nd Street.
20. Bennington ME
Location: Bird Eye Road: along the north side of the
railroad tracks, about 1 mile east of the Gallitzin tunnel
Municipality: Allegheny township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
The site is difficult to reach. Either (1) From the borough of Tunnel Hill in Cambria County, go east
on the dirt road out of town, bear to the right, go about 1 mile.
OR (2) From Sugar Run Road, the service road between US 22 and the
railroad, drive back to the south side of the tracks, by the east end of the
tunnel. Park and walk east along the tracks for about
0.5 miles. The 1873 atlas of Blair County indicates the exact
location.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1872,31 - church building
dedicated
Brief History:
Bennington is now a ghost town, with no structures
remaining. Prior to 1898, 100 men were employed by the furnaces located
here. The church building was dedicated January 7, 1872, and the land was
formally deeded to the Methodist Episcopal Church by the Blair Iron and Coal
Company on February 24, 1872.
Final disposition:
21. Blair Furnace ME
[no picture]
Location: 4th Avenue and 15th Street, Juniata section of
Altoona
Municipality: city of Altoona
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Blair Furnace, once a separate town, is now known as East
Juniata ― the northern end of the Juniata
section of Altoona. Chestnut Avenue is the main north-south road one
block west of the railroad tracks in Altoona. Take Chestnut Avenue north
into the Juniata section, where it becomes 4th Avenue, to 15th Street.
The church stood at this intersection.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1876,40 - church building
dedicated
Brief History:
About 1874 the Methodist pastor from Bell's Mills
[Bellwood] conducted a brush meeting [series of evangelistic services held
outdoors in a grove] at Blair Furnace. This resulted in the formation of
a class. A church building was dedicated February 4, 1876. Along
with nearby Asbury, the church was on the Logan Valley charge. When the
work at Blair Furnace began to diminish, the population dwindled. The
congregation disbanded in 1885, and the building was sold at a sheriff's sale.
Final disposition:
22. Canoe Creek UB
Location: Turkey Valley Road
Municipality: Frankstown
township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange of US 22 and PA 866, go 2 miles west on
US 22 to Turkey Valley Road, which skirts the western edge of
Canoe Creek State Park. Turn right on Turkey Valley Road and go 1
mile. The church is on the left. The 1873 atlas of Blair County
indicates the exact location.
Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren
Church
Journal references:
1970,93 - merged into Canoe
Creek [former Methodist]
Brief History:
This building was erected prior to 1873 and was part of
the 4-point East Freedom charge (Canoe Creek, East Freedom, Mount Moriah and Pine Grove). Some area United Brethren
materials refer to a Beaver Dam appointment. As there was only one United
Brethren building in the area, Canoe Creek and Beaver Dam may be different
names for the same appointment. In 1973 the former UB and ME congregations
in Canoe Creek joined to form the Canoe Creek United Methodist Church, meeting
in the former ME building on US 22.
Final disposition:
The building is now the renowned Frank Felbaum Bat Sanctuary bat sanctuary, owned and managed by
the Pennsylvania department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
23. East Freedom ME
Location: Everett Road, village of East Freedom
Municipality: Freedom township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
East Freedom is on the old US 220, 9 miles south of
Altoona. Everett Road is the original US 220, running parallel to and
east of business route US 220. The church site is on Everett Road just
south of Freedom Street, the main east-west cross street, on the east side of
the road. The 1873 atlas of Blair County indicates the exact location.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This building was erected by the Methodists in
1845. They abandoned the appointment in 1879 when a new church building
was completed in nearby McKee, and the property was sold to the United Brethren.
Final disposition:
The property is now home to the East Freedom United
Methodist Church. The brick building pictured was razed following the
erection by the new owners of the Sunday School
structure seen in the rear. The intended new sanctuary was never built,
and the site of the Methodist building is now part of the parking lot.
24. Frankstown ME
Location: old US 22, Frankstown
Municipality: Frankstown
township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Old US 22 is north of and parallel the present highway.
The church is on the north side of the street, near the east end of the
street. The 1873 atlas of Blair County indicates the exact location.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1981,225 - merged into Hollidaysburg First
1982,258 - sale in progress
Brief History:
For many years the Frankstown
church and parsonage were the base of the Frankstown Methodist charge, which included various rural
appointments over the years. Then Frankstown
and Altoona Lakemont were a 2-point charge until Lakemont and Garden Heights [former United Brethren] were
made a 2-point charge in the reorganization following the 1968 denominational
union. The congregation dwindled, and in 1981 the remaining members
merged into Hollidaysburg First.
Final disposition:
The property was sold in 1982 to Burkholder's Antique
Shop to be used for storage.
