Old Stone Church, Monroeville PA, Cat's Meow Village, Window Ledge Collectibles, Cat's Meow, Cat's Meow Customs, Cat's Meow churches


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Expanded History: This prominent landmark in Monroeville was the result of a small group of 48 people in 1834 petitioning the Presbytery of Blairsville to become a congregation called "Crossroads." They had been given a quarter of an acre of land by Todd Monroe and also Robert Johnston, and in 1834 an acre of land was purchased from Joel Monroe for $40.00. This land was adjoining a small family cemetery belonging to the Johnstons at the crossroads of Northern Pike and Center Road. The members donated their time and with stones from the surrounding farms; they built the original church building. It had no basement and was 50 feet square with four doors and a high pulpit. All the labor was donated, and so the actual cost of the church was only $1500.00. The first petition signed by 48 people was not approved for two years. Some of the names on the petition were Charles Carothers, Robert, his son, and Andrew Mellon, whose grandson became Secretary of the Treasury of the United States and founder of the Mellon fortune. The first pastor of the church was Reverend S.M. McClug with pay of $5.00 a Sunday plus free board for him and his horse. The church became a part of the Presbyterian Church on May 6, 1836.	The first full-time pastor was Reverend Andrew Virtue who was installed in 1853 and served until 1860. In 1866, Reverend Robert Carothers, whose father and grandfather were two of the original Elders, served the church as pastor from then until 1878. He died in 1882 and is buried in the Crossroads Cemetery near the church on the south side or to the right of the church. During his ministry, the Church grew to have 175 members. The Crossroads Presbyterian Church worshipped at this site until 1958 when the congregation outgrew the building and moved to a location on Haymaker Road to have the space available to grow with the fast growing community it served. In 1894, this 58-year-old building was in need of extensive repairs. They decided to tear it down and build a new one on the same spot. The original church and no basement, but at this time a foundation was dug and a basement placed under the building. They used all old stones, but many more were needed because of building a foundation and also the church was larger. The additional stones were cut from the nearby Snodgrass quarry that was between Northern Pike and Strochein Road.
This present building is basically square and has 3-sided pyramidal roofed bays on the north and south sides. This gives a unique octagon shape to the sanctuary and might be the result of the Victorian belief that you should not have any corners in one room so that the Devil could not corner you. The walls are constructed of large stone blocks of varied sizes with an almost golden color typical of the stone of the area. On the front side are recessed doors beneath bracket-supported hoods flanking an arched rosette stained glass window. The side bays of the church have two rectangular stained glass windows per wall. These windows are the original ones from the Kokomo Glass Company of Kokomo, Indiana. The ceiling is all wood made from painted match boarding and large beams. The original pulpit is in the center front behind the altar rail and is not in use. At center on the main floor level is the Church’s communion table. The original pews are still used and with good care are holding up to being used weekly by many people of Monroeville and surrounding communities. A display case was installed at the back right of the Church in May 1984. It houses the Church’s	second pulpit Bible that was used beginning in 1886. The East Suburban Women’s Club donated money for the case. The case was designed and constructed by members of the Historical Society. Hanging above the display case is a 46-star flag, which was donated to the Historical Society by Ms. Pat Hays. The flag dates back to the years 1907-1912. On November 16, 1907, Oklahoma attained statehood as the 46^th state. The 47^th state, New Mexico, became a state in 1912. The pews and floors were refinished and new carpet lay in January 1989. In the left vestibule and on the left back wall are two maps showing the original land grants in Patton Township and early historical points in Western Pennsylvania. On the walls in the sanctuary are a few historical pictures. The first is of the bicentennial celebration. The second is a picture of the Johnston Clydesdale horses and wagon. A page from the audit for Patton Township dated June 1875, and a sketch of the 1896 Church are also mounted on the walls. The Articles of Incorporation for the Monroeville Historical
Society are shown next to the picture of the Bell Tower. The last picture is of the time capsule being placed in the flag plaza. The instruments in the church are a piano that dates back to 1910 and an old pump organ that was new around 1875. The Puckett family in memory of Mr. Edwin Puckett donated this organ to us. The modern Hammond Organ is used for regular services and weddings that are held in the church each year. The basement of the church is white since most likely the original church walls were whitewashed. The only antique in the church is a cast iron gas stove with a solid plate top. This stove, donated by the Yothers family, dates back to 1900 according to the gas company. In the vestibule are pictures of Mr. T.M. Sylves and his daughter, Sarah Sylves Thompson, who purchased the church in 1969. Also on the opposite wall is a list of contributors to the Historical Society and information regarding the time capsule. The Monroeville Historical Society hopes you have enjoyed your visit to this historical landmark. Information was gleaned from The Monroeville Historical Society

Expanded History:
This prominent landmark in Monroeville was the result of a small group of 48 people in 1834 petitioning the Presbytery of Blairsville to become a congregation called "Crossroads." They had been given a quarter of an acre of land by Todd Monroe and also Robert Johnston, and in 1834 an acre of land was purchased from Joel Monroe for $40.00. This land was adjoining a small family cemetery belonging to the Johnstons at the crossroads of Northern Pike and Center Road. The members donated their time and with stones from the surrounding farms; they built the original church building. It had no basement and was 50 feet square with four doors and a high pulpit. All the labor was donated, and so the actual cost of the church was only $1500.00.

