History Highlights - Photo - 1915 Confirmation

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. It is so true. You can look at a picture and describe what is going on it, even if you don't have the date of the photograph or know precisely what is depicted in it.  Perhaps you could even come up with a story about the photograph.

Recently, a new confirmation picture was donated to the archives by Sharon Mackes, Mearl Mackes' daughter. It is the picture of the confirmation class of her grandfather, Henry L. Mackes (third from right, top row.), taken 100 years ago on Sunday, October 31, 1915.

The above photograph is interesting because it shows a close-up view of the side of the church when it still had shutters on the windows and before the stained glass windows were installed (they were installed in 1926.) The original paned glass windows were 12 over 12, or 12 panes in each window sash and the shutters could be closed when the church was not in use.

At the time, Rev. Myron Rath was the Lutheran Pastor; he served Jerusalem from 1890 to 1920. The other people in the photograph who were confirmed that day are as follows: Robert C. Fink, Alfred D. Fink, Arthur W. Hoffman, Victor C. Keinert, Harry M. Laudenslager, Charles E. Laudenslager, Henry L. Mackes, Myron J. Neiser, Adam U. Schmoyer, Osville J. Weaver, Preston C. Wagner, Mabel S. David, Gertrude M. David, Sallie A. David, Annie M. Fries, Sadie M. Kern, Myrtle H. Kline, Grace A. Saeger, Minnie V. Shimer, Annie M. Traub, Helen R.Wenner (4th from left, middle row), Helen C. Weida (3rd from right, middle row), Lizzie Youse and Mrs. Atlanta Flexer.

At first, I thought this might be the oldest confirmation picture that we have in the archives, but that is not the case. In the January, 2013 edition of History Highlights, I wrote about the oldest picture which had been donated by the Emmaus Historical Society in 2012. It is another Lutheran Confirmation class from Sunday, October 27, 1907.

This photograph reminds me of the importance of photographs in documenting our history.  If you recognize any of the people I have not listed above, please let me know, as I will record any further information of the people in the photograph on the back of the photograph. Also, if you have any photographs in your possession that we might not have in the archives, please let me know. I am particularly interested in photographs for a history display that will be created for our 275th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, May 1, 2016. I will be mixing together photographs, programs, books. memorabilia, and artifacts to create this display. While you might think that I am focusing on "old history", I am also looking for photographs of more modern times because this is the time period that most of us remember.

I have recently received some of other photographs of the church from Tom Lichtenwalner, including one that shows the new stainless steel steeple being erected in 1968. A copy of another photograph was also recently given to me by an anonymous donor. It shows the front vestibule of the church, which was erected in 1884 during the renovations (photograph on backside of this article). The photograph is not dated, but it has identifying information on it stating that it was photographed by Raymond J. Rems (18 May 1889 – 10 May 1969). The photograph was most likely taken between 1910 and 1926. It shows the entrance to church with the old boot scrapers at the side. In the background you can see the old stone cemetery wall (it was removed in 1927) on the other side of the road along the cemetery. It also shows the colonial fanlight window above the wooden doors, before the present arched stained glass window with the year 1741 was installed in 1926.

I am very pleased that people are so interested in the rich history of our church and the area. If you have a curiosity about our church and its history or would like to share any artifacts, pictures or other memorabilia of the church, please contact me through the church office or at Finkyx@aol.com.

Joshua Arthur Fink, Historian