In the early 1900s, Oil City was a thriving, growing community. At that time, a number of homes were built on the hilltop known as the Hasson-Ramage tract, later called Hasson Heights. It was located in Cornplanter Township, but adjoined the city along Maple Avenue. (In 1953, Oil City annexed part of Hasson Heights, moving the city line almost as far as the school.) All of Hasson Heights was originally the William Hasson Tract.

At that time, Hasson Heights was a sort of farming community. There were small farms, scattered houses with large parcels of land, and some houses along Grandview Road, Hillcrest Avenue, and Oak Road with only city-dweller lots. There were stores, a two-room school, and direct-line transportation with the city below. Early on, there was a trolley that wound around the base of Grove Hill Cemetery and ended at Ridge Avenue, near what are now the Little League fields. Passengers could walk on cinder paths to meet the trolley, and go to Hasson Park. By the fall of 1927, Grandview Road was paved, and there was bus service to the area.

In 1912, two sisters, Miss Florence Stevens and Mrs. Etta Stevens Robb, noticed that a growing number of children from the hilltop were not getting any formal religious instruction and decided to take action. The spiritually minded sisters took it upon themselves to organize an interdenominational Sunday School and got permission from
The Cornplanter Township school board to hold it each Sunday afternoon in the Hasson Heights elementary schoolhouse on Plumer Road, later named Grandview Road. Schools had often served as churches, town halls, and other meeting places since the beginning of our country. The Hasson Heights School, a two-room wooden structure on the site of the present brick building, was a logical choice.

About 14 pupils attended the first Sunday School, presided over by its first superintendent, Mrs. Stevens-Robb. Ten teachers offered their help in getting the effort started. In the first 20 years, the following people served as superintendents: Miss Florence Stevens, Edward E. Frantz, John Amsler, Lon Rhines, Lucian Morrison, John R. Scott, and George E. Nelson.

Later, eleven small, unaffiliated Sunday Schools throughout the county were joined together as the American Sunday School Union, under the leadership of the Reverend John Blakely, Superintendent of Rouseville. In addition to Sunday School, ministers from downtown, who came on special occasions, conducted preaching services from time to time. A fine choir was organized to assist with the worship services.

By 1931, both the population on Hasson Heights and attendance at the Sunday School had increased to the point that the Cornplanter School Board asked Sunday School officials to find other quarters in which to meet.

As the search for a new building began, the abandoned Oakland United Presbyterian Church on the Kaneville Road was considered as a possible meeting place. The Oakland structure was rejected as a solution because it was too small and too far away. It was then sold by the Lake Presbytery, and the profits turned over to the Hasson Heights group.

Several families who attended the Hasson Heights Sunday School were members of the Harriet Avenue United Presbyterian Church downtown. It was soon made known to the Board of Missions of the United Presbyterian Church of North America that a site was needed to establish a new church on the Heights.

In response, synod superintendent, Dr. H.J. Rose was sent to investigate. At a meeting at the home of Rev. Blakely, he, Dr. Rose, and Oil City Church elders A.M. Brackenridge and John Glass agreed that if the United Presbyterian Church would erect a building and organize a church, the Sunday School would be turned over to it.

On November 28, 1931, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis P. Irwin, faithful members of the Union Sunday School, donated a plot of land for the new church. The land measured 108 feet by 200 feet, located in the middle of a field between Grandview Road and Oak Road, L.L. Morrison and George Morrison. Church site July 1920 and was deeded to the Board of Missions of the United Presbyterian Church of North America. Carl and Ethel Schmelzer gave a right-of-way through their property for access to the church property. In the shadow of the Great Depression, the Church-minded people of Hasson Heights set about to make their dream of a new church a reality.

On December 19, 1931, Curtis P. Irwin wrote the following to the Reverend J. Alvin Hazlett: Today we had a tractor, a scraper, two teams, and a truck, and we cut out the road from Hillcrest Avenue to the lower end of the church lot. If weather permits, we will finish this week.

It is a 28-foot roadbed, with six feet on each side for walks, making a 40-foot road. It is a nice grade, and will make a nice road, with easy access from any part of the hill. The help was all donated. There were men out there that I did not expect, but was glad to see them. It shows the interest they have in the new church. The Scout Master and all his boys were out and did good work.

Many residents along Grandview Road had stone fences on the back of their properties and gave some of these stones to make the road good and solid. The Boy Scouts collected the stones from the neighborhood.

