1883 - 1983
CENTENNIAL HISTORY
 OF
 ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

By Mrs. Adelia Helm

Part 2: 1905 to 1952

In 1905, the congregation had grown to about 50 families. This was the year they planned on building a new brick church and a school on the south end of the building with folding doors - so it could be used for church purposes.

Those members who served on the building committee were: Ferdinand Helm, Gottlieb Hillert, David Konschak, Louis Moh, Ernest Sternitzky, Henry Sternitzky, Philip Wegner. The contractor for the brick building was Fred Fiebke, with the members furnishing the labor and hauling material. The total cost of the brick building was about $6,490.00.

Photograph: Red Brick Church

The red brick church was built in 1905. October 3, 1920 was placed in the tower.

On November 26, 1905, the celebration began with a service closing the "white frame church" followed by a procession to the new church for the dedication ceremonies. The organ which had been moved accompanied the singing of hymns. - "Now Thank We All Our God", "Praise To The Lord, The Almighty, The King of Creation".

The following year, the white frame building was sold. It was moved to Granton, where it was used as a post office building for many years, on 2nd and Main street. It still is standing there, unoccupied. In 1906, Pastor Gerike received and accepted a call to Watertown, Wisconsin, He was succeeded by Revered Buenger, of Stanley, Wisconsin. After serving us three years, Reverend Buenger accepted a call to Fredonia Wisconsin.

Photograph: Kerosene light fixtures in the red brick church.

In 1907, new light fixtures were installed in the brick church. These beautiful kerosene lamps, in the form of two large chandeliers, were hung from the ceiling.

In 1909, Reverend Samuel Rathke, of Hurley, Wisconsin accepted the call to our parish. The congregation and the school continued to experience gradual growth.

Photograph: Old Parsonage & Church.

This parsonage was used until 1914 when a new one was built.

In 1912, Pastor Rathke accepted a call to Villard, Minnesota. He served us 3 years.

Photograph: Confirmation Class of 1912 Carl Sternitzky, Edward Marg, Raymond Sternitzky,
Ernest Schmidtke, Henry Helm, Arnold Kelpin, Selma Gotter, Julia Rathke, Lovelia Sternitzky,
Alma Rischer, Rose Viergutz, Martha Holz.

In 1912, Reverend Martin Hasz was called from Chippewa Falls. His transportation used to call on members was his horses.

Photograph: Horse Transportation. Rev. Martin Hasz and his mode of transportation.
Picture was taken about 1912.

By 1914, there were 51 voting members of the congregation. The Envelope System of money collection was adopted by 1918.

Photograph: Parsonage of 1914. Notice porch on east side and water pump on lawn.

In 1914, a new modern parsonage was completed. The parsonage is still used as the pastor's home. Different remodeling has been done on various years. The old parsonage, that Reverend Rathke lived in, was sold.

Photograph: Parsonage with different remodeling. Taken in the fall of 1982.

Mission festivals were held regularly on the 2nd Sunday of August. The services were held outdoors in the grove where board seats were set up in amphitheatre style on the side of the hill. A permanent speaker's platform was built, big.enough for a Reed Organ, choir and speaker's stand to facilitate these services. Mission Festivals were also a social occasion for members of the congregation. A dinner was served at noon in the grove with a refreshment stand, which all added to the attraction for Mission Festival Service.

September 30, 1916, the village of Granton was incorporated.

October 24, 1917, Zion Ladies' Aid Society was organized. The first meeting was held at the home of Mrs. H. C. Witte, with 12 ladies attending, 8 ladies joined the Aid.

The first officers were: President, Mrs. Ferd Heim; Secretary, Mrs. Adolph Pusheck; Treasurer, Mrs. H.C. Witte. They met in homes until 1925, when the basement of the brick church was ready to be used for Aid meetings. When the Congregation bought the Reichert property, the house was fixed inside for Ladies Aid, Congregation & Walther League meetings.

In 1917, one of the more important developments that took place, was the use of the English language, which was held, alternating with the German service. By 1925, English was being used on a regular basis. Parochial school was taught by Reverend Martin Hasz. In 1920, the young people of the congregation formed an organization called the Walther League, affiliated with the National Society. The choir flourished under the direction of Pastor Hasz. The brass band frequently was used to accompany the hymn singing in the church service.

Photograph: Brass Band William Sternitzky directed the brass band.
Left to right: Leo, Gilbert, Ray, Joseph, Edna, William Sternitzky (father).

October 3, 1920, the church bell was placed into the tower of the brick church. This same bell, 40 inches in diameter, (1200 lbs. in weight) was later transferred into the tower of our new church, in 1959.

Photograph: Church with bell. Notice the bell in the tower and new cement steps of the church.

Photograph: New shrubbery was planted between the parsonage and church.

1925, Sunday School was started, using the English teaching material. The gradual change from German to English was also used in parochial school. After 1925, confirmation classes were held in English. German services were still held occasionally during the early 1940's. By 1948, there were no more German worship services.

