2005.007

Found in collection

Found in Collection

Museum Collection.

1890 - 1965

Date(s) Created: 1965 Date(s): 1890-1965 Level of Description: Item

Display Value: Good Notes: Archives 2005.007.0030 [cover] 1890 1965 [drawing of church exterior by E.A. Nielsen] 75th Anniversary Memorial History of Trinity Evangelical Church Hoboken, New Jersey ==== Page [1] The Seventy-fifth Anniversary Memorial Booklet records the blessings of Almighty God and the joyful response of God’s people in the history of two Lutheran Congregations which, after many years of independent service, were led to merge, creating a third Lutheran Congregation. The Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church served from 1890-1947, a period of 57 years. The Holy Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church served from 1900-1947, a period of 47 years. The merged Church, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church has served from 1948 to the present, 1965, a period of 18 years. The combination of the Church histories covers a continuous period of 75 years of service to Christ in the City of Hoboken, New Jersey. The history of the churches will challenge our hearts as we read of the faith of our fathers who sacrificed much in order that their families and friends might have a place of worship, a “House of the Lord” in their midst. ==== page [2] This historical booklet has been written by Mrs. Carl Hero, who has gathered historical materials from Church Records and compiled them into the following histories. The history of the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church has been well documented in the journals issued at the 25th and 50th Anniversaries of the congregation’s founding. Only the first three years of the Holy Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Congregation have been so documented. All additional information had to be obtained from the often brief records of council meetings and church societies and from existing programs of various church and organisation affairs. Its history, therefore, lacks the detailed accounting of important events possible for the Scandinavian Church. We are deeply grateful to Mrs. Hero for her tireless effort in order that the history of these congregations may be completely and accurately recorded for the future. This historical booklet is presented in memory of the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ, who gave himself in order that men may be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. It is also presented in memory of all of our members who have spent their lives in the service of the Church. It is to the glory of God and in memory of these beloved servants of Christ, that we dedicate this Memorial Historical Booklet. This publication has been sponsored by the Enduring Memorial Fund of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. This is a fund within the Church Treasury into which memorial gifts are received and used for important projects of the Church. Please note in the last page of the booklet the names of memorials and donors to this fund. As we celebrate the achievements of the past, let us be challenged to serve our God with a strong faith and a joyful heart in the present and in the years ahead. Pastor Arnold Nicholson, Jr. ==== page [3] History of Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church Hoboken, New Jersey One of the many problems which faced mem bers of the early Scandinavian population of Hoboken and vicinity was the lack of a church wherein they could worship the Lord according to the Lutheran faith and in a language which they could best understand. Since only German was spoken in the existing Lutheran Churches, their children were sent to Sunday Schools of other Protestant denominations. When the services of a Scandinavian minister were required, application had to be made to Brooklyn. On Sunday, April 22, 1890, 21 men and women met at 310 Bloomfield Street to discuss the possibility of forming a Scandinavian Lutheran congregation. Pastor Kr. K. Saarheim, a seaman’s pastor in Brooklyn, was elected Chairman, and Thord Einarsen, Secretary. The prospect of the responsibilities it was to assume must indeed have been cause for grave concern to the little group, composed as it was, entirely of small wage earners, but their faith in the Almighty God sustained them and gave them courage. At a later meeting, held in St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on June 22, 1890, the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church was organised with the following charter members: Tobias Haavardsen Svein Pedersen Theodore Andersen and wife Henrik Granlund and wife Edvard Granlund and wife Torvald Larsen and wife Theodor Jensen and wife Anton E. Olsen John A. Brown and wife Anna K. Eriksen Thord Einarsen and wife Tomas Mikkelsen and wife Robert Einarsen Ivar Einarsen Sigrid Einarsen ---- Ingeborg Einarsen