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<p>FORTY FORT &#8212; A lecture at the Forty Fort Meeting House on Sunday detailed the history of the First Presbyterian and St. Stephen&#8217;s churches, with historical illustrations and photographs.</p><p>Both churches are located on South Franklin Street&#8217;s &#8220;Million Dollar Mile,&#8221; a name derived from the fact that many of those in leadership from both churches built their homes within walking distance of the church building when they were constructed over a century ago.</p><p>Matt Schooley, president of the Forty Fort Cemetery Association, detailed how both parishes sprang from Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s Old Ship Zion Church in Wilkes-Barre, a story not only about religious faith, but also dissension, financial constraints and even fire.</p><p>Although the church, located on the square and eventually torn down, was originally shared by Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians, divisions in thought and theology made it difficult for all four faiths to amicably cohabitate.</p><p>There was much disagreement between the different denominations, said Schooley, that one Sunday morning found Methodists locked out and storming the church to gain entrance.</p><p>&#8220;One Christmas, the Episcopalians put up Christmas decorations and they were torn down by the more conservative denominations,&#8221; said Schooley. &#8220;That&#8217;s when the decided they needed their own building.&#8221;</p><p>The departure of Episcopalians in 1813 was followed by the organization of St. Stephen&#8217;s (Episcopalian) Church; in 1823, the congregation dedicated its first building.</p><p>Tony Brooks, chairman of the Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society and of St. Stephen&#8217;s 200th anniversary celebration this year, as well as a city councilman, said the history of the church&#8217;s building reflects the character and commitment of its members.</p><p>&#8220;The church and its members continue to be an integral social and theological part of the community,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Schooley credited Brooks in bringing attention to the history and architecture of the Wyoming Valley.</p><p>History buffs Cliff and Ruth Melberger, of West Pittston, attend First Presbyterian Church and said the lecture was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.</p><p>&#8220;When I was a child, I remember coming here for special services with my aunts, who lived nearby,&#8221; said Ruth Melberger.</p><p>Schooley shared the story of Nicholas Murray, first pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, who came to be known as &#8220;Czar Nicholas&#8221; because of his authoritative style of leading.</p><p>&#8220;For example, he insisted that Congregationalists immediately change to Presbyterian beliefs,&#8221; said Schooley.</p><p>Jeff Smith and Caron Nelson, of Shavertown, both attend St. Stephen&#8217;s Church and said they thoroughly enjoyed the lecture and the opportunity to visit the historic building.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re Revolutionary War re-enactors, so this is our thing,&#8221; said Smith. &#8220;It&#8217;s a good fit for a Sunday afternoon.&#8221;</p><p>Richard Jenkins, of Scranton, said he had recently been in touch with Brooks and Schooley, which reignited his interest in history.</p><p>&#8220;All of our families were originally part of the Susquehanna Company that brought people into this area,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Schooley emphasized that both churches were architecturally significant, with valuable and unique stained glass in addition to historic design.</p><p>The lecture is one of a series that brings local residents out to the Forty Fort Meeting House to learn about local history.</p><p>To Schooley, sharing the history of the meeting house goes well beyond facts and photos. His goal is to provide a better understanding of the history of the entire Wyoming Valley and beyond.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Nancy Lychos, of Forty Fort, enters the Forty Fort Meeting House for a lecture on local church history on Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417HistoryLecture_2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Nancy Lychos, of Forty Fort, enters the Forty Fort Meeting House for a lecture on local church history on Sunday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417HistoryLecture_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Historian Matt Schooley, of Kingston, gives a lecture on local church history. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417HistoryLecture_3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Historian Matt Schooley, of Kingston, gives a lecture on local church history. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417HistoryLecture_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Forty Fort Meeting House was erected in 1804 as a church shared by several religious denominations. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417HistoryLecture_4.jpg</photo2><caption2>The Forty Fort Meeting House was erected in 1804 as a church shared by several religious denominations. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417HistoryLecture_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Historian Matt Schooley, of Kingston, talks with Marilyn Rozelle, of Forty Fort, before his lecture on local churches at the Forty Fort Meeting House on Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TTL072417HistoryLecture_1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Historian Matt Schooley, of Kingston, talks with Marilyn Rozelle, of Forty Fort, before his lecture on local churches at the Forty Fort Meeting House on Sunday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>ON THE WEB</p><p>More information on the 2017 lecture series at the historic Forty Fort Meeting House can be accessed at http://fortyfortmeetinghouse.org/events.html.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Lecture at Forty Fort Meeting House highlights history of local churches