The road extended from Hillcrest Avenue to the end of the church parking area. This road was recorded as a public Cornplanter Township road on April 28, 1941 and named Fairview Avenue. In August of 1953 Cornplanter Township extended Fairview Avenue to join with Oak Road.

Many meetings took place among those concerned with the new church. Among these people were The Reverend J. Alvin Hazlett, Lake Erie Presbytery Secretary of Home Missions; John H. Glass, Oil City; Church representatives A.M. Brackenridge, and Frank Manley; Synod Superintendent Dr. Howard Rose; Dr. J. M. White, Curtis P. Irwin, and Board of American Missions General Secretary R. A. Hutchinson, D.D.

Under the leadership of Reverend J. Alvin Hazlett, the land was cleared, architectural plans were agreed upon, and the actual work of excavating and laying the foundation was started. The church would be built in three stages, as money became available: The basement was first, the framework of the sanctuary would be second, and the finishing work last.

Reverend Hazlett also drew the original plans for the new church. They consisted of a 36 x 64 foot basement, upon which would be constructed a brick building, with a sanctuary 24 x 40 feet, and an auditorium to accommodate 300 people. The building would include a chancel, a choir room, a pastors study, an entrance area, a balcony in the back overlooking the sanctuary, and eight classrooms, as well as provision for a kitchen.

Plans for the Hasson Heights Church were grand indeed. The building would be of buff brick and located on a large lot with space for parking. There would be a substantial concrete block foundation with ample ceiling height to allow floods of Gods good sunlight to stream in.

Fumed oak pews (Fuming is the process of treating wood with ammonia fumes for the purpose of making the wood darker.), polished hardwood floors, a soft felt carpet with good wearing texture, chaste and beautiful art windows, and a chancel with reading desk, pulpit and sacramental table, all combined to give the sanctuary a rich, yet quietly reverent setting, most appropriate for the footstool of His feet.

After the first donation of $3500 in May 1932, and $500 from the sale of the old Oakland United Presbyterian Church, the work was begun. Later, in 1933, the board made an additional $1000 grant. In the depression year of 1932, the people of the community, members and nonmembers alike, gave of their labor and money to complete the basement. Under the leadership of skilled workmen, volunteers carried out the entire work of construction. Afternoons and evenings, sometimes until 10:30 at night, these men contributed enthusiastically their time, strength, and skill without compensation.

The women of our church worked tirelessly too. They helped raise money and turned out to do any finishing work they could do. They encouraged the men, serving sandwiches and coffee every evening to all the men who worked on the project.

Especially welcome was the homemade vegetable soup served piping hot to hungry volunteers. The ladies also served sauerkraut suppers for 25 cents a plate, and lunches in the church basement to the school children at noon (there was no cafeteria at the school).

It was a feverish, exciting time. There were socials, entertainments, and plays to raise money to continue the work. Another group of young musicians formed an orchestra to help out with music programs. They were: Jim Moulin, Bob George, Dick Burchfield, Glen Nelson, and Bob Schultz.

Ironworkers from out-of-town put in the beams, while carpenters built the shell.
When Cal Karns went home and told his mother, Mrs. J.J. (Sue) Karns, that the iron workers had nothing to eat and no place to stay, she and Mrs. L.J. (Sylvia) Karns gave them room and board. Much was yet to be completed, and work began on the main sanctuary. By the summer of 1932, the basement was ready, the superstructure was completed under the supervision of A. G. Whitehouse, and the auditorium floor was ready to be laid. Burt Karns remembers when as a boy he carried the pieces of flooring and put them in position, while the men nailed them in place. Again the community pitched in, giving their time, effort, and money.

The following is taken from an editorial in the Oil City Blizzard dated August 1, 1933:
A Church and a Monument

Inspiring and heartening is the story of the building of the community church in the Hasson Heights area. This, of all times, is hardly the time to be thinking about building a church. Yet those of the fold up there, ardently enthusiastic over the erection of such a building and the formation of a congregation within their own section, called to their cause those who were able to aid. Then the Hasson Heights folk gave of their labor to dig the excavation and the water line. The lot was donated by a resident of that section. The Mission Board of the United Presbyterian Church furnished some funds and now the church building is going up.

The effort has been a community wide affair and the interest in it has been widespread throughout that section. It was only the great amount of interest and the enthusiasm of the residents, which sold the United Presbyterian Mission Board on the plan.
In a sense, the church will be a monument to this depression and to those who labored that it might come into being. An accurate record of the story should be kept, the names of those who aided listed, so that in the anniversaries in the years yet to be, the list should be read again to those future citizens of that section.

