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. Transcribed by James W. Sternitzky PhD, in 2006.
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