The first petition signed by 48 people was not approved for two years. Some of the names on the petition were Charles Carothers, Robert, his son, and Andrew Mellon, whose grandson became Secretary of the Treasury of the United States and founder of the Mellon fortune. The first pastor of the church was Reverend S.M. McClug with pay of $5.00 a Sunday plus free board for him and his horse. The church became a part of the Presbyterian Church on May 6, 1836.

The first full-time pastor was Reverend Andrew Virtue who was installed in 1853 and served until 1860. In 1866, Reverend Robert Carothers, whose father and grandfather were two of the original Elders, served the church as pastor from then until 1878. He died in 1882 and is buried in the Crossroads Cemetery near the church on the south side or to the right of the church. During his ministry, the Church grew to have 175 members.

The Crossroads Presbyterian Church worshipped at this site until 1958 when the congregation outgrew the building and moved to a location on Haymaker Road to have the space available to grow with the fast growing community it served.

In 1894, this 58-year-old building was in need of extensive repairs. They decided to tear it down and build a new one on the same spot. The original church and no basement, but at this time a foundation was dug and a basement placed under the building. They used all old stones, but many more were needed because of building a foundation and also the church was larger. The additional stones were cut from the nearby Snodgrass quarry that was between Northern Pike and Strochein Road.

This present building is basically square and has 3-sided pyramidal roofed bays on the north and south sides. This gives a unique octagon shape to the sanctuary and might be the result of the Victorian belief that you should not have any corners in one room so that the Devil could not corner you. The walls are constructed of large stone blocks of varied sizes with an almost golden color typical of the stone of the area. On the front side are recessed doors beneath bracket-supported hoods flanking an arched rosette stained glass window. The side bays of the church have two rectangular stained glass windows per wall. These windows are the original ones from the Kokomo Glass Company of Kokomo, Indiana. The ceiling is all wood made from painted match boarding and large beams.

The original pulpit is in the center front behind the altar rail and is not in use. At center on the main floor level is the Church’s communion table. The original pews are still used and with good care are holding up to being used weekly by many people of Monroeville and surrounding communities. A display case was installed at the back right of the Church in May 1984. It houses the Church’s

second pulpit Bible that was used beginning in 1886. The East Suburban Women’s Club donated money for the case. The case was designed and constructed by members of the Historical Society.

Hanging above the display case is a 46-star flag, which was donated to the Historical Society by Ms. Pat Hays. The flag dates back to the years 1907-1912. On November 16, 1907, Oklahoma attained statehood as the 46^th state. The 47^th state, New Mexico, became a state in 1912.

The pews and floors were refinished and new carpet lay in January 1989. In the left vestibule and on the left back wall are two maps showing the original land grants in Patton Township and early historical points in Western Pennsylvania. On the walls in the sanctuary are a few historical pictures. The first is of the bicentennial celebration. The second is a picture of the Johnston Clydesdale horses and wagon. A page from the audit for Patton Township dated June 1875, and a sketch of the 1896 Church are also mounted on the walls. The Articles of Incorporation for the Monroeville Historical

Society are shown next to the picture of the Bell Tower. The last picture is of the time capsule being placed in the flag plaza.

The instruments in the church are a piano that dates back to 1910 and an old pump organ that was new around 1875. The Puckett family in memory of Mr. Edwin Puckett donated this organ to us. The modern Hammond Organ is used for regular services and weddings that are held in the church each year.

The basement of the church is white since most likely the original church walls were whitewashed. The only antique in the church is a cast iron gas stove with a solid plate top. This stove, donated by the Yothers family, dates back to 1900 according to the gas company. In the vestibule are pictures of Mr. T.M. Sylves and his daughter, Sarah Sylves Thompson, who purchased the church in 1969. Also on the opposite wall is a list of contributors to the Historical Society and information regarding the time capsule.

The Monroeville Historical Society hopes you have enjoyed your visit to this historical landmark.

Information was gleaned from
The Monroeville Historical Society

Cat's Meow Village &Window Ledge Collectibles CustomOld Stone Church #14796A non-denominational wedding chapel

Cat's Meow Village &
Window Ledge Collectibles Custom
Old Stone Church #14796
A non-denominational wedding chapel