Fire Destroys Tredyffrin Church

by Marge Worth

Fire destroyed St. Joseph’s Church on Yellow Springs Road, Devault, Tredyffrin Township, early yesterday morning.

Paoli Fire Chief, Les Hughes, directed more than 100 firemen from five companies who responded to the alarm at 4:10 a.m. Hughes said the fire could have been started by an electrical wall plug in the basement of the church but that has not yet been fully determined. He said that the damage could be in excess of $100,000. State Police and county fire marshals were at the scene.

Hughes said the fire was reported by a truck driver on the Pennsylvania Turnpike who reported it to a nearby home.

“Flames were shooting through the roof when I arrived,” said Hughes. He said there was no fire hydrant in the immediate area of the church but he had two large water tankers at the scene, one from Kimberton Fire Co., the other from West Whiteland Fire Co.

The firemen worked at the scene until noon, said Hughes.

John Alleva, a member of the church who lives just half a mile from it, said he heard the fire whistle and at that time his daughter-in-law, Mrs Daniel Alleva, who lives across from the church, telephoned to say the church was on fire. “Flames were shooting through the roof when I arrived,” he said.

Alleva said the church, built in 1921, is a mission church of St. Patrick’s Church in Malvern, and has about 300 members. The Rev. Francis McDevitt is the pastor of St Patrick’s. The assistant pastor, the Rev. William McGowan, often conducts masses at the church.

“The church is dear to my heart,” said Alleva. “The ground was given for the church by my mother - who has since died - in memory of my father, Joseph Alleva.’

He said the church was remodelled 10 years ago with a new roof, new pews and the basement remodeled and a new kitchen installed. Two months ago, he said, they installed new rugs throughout at a cost of $2,500.

Alleva said they had recently insulated the entire church to save on fuel bills and were considering conducting two masses on Sundays because so many were attending that some had to stand on the steps of the church.

In addition to the Paoli Fire Co. other companies at the scene were Malvern, West Whiteland, East Whiteland and Kimberton. Standing by for those fire companies were Berwyn, Goshen, and ambulances from Downingtown’s Minquas company and the Uwchlan ambulance.

Daily Local News 6/3/1979