| Notes |
- Clara lived at home and worked in the coat alteration dept. of Scruggs Vandervoort and Barney Dept. Store for 16 years. After her mother had a stroke, Clara quit and took care of her until she passed away. She and her father continued to live in the home and Clara did the same type of alteration work at Famous-Barr Co. She retired some years ago and after her father's death in 1944 continued to live in the family home until a few years ago when she became a resident of the Good Samaritan Home on South Broadway, St. Louis, Mo.
She still maintains membership in the Evangelical Church which was originally located at 23rd and Washington and attends services and Ladies Aid meetings frequently.
This church, Bethany United Church of Christ, has within the last two years united with Peace Church and is called Bethany-Peace United Church of Christ and is located at 11936 Bellefontaine Road.
The following article appeared in a neighborhood newspaper in 1971:
Symbol of Merger
New Old Tones at Bethany-Peace
Two old bells from Bethany United Church of Christ will provide new tones for the newly-merged congregation at bethany-Peace United Church of Christ, 11936 Bellefontaine Road.
The Bells ahve hung in the tower of Bethany Church at Red Bud and Rosalie Aves. for 56 years and ahve now been moved to the new quarters. They are temporarily located on a platform at the right of the entrance of Peace Church. The merger was approved Feb. 22, 1970, and incorporated January 14, 1971. In 1879, the ladies society (Frauen Verein) donated the bells for the church at 23rd and Washington St. They are called Mary & Martha. Clara Hoffman a long time member at Bethany, provided funds for the moving of the bells.
"The Bells at Bethany Church have been very dear to me, always," she says. "At the old church at 23rd & Washington the bells would ring every Sat. evening at 7:00 P.M. I can remember back as a child, my grandmother and I would walk up the block to the Church, she telling me the story of Mary and Martha living in the little town of Bethany. Living near the church most of my life and hearing the bells ring over the years, I enjoyed them and I hope and pray that Mary and Martha will continue to ring many more years for others to enjoy."
A tower for the bells is to be built as soon as funds can be obtained.
The membership of the new congregation is 1000.
From "Hoffmans 1662 - 1972"
Compiled by Bernice Reinhardt
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1889 - 
, d. 28 May 1944 (Age 83 years)