Zion American Lutheran Church

CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS

1862 --- Church Organized

1863 --- Bought land (S.E.¼-N.E.¼-12-24-1W Town of Lynn) for $60.00.

1864 --- Church was incorporated December 25, 1864. Pastor Jacob Hoffman was the pastor.

1868 --- Pastor Friedrich came.

1870 --- Sold above land--now in the Town of Grant for $350.00.  Bought land (S.W.¼-S.W.¼-12-24-1W Town of Grant) for $350.00.

1871 --- The first church was built. Pastor J. H. Witte was called.  A four room parsonage was built.

1872 --- A barn was built.  It was decided to have a “klingebeutel”.

1876 --- Pastor Witte left the congregation.

1877 --- July 5, 1877 Pastor Fisher was installed.

1880 --- First frame church burned.

1881 --- A new frame church was to be built.

1882 --- Congregation split due to the controversy over predestination.

1884 --- Bought an organ for $189.00.

1886 --- A schoolhouse was built for $336.00.

1894 --- Pastor Fisher leaves congregation. Pastor Oertel helps out.  Mission Festival was held in the woods. December 15, 1894 Pastor Jursco was installed.

1895 --- Church bell was bought for about $400.00.

1897 --- First Christmas tree in church.

1898 --- Hymnals from Ohio came.  Pastor Jursco was released.  Pastor Wm. Hummel was installed August 28, 1898.

1899 --- Walls and ceiling of church were tinned at a cost of $352.42.  Storm did damage to barn, roof of parsonage and school house.

1901 --- Pastor Hummel left. Pastor P. H. Haas came the end of March. A new barn was built.

1902 --- A school teacher was hired.

1904 --- An addition was added to the parsonage.

1906 --- Pastor Haas asked to be released.  Pastor Jacob Reiff came.

1913 --- A foundation was put under the church.  The church was brick veneered and also lengthened. The stained glass windows were put in. The cost was between $25-$35 a window.

1914 --- The horse sheds were built.

1916 --- A furnace was put in the parsonage.

1922 --- A cemetery fence was donated by Mrs. Auguste Blake.

1926 --- Lightning struck the church steeple.

1927 --- Pastor Reiff left.  Pastor Buth came in August. We had English services twice a month.

1929 --- Teacher's house sold to Walter Moldenhauer for $500.00.

1938 --- It was decided to put in electric lights.

1939 --- The Diamond Jubilee was celebrated the last Sunday in June.  A rug was bought for the Chancel. The cost was $136.90.

1944 --- Pastor Buth left at this time.  Pastor Leonard Domke was installed as pastor.  It was voted to put in a water system and bathroom at the parsonage.

1945 --- The envelope system was started.  The parsonage was insulated.

1946 --- The old garage, woodshed and chicken coop were torn down and a new garage built for the parsonage.

1948 --- The church was remodeled and Nuwood put on the walls.

1951 --- The Baldwin Electric organ was purchased.  Cost $2475.00.

1952 --- Pastor Domke was released. The oil furnace in the parsonage was installed - also a water heater.  An oil burner was installed in the furnace at the church.  On July 15, 1952 Pastor John H. Jacklin was installed.

1953 --- A sink was installed in the basement of the church.

1954 --- Cupboards were built in the basement.

1955 --- The rest rooms and water system were installed in the Church basement.

1956 --- Pastor Jacklin left.  Pastor Marvin Beninga was installed.  Portals of Prayer  were purchased for the members. The 5-D Program was inaugurated.

1957 --- We started using ushers to usher out the people after the church service.

1958 --- We started using the new song books.

1960 --- Pastor Beninga leaves us.  Pastor Evan Dieck becomes our pastor.

1961 --- The basement was fixed and fluorescent lights were installed. A furnace room was built onto the N.E. corner of the church. Two new oil furnaces were installed.  The kitchen was enlarged.

1962 --- The basement ceiling was tiled. Our church was robbed in December.  It is estimated that around a thousand dollars was taken.

1963 --- The church trim and steeple were painted.  The ground was landscaped around the steps and sidewalks were put in.

1964 --- Our centennial was celebrated on June 14th and June 21st.  A new rug was put in the church.

 Pages 64-66 of the Zion American Lutheran Church

1864 - 1964 Centennial Book.

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Transcribed by James W. Sternitzky PhD, in 2006.