First Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
Chicago, IllinoisOriginally known as Ev. Lutherische Zions Kirche, this German-speaking congregation was organized February 18, 1868. It was a daughter congregation of Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, and a member of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.
Steps were immediately taken to obtain the present site for the new church. In February 1868 the congregation decided in its regular meeting to purchase 5 lots on the northeast corner of l9th and Peoria (then called Johnson) Streets at a cost of $3300.00 plus 10% interest. It is interesting to note that these lots were paid in their entirety by March 16th, 1868. The congregation at this time numbered 156 members. Without delay the congregation let the contract for the erection of the new church building, the dimensions of which were 60 x 110 ft. together with a steeple 160 ft. in height. The cost of the building was to be $12,000.00. Work was begun at once and on the 14th day of June, 1868 the cornerstone was laid. The Rev. Anton Wagner and the Rev. P. Beyer officiated at the ceremony. At the church dedication held on October 18, 1868, Dir. Lindemann preached in the forenoon service, and Dr. Wunder in the afternoon service. On the l9th day of January, 1872, three bells which had been placed in the tower at a cost of $1,586.00, were dedicated by the Rev. A. Wagner.
Because of the steady growth of the congregation and of the need of more seating room, the congregation decided to enlarge and remodel the first church, at a cost of S12,000.00. The building was placed upon a stone foundation, its roof slated and the walls were brick-veneered. The entire front, together with the steeple, were removed and a new structure - including steeple - built to provide more room for the growing congregation. The remodeled church building was dedicated on the First Sunday in Advent, 1886,
The organ, which had been on display at the 1886 Industrial Exposition in Minneapolis, was acquired from the Barkhoff Organ Co. of Salem, Ohio, for $2,000.00.
Prior to October, 1868 midweek worship services were held in the Immanuel Christian Day School located on 19th Place, between Halsted and Union, by Rev. P. Beyer, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, then located on Taylor and Brown (Sangamon) Streets. This school building had been erected on 19th Place, to provide the children attending with greater safety by avoiding the dangerous crossing of railroad tracks. In 1865 a four room school building for the Zion Lutheran School was built on the corner of Union and 21st Streets. In 1878, property was purchased at the corner of Loomis Street and Zion Place (now called 18th Place) and the two-story school building was moved to the new site. In 1882 another two-story brick building was erected on the same site and the frame building was converted into a teachers' residence. At its peak the school enrollment was 915 children with 9 teachers. The school was closed in 1924 and the buildings sold.
As time went on, many of the German families left the neighborhood and moved to the outskirts of the city and the suburbs. Membership declined throughout the years and in 1956 First ZIon merged with Pilgrim Lutheran Church to form Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. The building at 19th and Peoria was sold and used for a time by other churches. A disasterous fire in 1979 left the building an empty shell with only the brick walls and tower standing. The west wall blew down in a powerful windstorm on November 10, 1998 and the remaining brick walls were torn down.
The church building is currently owned by John Podmajersky of Podmajersky & Associates, a firm involved in urban renewal in the neighborhood. The property is now called "The Sanctuary" and they have retained the original bell tower and foundations and converted them into a very private garden. It is really quite beautiful and plans are to hold special events there each year. The Sanctuary was featured in an article in the Chicago Tribune Magazine on May 21, 2000. The text of this article can be viewed at: http://wgnradio.com/shows/sundaypapers/ctm056.htm.
Pastors that have served First Zion Congregation:
Rev. Anton Wagner 1868 - 1909
Rev. Adolph Kuring 1909 - 1942
Rev. Carl Kruse 1942 - 1951
Rev. P. J. Wirth 1951 - 1956
Rev. C. L. W. Wagner 1879 - 80 (assistant)
Rev. Gotthilf Simon Loeber 1884 - 90 (assistant)
Rev. A. Lange 1890 - 93 (assistant)
J. Theo Brohm 1894-1895 (assistant)
Frederick Lindemann 1894-1895 (assistant)
Rev. Frederick Knief 1895 (assistant)
Teachers that have served First Zion Lutheran School:
|
Frederick A. Schachameyer 1868-97 |
Ernest Strieter |
Chr. Eckhardt 1890-92 |
"Sons" of First Zion Congregation who have gone on to work in the Church:
|
Paul Budach, Bay City, Mich. |
Karl J. Fricke, Aurora, Il. |
Frederick Miessler, Chicago |
The Church Records of First Zion:
Following are the church registers of First Zion and a listing of information that they contain:
|
Book One 1868 - 1878 Book Two 1878 - 1915 |
Confirmations |
Marriages |
Burials |
It should be noted that some years are not covered in the existing records and some books have missing pages. The registers are in the possession of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church:
