Springdale Lutheran Church marks 150 years
Springdale Lutheran Church recently celebrated its 150th anniversary by recognizing its history, as well as the people that made it an integral part of this unique northern Butler County community.
The church was organized in July of 1876. Its first building was built by members of the church and dedicated that November. The church was erected at 1601 Mahood Road. The prominent Mahood family, including patriarch James Mahood, his wife and their 10 children, were members.
The church planting was so important to the region that it received a small blurb in a Philadelphia newspaper the day after Christmas in 1876.
In March 1877, Butler newspapers were exclaiming “quite a revival near the place” with 44 people professing faith and joining the church after a series of gospel meetings with the Rev. D. Townsend. By September, the church was sharing the “Observances of the Christian Sabbath.” West Sunbury’s population was about 1,100 people at the time.
The church always had a small congregation. In 1899, it joined with Rider Lutheran Church, which were both in West Sunbury, as well as Zion Lutheran Church in Chicora, which was about 11 miles away. When congregant Robert A. Brown died in 1901, he was described in his obituary as, “one of the oldest and most prosperous citizens of Clay Township.”
In November 1903, Reverend S.T. Himes invited the Northern Conference of “Pittsburg” Synod of the general council convention to be held at Springdale Lutheran Church.
The church would be led for many years by Scottish Pastor W.O. Ibach, of Philadelphia. In 1896, he served the Lutheran Church in Allentown, and was among those against the trafficking of liquor. He moved to Western Pennsylvania and served in Sugar Creek Township, Armstrong County, before landing in West Sunbury.
The church continued to grow over the years. A report published Dec. 17, 1908, said that 17 new congregants joined Springdale the previous month. The church has always been welcoming to the region’s immigrant community, including longtime member Christina Hallstein, who got married and had a family, before her death in 1909.
Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor, which was created in 1881 to “to promote an earnest Christian life among its members, to increase their mutual acquaintanceship and to make them more useful in the service of God,” hosted a church service on the church grounds Aug. 19, 1910.
The Young People’s Society and other groups would meet at the church and members’ homes with socials, picnics and other outdoor festivities, referred to as “Lawn Fetes,” for years.
In 1911, the church would elect a full slate of women as officers, including Amanda Brown as its president.
In 1913, published reports indicated that the church hosted several “Hooker people” for an Oyster supper. In the early 1900s, the term simply meant “local residents.”
In November 1913, after five successful years, Ibach announced he was leaving the church for one in Pittsburgh. The Rev. W.A. Logan would assume the post in 1914, after more than a year of guest pastors. In 1917, the Rev. Watts would helm the church.
According to church records, “by using old boards from the pews, in 1923, Chancel Furniture pews and vestibule was added to the front of the church.”
In 1940, electricity came to Springdale Lutheran Church, and, in 1942, the Rev. William Mitchell moved from a church in Ellwood City to West Sunbury. By the late 1940s, the Rev. H.O. Harner was the pastor. In 1952, Pastor M.D. Newman and his family moved from Latrobe to Springdale Lutheran Church. Since then, pastors have come and gone without much outside publicity.
In 1960, the congregation purchased a new oil furnace. A decade later, they dug a basement for the church and extended an addition to the front, a water well was drilled and restrooms added.
Members of the church continued to make improvements throughout the years. In 1979, they added a new Allen Organ, which was purchased with memorial gifts and donations. In 2015, a smaller organ was donated.
While the exact number of waterways isn’t known, the church was named for the all of the springs in the area, said longtime member Sandy Deary. Now 81 years old, Deary started attending the church in her teens, along with her family. Life experiences led her away from Springdale Lutheran, but came back “years ago.”
Deary helped organize the 150th anniversary, just like she helped with the 125th anniversary.
While the church has remained small, many of its life members continue to hold down the fort. At the recent event, about 60 people signed the visitor’s log, and the church honored members who were 97 and 99 years old. “We had a nice turnout,” she said.
The church’s current pastor splits his time between Springdale Lutheran Church and another church. The congregation has long been made up of farmers who grow potatoes and other vegetables, according to Deary. Most are retired, but not everyone.
Organist Sam Scott is in his mid-50s, and has played in the church since he was in his teens.
Deary said that “people don’t go to church like they used to,” but Springdale attracts an occasional young family. Two just recently visited. “Everyone is friendly and get along well,” she said.
