BAPTIST OFFICIALS APPROVE PLANS TO REBUILD CHURCH
Dr. Roy B. Deer, General Secretary of the Pennsylvania Baptist Convention, of Philadelphia, conferred in Lykens Wednesday afternoon with officials of the Transfiguration Baptist Church and approved plans for the rebuilding of the local church which was damaged considerably by fire caused by defective electric wiring Friday afternoon of last week.
Mr. Fred Helwig, building contractor, of Millersburg, actually got the work of reconstruction underway Tuesday afternoon of this week, just four days following the fire which is estimated caused damage amounting to $5,000, all of which is covered by insurance. Necessary church furnishings such as carpets, books and various other supply items which will have to be replaced, did not come under the terms of the insurance contract. To meet this expenditure, the trustees of the church have distributed among their congregation and Baptist churches throughout the state, contribution envelopes which they are trusting will at least cover part of the necessary expenditures.
Firemen from Lykens and Wiconisco fought the blaze for several hours and prevented the flames from spreading to the adjoining parsonage, to which Rev. Mr. Rittenhouse will move next month. He now resides in North Street.
Passing by the church in East Main Street, Mrs. John Richardson, who lives nearby, sighted the flames through a window of the church. She immediately sounded the alarm and the quick arrival of firemen resulted in the partial saving of the church proper.
Defective wiring apparently caused the blaze firemen said. They reached the heart of the fire by chopping a hole in the roof and directing a hose line on the flames, but considerable damage was done to the belfry and the interior woodwork of the auditorium and Sunday School rooms.
Firemen said they believe the flames had been smouldering unnoticed in the church for sometime before the blaze was discovered.
Having held services in the Theatorium Theatre, Main Street, the congregation and friends will again conduct services this Sunday evening in the theatre at 7 P.M. when the pastor, the Rev. Mr. Rittenhouse will preach on the subject, “The Morning After the Nigh Before.” Sunday services will be held at 9 A.M.
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From the Lykens Standard, 24 Dec 1937, via Newspapers.com.
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