Barbara Wood of Muncy celebrated her 90th birthday recently in the small town where she has spent many of those years. She used the occasion to share some of her memories with the congregation of St. Andrew Evangelical Lutheran Church in Muncy. Her younger sister, Sara Jane, 88, was in attendance. The congregation was present to enjoy Barb’s stories, including Penny Wettlaufer, Barb’s neighbor and friend, and Reverend Steck’s granddaughter, Ruth Steck. Rev. William Steck, a beloved minister who served St. Andrew for 23 years, was then assigned to another congregation, and later returned to Muncy to retire.

Barbara interwove her family memories with the history of the Lutheran churches in and near Muncy, using no notes during her talk. She said, “I don’t use notes because I don’t see that well, so I just put it here,” (pointing to her head). She offered that “I did quite a bit of research and want to credit all those who recorded the history of the church, especially Mary Ritter DeWald, who wrote the booklets and Pastor Lambdin who encouraged Mrs. DeWald to do the research.” Barbara wove the following information into her presentation.

Barbara’s ancestors, John and Elizabeth Dimm, emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1751 on the Edinboro. Their son, Christopher, was born en route. John was a minister and oversaw the construction of Old Immanuel Church between Muncy and Hughesville.

Barbara’s grandmother, Emma Dimm, was a teacher in Muncy where she met John W. Fague. They married in 1892, and had children, Harland and Esther Fague. Harland was Barbara’s father.

John Fague and his family lived in the country, but when John was kicked by a horse and suffered some debilitating injuries, the family was forced to move into the town of Muncy to make life easier for the family.

Barbara was born in Reedville, PA, in 1932, the daughter of Harland and Sara Fague. She graduated from Wittenberg College in Ohio, then went on to earn a nursing degree in New York City, Presbyterian Hospital, part of Columbia University. She acquired an apartment on 68th St. and worked in the city as a visiting nurse until she took classes and became certified in Early Childhood Development. The Head Start program was just being established and Barbara found employment in her new field. She met Hal Sterling through a friend in New York and they were married in 1967. They had a daughter, Winona.

In 1973, they were making plans to move to Muncy to the family home. Her parents lived there, but also wintered in Florida. Harlan and Sara embarked on a trip west, planning to return home to Muncy in the spring. But there was an automobile accident and Barbara’s mother, Sara, was killed. Barbara and Hal continued with their plan to relocate, and lived in Muncy with Barbara’s widowed father and raised Winona there. Barbara’s father became good friends during this time with Rev. Beeber of St. Andrew.

Barbara recited the 121st Psalm during her church talk. She said that it is her mantra, and it makes her think of how God helps the people and all the people help each other.

THE CHURCH

In 1848, Lutheran Sunday School classes were organized in Muncy. Classes were for all ages and had 20 teachers for the various groupings, which tells us there were many attendees.

Following the success of the Sunday School, the first St. Andrew Evangelical Lutheran Church was built on North Main Street in 1852. The congregation was that of Immanuel Church. The minister at the time was Rev. Parsons. Flooding in 1889 and 1894 caused great damage. Rev. William Steck saw the need for a new church, so spearheaded and oversaw the construction of the present one, St. Andrew, on the corner of Penn and Main Streets. The land was obtained in 1905; the cornerstone was laid in 1906; and the Church was dedicated in 1908. It was built with the stones from the canal Aquaduct built over the mouth of Muncy Creek in the 1930’s. The canal had been out of use for many years by then. (Railroads replaced the canals) Aquaduct stones were also later used to build a parsonage for St Andrew in 1921. Both continue in use today.

The stories of our local citizens are varied and interesting. We get a first-hand look, especially in the elderly, at the history of the past century, in how people lived, worked, worshiped and took care of their families. Present the future with the gift of your own family’s history by recording it in some fashion and sharing it. Each story holds priceless treasures.