Ludvig Rasmussen August J. Sjostrom and wife Isak Mortensen Knut Olsen Hans L. Hansen and wife Marie Nelsen Hans C. Jorgensen Elias Hansen The members elected to serve on the Board of Trustees were: Tobias Haavardsen, Chairman Anton E. Olsen, Treasurer Thord Einarsen, Secretary Theodore Andersen A. J. Sjostrom John A. Brown Thomas Mikkelsen Hans Hansen Ludvig Hansen On July 29, 1890, the first service with Holy Communion was held in the basement of St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Pastor Saarheim preached the sermon and Pastor Eversen conducted the ritual for communion. Ministers from Brooklyn continued to serve the church until November 2 when Pastor Sigvard Gramstad became its first resident pastor. He was succeeded by Pastor Carl Schive in 1892. In January, 1893, the congregation bought a lot 25/100 feet at the corner of Ninth and Clinton Streets for $1,550. Details of the purchase of the remainder of the present 50/100 feet are not available. The adjacent streets were not as yet filled in and there were no sidewalks. In August of the same year, it was decided to build a church. Since the congregation was still small, a costly building was out of the question. The first church was, therefore, a modest structure without a foundation, costing about $950. It ==== page [4] [photo] PASTOR SIGVARD GRAMSTAD 1890-1892 [photo] PASTOR AND MRS. CARL SCHIVE 1892-1895 [photo] THE ORIGINAL CHURCH 1894-1901 ==== page [5] was dedicated on September 23, 1894 by Dr. H. G. Stub. In the following winter, the parsonage was built at a cost of $2,200. The comparatively low cost of the two buildings was due to the fact that much of the labor and material was donated. During its first years, the church had shared its minister with the newly established sister church in Jersey City. After Pastor Schive’s resignation in 1895, this practice was discontinued. For a year the church was served by Pastor Christian Hovde. On Easter Sunday, 1896, Pastor Olaf Amdalsrud assumed the pastorate which he held until July, 1898. He was succeeded by Pastor Hans M. Gundersen, who began his service to the congregation, for a period of fourteen years, on August 18, 1898. Shortly after his installation, Pastor Gunder-sen went to Norway to be married. Mrs. Gundersen was a competent and willing worker for the church, particularly with the children. She was a trained teacher and in addition to her Sunday School work, she also held daily classes for pre-school children. The present basement, 30/60 [30x60] feet, on which the frame church was placed, was built in 1901. It was dedicated on September 8 of that year by Dr. Stub. Again the cost was reduced by monetary contributions as well as labor. Men who worked the long hours of a six day week came down to dig the foundation after work and sons able to handle a shovel were pressed into service after school. The debt of the church now stood at $3,500. In 1912, Pastor Gundersen resigned to become Institutional Missionary in Greater New York. In August, 1912, the pastorate was again assumed by Pastor Amdalsrud. At this time, the congregation began to make plans to further liquidate its indebtedness. However, it became increasingly aware that the little wooden church was not only in need of extensive repairs, but was also becoming too small for the growing membership. After a long and careful deliberation, it was decided, in May, 1913, to build the present sanctuary. Thord Einarsen was chosen to supervise the erection of the church. On June 20, 1913, the 23rd anniversary of the congregation, the cornerstone was laid. For some weeks, services were conducted in the old church while the new brick walls rose outside. On July 20, the congregation with thanks ---- to God for His immeasurable grace in the past and with confidence in His promise for the future, took leave of its humble house of worship. Work on the building progressed rapidly under the able leadership of Thord Einarsen. Notable, too, is the handsome cabinet work of the altar and pulpit, made by Robert Einarsen, a charter member of the congregation. The date set for the dedication of the new sanctuary was December 7, 1913. Pastor Stub, who had officiated at the dedication of the other structures, was asked to preach the dedicatory sermon. On December 7, 1913, the present sanctuary was consecrated by Pastor Amdalsrud. The introductory sermon was preached by Pastor H. M. Gundersen. He asked the congregation to thank God and to rejoice because of the great blessings He had bestowed on them. Dr. Stub, in his dedicatory sermon, reminded the assemblage that a house of worship is precious because here the bliss, which the Christian hopes to attain in heaven, begins. As part of the service, a baptism was solemnized. Other congregations were well represented and the church was filled to overflowing. Refreshments were served by the Ladies Aid after the afternoon service to over 600 persons. An