Bear Gap Quaker Meeting

The name was changed from Shamokin to Bear Gap in 1884-85.

In 1886 a visiting minister described the Meeting as having "an old deserted school house on the grounds. It was the place of meeting before the log meeting-house was built; a graveyard is enclosed, but the meeting-house s in a grove and pleasantly situated. No regular meeting is held, now, in these houses, and an appointed meeting at either draws together a large concourse of people."

In 1896 it was reported in the Friends' Intelligencer that the house was "in good condition, though seldom used, as the meeting is held at the house of William U. John."

In 1906 the Friends' Intelligencer described the Meeting as standing "on high ground, in a nook bordered by woodland, with an outlook over field and hilltop, bounded in the distance by mountain view. The beauty of the spot is attractive, while the varied depressions and elevations of the landscape lend an additional charm. For some years no regular Friends' meeting has been held in the house... When the membership was reduced to a single family, it became impracticable to hold meeting in the meeting house; so since that time the meetings have been continued at the home of Griffith and William U. John.

The 1906 report continues, "...the needs of the community in the vicinity of the meeting house, led to an application to us Friends, for its use by those who wished to conduct a union Sunday School. Those interested in the movement are of the most part Lutherans and Methodists. ...A flourishing school has been the result, which they have named Friends' Grove Union Sunday School."

In 1932 a visitor stated simply, "The Meeting is forever closed." The shutters were closed, the doors locked, the entrance steps crumbling and the weather boards eaten by insects. In front stood a large oak, but on either side were two lifeless chestnut trees. The site was described as "a pretty spot, although somewhat run wild. On April 29, 1932, orders were given to have the Meeting House demolished.

In the following years the cemetery was allowed to be overgrown. Many grave sites collapsed. In the late 1990's a group of students from Southern Columbia High School cleaned and restored the site to it's present state. While some grave markers are lost or beyond readability, the site is free of undergrowth and in a grove of trees overlooking the valley and mountains described by previous visitors.

The site was best described in a poem written by Griffith John (1843-1928), son of Perry. Griffith also wrote of the Bear Gap meeting in letters to a cousin written in 1916

Note: Links in this table connect to photographs of the gravestones. There are several stones unreadable or missing. Click Here to see photographs of all the markers.