25. Glen White ME
Location: Glen White Road
Municipality: Logan township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Glen White Road is the extension of 40th Street heading west
out of Altoona. The road changes names several times before it passes the
Horseshoe Curve site and becomes Glen White Road. The community of Glen
White was about 2 miles past the Horseshoe Curve. The community no longer
exists, and the exact site of the church is unknown.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1889,60 - foundations laid for
new building
1891,60 - new building dedicated November 30, 1890
Brief History:
The community of Glen White was along an abandoned
railroad that joined the main line at the Horseshoe Curve. It owed its
existence to the rail lines which served the local coal mines. Later the
area was the site of the Forest Park Amusement Park and Forest Zoo ― some buildings of which still remain, as the one
pictured above. Glen White was on the Allegheny Circuit.
Final disposition:
The area is abandoned.
26. Hollidaysburg EV
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality:
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Pittsburgh Conference of the Evangelical
Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
This mission was established in 1850 with
Lewis May as pastor, who served for two years.
1852 it was served by Peter Heiss. In 1853 the mission was transferred to the
Pittsburgh Conference, which had been formed in 1851, and served for more than
20 years. No further information is
available about the congregation or any property it may have owned.
Final disposition:
27. Hollidaysburg UB
[no picture]
Location:
Municipality:
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren
Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
In the book Blair County’s
First One Hundred Years: 1846-1946, the writer of the United Brethren section
claims “the denomination had a church in Hollidaysburg for a number of
years.” No further information is available
about the congregation or any property it may have owned.
Final disposition:
28. Ironsville ME
Location: Ironville Road, village
of Ironville
Municipality: Snyder township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
From the interchange of US 220 and PA 453 on the west edge
of Tyrone, go 2 miles east on PA 453 to Ironville
Road. Make a sharp right on to Ironville road
and go 0.5 miles. The church is on the right.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1980,268 - discontinued
1987,286 - sold
Brief History:
The name Ironsville is now
more commonly rendered as Ironville. The iron
works here began operating about 1885. Sunday School
was held in the Elk Run Schoolhouse, later the site of the Amisite
plant. The preacher from the Birmingham charge began holding services
every other week, and a successful revival meeting prompted the erection of a
church building. The building was finished in 1896. The church was
on the same circuit for its entire existence ― named
the Birmingham circuit until 1947, when that circuit was re-named the
Bald Eagle circuit and the parsonage was moved to Bald Eagle. The
membership dwindled over the years and was down to 17 in 1968. The
appointment was officially discontinued in 1980.
Final disposition:
The building is unused and unimproved.
29. Loop St. Paul's ME
Location: off Loop Road, village of Loop
Municipality: Frankstown
township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
From Frankstown, go south on
Reservoir Road (the only road that goes south across the river and the
railroad) 2.0 miles to Loop Road and the community of Loop. Turn left on
Loop road. The church is off Loop Road to the left.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1970,201 – permission to
sell
1973,204 – sold to Loop Community Church
Brief History:
The history of this appointment is unclear. It
appears to have begun about 1920 when young families living in the area known
as the Loop wanted a church in their community. The met
in an old school building, now torn down, for a while before moving into a
vacant one-story structure. The appointment was not part of
circuit, and it seems to have been served "under" Hollidaysburg ― but by someone other than the pastor at
Hollidaysburg. Services were discontinued about 1966 and the building
stood empty for several years before finally being sold.
Final disposition:
The property was sold to the Loop Community Church in
1972.
30. Martinsburg ME
Location: S. Market Street, Martinsburg
Municipality: borough of Martinsburg
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Market Street is PA 866. The church is on the
west side of the street near the center of town, 1.5 blocks south of the
intersection of PA 866 [Market Street] and PA 164 [Cove Mountain Road]. The
1873 atlas of Blair County indicates the exact location.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1992,S-2 -
membership transferred
1996,316 - building sold
Brief History:
The first Methodist society in Martinsburg was formed in
1819 when Daniel Bloom moved into the area. The first church was built in
1826. A brick structure was erected in 1843 and still exists as the
Sunday School wing of the existing complex. The
sanctuary was built in 1908, and in 1926 a basement/fellowship hall was placed
under the 1843 structure.
Martinsburg appointment was originally part of the
Williamsburg circuit. In 1867 the Martinsburg circuit was formed:
Martinsburg, Woodbury, Loysburg, Yellow Creek
[Bedford Forge], Pattonsville, Bakers and Roaring
Spring. In 1885 Martinsburg and Roaring Spring became a separate
two-point charge. When Roaring Spring grew enough to become a station
appointment, the Martinsburg circuit was reformed in 1890: Martinsburg,
Woodbury, Loysburg, Yellow
Creek. That charge remained intact for over 100 years, until Martinsburg
merged into Woodbury in 1992 to form the present Faith United Methodist Church.
Final disposition:
The building was sold and has been used for offices and
a day care.