additional service was held in the evening during which a letter from Pastor Gramstad, the first minister of the church, was read. The sanctuary has a seating capacity of about 250. Its cost, with a hot water heating system serving also the parsonage and the custodian’s dwelling, and including all renovations made in the basement, was $14,000. The debt on the church property, now at an estimated value of $31,000, was $11,000. In 1915, the congregation celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of its founding. A journal giving a history of the church, illustrated with pictures of old and new buildings, portraits of pastors and charter members and of organization members, was published. From the beginning, the congregation had held membership in “The Synod of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.” At the union of the Synod with the United Lutheran Church and the Hauge’s Synod, in 1917, the congegation automatically became a member of the “Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.” ==== page [6] [photo] PASTOR CHRISTIAN HOVDE 1895-1896 [photo] PASTOR HANS M. GUNDERSEN 1898-1912 [photo] THE NEW BASEMENT, THE ORIGINAL CHURCH, AND THE PARSONAGE — 1901-1913 ==== page [7] Pastor Amdalsrud resigned in 1918 and was succeeded by Pastor P. A. Kittilsby who served about a year. He was replaced by Pastor A. O. Bjerke. With his coming, the parsonage was again presided over by a pastor’s wife. Mrs. Bjerke, in her quiet gracious manner, gave willing service to the church in many ways. In 1925, about the time of the 35 th anniversary of the founding of the congregation, the mortgage on the church property was burned. Both Pastor Kittilsby and Pastor Bjerke are remembered for their friendliness and faithfulness in their service. In the summer of 1925, Pastor Bjerke resigned to take up the duties of Superintendent of Norway House in Brooklyn. He continued to serve until his successor, Pastor Christian Davick, was in-stalled on September 13, 1925. Pastor Davick’s ministry, lasting for 22 years, was to be the longest in the history of the church. His wife, Gertrude Davick, an accomplished pianist, gave willing assistance to the musical efforts of the congregation and was an active and able participant in various other aspects of church work. Up to this period, the language of the church had been predominantly Norwegian. The time had come, however, when English must be introduced for the benefit of the younger generation. After some experimentation, it was decided that English should be used in Sunday School, and at Sunday services held at 10 o’clock, with Norwegian worship at 11 o’clock on the first and fourth Sundays of the month. On holidays, services in both languages were to be conducted. Pastor Davick’s ministry included the depression years. It has been said that the first membership was outstanding in its sacrifice for the needs of the church. It can also be said that the trait was not absent in this difficult period. Much of the needed repairs could not have been made if it had not been for the voluntary labor of members in addition to the generous contributions to the financial requirements of the church. Ingvald Olsen is to be specially commended for the work he gave to the church in this period. When funds were especially low, Pastor Davick did not receive his salary. This debt was later paid in full. Mrs. Clara Compton performed her duties as organist several years without remuneration. In spite of heavy local ---- obligations and reduced incomes, the congregation subscribed about $2,100 to the Lutheran Centennial Appeal. In May, 1940, the church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. A journal, similar to one issued by the congregation at its twenty-fifth anniversary was published, giving the history of the church and its organisations. On May 26, a service was held for the Sunday School, followed by a congregational festival service at which Pastor L. P. Qualben preached the sermon. A Confirmation Reunion took place in the afternoon and a musical program was given in the evening. On the following Friday evening, a banquet for members and friends was held in the church. The observance ended with a festival service in Norwegian on June 2 at which Pastor H. M. Gundersen preached the sermon. In the evening, the Ladies Aid were the guests of the church at a program given in their honor. A project, especially dear to Pastor Davick’s heart in his later years, was the “Lutheran World Action Appeal.” To his great pleasure, the congregation pledged and raised the sum of $1,000.00. On June 9, 1947, it became the sad duty of the congregation to attend the funeral service of Pastor Davick who died on June 6. The twenty-two years of his able and devoted ministry will long be remembered by those who were privileged to be his parishioners. His widow remained with the church for several years afterward, during which time she functioned