Fayette County Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania

St. Eusebius Roman Catholic Church of Fayette City (1911-1964 Records to St. Sebastian Belle Vernon) Article: The Daily Courier (Connellsville) 3 August 1962, p. 11, col. 1 St. Eusebius was at 316 Main St. in Fayette City. The church is no longer active, closed in 1964, its records going to St. Sebastian in Belle Vernon. https://www.dioceseofgreensburg.org//closed%/allitems.aspx The church first met and was recognized in February of 1912 as a mission church, part of the Pit...tsburgh Diocese. Its predecessor church was T. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Roscoe, Pa. They erected their own church in 1912, purchased from the Y.MC.A of Fayette City and it was dedicated in September of 1912, a gray, framed structure. They only had supply priests and their priest in 1940 was Rev. J. H. Wilhelm of St. Joseph’s. The members belonged to St. Edwards Roman Catholic Church of Fayette City from 1912, but broke away because the church building was too small and because of the differences in language. Church Records There were no Trustee Records. The church Treasury Records were kept in one volume from 1912 held at the home of Father Wilhelm in Roscoe, Pa. Baptisms, Membership Lists, Marriages, Deaths and Burials were in a church Register from 1912, held with Father Wilhelm. The Confirmation Records were held from 1915. Does not own a cemetery. No Historical Manuscripts.

Sulphur Spring Union Chapel of Georges Township (Hardin Hollow) Sulphur Springs Union Chapel Church is also known as the Hardin Hollow Church. They first met in 1916 as a Sunday School in the Sulphur Springs School House on St. Rt. 134 from 1916-1921. In 1921 they built a white frame church. They first had a supply pastor, Rev. Charles E. Long from 1916-1937. In 1940 their pastor was Clarence Dewey Smitley who began his service in 1938. No other information is known about thi...s church. Church Records They held Congregational Meetings, but no records were kept. The Board of Trustee Minutes were in one volume from 1916 held at the home of Otto Humbert, Secretary of State Rt. 134. This also held the Board’s Financial Records. The Christian Endeavor was organized in 1939 and one Minute Book was held from that time at the home of Miss Betty Humbert, Secretary on State Rt. 134. They kept no sacramental records. The Sunday School was organized in 1916, but there was only one Minute Book from 1939. There were no previous records. These were held by Otto Humbert. No Historical Manuscripts.

Assembly of YHVH of York Run, Pa. This church was on Store St near Rt. 119. They first met in 1933 as a Sabbath School at house #172, York Run, under the Assembly of YHVH Salem, WV District. Their first settled pastor was Rev. Samuel S. Gressly from 1933-1935. In 1940 their minister was Rev. Clarence O. Dodd who began his service in 1935. Church Records No Congregational Meetings were held.... No Trustee Meeting records or finance records. There were no sacramental records kept. The Sabbath School held a Minute Book with finance records from 1940. No previous records. These were kept with Mrs. Millie Worstell at House #172, York Run No Historical Manuscripts.

The Disciple Church (Sands Church) of Stewart Twp., Pa. It is likely that this church no longer exists. There were no records at all for this church existing in 1940 when the interview was given. The Disciple Church (Sands Church) was north east of Ohiopyle on Rt. 26068. It was founded in 1915 and merged with another church in 1936. They seemed to know very little about the origins of the church, but meetings may have been held in the Maple Summit School House. The church was... erected in 1892, a white, framed, modified-Gothic structure. It was unknown who the first pastor was and in 1940 they had no pastor. Church Records The Board of Trustee records were lost in a fire in the home of William Johnson, a trustee. There was no record of any sacramental records being kept (baptisms, confirmations, etc.) There was a Sunday School but no records could be found. There is a cemetery located beside the church, but all records were burnt.

The J.V. Thompson Journals are searchable and online at the Uniontown Library website! Just go to: http://uniontownlib.org/the-thompson-journals/ We have been working on this for years. The Uniontown Library had the J.V. Thompson journals in paper form for years. It is a great treasure for genealogists. Josiah VanKirk Thompson was not only a coal and coke businessman and banker, but he was also an avid genealogist. He traveled far and wide to interview anyone who was related.... But, don't think your family won't be in there, because you would be surprised. His interests were extensive and so was his family. He traveled to California, Texas, and other places. He faithfully copied family Bibles on his journeys, and transcribed burial grounds. He looked at wills and other courthouse records. If there was a known Fayette County, Pennsylvania connection, he recorded it in his journals. This includes almost 7400 pages of all 28 volumes beginning in 1922 and continuing until he died in 1933. This is an invaluable resource for genealogists. Relax at home and have fun! See more

