This Week In Local History: Two churches and a hospital made local news

1977 — Two area places of worship were embarking on construction projects. Workers were laying bricks at the site of the Assembly of God Church in Clarks Green and a new parish rectory was being constructed at Our Lady of the Snows, with the old one being demolished to make room for an 80-car parking lot.

1987 — A fundraiser for St. Jude’s Hospital, organized by Barbara Powell, of Clarks Summit, saw a good turnout, despite uncomfortable weather.

“Ask anyone about last Saturday, July 11, and they will probably groan,” read the caption under a large front page color photograph in that week’s paper. “The heat and humidity made walking from the couch to the freezer for more ice cubes an almost unbearable effort. However, there was a brave group of children out at McDade Park, taking part in a bike-a-thon for St. Jude’s Hospital. No doubt they perspired profusely, but they stuck it out for a worthy cause.”

Gary Walsh, of Glenburn, worked on laying bricks in 1977 at the Assembly of God Church in Clarks Green. Construction was scheduled for that fall.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_ABJ-LH-0712-1977a.jpgGary Walsh, of Glenburn, worked on laying bricks in 1977 at the Assembly of God Church in Clarks Green. Construction was scheduled for that fall. Abington Journal file photos

Raymond DeBlasi painted window frames of the new parish rectory at Our Lady of Snows Church in 1977. The former rectory was demolished to make room for a parking lot.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_ABJ-LH-0712-1977b.jpgRaymond DeBlasi painted window frames of the new parish rectory at Our Lady of Snows Church in 1977. The former rectory was demolished to make room for a parking lot. Abington Journal file photos

Participants in a 1987 bike-a-thon fundraiser for St. Jude’s Hospital were, from left, Brian Biglin, LeRoy Jennings, Rick Genovese, Rob Harman, Art Hartman and Jeff Hartman.

https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_ABJ-LH-0712-1987.jpgParticipants in a 1987 bike-a-thon fundraiser for St. Jude’s Hospital were, from left, Brian Biglin, LeRoy Jennings, Rick Genovese, Rob Harman, Art Hartman and Jeff Hartman. Abington Journal file photos