1925, Rev. Hasz received a call to Luxemburg, Wisconsin. Our vacancy Pastor - Reverend H. Wegner of Spencer, Wisconsin. Reverend Martin Hasz served us l3 years.

July 8, 1925, Reverend Theodore Martens accepted a call to Granton. Under Reverend Martens leadership, the Walther League grew to 70 young people. In 1926, Reverend Martens divided the League into a senior and junior society.

Ladies Aid joined L.W.M.L. and had their quarterly topics with Ladies Aid Meetings.

January, 1927 was the beginning of the A.A.L., Aid Association for Lutherans.

1927, Reverend Theodore Marten received a call from Dover, Delaware. The congregation asked Reverend Marten to reject the call and it was sent back. But Dover, Delaware, sent the call back again. Reverend Martens said "It must be God's Call.", so he accepted. He served us 2 years.

During the school year of 1926 - 1927. Mr Oscar Wilde, a student of Concordia Teacher's College, River Forest, Illinois, served as a teacher, organist and a youth leader. Those years, students came out of college for one year, to vicar in churches.

Harry A. Kriefall, a student of Springfield Seminary, served here as a teacher and assisted the pastor.

April 16, 1928, Carl Hoeh, from the Seminary in Springfield was called to serve as teacher, church organist and as assistant to the pastor.

May 23, 1927, Reverend V.M. Keiper accepted our call.

Photograph: Ladies Aid Organization During Rev. Kieper's Ministry
Rev. Keiper, Mrs. ---, Mrs. Arnold Worchel, Mrs. Louis Elmhorst, Mrs. Art Chubb,
Mrs. Clarence Nowack, Mrs. John Trimberger, Mrs, Fred Capelle, Mrs. Anna Martin,
Mrs. H.C. Witte, Mrs. Louis Nowack, Mrs.,Elda Bartz.
Second row: Mrs. Wm. Bartz, Mrs. Adolph Lichte, Mrs. Ella Sternitzky, Mrs. Fred Garbisch,
Mrs. Dan Nickel, Mrs. Dora Moh, Mrs. Ferd Helm, Mrs. Frieman, Mrs. Keiper, Mrs. Ed Hillert.
Third row: Emma Riedel, Margaret Foemmel, Mrs. Henry Schuelke, Mrs. Dick Elmhorst, Mrs. ---,
Mrs. Fred Sternitzky, Mrs. Herman Bartsch, Mrs. Herman Hasz, Mrs. Henry Elmhorst, Mrs. Adolph Pusheck, Mrs. Henry Helm, Mrs. Ferd Dahl,
Fourth & fifth row: Mrs. Ed Sternitzky, Mrs. August Gotter, Mrs. Fred Handkey,
Mrs. Albert Schlinsog, Mrs. Fred Bartsch, Mrs. Oscar Bartsch, Mrs. Walter Schlinsog,
Mrs. Clarence Chubb, Mrs. Anita Hillert, Mrs. Louie Nickel, Mrs. Fred Ross, Mrs. Hattie Schultz,
Mrs. Adolph Schune, Mrs. ---, Mrs. Henry Beilke, Mrs. Fred Elmhorst.

Reverend V. M. Keiper served us four years and September 7, 1931, he resigned. Then Reverend Carl Hoeh consented to serve as the full time pastor until a successor could be found.

May 23, 1932, Reverend Arthur H. Laesch was called.

September, 1932, Lutheran Pastoral Conference was held in Zion Lutheran Church, Granton. The Pastoral Conference of North Wisconsin District of the Evangelical Lutheran, Missouri Synod met in Zion Lutheran Church, Granton, September 13 - 15. About 100 pastors from all parts of Northern Wisconsin and Northern Michigan, were in attendance. Several papers and essays of the doctrinal and practical nature pertaining to the work of the church and synod were read and discussed. Sessions were held each morning and afternoon. One evening, a Pastoral Service was held. All pastors present partook of Holy Communion. During their stay the pastors were entertained by the members of Zion. Dinner and supper were served at the church by the Ladies Aid.

September 19, 1932, Reverend Carl Hoeh received a call to Siegel, Wisconsin.

October of 1932, Herald Panning, a student from Concordia Teacher's College, River Forest, Illinois served here as a teacher, church organist and youth leader.

May, 1933, the congregation observed its 50th Anniversary of the congregation. Pastors who served as guest speakers: Rev. Gerike, Rev. S. Rathke, Sr., Rev. Carl Hoeh. 1934, Hugo and Minnie Trimberger started custodian work in the former brick church and continued this work for 43 years, before they retired in 1977.

Photograph: Custodians - Hugo and Minnie Trimberger

In the red brick church, they fired a wood and coal furnace on Saturdays, late Saturday nights and very early on Sunday mornings, so that it would be warm enough for Sunday School and worship services. They also took care of firing the three wood stoves in the Ladies Aid House where catechism classes, Ladies Aid, Walther League and Congregational meetings were held. There was also lots of snow to be shoveled around the church. If the snow was really bad, many of the members came to help.

