modern theocratic genealogy

[grain of mustard]

Brothers, especially those in the United States of America, do you have any idea which is the oldest congregation in the region where Russell met with the Bible students in Allegheny? Do you have news of what the place where Russell had his store is today, the Bible House, Brooklyn Tabernacle or something similar? Are there still relatives of Russell, Macmillan, Van Amburgh serving Jehovah? Sometimes I wonder how nostalgic it would be to be in this environment that recalls the past of our history.  

[Parale]

On 10/17/2025 at 7:48 PM, grain of mustard said:

do you have any idea which is the oldest congregation in the region where Russell met with the Bible students in Allegheny?

 

The Allegheny Congregation in Pittsburgh, PA.

 

"Through the initiative and the coordinating efforts of this Society, the work that began with one congregation in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in the 1870’s has spread to 46,235 congregations throughout the world." Centennial of the Watch Tower, page 3, paragraph 2

 

"The Allegheny congregation, the first congregation of Bible Students (Jehovah’s Witnesses) in the United States." Centennial of the Watch Tower, page 30, paragraph 8

 

Much changes over 155 or so years - congregations divide, split, merge etc - but an 'Allegheny Congregation' does still exist today:

 

https://apps.jw.org/ui/E/meeting-search.html#/?w=14A52F3F-BD0D-4D5C-BDBA-4AFDFE3AAC62

 

 

On 10/17/2025 at 7:48 PM, grain of mustard said:

Do you have news of what the place where Russell had his store is today, the Bible House,

 

Take a look at the Tour Sheet on the inside back page of the Centennial of the Watch Tower brochure - and of course nowadays you can use Google StreetView to take a look 

 

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101984015

 

FWIW here's a picture of the map from my copy of the brochure:

 

[Parale]

22 minutes ago, Parale said:

Take a look at the Tour Sheet on the inside back page of the Centennial of the Watch Tower brochure - and of course nowadays you can use Google StreetView to take a look 

 

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101984015

 

 

Here is my run down, with links to Google StreetView:

 

1: Assembly Hall - exists, still in use

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1p3JCKfAaV3WLKB59

 

2: Martin Building - presumed original demolished

https://maps.app.goo.gl/aUjYrmWPxwBVfhF39

 

3: Store Building - exists, now shop

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rre8qSDnu2rJG8xa7

 

4: Watchtower Auditorium - now used as an Anglican Parish Church

https://maps.app.goo.gl/WYWtBqwFocwfsdJP6

 

5: Carnegie Library-Music Hall (AKA Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny) - still exists

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9qy5keYTrAKfSgeX8

 

IMPORTANT: outside this venue there is a historic marker/plaque that can be seen, and read, via Google StreetView, regarding C T Russell and Jehovah's Witnesses:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oztYsrMCdtz1KFFn7

 

6: Bible House - now West Commons, demolished and rebuilt as apartment block

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iHAKMACoD4SevenE6

 

7: Garden Theatre - still exists

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XJQGHLGMjYiUN9G66

 

8: Kingdom Hall - converted (remodelled) into domestic house, more viewable from Lappe Lane

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yYstq2VwZCRxv9iN6

 

9: United Cemetery - still in use, the large stone pyramid marker/memorial has now been removed

https://jwtalk.net/topic/49887-pyramid-memorial-in-pittsburg-vandalized-and-taken-down/

 

here is the Google StreetView from August 2021 clearly showing the pyramid

https://maps.app.goo.gl/aSy6hjWhX7vhVhVt5

 

10: The Watch Tower Building - converted to the Islamic Centre of Pittsburgh

https://maps.app.goo.gl/v3mtivXRu8wLcW8KA

 

Edited Sunday at 03:54 PM by Parale

[Mike047]

Very interesting, Paul, thanks for all your effort in putting this together.

[grain of mustard]

6 hours ago, Parale said:

 

 

Aqui está meu resumo, com links para o Google StreetView:

 

1: Salão de Assembleias - existe, ainda em uso

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1p3JCKfAaV3WLKB59

 

2: Edifício Martin - presumivelmente original demolido

https://maps.app.goo.gl/aUjYrmWPxwBVfhF39

 

3: Edifício da Loja - existe, agora loja

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rre8qSDnu2rJG8xa7

 

4: Auditório da Torre de Vigia - agora usado como Igreja Paroquial Anglicana

https://maps.app.goo.gl/WYWtBqwFocwfsdJP6

 

5: Carnegie Library-Music Hall (também conhecida como Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny) - ainda existe

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9qy5keYTrAKfSgeX8

 

IMPORTANTE: do lado de fora deste local há um marcador/placa histórica que pode ser vista e lida pelo Google StreetView, referente a CT Russell e às Testemunhas de Jeová:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oztYsrMCdtz1KFFn7

 

6: Bible House - agora West Commons, demolido e reconstruído como bloco de apartamentos

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iHAKMACoD4SevenE6

 

7: Garden Theatre - ainda existe

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XJQGHLGMjYiUN9G66

 

8: Salão do Reino - convertido (remodelado) em casa residencial, mais visível da Lappe Lane

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yYstq2VwZCRxv9iN6

 

9: Cemitério Unido - ainda em uso, o grande marcador/memorial de pirâmide de pedra foi removido

https://jwtalk.net/topic/49887-pyramid-memorial-in-pittsburg-vandalized-and-taken-down/

 

aqui está o Google StreetView de agosto de 2021 mostrando claramente a pirâmide

https://maps.app.goo.gl/aSy6hjWhX7vhVhVt5

 

10: Edifício da Torre de Vigia - convertido no Centro Islâmico de Pittsburgh

https://maps.app.goo.gl/v3mtivXRu8wLcW8KA

 

1. Is this Assembly Hall the oldest? 2. What does this Martin Building refer to in history? 3. Does the Lodge Building refer to one of the Russell Family's lodges? 4. Does the Watchtower Auditorium refer to the Bible House? 5. Is Carnegie Library Music Hall where Russell joined Jonas Wendell's church? 7. I've never heard of the Garden Theatre. 8. What was this hall in the past? 10. What watchtower? My brother, I loved everything you sent me, but specify what was before and after each location. I didn't identify many locations in our modern history. Forgive my limitation.  

[grain of mustard]

I don't read anything in English