The building should be an example to this entire section. It should stand as a landmark, a symbol of countless efforts in trying times, and should be recalled in the brighter days yet to come as a building which came into being in a depression.


With the building not yet finished, the first services of the released Union Sunday School were held Sunday, November 19, 1933. On that day, the entire congregation of about 100 people marched in triumph, with banner waving, from the schoolhouse on Grandview Road to the basement of the new church to begin worship services.

Worship services were held in the basement for three years while the rest of the building was being constructed. These were good years, with attendance steadily increasing. Many new classes were formed, and there were many activities for both the youth and adults. An orchestra of young people played for Sunday School. Among them were Burt Karns, Chuck, Betty, and Ralph Morrison, Chuck Coast, and Hazel Redmond.

Burt Karns recalls, I played in a band every Sunday morning in the basement of the church. Every teenager from Hasson Heights who could play any kind of instrument was welcome, some Presbyterian, and some Catholic, we didnt care. We didnt play church music, just modern Big Band-type music. Dick Burchfield, father of Donna Phillips, arranged music for all our instruments.

Later on, the two back pews on the left side of the church were always full of teenagers. There was always a big Sunday School, and you had to be 12 years of age before you could come upstairs into the Sanctuary.

Burt acknowledges a long history of family commitment with our church. His father, Lawrence James Karns, was the first Treasurer, and his grandfather, J.J. Karns, was the first Custodian.

On November 26, 1933, the first temporary trustees of the Sunday School were elected. They were: Chairman George E. Nelson, Secretary C. Irwin, Gerald Duncan, J. R. Scott, D. T. Hickman, Mrs. J. J. Sorlie, Mrs. Walter Schmelzer and Reed Mellon. Dr. Howard Rose, Synod Superintendent, held the first preaching service on November 4, 1934.

Around this time the young people of the church organized two baseball teams, one for young men and one for young boys. Russ Peters secured the badly needed equipment for the Church League.

According to information supplied by several of the players, the Church League played opponents from Rouseville, Plumer, and Polish Churches. Some of the boys on the teams were Burt Karns, Dean Karns, and Alvah Hutchinson. Roy Baughman and Clarence Karns helped with coaching, while the girls kept score and rooted for their favorite players. Most of the games were played at the ball field across the street from the church, land still owned at that time by Carl and Ethel Schmelzer.

Early Sunday School members enjoyed fine fellowship at semi-annual group gatherings. These were all-day meetings held at one of the several Union Sunday Schools. There was always a picnic at noon and many other activities to maintain interest.

Even before the church was organized, soon after the basement was finished, a group of women began gathering to work on quilts, rugs, and other sewing projects. The Ladies Aid Society began when these women met to cook meals for the men who were clearing the land for the church and digging the foundation.

The Ladies Aid Society met for many years and completed many sewing projects. They collected scraps of material to make rag rugs and happily stitched beautiful quilts for anyone who would supply the materials. Some of their carefully made quilts were raffled off to raise funds for church projects.

Following the deaths of Mildred Rogers, Sylvia Karns, and Kathryn McDonough, the Society reached the end of its long run. On February 1, 1986, during a congregational meeting, the Ladies Aid Society closed its books and disbanded. Its funds were presented to the Memorial Committee in memory of those who had died.

In the years before a full-time pastor was appointed, Dr. Rose and Reverend J. Alvin Hazlett, Secretary of Home Missions of Lake Presbytery, made frequent preaching visits. In the summer of 1935, Reverend F. Matthew Gilliland, a theology student at New Wilmington, helped with the Sunday School services, preached for the summer and continued to serve as part-time pastor at both the Hasson Heights and Plumer churches until the arrival of a full-time pastor. Rev. Gilliland had a far-reaching influence on the beginnings of our church, and his services were greatly appreciated.

The Lake Presbytery Commission appointed to have charge of the Hasson Heights work met in the new church building Friday, October 25, 1935 to organize a new congregation. Rev. J. Alvin Hazlett presided; Rev. J. Daryl Davis preached; Rev. H.B. Speer, D.D. received the members into the new organization and administered the rite of baptism; and Rev. H.J. Rose, D.D. addressed the new congregation. A Board of Trustees was elected: J.R. Scott, A.G. Whitehouse, and Plumer Wygant; Miss Frances M. Rockwell was appointed secretary of the congregation, and Lawrence J. Karns was the first treasurer.