as organist and custodian. At present, Mrs. Gertrude Davick, who is still a member of the congregation resides at Eger Lutheran Home on Staten Island. Mrs. Davick is eagerly welcomed whenever she is able to be present at the church. For a number of years, the changing population of Hoboken and vicinity and the continuing removal of members to the suburbs, had been reflected in a decline of church membership. After Pastor Davick’s death, the congregation found it difficult to obtain a minister at a salary it could afford to pay. A merger with another church, possibly St. Olav’s in Weehawken, was suggested as a solution. Before the matter could be resolved, a proposal for a merger was re- ==== page [8] [photo] PASTOR OLAF AMDALSRUD 1896-1898 1912-1919 [photo] PASTOR P. A. KITTILSBY 1919-1920 [photo] PASTOR A. O. BJERKE 1920-1925 [photo] PASTOR CHRISTIAN A. DAVICK 1925-1947 ==== page [9] ceived from Holy Trinity English Lutheran Church of Hoboken, which was experiencing similar difficulties. At a congregational meeting held on December 4, 1947, with Dr. Martin Andersen, President of the Eastern District, and Pastor Fredrik Schiotz of Brooklyn, present in an advisory capacity, a resolution was adopted that Holy Trinity be advised that the proposal for a merger was looked upon with favor. Work was begun immediately on the reorganization by committees appointed by the respective congregations for that purpose. The following is a roster of the pastors who have served the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church: Sigvard Gramstad ................................ 1890-1892 Carl Schive ................................... 1892-1895 Christian Hovde .................................. 1895-1896 Olaf Amdalsrud .............. 1896-1898 Hans M. Gundersen ........ 1898-1912 Olaf Amdalsrud ......................... 1912-1919 P. A. Kittilsby ......... 1919-1920 A. O. Bjerke ............................... 1920-1925 C. A. Davick............... 1925-1947 [photo] Pastor and Mrs. C. A. Davick 1947 ---- When the present sanctuary was built, the following articles were given to furnish and beautify its interior: Altar and Painting .. Ingeborg & Sigrid Einarsen In memory of their mother. These sisters and Anna Iversen had previously given the silver communion set. Altar Cloth .................................... Lea Langseth Hymn Book and Bible................ Severine Jensen Silver Candlesticks for Altar .................. Mr. & Mrs. Albert Johnsen Carpet for Chancel .............. Ladies Aid Society Kneeling Cushions for Altar .. George Halvorsen Pulpit ...................Thord and Robert Einarsen Stained Glass Window Mrs. Tord Einarsen and Mrs. Anna Eriksen Stained Glass Window................ Sunday School Electric Light Fixtures .............. Anonymous Pipe Organ .................... Young People’s Society Church Bell Mr. and Mrs. Matthias Reiersen Pulpit Chairs .................... Mrs. H. B. Hyde and Miss Gyda Waagbo Prayer Stool for Altar...................... Anonymous Baptismal Font ...................... Mrs. J. McCarthy (Anna Iversen) Electric Candlesticks for Altar.................. Mrs. Margrethe Johannesen and Mrs. Laura Aarvig ==== page [10] [photo] THE NEW CHURCH — EXTERIOR 1913-1965 ==== page [11] [photo] THE NEW SANCTUARY — INTERIOR 1913 ==== page [12] History of Holy Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church Hoboken, New Jersey With the coming of the German Steamship lines to Hoboken, in the early nineteenth century, the city acquired a considerable German population, largely of the Lutheran faith. By mid-century a sizable German Lutheran congregation had been formed. Succeeding generations which had little or no knowledge of the German and later Norwegian, spoken exclusively in the Lutheran congregations, found their way to the many churches of other Protestant denominations. The first attempt to form an English Lutheran congregation was made in 1892. All that can be learned from the scant information available is that the congregation known as “The Church of The Holy Trinity” was organized in February, 1892, by Reverend Charles T. McDaniel, who served as its pastor. It apparently remained in existence until 1896. In September, 1899, the Board of Home Missions of the United Lutheran Synod decided to locate a mission in Hoboken to canvass the field in the interest of establishing an English Lutheran church. A partial canvass conducted by Pastor H. C. Fulz, a missionary minister, found about 50 men and women who looked with favor on the venture. On November 5, an interested group of about eighty persons met at the pastor’s residence. Several ministers from New York and neighboring New Jersey towns spoke words of encouragement and urged the group to keep striving until a church could be built. A three story and basement dwelling at 904 Garden Street was rented, the two lower floors to be used for church purposes, the remainder for