Other Ethnic Groups and their Churches
There were many other immigrants that came from other countries that need mentioning. In 1898, the Bethel News said that there were fifteen different ethnic groups that were living in Berlin at that time. Here are some of those different groups.
Joseph A. Wagner lived in Berlin for almost forty years. Joseph came to the United States from Bavaria and first settled in Vermont but in 1892 he moved to Berlin. He lived in a house on Mason Street. Joseph spoke English, French, and German fluently. 1916 he bought the Gerrish Block (Family Dollar today) and when he died he left much of his money to organizations like the St. Louis Hospital. (Image from Poof Tardiff)
The above video was created by a group of boys for a school project. Although there are some mistakes, this video shows us how much Berlin still plays a huge part in the lives of its inhabits. Great Job!
German Town
The Germans settled in a part of town called “German Town” (German: Deutsch Stadt). German Town was on Goebel Street. Goebel Street got its name from John Goebel, a German immigrant that owned a local business selling goods. Mr. Goebel knew his business well because his father, also named John, owned and worked at a bakery in Germany. Not a lot of Germans settled in Berlin, but the ones that did helped out a lot. The Germans were known to be good at working with iron and machinery. Many Germans worked in the mill, as so many other people did with different nationalities. They did what they were good at working on and with the machinery in the mills. Very few German families remain in Berlin today.
Population of Berlin from the United States census
Year Population
1830 73
1840 116
1850 173
1860 433
1870 529
1880 1,144
1890 3,729
1900 8,886
1910 11,780
1920 16,104
1930 20,018
1940 19,084
1950 16,615
1960 17,821
1970 15,256
1980 13,084
1990 11,824
2000 10,331
2010 10,051
1830 73
1840 116
1850 173
1860 433
1870 529
1880 1,144
1890 3,729
1900 8,886
1910 11,780
1920 16,104
1930 20,018
1940 19,084
1950 16,615
1960 17,821
1970 15,256
1980 13,084
1990 11,824
2000 10,331
2010 10,051
Cascade Village (Italian: Cascata Villaggio)
The Italians came to Berlin settled near the Cascade mill in Gorham and on the lower part of eastside. The Italians were great were great masons and they helped build both the mill in Berlin and Cascade mill. Many of them were used of doing that type of work because that is what they did back in Italy. Berlin never had a “Mafia” so to say but they had little gangs or groups, not all of them were Italian. Most of the Italians in Berlin were not criminals, but very hard workers. Once they had finished their work for the Brown Company many would get assigned to another job. Some people didn’t go back to work for the Brown Company, instead they started their own little business building houses or owning a restaurant. Berlin has large numbers of Italian families still living here and still making their delicious home recipes.
The Universalist Church
(Image from Poof Tardiff)
The Universalist organized a society in 1886 and built their church in that year. The building is 38x60 feet. The land was donated by Daniel Green on November 18th of 1886. This building was rented by many other societies and latter bought by the Jewish and made in to a Synagogue.
The Beth Israel Synagogue
(Image from www.berlinnh.home.comcast.net)
The Jewish were from both Russia and Germany and they settled near the avenues. In 1890, the first official Jewish service was held in the Hodgdon Block. Later the services were held at the home of Hyman Lewis, people also worshipped in Buckley and Pickford Halls on Mechanic Street as well. Moses Brown, R. B. Lewis, Charles Brody, Nathan Abramson and others, on Nov. 4, 1915, a charter was secured from the state of New Hampshire to form the Beth Israel. On Oct. 18, 1918, the Universalist Church was purchased for a synagogue
 The Bar Mitzvah of Eli Isaacson 1953 (front row) Jeannie Zeltzer, Eli and Mizzie Isaacson; (back row) Sadie, Frederick, Charles, and Sophie Isaacson, and Hyman Zeltzer |
 The Universalist Church (latter the synagogue) as it is today, the Heritage Baptist Church at 13 Exchange Street |
St. Barnabas Church
The original St. Barnabas Church (Image from Poof Tardiff)
The first St. Barnabas Church was built in 1888-1889. It was a gift of Mr. Henry Hart Furbish, who owned the Forest Fibre Company. This church had the first pipe organ ever in Berlin. The church was a big brown wooden building. The church was situated on the corner of Main and High Streets. In 1929 the church was moved and the one that stands today was built in its spot.
 The new stone St. Barnabas Church building |
 St. Barnabas corner stone laying by Rev. John T. Dallas Sept. 29, 1929 |
The Harvest Christian Fellowship
The Harvest Church was built in 1942 by the National Youth Administration. The NYA got its start here in Berlin, during the year 1936. It was founded as a part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal”. It began as a part of the Works Progress Administration and then it became a component of the Federal Security Agency. The Church was originally a machine shop where young boys and girls learnt how to weld excreta but eventually it took on many different operations. Today it is a place for Christian worship and has been for many years. This Church was not built by any one ethnic group but by many, being the first to do so.
- Also see The NYA Machine Shop on our Other Buildings and Landmarks page
- Also see The NYA Machine Shop on our Other Buildings and Landmarks page
The First Baptist Church
(Image from www.berlinnh.home.comcast.net)
The first Baptists lived around the Androscoggin River near the "Fiberville" company sawmill. When Berlin was young, most of it's Residents were Baptist that is why the church is called the “First” Baptist Church because it is considered to be the first religion in Berlin. As the different churches were built here, many of the followers left this religion because there was no place of worship. The first Services were held in the old Salvation Army building. The first service in a real place built for the propos of worship was in the Universalist Church on Exchange Street in the year 1895. The Reverends A.S. Stowell, O.C. Sargent, and O.R. Hunt were appointed the committee. The first meeting in the new church was on April 15, 1900.
Mt. Forist Methodist Episcopal Church
(Image from www.berlinnh.home.comcast.net)
The exact date when Methodism was brought to Berlin is not known, because some of the earliest settlers were of that faith. In 1888, Reverend Nixon of the Maine Conference held meetings in various homes. Later, as the attendance at the meetings increased, they moved to Music Hall, then to a ball in the Day Block on Main Street. As the Berlin and Gorham churches were united, Reverend Merrill came to Berlin regularly and held services on Sunday afternoons. When Berlin separated from Gorham in 1893, Reverend Greenhalgh conducted services in the Universalist Church, and later in the Whitney Opera House, which was often called "Epworth Hall." In 1894, it was felt that the society could afford a building of its own. On October 2, 1895, the present church was dedicated. After this an Epworth League was started. Since 1894, there have been a number of modern improvements. A pipe organ has been installed, a parsonage purchased, and the choir loft enlarged.
