Guide to the Homestead First United Methodist Church Records, 1878-1995 AIS.1996.01

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Homestead First United Methodist Church Records
Creator
Homestead First United Methodist Church (Homestead, Pa.)
Collection Number
AIS.1996.01
Extent
2 microfilm_reels
Date
1878-1995
Abstract
This collection contains eight record books from the church, dating from 1878 and going to 1995 when the church was closed. The collection also contains meeting minutes from various organizations within the church, weekly bulletins, anniversary programs, photographs, newspaper clippings, memorial service programs, as well as information from other local Methodist churches.
Language
English .
Author
Jaime Hamel. The electronic finding aid was prepared by Andy Newman in September, 2004.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

History

The Homestead First United Methodist Church was founded in March 1878 and at the time was called the Homestead Methodist Church. The church was founded at the same time the town of Homestead was growing from the influx of immigrant laborers. The members of the Homestead Methodist Church originally met in the Lutheran Church located on Fourth Ave. until the Homestead Bank and Life Insurance Co. donated two lots for the building of a church, one on Ann St. and one on Sixth Ave. The lots were exchanged for two contiguous lots on Ann St. between Sixth Ave. and Seventh Ave. Building for the new church began in 1880.

The new building was dedicated on February 11, 1883. It was at this point that the church changed its name to the Stewart Methodist Episcopal Church, in honor of Joseph S. Stewart who was a founder of the church. This building did not last long, owing to a fire on January 9, 1887. The fire was thought to have been caused by natural gas that had recently been introduced to the furnaces in the church, but was never verified.

A temporary tabernacle was constructed on a vacant lot beside the P.McK. and Y.R.R. Station. It was used as a temporary place of worship, until the dedication of the new church in 1888. This temporary structure was used afterwards for various community purposes.

A new church was built on the corner of Ann St. and Fourth Ave. Mr. Stewart declined to have his name incorporated as the name of the new church. This time the church's name was changed to the Homestead Methodist Episcopal Church. Dedication ceremonies were held on August 5, 1888.

This building was used until 1911, at which point the lots on the corner of Ann St. and Tenth Ave. were purchased. A new building was erected and was dedicated on October 22, 1911. The Homestead First United Methodist Church remained at this location until its closing on December 27, 1995.

Scope and Content

This collection reflects the activities of the members of the Homestead First United Methodist Church, 1878-1995. It also includes information about other local Methodist churches from 1968-1974.

The collection consists of two reels of microfilm in which eight record books are located, program pamphlets, meeting minutes, photographs, weekly bulletins, newspaper clippings, histories of other Methodist churches as well as a history of Methodism in the Steel Valley area.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Acquisition Information

These records were microfilmed with the permission of the Homestead First United Methodist Church in 1996.

Preferred Citation

Homestead First United Methodist Church Records, AIS.1996.01, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Previous Citation

Homestead First United Methodist Church Records, AIS.1996.01, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh

Homestead First United Methodist Church, ais 96:1, Records, 1878-1995, Archives of Industrial Society, Hillman Library, University of Pittsburgh

Processing Information

This collection was inventoried by Archives Staff in 1996 and then processed by Jaime Hamel in September 2004.

Revision for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Andy Newman in September 2004. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 4410113

Copyright

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Homestead First United Methodist Church (Homestead, Pa.)

    Geographic Names

    • Homestead (Pa.) -- History

    Other Subjects

    • Churches and Synagogues
    • Methodist Church -- Pennsylvania -- Monongahela River
    • Methodist Church -- Pennsylvania -- Homestead

Container List