the pastor’s residence. The sanctuary, located on what was known as the parlor floor, was equipped with a platform, altar, pulpit and other ecclesiastic appurtenances. Later the following articles were donated: carpeting for the plat- ---- form and an altar chair by the Ladies Aid, a framed altar picture by John C. Hinrichs and William Von Dreele, a hymn board by the confirmation class. The Sunday School was organized on January 7, 1900, with 32 pupils and 14 teachers. A year later the enrollment was over a hundred. On February 5, 1900, the congregation of the Holy Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized with 86 charter members. At first, the affairs of the church were administered by a board appointed by the pastor. In May, 1900, the following board of elders and deacons were elected by the congregation: ELDERS Christian Sinn August Kail Charles Fraser DEACONS Eugene Gardner Henry Brummer Charles Koster Henry Klussman Peter Kessler George Von Dreele William Gutheil J. C. Hinrichs The presiding officer was the pastor, Church Treasurer, Charles Koster, Recording Secretary, Henry Klussman, Financial Secretary, J. C. Hinrichs. Henry Klussman was to remain Recording Secretary for sixteen years, during which period he also functioned as organist. Holy Trinity was to remain a mission church for some years. The Board of Missions would, therefore, as was its custom, pay a considerable share of the pastor’s salary, in order that as much as possible of the moneys raised by the congregation could be placed in the building fund. On October 3, 1900, the congregation was incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey. It became a member of the New York ==== page [13] and New Jersey Synod of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church on October 12 of the same year. Pastor Fulz resigned in December, 1900. He was succeeded by Reverend G. F. Behringer, who served from March, 1901 until November, 1902. A call was then extended to Pastor Charles T. McDaniel. While no mention is made of the fact, it can be presumed he was the minister who had organized the Church of the Holy Trinity. Pastor McDaniel was installed in June, 1903 by the Reverend J. B. Remensnyder, President of the Synod. The first step toward the building of a church came in December, 1903 with the purchase of a lot on the northwest corner of Tenth and Garden Streets. The cost of the property, 47/80 [47x80] feet, with a four story dwelling at its western end, was $9,000. While the house was larger than the rented location, its construction was essentially the same. The arrangement of combined church and parsonage was therefore continued. Since the sanctuary at 904 Garden Street could not accommodate the large attendance at confirmation services, permission had been asked of the First Baptist Church on Ninth Street to hold such services there. The practice was followed until Holy Trinity built its church in 1912. Holy Trinity began to make plans for the construction of a church in 1910. Since there were insufficient funds to erect the complete church the congregation desired, only the basement was to be built at this time. It was to serve for all church purposes until the sanctuary could be erected over it. Its dimensions were 67/43 [67x43] feet. Although ground breaking ceremonies were held on November 6, 1910, building did not begin until September of the following year. On October 29, 1911, the cornerstone was laid. Pastor Frederick Knubel, President of the Southern Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of New York was the principal speaker. The church was consecrated by Pastor McDaniel on February 12, 1912. Assisting in the ceremony was Pastor Knubel and Pastor A. Stewart Hartman, General Secretary of the Board of Home Missions. Additional services on the following three days were conducted by visiting clergymen. The altar in the sanctuary was given to the church by John Rosenbaum in memory of his ---- wife, and the baptismal font by Gertine Brown as a memorial to her son. According to the program of the dedication ceremony, the church council and the board of trustees of that year consisted of: PRESIDENT Pastor McDaniel ELDERS Henry B. Klussman Henry Bothe, Sr. DEACONS Henry Sticht Thomas Jacobsen Harry Nelson John Bothe The congregation reached its peak membership about 1915 when an enrollment of over 300 confirmed members was recorded. The prospect of a completed church in the near future seemed promising but that hope was not to be realized. The time was rapidly approaching when the city’s changing population was to affect all Protestant churches. For Holy Trinity, another factor was to have an equally serious effect. The use of English in the church, while the other Lutheran churches used German and Norwegian exclusively, had been an important factor in its growth. Soon, however, the other churches, for their own survival, began to institute the use of