From a plaque at the site of the former church in Houtzdale, Woodward Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania: "St. Johns Lutheran Church: Site of First Church in Houtzdale. Built in 1872 and in continuous use until 1997, a span of 125 years. Built and used by a Union Congregation, then by the Methodist Episcopals. It was sold in 1881 to the German Reformed Society and chartered as St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran Church."
My German ancestors, after immigrating to Castle Garden, New York, migrated to and settled in Clearfield County, PA, in 1881. They consisted of the Streich, Hohnke, Kramp, Wagner, Tuschling, Sheskie, Srock (Shrock, Schrock) families to name a few. Most came from the eastern provinces of Prussia: Hinterpommern (Pomerania), West Prussia, and Posen. They were occupied as coal miners (Kohlengraber) and farmers. The parish Kirchenbuch (church records) has been microfilmed by the LDS and is a valuable resource for our family history.
All that remaines of the former church however is this plaque which sits in front of a gazebo and garden.
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