31. Mt. Etna ME
Location: Fox Run Road
Municipality: Catharine township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Go 5 miles west of Water Street on US 22 to Polecat Hollow
Road. Turn left on Polecat Hollow Road and go 2 miles to the T at Fox Run
Road. The church is at the intersection, on the right. The 1873
atlas of Blair County indicates the exact location.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1912,93 – re-roofed
1943,29 – permission to sell
1958,159 – sold for $150; proceeds to
Mines Church
Brief History:
Final disposition:
6/18/1958 conference
trustee minutes – Mt. Etna church sold for $150.00, money given to Mines Church
(see also minutes for 6/25/1957 and
11/8/1957)
32. Mt. Zion ME
[no picture]
Location: near Tipton
Municipality: Antis township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
1876,155 - historical statement
Brief History:
There are conflicting reports about this appointment and
church building. The 1876 conference journal states that there was early
Methodist preaching in Sinking Valley at the home of David Beyer, and that in
1833 Beyer moved from Sinking Valley to a farm near Tipton. There
reportedly living in the area was an old man named Samuel Eaken,
who had once been a Methodist and had actually heard John Wesley preach in
Ireland,. In 1836 a class was formed, and in
1841 the society erected Mt. Zion Church. The appointment is last listed
in the Missionary Reports in 1872. Tipton first appears in the records in
1879, and with many of the name names that were listed with Mt. Zion.
This suggests that Mt. Zion ceased to exist and was replaced by Tipton
somewhere between 1872 and 1879.
The history of the Tipton Church, however, gives the
following account: "In the year 1834, a group of Methodists met and
organized the First Methodist Church in Mount Zion, Huntingdon(now
Blair) County. A church building was erected and a burial ground laid out near what is now known as Fouss
Mills. The burial ground is still discernable. On September 2,
1849, a right of way was granted to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. the document was signed by Aaron Beyer, John Sheer, David
Utley, Charles Welsh and Louis Palmer as trustees of Mount Zion Church.
The right of way necessitated the razing of the church building. A plot
of ground was obtained in Tipton, just north of the present United Methodist
Church, and a brick building was built. The brick building was replaced
by a frame building in 1872. The frame building burned in 1879 and was replaced
by the present structure in
1880."
The two accounts can be reconciled if the new brick building
in Tipton continued to be known as Mount Zion. There is reportedly an old
cemetery cornerstone that reads "Mt. Zion 1807-1957." This, and the wording "First Methodist Church in Mount
Zion" suggests that the community and/or cemetery near Fouss
Mills may have been known as Mount Zion before the church was erected.
Final disposition:
33. Pine Grove UB
Location: Puzzletown Road,
village of Puzzletown
Municipality: Freedom township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Newry is 2 miles south of
Duncansville on business route US 220. At the main intersection in Newry, turn west on to what becomes Puzzletown
Road. Go three miles to the village of Puzzletown.
The church is on the left, in the west end of Puzzletown.
Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren
Church
Journal references:
1945,36 -
disbanded, permission to sell
1946,126 - sold
Brief History:
This class was organized in 1863, but apparently
did not erect their first church building until after 1873. That building
was replaced by the existing structure in 1902. The appointment was part
of the 4-point East Freedom charge (Canoe Creek, East Freedom, Mount Moriah and Pine Grove). The last reported membership
was 16 in 1945, but the church had been inactive for several years.
Final disposition:
The property is privately owned. The church
building is now a house, and the cemetery tombstones combine with vegetation to
form an interesting backyard.
34. Sandy Run UB
Location: Antis Road
Municipality: Antis township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
Exit northwest Altoona on Wopsononock
Avenue, the original trail through Logan Valley, which becomes Grandview Road
(aka Bellwood Road). Go 4 miles on Wopsononock/Grandview
to Antis Road (the next road past Lower Riggles Gap
Road). Turn right on Antis Road and go 0.5 miles to the cemetery on the
right. The 1873 atlas of Blair County indicates the exact location.
Historic Conference:
Allegheny Conference of the United Brethren
Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
The building here was erected about 1830 on land owned
by Alexander Ale. This was the first church building of any denomination
in Antis township. The appointment continued to
exist after the Bellwood class erected a church building in 1892 ― but eventually it was clear that Bellwood was the
population center, and the appointment was abandoned. The building was
razed in 1894.
Final disposition:
The cemetery is maintained by the Calvary United
Methodist [former United Brethren] in Bellwood.
35. Sproul ME
Location: village of Sproul
Municipality: Greenfield township
County: Blair
State: PA
Directions:
The village of Sproul is off the
old US 220, to the east, 2 miles south of Claysburg.
Historic Conference:
Central Pennsylvania Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
Journal references:
Brief History:
A village grew up around the Sarah Furnace complex and was
furnished with a church, school and storehouse by ironmaster Peter Shoenberger. The Sarah Furnace village had just about
disappeared by the turn of the century. In 1911 the General
Refractories Company decided to build a plant at the site of Sarah Furnace
and by 1917 the company had constructed sixty-eight company-owned houses for
its workers. The town was named for then General Refractories
president, William C. Sproul.
The Methodist church at Sproul first appears on the Claysburg charge, with a membership
of 24, in the 1926 statistics. Its lasted reported membership is 56
in the 1960 journal, and it appears without membership figures as late as
1965. While Sproul was a fairly enduring and
successful appointment, it is unclear what, if any, ownership the Methodists
had in the building.
Final disposition: