Anniversary Anecdotes

I have many wonderful memories as a young girl growing up at Zion in our "old" church building on Prestley Road in Bridgeville. The building was smaller than our current church, but what we lacked in space we certainly made up for in Christian love and fellowship! In the early days, there was only one bathroom downstairs that was used by all, and there was an earthen floor in the downstairs kitchen. I remember helping to wash dishes in that kitchen the day before Ladies Aid night.

Confirmation classes were such an important part of our childhood. There was required memorization that helped us mature in the faith. I was confirmed on May 16, 1948. We were blessed with wonderful Pastors and Sunday school teachers … I remember Pastor Franke and Pastor Sandmann from my early years.

My husband Paul and I were married at Zion in 1955. My friend and Zion sister-in-Christ, Judy Oelschlager Dames, was my maid of honor. Pastor Sandmann conducted the service.

How much fun we had at picnics and other fellowship events! Picnics were held at Carnegie Park and Scheibs Farm (the site of our current church building.) We had strawberry festivals in the summer, and cantaloupe halves filled with ice cream in the fall. Clean-up afterward was simple and fun … we crossed St. Clair Street to the bridge across Chartiers Creek where we tossed the fruit rinds joyfully into the creek!