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The congregation of the First English Lutheran Church is raising funds to establish a Firefighters Fund with the Punxsutawney Area Community Foundation, Inc. On May 20, the congregation held a pancake breakfast to begin raising funds.

The fund will benefit Punxsutawney area volunteer fire departments. The fund is in appreciation of the heroic response to the fire that destroyed the original English Lutheran Church building on May 25, 2003.

That morning the congregation of the First English Lutheran Church, in downtown Punxsutawney, was in the fellowship hall in the church’s basement, sitting down to a pancake breakfast in honor of that year’s graduates.

Suddenly Dick Brown rushed into the church basement and yelled, “This church is on fire, and everybody needs to get out – now!” The fire had begun in the ceiling above the organ.

The rest of the day was a blur of activity and a roller coaster of emotions. The congregation watched as fire destroyed the century-old building. By evening, only the walls and the adjacent Parish House were still standing.

Members of the congregation worked to gather what could be salvaged and moved it to safe storage, as they wondered about their future.

By the end of that day, staff from Paris Cleaners had made arrangements for the church to immediately transport all church linens, paraments, and vestments to their DuBois headquarters for cleaning and restoration. The owner of an adjacent property opened a vacant apartment to the congregation, which became its home for the next few months. Furniture, documents, equipment, and church records dating back over 100 years were moved into this new office space.

Musical instruments, including the church’s famous hand-bells were saved. These bells had been played throughout the area for more than three decades and had been taken to Europe, on a choir tour, just two years before. The bells were repaired and rang out again in 2004 when they were used to make a CD entitled “The Bells Still Ring,” which was sold to help fund the reconstruction of the church. Regrettably, the church’s 80-year-old pipe organ was a total loss.

Candlesticks, brassware, and the chancel furniture, including the pulpit, altar, and baptismal font, were all saved.

Much of the credit for the congregation’s property being saved goes to the brave men and women of the area fire companies who fought the blaze and kept it from spreading into the Parish House and other adjacent structures. Two years later, these men and women and their families were honored guests at the dedication of the new church building.

The congregation has always been grateful for the men and women who serve the Punxsutawney area. They leave warm beds in the middle of the night, jump into a vehicle to run to, not away from, danger, and risk and sometimes even sacrifice their own lives for the sake and safety of others. First English vice-president Bob McNeil, whose wife Ruth chaired the Building Committee, recalls that three firemen were injured fighting the fire that day. “It just seemed appropriate,” said McNeil, referring to honoring their service through a fund.

Now, 20 years later, the congregation has rebuilt the First English Lutheran Church. Congregants have also survived the effects of COVID-19 and changes in the community. However, the kindness and support of the community for the endeavors of the people of First English Lutheran Church have sustained the congregation through the years. The congregation is saying “thank you” to the firefighters.

“We wanted to let the community know that 20 years later we are still here, and we are grateful for those who, as Jesus commanded, serve their neighbors,” said retired pastor Tim Spence. The congregation plans to hold a series of events over the next two years, walking once again from fire to rebuilding to dedication and renewal.

As the Firefighters Fund grows, it will continue to honor Punxsutawney area firefighters by assisting local fire companies to acquire equipment, training, and property.

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(“From Our Past,” researched by S. Thomas Curry, features items of interest from past editions of Punxsutawney and area newspapers.)

May 21, 1902 — The carpenters are now at work constructing the Eberhart block. This is the first building erected in town to use heavy iron girders and pillars in the construction. A building of this size, however, calls for extraordinary heavy timbers. (Punxsutawney News)

Note: The building at the corner of South Findley and West Mahoning streets is remembered as Murphy’s 5 & 10 store. Since September 2009, it has been the Fairman Centre of IUP’s Culinary School in Punxsutawney.

May 21, 1922 — Drawings for positions in the Farmers’ Curb Market, to be established along the plaza on the first Wednesday in June, will be held in the Community House, May 23. The plan is to lay the plaza out in 8-foot squares, marked clearly in white and numbered from 1 to 40. Farmers are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to sell at the Curb Market this season. (Punxsutawney Spirit)

Note: The “plaza” was then an open space across from Barclay Square between North Jefferson and North Penn streets.

June 2, 1870 — CIRCUS – With reference to our advertising column, and the gorgeous bills posted through town, Dr. Thayer’s New Circus will exhibit at this place on the 15th of June. Dr. Thayers is one of the most popular showmen in the country, and his new circus is spoken of by newspapers from whence it has already exhibited as “the first circus of the season” and “the best show traveling.” (Punxsutawney Plaindealer)

June 7, 1899 — The big new lathe recently placed in the Star Iron Works at Clayville by G.W. Porter, the proprietor, is now in working order and has proved to be one of the finest machines of the kind in this section of the state. There is nothing outside of the largest shops in the city that will equal its capacity. The Star Iron Works is now equipped to do all classes of work the industrial plants require. (Punxsutawney Spirit)

Note: An old brick building of the Star Iron Works is located in Punxsutawney’s West End on West Mahoning Street, parallel to Saw Mill Run and opposite Rumors Bar.

June 14, 1899 — The new St. Anthony’s church at Walston will be dedicated on Sunday, June 18, at 10:30 o’clock, a.m. An excursion will be run from Reynoldsville, leaving there at 8:30 a.m., DuBois at 9:05, Big Run, 9:40, Punxsutawney at 10 o’clock, arriving in Walston at 10:10. (Punxsutawney News)

June 18, 1907 — The Punxsutawney Country Club has started the construction of the club house for which plans were made in the winter. The new home for the members is being put right beside the spring. The tennis courts will be A. No. 1. With the pastime called golf, the Country Club is the place to retain your health, or regain your health if you have lost it. (Punxsutawney Spirit) • • •

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