A Great Prize

Bill came across an old book written in 1918 called "The History of the Church of St John the Baptist" located in Manayunk known as the Grand Souveuir 41,ooo dollar campaign.

According to the book, in 1918 the church was in debt, and they organized a fundraiser with the expectation of collecting 30,000 dollars, half of the total debt the church owed its creditors. In the end, the parishers gave Father Murphy 41,000 dollars to help cover the costs incurred in building a new church, church hall and school between 1894 & 1906.

What was interesting about this particular fundraiser was the amounts of money those who belonged to the church gave. Yes, there was a list of who gave & how much. Yes again, if you wondered if any of our relatives were on that list in this book dated 1918.

Grace Silverthorn & Sally Keller gave a total of 50.00 dollars. Address of residence listed in the book was 3886 Terrace Street, which was the home of James & Grace Gallagher Silverthorn. John & Sally Gallagher Keller lived with Grace & James at the time. Daniel & Katherine Boland Malervy gave 5.00 dollars and they resided at 17 Osborne Street at the time. George & Mary Gallagher Cannon gave 10.00 dollars and resided at 137 Kalos Street at the time. William & Mary Keller gave 10.00 dollars and resided at 143 Seville Street at the time.

To donate 50, 10 or even 5 dollars to the church in 1918 was a lot of money for a Manayunk factory and/or Iron worker. Again, it says a lot about our ancestors' character and their devotion to church and community. The above residences were not houses our ancestors' own but houses they rented. It would be several more years, before they own their homes.

Bill discovered this little treasure in an used book store near a train station located in Mt. Airy. I guess you never know what you can come across at any given time. My husband, the flea market/yard sale/used book store junky.