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Choir of Emanuel Church of God in Christ, Steelton, Pennsylvania
The following article was made possible by the Friends of Midland organization, which contributed photographs, information and primary research materials from their archives. Originally formed to rescue and rehabilitate the historic Midland Cemetery, the Friends of Midland also have an interest in local African American history, including the Hygienic School and Steelton African American churches. They are very interested in hearing from former students of the Hygienic School, former residents, and anyone interested in Steelton's African American history, and can be contacted at the following address:
Friends of Midland, P. O. Box 7442, Steelton, Pennsylvania 17113-0442.
E-mail: Friends of Midland or view the Homepage
The undated photograph below came to the archives through an online auction, with little explanation of its origin.Fortunately there is an extensive pencil notation on the reverse side that identifies the location as the "Emmanuel Church of God in Christ on Main Street, Steelton, PA." It depicts the choral members or choir of that church, which originally existed on the borough's west side.
A local resident of Steelton, Sheila Barton, provided more details about the present day church, noting "This article is awesome, especially since a good amount of [the people in the picture] are still alive and attending Emanuel under the pastorate of Elder David Screven. We are now located at 16th and Liberty Streets in Harrisburg. Mary Brown Moody is my mother. Bishop Burton, in his 100's, visits us every fifth Sunday...
-Sheila Barton, Third Generation Emanuelite, born and raised there. (Correspondence to Afrolumens Project, 14 May 2004)
Steelton resident Vincent House identified Bishop Dewitt Burton as the man standing in the back row, second from left, who appears to be in his thirties or early forties. Sheila Barton, writing in 2004, noted "Bishop Burton, in his 100's, visits us every fifth Sunday." Bishop D. A. Burton passed away in 2013. A page of tributes to his memory on the website of the Church of God in Christ (https://www.cogic.org/adjutancy/2013/03/15/the-passing-of-bishop-d-a-burton/) includes a reminiscence that he came to the Steelton church in 1939. The photo was probably taken shortly after.
We welcome any additional comments, remembrances or memories about either the church, congregation or persons listed below. We will expand this article to include information as it is uncovered.
Please click the image for a larger photograph.
The pencil notation on the reverse side reads:
"Emmanuel Church of God in Christ on Main Street Steelton, PA.
"First Row: L.H. Butler, Shirley Wilkerson Carter.
"Second Row: Marie Green, Mary Brown Moody, Elizabeth Sanders Hall, Vecalia Jarius McGrady, Elenore Garnet.
"Third Row: Hurley Richardson, Janie Robinson Bishop, Suellen White Fielder, Rosalie McNeil Johnson, Bertha Garnet.
"Fourth Row: Colonel Lyles, Bishop Dewitt Burton, Pastor Edward Brown, Henry Butler.
"Identification by, Vincent House. My thanks to Vince."
The current address of Emanuel Church of God in Christ is 601 North Sixteenth Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17103.
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