St Andrew History Timeline
1906 Rev Philip Sredanovich sent by the Russian Mission to serve Russian, Serbian, Syrian, and Greek immigrants in the Butler area; services at a building near B&O RR Station in Butler but most Orthodox people lived in Lyndora; Fr Sredanovich relocated in Lyndora; services held on the 2nd floor of a private building/hall on corner of Chesapeake St and Bessemer Ave then on 1st floor of the same building
1908 one lot purchased on Main St, Lyndora from Kohler family for $700
1909 Fr Sredanovich himself started to build a wooden church 18’ X 36’
1909 June 17 New Castle Herald PA 17 June 1909 page 10 “Fr Sredanovich’s congregation worshiped in a hall in Lyndora until Easter Day on which day the first service was held in the new church on the corner of Francis (which became Main) and North Pacific avenues in the Kohler plan of lots. The church is not completed and is intended to be only a temporary place of worship. When the good times come again a new and larger edifice will be erected and the present building peace {sic}. The good pastor that the will be used for parochial school purposes.”
“This building is almost entirely the work of Fr Sredanovich. He designed it, and his hands with but little assistance, have constructed it thus far. Every day the pastor can be found plying the saw, the hatchet, or the paint brush with an earnestness and skill that command our admiration. He is certainly a great force for good n our foreign suburb, and may his work prosper.” For church location see 1911 sheet 38 and 1921 sheet 40 Sanborn Maps
1911 land purchased on Penn Ave and Lehigh St from Standard Steel Car Company; Keyko drafted the plans for the church, collected funds and directed construction
1911-1915 Parish President Thomas Merlak
1914 cornerstone laid for church on Penn Ave and Lehigh some of the first parishioners and founders:
Ignatius Budrevich
Michael Savochka
Michael Moroz
Ivan Hollak
Sam Musko
Thomas Meriak
Theodore Blisak
Andronik Shajnovich
Wasil Fecich
Zenovy Prichodko
Yevdokim Gulevich
Harry Sukovach
Stephen Berdey
John Blisak
Ivan Pavlukovich
Luka Homich
Paul Voytulevich
Theodore Feloniuk
Mark Dubic
Theodore Hollock
Harry Kraustock
Klem Lokovich
Ivan Sverdeskie
Sergius Sawchuk
Wasyl Turach
1915 blessing of the church on the Feast of Protection by Fr Limaroff
1916-1917 Parish President Andronik Shajnovich
1917 parish home and property adjoining acquired
1918 Parish President Ivan Galburda
1917-1919 flu epidemic took toll on parishioners and depression after WWI caused financial problems but mortgage payments met on time
1919-1920 Parish President Ivan Hollak
1921 Parish President Jacob Brich
1922 Parish President Andrew Brenko
1923 Parish President Ignatius Budrevich
1924 Parish President Andrew Brenko
1925 street and sidewalk paved; city assessment became an added burden
1925-1926 Parish President Nestor Shymelo
1927-1930 Parish President Anthony Buchta
1928 Parish incorporated
1931-1932 Parish President Nestor Shymelo
1933 Parish President Stephen Lenyk
1934 Jan 21 ROY Club founded and organized Fr Yakubovsky directed the organization of the club assisted the church, projects to remedy problems – church improvements, property cleaned and cared for, taxes paid, financial contributions; see detailed list in 65th Annniversary Book 1906-1971
1934-1935 Parish President Andrew Brenko
1936 Oct 14 Sisterhood of the Altar Original Church Charter Officers
President - Mary Fecich
Vice President - Agnes Salivonchik
Secretary - Stephania Pesocky
Treasurer - Eva Lenyk
Asst Treaurer - Mary Kuzelin
1936-1939 President of Sisterhood Mary Fecich
1936-1945 Parish President John Fecich
1939-1940 President of Sisterhood Stefania Pesocky
1940 Sisterhood purchased the gold-gilded Gospel Book