1946 - 1947 - The last year the school was held in the red brick church.

Photograph: School Picture During Term of 1946 - 1947
First row: Lila Stemitzky, Elaine Trimberger, Jeanette Schlinsog, Kermit Lauterbach.
Second row: Merlin Gerber, Richard Harlin, Wm. Naedler, Jr., Wm. Nickel, Duane "Jim" Marg, Norman Helm. Third row: Patty Sternitzky, Fred Bartsch, Jr., Joyce Schallock, Donald Bartsch, Walter Gerber.
Fourth row: Erland Marg, Robert Scheel, Thomas Freestone, Donald Stemitzky.
Fifth row: Lowell Gerber, Dale Trimberger, Charles Riedel, Wm. Schallock, Merlin Sternitzky,
Teacher - Armin Schoof.

THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOL TEACHERS

During Pastor Hasz's ministry, his daughters, Ruth and Clara, and Mrs. Walter Trimberger served as part-time and full-time assistants.

After 1925, students were called from college for one year. Six of these teachers married girls from our congregation. 1926-1927 - Oscar Wilde; 1927-1928 - Harry Kriefall married Ida Retta; 1928-1932 - Carl Hoeh married Bertha Hahm; 1932-1935 - Harold Panning married Lavern Gotter; 1935-1938 - Ray Rosenthal; 1938-1941 - Paul Grass married Edna Hasz; 1941-1942 - Fredrich Zehnder; 1942-1943 - Marvin Wenck married Lorraine Garbisch; 1943-1944 - Alton Wedel; 1944-1945 - Paul Dietz; 1945-1946 - Norman Hannemann married Dorothy Moh; 1946-1947 - Armon Schoof; 1947-1948 - Norman Vanderheid; 1948-1940 - Eugene Schmidt; 1950-1951 - Thomas Speckhard; 1951-1952 - Wayne Chapman; 1952-1953 - Edna Sternitzky; 1953-1956 - Irene Kussman; 1956-1959 - Irma Klusinski; 1959-1963 - Ruth Garbisch;

August 5, 1963, at a meeting, the decision was reached to discontinue the parochial school.

Photograph: 1960 - Parochial School - Zion Lutheran
Front row, left to right: Mary Lou McHone, Marvin Sternitzky, Gloria Sternitzky,
Mary Schreiber, Daniel Sternitzky, Linda Moh.
Second row: John Schreiber, Roger Hasz, Kenny Witt, Gloria McHone, Elsie Garbisch.
Third row: Gayle Montgomery, Paul Spaete, Darwin Schlinsog, Colleen Montgomery, Rene' Dudley, Joyce Dahl. Back row: Teacher - Ruth Garbisch, Jim Young, Leonard Reich, Douglas Witt, Lois Moh,
Helen Schreiber, Connie Montgomery.

1940, the effects of the "2nd World War" showed up in the life of the congregation in several ways. About 44 young members (men & ladies) were called away to service. A plaque, with all the names of who went into service was placed on the side of our Hammond Organ.

In 1941, the congregation purchased 225 newly published Lutheran Hymnals. Some members bought extra hymnals in memory of deceased relatives.

In 1942, the 2nd parish house (Reichert Building was remodeled to provide the needs of our congregation for Ladies Aid, Walther League and congregation meetings.

During the leadership of Reverend Laesch, there was a growth in membership.

July 6, 1944, Rev. Laesch received a call to Superior, Wisconsin. He was granted a release. He had served us 12 years. The vacancy pastor was Rev. Lloyd Goetz, Pittsville, Wisconsin.

1944, Reverend Wm. Lauterbach of Waupaca, Wisconsin accepted the call to Zion Lutheran Church, Granton.

Photograph: Rev. Lauterbach and teacher Paul Dietz taken in 1945.

November 26, 1944, at a Special Meeting, the official name of the congregation was revised to read, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, omitting the word German from the original title of May 14, 1883.

Photograph: Parochial School taken in 1961. It was purchased in 1947. The building is now used by Chet Stillman in Granton. January 21, 1946, an electric Hammond Organ was bought for $2,056.00. It is still used in our present church. In 1955, organ chimes were bought for $400.00. April, 1947, the congregation bought a school building from Sherwood District which was moved to the east of the former brick church. This building served as our parochial school until 1963.

In January, 1948, the church council made a motion to start summer Bible School - today we call it Vacation Bible Class. Some of our members remember having classes in the "Reichert Ladies Aide House".

In November, 1948, Reverend Lauterbach accepted a call to Mayville, Wisconsin.

Early in 1949, Reverend Arthur Oswald accepted the call to Granton.

Pages 8 to 14 of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

1883 - 1983 Centennial Book

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Transcribed by James W. Sternitzky PhD, 2004