Salvation Army

The Salvation Army in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, was founded on April 2, 1906 and was for a time located on the Klondike. Commissioners Paul and Louise Kaiser were invited back to Lewistown in 1976 for the 70th anniversary of the corps by Captains Schenk. Louise Kaiser is known to have said on that occasion that she loved Lewistown as she felt the mountains reminded her of Switzerland.

When the Klondike building was condemned, Major Raymond Simpson moved the church to its current location at 9 S. Dorcas St. This building was formerly owned by the Lewistown Sentinel and was obtained for $1. Lewistown is located in the PenDel Division.

History provided by the Mifflin County Historical Society, written in circa 1966

Lewistown's two newspapers carried an item of importance to the community in early April 1906. Capt. Earnest E. Agnes of the Salvation Army from Philadelphia had established a permanent station here. The Army “opened fire” April 2 of that year under the command of two women officers, Lt. B. Hilliard and Lt. Williams. Meetings were to be held every evening in Apprentice Hall, 17 East Third Street, now the quarters of the Mifflin-Juniata United Fund. Those would be preceded by a street meeting on “the Diamond” each evening.

The Gazette commented, “The Army has been a power for good and there is a good field for its work here. So let everybody give all the encouragement possible.”

Lewistown had a population of about 5,000. Three months later 25,000 people were to gather for the dedication of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the Square and the same year Lewistown Hospital received its first patient.

In 1908 Lt. Col. Damon reported: “This city has suffered more through the financial depression than almost any of the cities of this province. For months the gigantic works at Burnham have been closed and thousands of men had absolutely no opportunity to make a dollar. Women and children have actually suffered the pangs of semi-starvation.

“The last officers, Adjutant and Mrs. Crook, faced the situation with marked heroism and although drawing no salary did not enter a word of complaint. We helped them with grants to prevent them suffering for necessities.” These were the “hard times” that followed the financial “panic” of 1907. The Army, however, was not to be driven out by “hard times.” It has always thrived on difficult situations. Its mission has been carried on all through the last century by dedicated men and women inspired by its motto, “Blood and Fire.” They have served in Lewistown and around the world with “Heart to God and Hand to Man.”

There is little record of the Army's work here during the years from 1906 to 1914 other than a list of the local corps officers. In 1914 records show that the work was closed in Lewistown. For 12 years Lewistown was without the Salvation Army. During that time a Y.M.C.A. was built and the American Viscose Company opened its plant. Lewistown was a prosperous and growing community.

On Sept. 3, 1926, Capt. Mildred Allen and Lt. Hushelpeck reopened work here, and since that time, 40 years, there has been a Salvation Army Corps continually serving Lewistown.

Shortly thereafter the Army began holding services in a chapel in the Klondyke. This property, now the Army's Citadel, had been built in 1904 on land owned by Henry A. Walters to give the people of that community a place of worship. In 1906 Mr. Walters sold the building to the Women's Christian Temperance Union and a Sunday School was conducted there with the cooperation of members of various churches of Lewistown.

Capt. Allen asked the W.C.T.U. for permission to conduct a Sunday School there, the school having been continued only intermittently in the mid-twenties. Capt. Allen opened the S.A. Sunday School Oct. 7, 1927.

In March of 1928 the newspaper announced that a new Salvation Army Board had been formed under the direction of Capt. Talmadge Welcher.

The Captain had been sent here from Sunbury to help Capt. Hushelpeck reorganize the Army's work, part of which was the formation of an Advisory Board that would advise the Army in its program in Lewistown. The board was composed of A. Ralph McMeen, Walter Trout, Charles W. Stahl, Carl Z. Monie, Meredith Meyers, W. Boyd Bratton, Jonas B. Kauffman, S.B. Russell and Christian Hoffman.

The work in Lewistown up to 1940 was conducted from various locations. In that year the Army purchased the property at 217 South Main Street. This provided a permanent location for the Army's Citadel. It was the dwelling house for the corps and doubled for an office, while it was also used for meetings and classes not accommodated in the adjoining chapel that had been converted from a small shop.

Transient quarters were constructed at the rear. Capt. Richard Atwell was the officer in charge and Rev. George E. Johnson chairman of the Advisory Board. These were the men with the vision of a permanent location for the Army's work.

From that time until 19XX²⁾ it was the S.A. Citadel. After Klondyke chapel was designated the Citadel it continued in use until 1965 when it was abandoned and razed because repairs necessary made it unprofitable to continue its use by the Army. In 19XX³⁾ the present officer's living quarters at 619 West Fourth Street was purchased.⁴⁾ In December 1934 the W.C.T.U presented a deed for the Klondyke Chapel to the Salvation Army. It was accepted by Capt. Paul Kaiser then commanding the local corps. In 1942 under the inspiration and guidance of Rev. Mr. Johnson, chairman of the Advisory Board, and Capt. Atwell the chapel was moved back from the street and remodeled extensively. A plot of land known as the “Sand Hole” was bought to make this possible and provide parking facilities.

It was dedicated Dec. 20 of that year. Major Horace Weatherly, then Divisional Young People's Secretary, took part in the program. He is now Divisional Commander. The program paid the Salvation Army's tribute to the Rev. Mr. Johnson, pastor of the First Methodist church, for his leadership and inspiration. Seven memorial windows were dedicated as part of the service.

By June 4, 1944, the Army was ready to burn the mortgage incurred for the renovations and purchase of the additional land.

