Photo of the Month

SALVATION ARMY AND BARRACKS IN 1892

AT BERWICK

Information about this photograph comes from the "Sesquicentennial Edition" of the Berwick Enterprise, June 26, 1936, in part verbatim with some additions.

This picture is one of the earliest photographs of the Berwick Salvation Army Unit. This was taken in July of 1892 when the barracks existed on [southeast corner of] Market [and Cemetery Streets] where the Episcopal Church [used to be.] It was the scene of some of Berwick’s most active and influential Salvation Army Days. Many memorable meetings and campaigns centered in this barracks. The original building was built about 1889, and this served as the home until the building burned some years later. After the fire the barracks was located for a short time at [112 East] Front Street over Kisner’s Drug Store, where the Palace Theater building was later built. The barracks moved to [204 West] Second Street at the time the theater was constructed.

Appearing in the photograph as far as they have been identified are: Back row, left to right: unidentified, Philip Unangst, Abe Harmon, George Baker, unidentified, Gene Hutchinson, Emma Christian, Anna Harmon, unidentified, Ella Harmon, unidentified, Mrs. John Reese, unidentified, Mattie Christian, Bessie B. Smith, unidentified, "Doc" Gordner, Mrs. Jacob Garrison, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified,, James Nugen, Wallace Moharter, Elmer East, George Carter and unidentified. Middle row: unidentified, Harry Smith, Mrs. A. H. Welch, unidentified, Mrs. Yoder, Mrs. Isadore Chamberlain, Mrs. Mary Hoppes, Mrs. Garrison, Mary Traugh and John Brown. Front row: Annie Garrison, Elsie Smith, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, and Mrs. Verne Hutchinson.

Captain Fuss was the commander of the Berwick unit at the time of this picture. The membership of the Army in Berwick was quite large, there being only about half of the total membership in the accompanying picture.