St. Hubert Roman Catholic Church of Point Marion, Pa. St. Hubert is at 9 Sadler St., Pt. Marion, PA 15474; mailing address is 50 N. Morgantown St., Fairchance, PA 15436; Phone 724-437-0622. It has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Hubert-Church-Rectory/734462753329265 The Diocese of Greensburg has some beautiful photos of the church: https://ww.dioceseofgreensburg.org//dir/Pages/Parish.aspx In 1940 the location of the church was the same as today 9 S...adler St. The congregation first met in June 1905 and the church was officially recognized on April 19, 1909 ad part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Today they are part of the Greensburg Diocese. The founding church was St. John’s Roman Catholic Church. From 1905-1907 they met in the Fleckenstein Store Building, 107 Railroad St. From 1907-1911 they rented the Maple Building on Penn & Main St. They erected their current church in 1911, a framed, white modified Gothic structure. In 1929 they added a basement. The parish house was next door at 11 Sadler St, erected in 1919. The first pastor was Rev. Frank Maloney (1909-1910), a graduate of St. Vincent’s in Latrobe. They had a part-time priest before that Rev. Bernard P. Kenna, from 1905-1906. In 1940 their priest was Anthony Martin Benedik who began his service in 1932. Church Records Church Committee records and Finance Records were in three volumes (1920-1930) (1931-1935) (1935-1940) They were stored in the Parish House. There were no records prior to 1920. Baptisms were in two volumes (1909-1924). There were no records prior to 1909. The Marriage Register was in two volumes (1911-1917) (1917-1940) The Death Register was in one volume (1922-1940) The Membership List was in one volume from 1922-1940. There were no records prior to 1922. First Holy Communion Records were in one volume from 1928. No records prior to 1928. The Confirmation Register was in one volume from 1923. No records prior to that date. The above records were kept at the Parish House. The Altar Society was organized in 1937 and the records were in one volume from that date in the care of the secretary, Mrs. D.F. McCort of 280 Main St. The Holy Name Society was organized in 1939 and its records were in one volume from that date. These were held by the Secretary, F. Kenneth Sands of 107 Railroad St. There were no Historical Manuscripts

The Nilan Hill community, outside of Point Marion, is not far from where I live. In 1908 a window glass factory was to be built there near Nilan Station. Here is a photo from the Gates collection of the Nilan Railroad Station.

Never, ever, forget local archives. The records of St. Peter's Evangelical (Slovak) Lutheran Church can be found at the University of Pittsburgh. https://historicpittsburgh.org//o/pitt%3AUS-PPiU-ais198022 They also have the Independent Slovak Citizen's Club (1941-1950) and Slovak Catholic Sokol Assembly (1917-1935)

Now you think after the first two times being swallowed up by burning coal, Mr. J. W. Showalter [James W. Showalter] would have known better.

Here's another anniversary post. Mr. B.F. Long and Abigail Kyle were married 3 July 1858 according to this article. And it gives both of their birthdates and some family relationships. This would likely have been in the Genius of Liberty on 3 July 1908 and a copy can be ordered from the PA Room at the Uniontown Library.

The best place to look for the marriage date of a couple before 1895 is to look for an anniversary announcement in the paper. Here is the anniversary of Phineas Sturgis and Martha (Burchinal) Sturgis. This was published some time in January of 1907 and the exact date could be found in the microfilm of the newspaper then. Unfortunately the Uniontown newspapers are not digitized until about 1917.

Now a couple of wartime photos. The first is Bill Kelley taken about 1942/1943 and Joseph Langiotti taken in 1942.

The first one is the Bowers Boys. They were often at my grandparent's place. Lloyd, Blanche, Francie & Essie Provance were all friends with them. They are, from left to right, Melvins Bowers, Delbert Bowers and Coleman Bowers. Delbert and Coleman are brothers born to Okey and Edna (Myers) Bowers. Melvin is a cousin born to Nathaniel and Blanche (Adams) Bowers. The next three are Coleman Bowers, Delbert Bowers & Irene Foyle. I've added Irene 'Rene' Foyle because she was friends with the Provances, lived right down the road and married Melvin Bowers. Enjoy everyone!

I'll be adding a few more photos today from my collection. This was taken about 1940-1942, likely in Georges Township, Fayette County. First Row: Helen Edwards, Earl Strawberry, Margaret Tulecci, Philip Sessler, James Romesburg, Henriette Foster, James Robinson, Loretta Terry[?]. Second Row: Boyd Hustead & Peggy Hustead.

This was supposed to be the original friends post. The three women are: Helen Beanner, Carrie Robinson and Mary Provance. The year is about 1940 and was likely taken around Smithfield.

Here's another photo of Fayette County friends. These ladies are all in Georges Township. The year is June 1945. 1st Row: Gertrude Wilken, Mrs. Jean (Fred) Muller 2nd Row: Margarette Smalley, Mrs Justine (Bob) Dietz, Blanche Provance, Mrs. Jessie Day (Cy Sadler), Ester (no surname given), June Burkhardt, and Mrs. Betty (Lyon) Higgins.

Free zccess to all birth records on myheritage https://blog.eogn.com//free-access-to-all-birth-records-o/

I'm going to go out on a limb here. If anyone is ever looking for a place to put their collection of old photographs, items dealing with Fayette County, original documents, etc. Please consider donating them to the PA Room in the Uniontown Library. We have an air-conditioned, climate controlled room to store the documents for safe keeping. People can come in and use the archives when the library is open. It is held on site and available to the public. Not just members of the library, but people from anywhere, without charge. We are also currently digitizing photos to put on the web for all to access. This is a long-term project, but with great opportunity for people to know some of the items we have. We are also going to digitize our Bible collection and make it available on the net. Great future for Fayette County!