The next highlight of the Klondyke Chapel's history was the 20th anniversary of the Army's coming to the Klondye, Oct. 9, 1947. The Rev. Mr. Johnson was the guest speaker, coming from Harrisburg.

The expansion of the Army's program made necessary an addition to the facilities and in 1952 a financial campaign was held to raise $12,000 in addition to $6,000 already on hand for the work. The community was challenged to raise the fund as a memorial to A. Ralph McMeen, chairman of the Advisory Board at the time of his sudden death march 21, 1952.

Approximately $19,000 was spent on the work, plus hundreds of hours of manpower given by the men and women of the community. The enlargement provided a seating capacity in the the main auditorium, plus six classrooms, a junior auditorium downstairs, a kitchen and Women's Home League room, with two classrooms in the rear.

Sept. 27, 1953, the enlarged Klondyke Citadel was dedicated with Col. George Marshall, staff secretary, Eastern Territory, the speaker; Fern Stuck was chairman of the Advisory Board and Albert McMeen, chairman of the financial campaign and of the building committee. The debt was paid off and the mortgage burned by Col. Albert Pepper, field secretary, New York, N.Y., and Mr. Stuck on Nov. 9, 1958.

The service for the 20th Anniversary of the Klondyke Citadel was held on October 9, 1947. Former Corps officers and commanders attending including Lt. Colonel and Mrs. William Spatig, Major and Mrs. Paul Kaiser, Adjutant and Mrs. Richard Atwell, Major Olga Warth, and Rev. Kenneth Gombert.

The program was as follows:

• Preliminary Music by the Lock Haven Corps Band conducted by Major William Wilbur
• Opening Song “Onward, Christian Soldiers” led by Captain Donald Lance
• Prayer by Corps Secretary Evelyn Moretz
• Scripture Reading by Lieutenant C. Ada Bozman visiting from Latrobe, PA
• Introduction of Chairman by Lt. Colonel William Spatig, the divisional commander
• Musical selection by the interdenominational Choir led by Walter M. Smiley
• Greetings by Charles C. Duck, Chairman of Advisory Board; Walter M. Lindsay, President of Lewistown Ministerial Association
• Band Selection by the Lock Haven Corps Band
• Presentation of Salvation Army Advisory Board
• Musical selection by the interdenominational choir
• Announcements and offering
• Band Selection by the Lock Haven Corps Band
• Message by Rev. George E. Johnson
• Closing Song, “Take the Name of Jesus With You”
• Benediction by Rev. Herbert Glassco

On September 27, 1953, a dedication service of the Klondike Citadel was conducted by Colonel and Mrs. George Marshall and Brigadier and Mrs. James Hepburn.

The program was as follows:

• Preliminary Music by the B.P.O. Elks Band conducted by Eugene Mitchell.
• Opening Song “O Lord, Regard Thy People” led by Lieutenant Helen Ruble, using the tune “Aurelia”
• Prayer led by Second Lieutenant Lawrence Moretz
• Scripture Reading by Mrs. Colonel George Marshall
• Instrumental Selection by the B.P.O. Elks Band
• Greetings by John J. Lawler, Burgess; T.J. Edwards, Mifflin County Community Fund; Rev. Cloyd Fields, Lewistown Ministerial Association; Fern B. Stuck, Chairman, Salvation Army Advisory Board
• Instrumental Selection by the B.P.O. Elks Band
• Appreciation given by Captain Henry Baker
• Announcements and Offering
• “Bless This House” sung as a vocal solo by C.C. Pauline Holmberg
• Dedication Address given by George Marshall
• Prayer of Dedication by Captain Donald Lance
• The Doxology
• Benediction by Mrs. Brigadier James Hepburn

Salvation Army soldiers, friends, and members of the local advisory board met in the Army's Citadel at Klondike, Thursday evening for a farewell party for Capt. and Mrs. Walter Guldenschuh, who will leave Lewistown next Wednesday to take charge of the Salvation Army work at Pottstown.

Mrs. Robert Manning presided at the informal program before a group which filled the citadel's social hall. Paul Mackneer was at the piano for several special numbers.

The highlight of the affair was the presentation of a silver tea set by Dr. Eleanor M. Aurand, chairman of the local advisory board, and Capt. Robert E. Manning, representing the soldiers and friends of the Salvation Army.

Sgt. Maj. Charles Muldoon spoke for the senior corps and Mrs. Berton Folk on behalf of the junior corps, expressing the appreciation of the local soldiers for their work and associations with Captain and Mrs. Guldenschuh.

J. Martin Stroup, a member of the local Salvation Army advisory board for 28 years, represented the board in saying farewell to the Guldenschuhs, speaking of the Army's century in America and its more than 60 years in Lewistown; of the officers who through the years have upheld the tradition of the Army's motto, “Out of Love We Serve,” in this community.

He said of the Guldenschuhs that they had endeared themselves not only to the soldiers of the Army, but to the entire community because of their consecration and devotion to this ideal, quoting from a pamphlet of the Army: “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

Captain and Mrs. Guldenschuh responded to these words of appreciation and well wishes, expressing their thanks for the gift and their gratitude for the friendship and support of those among whom they worked, as well as for the interest and support of the community at large.

Capt. and Mrs. Barry Willson will take charge of the Lewistown work of the Army. They have been stationed in Cincinnati. They will be welcomed at a reception at the citadel next Thursday evening. All soldiers, members of the advisory board and friends of the Salvation Army in the community may attend.

The Sentinel

• Private Collection of Andrew Peters