That church is Lutheran and in Lebanon County, PA. I captured the whole list of names
plus this bit regarding the church:
By now, it is a well known fact that Lebanon�s first name was Steitztown after its
founder, George Steitz. What may not be known is that its former name was Snaketown,
for obvious reasons. The Indian name, Quittapahilla, means Snake Harbor. Swatara means
the place of eels. The first settlers arrived about 1729 and it is a good bet that they
spent considerable time cleaning creepy crawlers out of home and grounds. Lebanon only
became that city�s name after the country received that name.
The Tulpehocken Creek is named for a tribe of Indians, Tuppyhockin. In 1750, Lebanon
township contained 130 taxables. William Penn visited the area and desired it for the
state capitol. George Washington, Robert Morris and David Rittenhouse all visited our
area in 1793 to inspect the progress of the Union Canal.
The ground for Bindnagel�s Church was donated by Hans Bindagel on Jan. 16, 1753, and
given to the Lutheran congregation in Derry Township. The first church was replaced by
a structure in 1803, its walls being 22 inches thick. The interior was antique with an
old fashioned pulpit, divided pews and a box shaped altar. Dr. John Palmer, the founder
of Palmyra, is buried in the cemetery there. The older log church was removed to Palmyra
and converted into a dwelling for a Professor Witmer, who was a pioneer in that respect.
The beautifully situated Annville was laid out about 1750. The oldest historic landmark
was the Ulrich homestead (1751), almost opposite to the Reading Railroad station. It had
an arched cellar over a never failing spring. It was used as a house of refuge during
the French and Indian War. Over the door leading to the cellar was the following
inscription: "So oft die derr den angel went O mensch doin ent bedeck," which translates
to: "As often as the door on its hinge turns O many think of they end." The original
deed was on sheepskin parchment parchment dated 1751 to Harvey Weisler from Thomas and
Richard Penn, assigned to 1743 to Adam Ulrich, being preserved by Robert Steinmetz,
East Main St., Annville.
This portion of the valley was watered by the Indian found, snake harboring Quittapahilla.
Along this creek was the old mill of Abram and Elizabeth Raiguel (1787). On the hill to the
south stood the fine old Raiguel farmhouse (1783) with all of its antique appurtenances, a
venerable centennial relic of rural comfort.
The Hill Church was the oldest church in the county. Its congregation gathered as early as
1733. It was called the Church of the Quittapahilla. The first Lutheran minister to serve
there was Reverend John Casper Stoever in 1733-1779. Tombstones here were most interesting
relics.
The homestead of John Casper Stoever was combined with a mill and Indian fort. It was
the oldest mill on the Quittapahilla and was one-eighth mile south of Cleona. It was
built in 1737-1740 and had been demolished. The bell, which Stoever brought from the
Elizabeth Foundries, was placed on exhibition in the State Building at the Sesquicennial
by its new owner. Elizabeth Heilman of Sunny Side.
The Henry S. Heilman homestead on the south side of the highway was built by the son of
Stoever in 1795. It contained a large collection of antiques and an extensive library
for generations housed that branch of the Heilman family.
The Lebanon Sewage plant on the south side of the highway was considered such a model
by the State Department of Health that they sent the Health Committee of the League of
Nations there on an inspection tour.
You can e-mail me at Judith McClung if you have corrections or additions to our record.
Page begun 3 August 2003
Last updated 2003
Last updated by Judith McClung and Bill Davenport