English in both church services and Sunday School, and the opportunity for acquiring new members from the younger generation of these congregations, to a large extent, no longer existed. As the years went by, the diminishing congregation had to resort to its building fund for repairs and other expenses. Once again it had to apply to the Board of Home Missions for financial assistance. Added to its difficulties in the depression years was the freezing of its building fund by a bank failure. Eventually, about two-thirds of the fund in cash, bonds and bank stock was restored. Pastor McDaniel’s last years were saddened by the proposal of the Board of Home Missions that Holy Trinity merge with St. Matthew’s Church in Hoboken. Since this church had a pastor, such a merger would have meant the end of his ministry. However, the congregation was not yet prepared to give up its church. ==== page [14] [photo] PASTOR CHARLES T. McDANIEL 1903-1938 [photo] PASTOR KARL A. EBERHARDT 1939-1942 [photo] The Original Church and Parsonage 1899-1903 904 Garden Street Hoboken, New Jersey ==== page [15] In 1936, the congregation honored its pastor on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination as a Lutheran minister. Pastor Charles T. McDaniel, surely a faithful shepherd to his flock, died on December 4, 1938. He had then given thirty-five years of devoted, dedicated service to the church he loved and for which he had such high hopes. He is still spoken of with reverence by those who knew him. Pastor Karl A. Eberhardt next served the church from October 1, 1939 until the summer of 1942 when he was succeeded by Pastor Walter S. Pura. With the growing need for Lutheran churches in the newly developed suburban areas, the Board of Missions had become reluctant to assist a church it felt had no future. Finally the Board announced that it could give no further aid. In 1947, Pastor Pura expressed doubt as to his ability to continue to serve under existing conditions. He urged the congregation to consider a merger with either Bethany Lutheran Church of North Bergen or the Scandinavian Lutheran Church of Hoboken, both of which ---- were without ministers. Bethany, because of its location, found little favor with the congregation which was composed almost entirely of Hoboken residents. The congregation was therefore urged to attend services at the Scandinavian Church, in order to form an opinion as to the advisability of such a merger. When a poll taken of the membership resulted in an almost unanimous vote in favor of the union, Holy Trinity sent a proposal of merger to the Scandinavian Lutheran Church. The last Board of Trustees of Holy Trinity consisted of: Herman Vorburger William Sandominick Herman Francke George Ettinger, Sr. Raymond Smith PASTORS OF HOLY TRINITY 1900 - 1947 H. C. Fub..........................................1900 G. F. Behringer.................................. 1901 - 1902 Charles T. McDaniel ........................ 1903 - 1938 Karl A. Eberhardt ............................ 1939 - 1942 Walter S. Pura .................................. 1942 - 1947 ---- [photo] THE NEW PARSONAGE — 1903-1947 THE NEW CHURCH BASEMENT — 1912-1947 ==== page [16] [photo] SANCTUARY INTERIOR RENOVATED (Picture taken Christmas 1964) ==== page [17] Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Hoboken, New Jersey A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH On February 20, 1948, a joint meeting of the congregations of the Holy Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church was held in the latter church. Pastor Engebret Midboe, interim minister of the Scandinavian church, and Pastor Fredrik Schiotz of Brooklyn, were in attendance. The new constitution, presented by the Merger Committee, was read and adopted by the congregation present, effecting immediately the establishment of “Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.” During the period of reorganization, the respective Boards of Trustees of both churches functioned independently in settling its own affairs and jointly whenever necessary. Holy Trinity sold its property at 10th and Garden Streets and paid off its debts and obligations. The resulting balance was equally apportioned between the United Lutheran Synod, with which it was now severing its connection, and the treasury of the congregation being formed. The congregations known as the Holy Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church were dissolved. The new church body, designated as “Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church” was incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey on November 1, 1948. At the Annual Congregational Meeting on November 5, 1948, the first elected Board of Trustees, consisting of members of both former congregations, was chosen. They were: Herman Vorburger Herman Francke Raymond Smith William Sandominick George Ettinger, Sr. Robert Einarsen Jo... [truncated due to length]