1940 March Sunday School organized by Fr Stepahin See 65th Anniversary Book 1906-1971 for detailed description
1940-1941 President of Sisterhood Sophia Fecich
1941-1942 President of Sisterhood Helen Smith
1942 St Basil Brotherhood lent funds without interest for mortgage to be paid; WWII
1943-1952 President of Sisterhood
1939-1945 WWII unemployment decreased, church became solvent, church treasury increased and bought War Bonds
1946-1947 Parish President Anthony Grennek
1948-1949 Parish President John Botzchea
1950 Parish President Anthony Grennek
1950s English gradually introduced in liturgy to replace Church Slavonic
1949-1950 ROY Club purchased pews and new crystal chandelier
1951-1952 Parish President Daniel Smith
1952-1953 President of Sisterhood Marge Fecich
1953 ROY Club Don Cossack Concert
1953-1954 Parish President John Fecich
1953-1956 President of Sisterhood Helen Jankovich
1955 envelop system of collection
1955-1974 Parish President Peter Fecich
1956-1958 President of Sisterhood Alice Thomas
1957 October ROY Club remodeled parish home, church interior and auditorium renovated including a modern kitchen
1958 Sept 1 acquisition and dedicatonof 3 bronze bells gifted by Mrs Keffalas and her children Dorothy, Alice, Elias, Evelyn, Pete, Spero, Alberta, and Petros
in memory of John L Keffalas, Petros L Keffalas, Alexander P Lemos
1958-1960 President of Sisterhood Ann Olenic
1960-1961 President of Sisterhood Marge Fecich
1961-1962 President of Sisterhood
1962-1963 President of Sisterhood Mary Loverick
1963-1964 President of Sisterhood Helen Buckowsky
!964-1965 President of Sisterhood Helen Jankovich
1965-1967 President of Sisterhood Ola Fedokovitz
1967-1969 President of Sisterhood Frances Fecich
1969-1970 President of Sisterhood Virginia Kork
1960s Sisterhood new floor covering and new carpeting
1970 bought Solocha house used for storage and church school classes
1970-1971 Sisterhood of the Altar Officers
President – Joy Nanchuk
Vice President – Ann Fedosick
Secretary - Mary Prenovitz
Treasurer – Mary Stepahin
1971 ROY Club iconastas painted and gold-leafed and church interior and exterior painted; priest vestments, altar boys’ dalmatics and altar vestments replaced
1971-1973 President of Sisterhood Ann Fedosick
1973-1974 President of Sisterhood Margaret Glagola
1974 John Botzchea transferred his North Side Cemetery ‘Deed with Covenant for Perpetual Care’ lot 81 sec 37 rev. to St Andrew’s for purpose of altar
North Side Cemetery Assn with St Andrew’s Orthodox Church
1974-1976 President of Sisterhood Mary Tincha
1976 cupolas installed
1976 Aug 26 carillon chimes installed a gift of Mrs Pete J Keffalas and sons John Pete Keffalas, William Pete Keffalas and Alexander Pete Keffalas in memory of parents and grandparents: John L Keffalas and Katherine Lemos Keffalas President of Sisterhood Mary Tincha
1974-1981 Parish President Steve Sinkevich
1976-1978 President of Sisterhood Frances Fecich
1978-1979 President of Sisterhood Mary Tincha
1979-1980 President of Sisterhood Ann Fedosick
1980-1981 President of Sisterhood Mary Tincha
1981-1982 President of Sisterhood Ann Fedosick
1982-1985 President of Sisterhood Helen Jankovich
1985-1986 Presidenet of Sisterhood Stella DeLess
1995 Community Center sold to local Vietnam Veterans
by 1996 – no specific dates given Solocha house was demolished and leveled for parking lot and parking lot retaining wall completed Church and parish sandblasted and cleaned; new soffit and fascia coverings installed; crumbling retaining wall at lower walk rebuilt; new light on the side of the church and replacement lights in front of church installed; ramp to by-pass steps installed and carpeted; sign identifying church installed and landscaped
Inside church old electric wiring above choir loft replaced, track lights installed in choir loft; kitchen in church hall remodeled and refurnished