Page 64 - WPA Book
P. 64
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
CHURCHES
1. SUBJECT:
The Lutheran Church.
2. LOCATION:
On the southwest corner of North Main and Wolf Streets, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
3. DATE:
Beginning about 1748, possibly at Friedens in the county; also in other parts of the county on different dates,
and in Harrisonburg in 1853, the Harrisonburg Church is now one of the two oldest church buildings in the city;
the other one, being the third church erected by the Methodists on German Street, now Liberty Street.
4. OWNERS:
Robert and Reuben Harrison.
Samuel Hare from Robert and Reuben Harrison, April 1790. B.R.D.B 000, page 369.
Henry Burgess, Jr., from Samuel Hare. Deed not recorded.
Peter Sprinkle from Henry Burgess, Jr. July 18, 1809. See D.B. 0000, page 301.
Gideon Obersheiner &c.; from Peter Sprinkel, July 11, 1814, acre lot No. 14 in northeast square, corner of
Irish and Wolf Streets. The house on this corner was probably build by Samuel Hare in the 1790s B.R.D.B.
0000, page 301.
Richard Hagan from Gideon Obersheiner &c.;, May 23, 1816, ½ lot 14, including house. B.R.D.B. 3, page
199.
Lewis Bryan from Richard Hagan, including house, February 27, 1821. B.R.D.B. 5, page 207.
Henry Welch from Bryan, March 30, 1821, B.R.D.B. 5, page 212.
James Gray from Henry Welch, Nov. 8, 1824. B.R.D.B. 5, page 418.
John J. Suman from James Gray, April 8, 1850, B.R.D.B. 23, page 36.
Trustees of the Lutheran Church, Present Owners, from John J. Suman, September 6, 1853.
5. DESCRIPTION:
Gothic architecture; rectangular plan; tower on front of south corner of building with cathedral window in front.
The present building is the second erected on this location and was built in 1888. The first building, built of
brick, was dedicated May 8th, 1851.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The Lutheran Church was established and working in what is now Rockingham long before the county was
organized in 1777.
The earliest of the Lutheran Churches seems to have been Frieden’s, nine miles southwest of Harrisonburg,
Virginia. This church was established as early as 1749, when a small building was erected to be used as a
church and school house. The Lutherans and Reformed have shared equally in ownership and use of the
property, although the Reformed appears to have been the stronger from the beginning. The second church,
larger and better than the first, built into a residence in 1819, when the brick church was erected. This building
originally was very similar to that at McGaheysville. It could be entered by either of three doors, one in each
end and one on the east side. A gallery extended across each end and the east side. The pulpit nine feet from the
floor, against the west hall, was reached by a stairway of fourteen steps, on each side of which was a railing of
hand carved bric-a-brac work painted green. A sounding board was over the pulpit, and under was a small
enclosure, one step above the floor, in which the singing-master sat. This was also used by the clerk to record
the communicants, and later, at times when there were but few hearers, it was used by the preacher. The interior
was modernized in 1874, by closing two of the doors and removing the side and north gallery and the high
pulpit.
But little is known of either Lutheran or Reformed congregations. The Rev. Daniel Huffman, whose death
occurred in 1798, and who is buried in the cemetery, had labored here a number of years, but it is not certain
Page 63 of 482
CHURCHES
1. SUBJECT:
The Lutheran Church.
2. LOCATION:
On the southwest corner of North Main and Wolf Streets, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
3. DATE:
Beginning about 1748, possibly at Friedens in the county; also in other parts of the county on different dates,
and in Harrisonburg in 1853, the Harrisonburg Church is now one of the two oldest church buildings in the city;
the other one, being the third church erected by the Methodists on German Street, now Liberty Street.
4. OWNERS:
Robert and Reuben Harrison.
Samuel Hare from Robert and Reuben Harrison, April 1790. B.R.D.B 000, page 369.
Henry Burgess, Jr., from Samuel Hare. Deed not recorded.
Peter Sprinkle from Henry Burgess, Jr. July 18, 1809. See D.B. 0000, page 301.
Gideon Obersheiner &c.; from Peter Sprinkel, July 11, 1814, acre lot No. 14 in northeast square, corner of
Irish and Wolf Streets. The house on this corner was probably build by Samuel Hare in the 1790s B.R.D.B.
0000, page 301.
Richard Hagan from Gideon Obersheiner &c.;, May 23, 1816, ½ lot 14, including house. B.R.D.B. 3, page
199.
Lewis Bryan from Richard Hagan, including house, February 27, 1821. B.R.D.B. 5, page 207.
Henry Welch from Bryan, March 30, 1821, B.R.D.B. 5, page 212.
James Gray from Henry Welch, Nov. 8, 1824. B.R.D.B. 5, page 418.
John J. Suman from James Gray, April 8, 1850, B.R.D.B. 23, page 36.
Trustees of the Lutheran Church, Present Owners, from John J. Suman, September 6, 1853.
5. DESCRIPTION:
Gothic architecture; rectangular plan; tower on front of south corner of building with cathedral window in front.
The present building is the second erected on this location and was built in 1888. The first building, built of
brick, was dedicated May 8th, 1851.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The Lutheran Church was established and working in what is now Rockingham long before the county was
organized in 1777.
The earliest of the Lutheran Churches seems to have been Frieden’s, nine miles southwest of Harrisonburg,
Virginia. This church was established as early as 1749, when a small building was erected to be used as a
church and school house. The Lutherans and Reformed have shared equally in ownership and use of the
property, although the Reformed appears to have been the stronger from the beginning. The second church,
larger and better than the first, built into a residence in 1819, when the brick church was erected. This building
originally was very similar to that at McGaheysville. It could be entered by either of three doors, one in each
end and one on the east side. A gallery extended across each end and the east side. The pulpit nine feet from the
floor, against the west hall, was reached by a stairway of fourteen steps, on each side of which was a railing of
hand carved bric-a-brac work painted green. A sounding board was over the pulpit, and under was a small
enclosure, one step above the floor, in which the singing-master sat. This was also used by the clerk to record
the communicants, and later, at times when there were but few hearers, it was used by the preacher. The interior
was modernized in 1874, by closing two of the doors and removing the side and north gallery and the high
pulpit.
But little is known of either Lutheran or Reformed congregations. The Rev. Daniel Huffman, whose death
occurred in 1798, and who is buried in the cemetery, had labored here a number of years, but it is not certain
Page 63 of 482
