Ancient and historic landmarks in the Lebanon Valley . usquehanna, was the original Tulpehocken churchof the Lutherans, built in 1727, now known as theReeds church. Though this first edifice has long sincegiven place to another, and this to a third, yet we shallvisit the interesting spot and look into the remarkablelife and history of this first local Christian congregation. From Womelsdorf we can travel up the turnpikeuntil we have crossed the bridge that spans the Tulpe-hocken creek and the old Union canal, just a little eastof Stouchsburg, and then turn to our right, wdiere, aquarter of a m
Ancient and historic landmarks in the Lebanon Valley . usquehanna, was the original Tulpehocken churchof the Lutherans, built in 1727, now known as theReeds church. Though this first edifice has long sincegiven place to another, and this to a third, yet we shallvisit the interesting spot and look into the remarkablelife and history of this first local Christian congregation. From Womelsdorf we can travel up the turnpikeuntil we have crossed the bridge that spans the Tulpe-hocken creek and the old Union canal, just a little eastof Stouchsburg, and then turn to our right, wdiere, aquarter of a mile to the north, on a slight eminence,stands the present church, a plain stone building bear- (38) THE FIRST CHURCH IN THE VALLEY. 39 ing ill its western wall a stone with the lollowing in-scription: Die Zions Kirche Erbaut ini Jahr, better and more historic highway would be to takethe narrow country road that skirts the Tulpehocken,and as this is the way the first settlers traveled, we shallchoose it and accompany them to church. Hence, tak-. VIEW OF THE TULPKHOCKEN. * ing the Rehrersburg road at Steigels famous school-house, and following it for half a mile to the northw^est,we catch the first glimpse of the historic creek, alongwhose banks the events of this early settlement wereenacted. Crossing this stream we turn to the left andfollow the ancient road running parallel to this water- 40 LANDMARKS IN THE LEBANON VALLEY. course. The second farm-house is the old Losch home-stead, where lived an old IMoravian family, by whomthe early Moravian bishops and missionaries were oftenentertained while riding over this circuit. The housewas erected by Johannes Jacob Losch in 1754, and hisson or brother, George, was a leader in the HebronMoravian church for many years.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidancienthisto, bookyear1895
