Union Gospel Press
May 6th, 2007
On January 5, 1895 in Annandale, New Jersey, The Reverend Mr. Musselman and seven women from his church began a home missionary ministry that is now known as the Gospel Worker Society. The purpose was to reach homebound people in their communities and to encourage people to receive Jesus Christ. The purpose was accomplished through missionary meetings of different venues. In 1896 a womens and a mens Society were formed. In 1897 the name of the Women’s Home Missionary Society was changed to the Gospel Worker Society because the women had become known as “Gospel Workers.”
In its early years, the Gospel Worker Society had no literature of its own. In 1902, the G. W. S. Herald became the nondenominational magazine of the Gospel Worker Society. The first editions were printed by an outside company in Williamsport, PA. It was called the Herald Publishing House. In 1907 the Herald Publishing House and the Gospel Worker Society moved from Pennsylvania to new headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. For a few years the fifteen-building complex on the corner of West Seventh Street and Jefferson Avenue was sufficient. In 1922, after much expansion and several name changes, what had begun as the Herald Publishing House came to be known as Union Gospel Press.
The Reverend Mr. Musselman conducted chapel services for the missionaries of the Gospel Worker Society and he encouraged the missionaries to deny themselves and to follow Jesus. The Society and Press continued under the leadership of the Reverend Mr. Musselman until his death in 1938 when his youngest daughter, Miss Mary E. Musselman, was elected president.
As the number of publications increased, Union Gospel Press was remodeled and enlarged. Despite the changes, it was determined that an up-to-date, one-story plant would help production. It was in 1950 that Union Gospel Press and the Gospel Worker Society moved to their present location at the corner of Brookpark Road (State Route 17) and Broadview Road (State Route 176).
Courtesy of: The Incorporated Trustees of The Gospel Worker Society and Union Gospel Press
Entry Filed under: Buildings
5 Comments Add your own
1. Mike L | March 17th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I have been inside this building and all I can say is “Wow!” A friend lived on Jefferson and took me twice. I would definatly like to go back for pictures. There is a wooden locker room type area. A large cafeteria done in small tile with two huge vault doors. A courtyard with a large tree sculpture in the middle reaching to the building. It was like catacombs in the lower levels. I can go on and on. Amazing.
2. Mattie | July 19th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I live by the Union Gospel Press Building, and I tell you the work they have been doing to the building is awesome.
I know that this is a historical site and they have to restore a lot of things as they were but I doubt that the inside will look the same as you seen it because there are a lot of changes going on inside, there are walls where there were none and also openings in the brck where there were none… I hope they leave a lot intaked, but it will never look like it did inside like in the early days.
3. jerleen | July 28th, 2008 at 5:54 am
The work being done on the Gospel Press Building has and is creating a series of adverse conditions for individuals and families living adjacent to the property especially on the College Avenue side. These developers are in the profit making business and are no concerned with anyone’s quality of daily living. We have been robbed of the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of our homes for more than a year and will continue to do so for a long time to come. There are elderly citizens, who have lived in this specific area for decades, and the dust from this building as well as the surrounding work area (West 7th Street) causes chocking and coughing to the extreme that they gag and vomit. The dust has caused damage to our electronics, clothes and other personal property. The noise is mind blowing - causing headaches, hearing problems, the inability to hear TVs, radios, and makes it even difficult to have a telephone conversation. The clambanging from the metal on the street makes it impossible to sleep day or night. There are people that work two (2) jobs and are going to work with little to no sleep as it is. It is hot, muggy and sticky and most of us do not have air conditioners and being on limited income cannot afford them or pay for the electricity to run them and we are forced to keep our windows closed to maintain even the slimmest relief from the noise and dust. We should not be forced to live this way - it is cruel and inhuman. Children have been put at risk with the unsafe conditions left in front of the building with out safe guards. This whole mess is abhorable.
The street work that caused such intolerable conditions was done without permits and the work was finally shut down by an inspector. This does not say much for the owners and developers of this project. Even if improvement is good - in this case the price being paid is too high. The quality of life is the greatest wealth one can have. Ours has been taken.
4. Eileen | August 8th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Please contact Tremont West Development Corp. for any
concerns, etc. We are not part of Tremont West and really
have no input.
5. Tammy | August 25th, 2008 at 6:44 am
What is this building being used for today?
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