THOMAS McDONOUGH HIRST is one of the oldest and most reliable contractors and builders in Bethlehem, having been very successful in his profession, and has erected much of the finest work in this place. He is quite original in his method, and many fine architectural piles stand as monuments to his skill and ability. Born in Bath, Northampton County, Mr. Hirst is the son of Hon. Joseph Hirst, who was a native of the same county. The date of the birth of our subject is October 25, 1827.

The early years of Thomas Hirst were passed in his native town, assisting his father on the farm and attending the district schools until attaining his eighteenth year, when he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade under Charles Nagle. At the end of three years he engaged in contracting and building for himself, and continued to make his field of operations in Bath until the spring of 1865. That year saw him located in Bethlehem, where he has since continued working at his life occupation. Among the many good buildings he has erected, we mention a few: the Myers' Block, Reigle's Block, the Lutheran Church at Bath, the Mary Dixon Memorial Chapel, of Lititz, Riegel & Cortright's Globe Store on Main Street, Rauch's jewelry store, the German Evangelical Church, the Presbyterian Chapel, and the handsome residences of George H. Meyers, Dr. J. P. Scholl, Dr. Schultz, and many others. In 1893 he built his own beautiful residence from original designs, and indeed has been his own architect on many of his most elegant buildings.

In Bath, in 1850, Mr. Hirst married Miss Mary J., daughter of Henry Beaber, a native of that city. They are members of the Moravian Church, and are highly respected in social circles.

During the busy season Mr. Hirst gives employment to from twenty to thirty men, and in addition to the hundreds of dwelling houses constructed by him in this immediate vicinity, he has also erected residences in Coplay, Catasauqua, Mauch Chunk, Hellertown, Lititz and Easton. Formerly Mr. Hirst was a member of the Odd Fellows' society and Sons of Temperance. A Republican in politics, his first vote having been cast for Lincoln on his first nomination, he has been stanch and true to the party ever since; and though many times urged to become a member of the Council from the Third Ward, he has always declined to permit his name to be used, though his election was assured.