At this time members of the Hasson Heights and Plumer United Presbyterian Churches expressed the need for a full-time resident pastor. The Board of Missions obliged by appointing The Reverend Howard F. Hazlett, brother of The Reverend J. Alvin Hazlett, as pastor of both churches.

In August 1936, Reverend and Mrs. Hazlett, their son William and daughter Carol, moved to Hasson Heights, into a rented house at what is now 937 Grandview Road. In September, members and friends of both the Hasson Heights and Plumer Churches held a reception to formally welcome the new pastor and his family. Rev. Hazlett served the Plumer church from 1936 until 1952, and remained at Hasson Heights until 1956.

Following a gift of $4000 from the Board of Missions, the work of completing the main auditorium was begun in earnest. With a target date of Easter 1937, the mad rush began. There was much to be finished and all worked with a will to finish plastering, painting, woodworking, flooring, and much more.

Elders from the Oil City Presbyterian Church served as a provisional session until the congregation installed its first session members April 10, 1938. The provisional elders of the Oil City United Presbyterian Church, who served until Hasson Heights took over full government on April 10, 1938 were: Frank E. Manby, Walter L. Simpson, Reed Mellon, and John Glass, Clerk of Session.

The installation of our own first elders removed the last tie with the First United Presbyterian congregation. They included: Samuel R. McCurdy, John R. Scott, and John A. Amsler, and they continued in office until the death of Elder McCurdy, July 1943. Then it was decided to increase the number of elders from three to five. Albert Redmond, Russell Peters, and Vance Brown were ordained and inducted into office on September 19, 1943. Mr. Brown was elected clerk, an office he held until December 1965. In 1956, the number of elders was increased to nine and they were put on a three-year, rotating basis. Theodore Campbell, Lawrence Hidinger, George Nelson, and Kenneth Snyder became the newest elders.

Finally the big day arrived. On Easter Sunday morning, March 28, 1937, the new church was dedicated to the worship and service of God. By 10:30 A.M. not a vacant seat remained in the auditorium or balcony. Rev. Howard F. Hazlett led the worship service. Dr. J.M. White, Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Administration, preached the sermon. Rev. John Blakely of the American Sunday School Union offered the prayer. In their new white robes, the choir sang beautiful and appropriate music.

The minister and congregation joined in the following declaration:

This house, which we have been permitted to build, through the Grace and Favor of Divine Providence, we do solemnly dedicate to the Worship and Service of Almighty God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Twenty-four people were received into membership that day, making a total of 101 members. In the evening there was a young peoples meeting with 16 present, followed by an enthusiastically received gospel service. It was a magnificent celebration.

These services marked the opening of the finished auditorium. With the exception of the heating plant, the plastering, and the installation of the stained windows, all work was accomplished by the men and women of the church and volunteers from the neighborhood.

Most of the stained glass windows were paid for by interested Sunday School classes and individuals as memorials or donations. The windows were installed by Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company of Warren, Ohio at a cost of $860. Other churches helped with the expense of the windows.

The next step in developing the church property was the building of a manse. On January 7, 1936, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schmelzer graciously gave to the Board of Missions a lot 50 feet by 200 feet for the purpose of erecting a manse. Rev. Hazlett and a committee of Elders called upon the Manse Board, a department of the Womens Missionary Society, and asked for a loan to build the house they had chosen.

Upon seeing that more space was needed, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schmelzer graciously gave an additional lot 25 feet by 200 feet of property to the Board of Missions, on October 29, 1937. The loan was granted, and in early 1938 the authorization was given to build the house. The Hazlett family moved into the new manse April 29, 1938.

As a mission church we had no say in what pastor was assigned to us. Once we were independent, we had the privilege of selecting our own minister. The call was placed before Lake Presbytery by our first delegate Al Redmond. Our congregation voted overwhelmingly for Rev. Howard Hazlett to continue his ministry with us, which he did for a period of 20 years, until 1956. During that time, 448 additional members joined our church.

In April 1947, the Hasson Heights United Presbyterian Church celebrated its 10th Anniversary during Easter services. The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper were observed, and 13 communicants were received into membership. The Treble Clef Choir sang, including a duet by Donna Hodge and Helen Graff.

Two months after the 20th Anniversary Celebration, on June 20, 1956, Rev. Hazlett asked the congregation to accept his resignation. His request read as follows: According to announcement, and according to your presence here, I am bringing to a close my ministry in the pulpit. At the close of Presbytery on Tuesday, June 26, I am asking them to sever the tie which has bound us together for the past 20 years, and let us each go his own way. I hereby ask you to join me in this request. Sincerely, H.F. Hazlett.

