Downtown Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Old Salem Church

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 3, 2020

1. Old Salem Church Marker

Inscription. The church which stands at S. Third and Chestnut Streets is the oldest standing church building in Harrisburg, erected in 1822. It however represents the second building on this lot granted by John Harris, Jr. for religious purposed when the Borough of Harrisburg was laid out in 1785. The first church was a log-constructed meetinghouse erected in 1787 on the rear portion of the property at the corner of S. Third Street and Cherry Alley (now vacated) and was shared by two congregations, those of the Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed Church. The two worshiped together until 1814 when the Lutherans decided to go their separate way by purchasing land on S. Broad Street upon which they erected the original Zion Lutheran Church. The German Reformed group continued to use and improve the log meetinghouse which was weather-boarded on the exterior by 1804. In 1818, the congregation became formalized as “The German Reformed Salem Church of Harrisburg” and in 1821 ground was broken on the front portion of the lot facing Chestnut Street for the present building. Upon the dedication of the building on June 21, 1822,

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the church’s bell, brought from London, England, was installed in the tower cupola. In July, 1863, portions of the church property were used as a hospital for Confederate prisoners injured in the Battle of Gettysburg. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the church building, which later became the Salem United Church of Christ, escaped demolition of the surrounding urban renewal activities of the 1960s. It beautifully survives as an important Harrisburg landmark.

Erected by The Harrisburg History Project Commissioned by Mayor Stephen R. Reed.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania, The Harrisburg History Project series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 21, 1822.

Location. 40° 15.609′ N, 76° 52.755′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Downtown Harrisburg. It is at the intersection of Chestnut Street and South 3rd Street, on the left when traveling north on Chestnut Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 231

Photographed by Larry Gertner, March 25, 2017

2. Old Salem Church Marker

This is a previous iteration of the marker from 2017. The wording and formatting is exactly the same.

Chestnut Street, Harrisburg PA 17101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Old Salem Church (within shouting distance of this marker); 22 South 3rd Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Executive Mansion (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thomas Morris Chester (about 500 feet away); The Peanut House (about 500 feet away); T. Morris Chester (about 500 feet away); Strawberry Square Phase II (about 500 feet away); Kunkel Building (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Old Salem Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 3, 2020

3. Old Salem Church

The Old Salem Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, March 25, 2017

4. The Old Salem Church

National Register of Historic Places plaque on the church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 3, 2020

5. National Register of Historic Places plaque on the church

Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 1,232 times since then and 87 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 4, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on March 27, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on July 4, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on March 27, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5. submitted on July 4, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.