The Monday meeting of the History Buffs at the Brass Pelican Restaurant in Elk Grove on August 15, 2001, was chaired by Dr. J. Wilson Ferguson, Recording Secretary of the Sullivan County Historical Society. His talk was about an event which took place in the southwestern part of Sullivan County not far from Eagles Mere where in 1864 Peter Armstrong began a building program and hundreds of people dreamed of the day when they could climb into heaven from that location high in the mountains.
The timeframe for this happening was in the 19th century when new ideas came about involving women's suffrage and the right to vote for women, prohibition and religion. Utopian communities were established. This was the era of Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and Mormonism. A style of existence, which we later came to know as communism, came along, and communities sprang up with a socialist bent that held that Christians could exist through cooperative rather than competitive activities.
Armstrong, like the followers of William Miller known as Millerites, preached the coming Second Advent of Jesus Christ. These men believed that the end was approaching, that the rapture was coming. It didn't happen as either predicted. The people who sold their houses and stood on hilltops in white robes awaiting the arrival of Jesus Christ were appeased by being told there was an error in arithmetic. Dates were recalculated and people again primed--but again it did not happen. When Jesus did not appear, October 22, 1844, became known as the Great Disappointment. Miller disappeared, but many continued to believe that the end was coming and continued to lead Christian lives.
One of those people that truly believed that the advent would take place was Peter Armstrong, the subject of Dr. Ferguson's talk. Armstrong was born in 1818. He lived in Philadelphia, had a small store, collected rags, sold tinware and odds and ends as a peddler and had saved some money. He was convinced that something went wrong with the advent that should have happened in 1844. Armstrong developed his own theology. He felt that nothing had happened previously because the earthly kingdom was not ready. People were not prepared. He thought that what was needed was a gathering of people leading pure Christian lives to witness his return in a prayerful way to await His return. He felt that if people believed this, it would happen.
Armstrong was not seminary educated, but read and believed the Bible, especially Isaiah 43:19...
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
His preaching was "In the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord." He felt God wanted him to lead the preparation and thought that he could collect a gathering of Christian people far away from Philadelphia. High on a mountain in Sullivan County, far from the sins of the city, would work just fine. He wanted a united society of believers. He believed that if the society had money, the individual members would not need money, but could live together in common with common property.
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Peter Armstrong wanted to build a building--a temple--as the "centerpiece" of the community. The temple would be a gathering place for Christ's return, a place where Armageddon would take place rather than in some valley in Israel. This is where Jesus would come because this was the place where people lived pure Christian lives. It was never built, but the plans were there. |
Drawing from the Philadelphia Inquirer
in its edition of March 10, 1901
Armstrong's location was a mile and a half west of Laporte on Route 42 toward Eagles Mere. If you go there, look for the historical marker. Park and walk around. This is the place where Armstrong bought 181 acres in 1850 for $450 and later expanded it to 600 acres. He sold lots according to a plan of the city which mirrored the street names in Philadelphia. The design of the settlement was a perfect square with the proposed temple in the middle. Lots were 20 feet by 120 feet, hardly large enough for a present-day structure, but many bought more than one lot. By 1853, Armstrong had sold more than 300 lots, but nothing was ever built there. Nine or ten buildings were built nearby and a large house was occupied by the Armstrong family.
Dr. Ferguson estimated the peak population at "less than a hundred." All residents had to have a sincere faith in heart and spirit. "Love the Lord with all your heart and all your mind" was the centerpiece of the community and the type of person that Armstrong wanted to live there. The problem was that there were not as many people who exactly fit that description as he thought. Many came for economic reasons. Life in Celestia was hard work and required a strong wife and a number of hard-working children. Many came because it was free room and board and for those on hard times in Philadelphia the appeal was that it would be a good place for a free ride. Farming was the chief means of support, with wool and maple products at the top of the list. As in all rural communities, apple trees were planted. Armstrong continued to sell lots and contributions to the welfare of the community occasionally were received. The community continued with its "stay pure and stay remote" philosophy. Armstrong kept a workshop, schoolhouse and printing plant near Celestia.
Armstrong advertised for people to buy land and live in Celestia by publishing a monthly newspaper in Philadelphia and later in Celestia which he called the "Day Star of Zion." The paper was sent to his faithful followers. His message was simple: on the last day on earth, which he said was near, when all the other people on earth would perish, the people of Celestia would be saved.
In 1864, one of the followers got drafted to serve in the Civil War. This didn't fit in with the objectives of the community--there was no worldly obligation to serve in the military. Armstrong talked to everyone from leaders in Harrisburg to President Lincoln asking that the follower be exempted from serving; after all, serving in the military would destroy his faith and his opportunity to serve this glorious opportunity. Armstrong actually had a face-to-face with President Lincoln. Lincoln was sympathetic and exempted everyone living in Celestia from serving in the military. He extended the same privilege to the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, .
Armstrong believed that he really was in God's County in Sullivan County and that the settlement should not be a part of our Commonwealth. He wanted an act of the legislature declaring that residents of Celestia were not part of Pennsylvania. The Grand Poobahs in Harrisburg told Armstrong that he was a property owner and a part of Pennsylvania. He could either give up his land or give up his faith. Armstrong’s dream that the property would remain in the "eternal care and possession of God" was dashed.
Armstrong's response was to deed his Zion city to "Almighty God." The deed was recorded in the court house June 14, 1864, but did not provide for a plan for the paying of taxes to Sullivan County. When asked for the tax money, Armstrong's response was that the tax collector should ask the owner of the land for the money. The deeding of his sacred ground known as the "city of God" became distinct from all other ground in Sullivan County and the nation.
Armstrong felt that since the land was deeded to God and not owned as a worldly property, taxes should not have to be paid. Property taxes continued to build up year after year on the 600 acres, but Armstrong simply ignored the notices. Authorities didn't ignore the fact that taxes were not paid. After a few years, the tax authority came to the property to demand the tax money. They decided to take Armstrong's sheep in lieu of money in order that some revenue to pay the taxes would be paid. Armstrong was indignant and maintained that the sheep were God's sheep and would never leave Celestia via the bridge leading from the property.
The sheep hadn't received that message and easily walked across the bridge and followed the tax collector. Dr. Ferguson pointed out to his audience that there are other accounts of this incident, but that this story "should have been true whether it was or not." The story was greeted with disdain by Armstrong's followers who realized that he did not have the power that he claimed that he had. Some followers left the settlement immediately. Around 1876, the property was sold at a tax sale to A. T. Armstrong, a son of Peter and Hannah Armstrong.
For a senior project, D. Wayne Bender, a former student at Lebanon Valley, wrote a paper on the subject of Celestia. It was later expanded into the booklet "From Wilderness to Wilderness: Celestia." If you would like to continue studying the history of Celestia, copies are available from the Sullivan Museum for $10. Other references are the Wilkes-Barre Times in its edition of November 5, 1907, and the Philadelphia Inquirer in its edition of March 10, 1901. Thanks go to Dr. Ferguson for his telling of the story of Celestia
