Mount Zion Road (Atlantic Northeast District), 1923-2009 | Earl H. and Anita F. Hess Archives and Special Collections

Scope and Contents: The congregation of present day Little Swatara was established in 1770 by George Klein of Lebanon County. The church grew rapidly after its founding. Since 1907, requests had been made in support of the division of the congregation. In 1919, the Lebanon church voted to split into separate congregations, the western end called “Swatara,” and the eastern end called “Little Swatara.” Within the Little Swatara region, several houses of worship were founded. This included Union House, Meyer, Light, Fredericksburg, Moonshine, Rankstown, and Mt. Nebo. As motor vehicles became common place, there began a consolidation of the meeting houses. In 1920, Light’s meeting house was combined with Rankstown, the latter keeping its name. Mt. Nebo and union meetings houses were discontinued in 1933 and 1954 respectively. Moonshine church went under expansion in 1936 but was destroyed by fire in 1960. As of 1964, only Meyer and Fredericksburg’s worship houses were in use. In 1955, the Fredericksburg meeting house was expanded, adding new classrooms, and updated facilities. The house was sold in 1970, and the congregation renamed to Mount Zion Road. Membership largely consisted of households with only one practicing Brethren. Many young people would move away from the church to serve other Brethren communities, leading to the congregation being called a “feeder” congregation.