While Rev Hazlett was here, he celebrated 50 years in the ministry. At the time he resigned, the church was free of debt. When asked about his future plans, Rev. Hazlett replied, I intend to take it easy. Rev. Hazlet, his wife, and daughter Carol left the last week of June, 1956 for Butler, where he purchased a home.

As early as the congregational meeting of March 29, 1950, Rev. Hazlett noted that our membership was growing rapidly and we were already crowded. He advised that in the near future we must expand and build on the church structure. Since the first building fund committee had disbanded, another one was organized September 21, 1958 to promote interest in the church and plan for expansion of the building and parking lot.

On October 28, 1958, the congregation voted to borrow $25, 000 to finance the addition. J. Robert Douglas, Albert Redmond, and John Amsler were instrumental in securing Charles Hayes of Victory Heights as the contractor. Mr. Hayes then hired Burt Karns to work on the structure.

Ground was broken for a new $32, 000 Christian Education unit on September 21, 1958, while Reverend Louis Evert was pastor. The two-story addition would provide 10 new classrooms, a ladies lounge, and two new lavatories. It also would increase the seating capacity of the auditorium by six pews. Care was taken to see that the new wings exterior would be of the same yellow brick as the original structure.

As the new addition neared completion, an impressive cornerstone-laying ceremony was held on April 19, 1959. Rev. T. Matthew Gilliland, who served the Hasson Heights Presbyterian Community Church while he was a seminary student 25 years before, was guest speaker. His sermon topic was The Churchs One Foundation, based on St. Peters concept that people are the living stones of the church, with Christ as the cornerstone. Three places in Scripture were cited where Christ is mentioned in connection with a spiritual building The Church. He is:

1. Called the one foundation.
2. Referred to as the cornerstone.
3. Designated the head of the corner.

The granite Cornerstone was donated by Tri-City Monument Company. Five church members brought forth documents placed in a chrome tube, to be tapped into the hollow stone for posterity. The Holy Bible was brought by Al Redmond; a membership roll by Floyd Fry; a list of contributors by James Higbee; a copy of the Derrick news story of the event by Burt Karns; and a morning bulletin by Warren Jack. The actual laying of the cornerstone was attended by Rev. Louis Evert, Russell Peters, Al Redmond and Charles E. Hayes. The youth and children of the church were represented by Gerald Rankin, who led the responsive reading, and Jill Samonsky, who read scripture.

An overflow crowd of 240 members and guests assembled at the Hasson Heights Presbyterian Community Church November 11, 1959, to attend the Community Day Dinner during a week-long dedication ceremonies for the Christian Education Unit. Guests included Dr. R. Boice Atwell of Beaver Falls, the states highest church official; Rev. William M. Abner, pastor of the First United Presbyterian Church; Oil City Mayor R.R. VanKirk; and former pastor Rev. H.F. Hazlett of Butler.

On November 15, 1959, an Open House was held with public tours of the new wing. Senior High youths acted as guides, Deacons served refreshments, and organ music was provided by Mrs. Helen Grimm and Miss Joyce Wencil. James Rogers was in charge of playing sacred recordings in the basement tour area, Choir Director Marian Catlin and organist Joyce Wencil provided special music for both morning and evening dedication services.

It was a great occasion when formal dedication ceremonies were held at 4 P.M., Sunday, November 15, 1959. The Service of Dedication for the new Christian Education Unit was led by Dr. George F. Keichner of Erie, General Presbyter and Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Lake Erie. Other church officials present were: Dr. G. Mason Cochran, pastor of Glenshaw Presbyterian Church, who was the speaker; Rev. Paul Bauer of Corry, moderator of the Presbytery of Lake Erie; Rev. Howard F. Hazlett of Butler, former pastor of Hasson Heights for 20 years; and present pastor Rev. Louis Evert.

The afternoon services began with an organ presentation by Joyce Wencil, then a congregational hymn, The Churchs One Foundation, as well as invocation and scripture readings by the speakers. Mrs. Thomas Burchfield directed the junior choir in an anthem, and six of the junior choir members stepped out to sing another special anthem.

On January 15, 1964, a Mortgage Burning Ceremony was held at the church. The congregation was free of debt. Lawrence E. Hidinger, stewardship chairman of Session, ignited the mortgage; James A. Nelles, president of the Board of Trustees, held the burning mortgage; and Rev. Donald W. Bracken, with a wary eye to the proceedings, provided the container for the ashes.

(information compiled and provided by Clair and Barbara Bayne.)