St. John‘s Lutheran Church: istory History 101 (1891- 1956)
Compiled by Nancy
Passehl
- History
records that on May 24, 1891 ten men and two women, inspired by the word of God
and desiring to begin worship in a newly acquired building in
Sauk City,
met with Rev Pichler of Mazomanie where they had been worshipping. He presided over this congregation from
1891-1893. The building was described
as the small red brick church with the door on the west side and many trees
around it. The church was located at
922
Madison Street.
| First 12 members of St. John's |
| Albert Fischer |
Phillip Hamm |
| Henry Ruessler |
Adolph Gergolla |
| Charles Schultz |
Andrew Kahn |
| William F. Streuber |
Theo Mueller |
| Carl Hanusa |
Christian Wink |
| Kathrina Pohlman |
Dorothea Pillup |
The congregation was to be known as
St
John’s
Evangelical Luthern Chruch. The constitution was drawn up and signed by
the twelve members. Worship services
were conducted twice a month in the German language. German was discontinued in 1930 during Rev.
Rath’s time.
New church at Fourth and Washington Streets Prairie Du
Sac
The congreation grew in numbers and more space was needed. The Univeralist
congreagtion in Prairie Du Sac disbanded and their building was abandoned. The
church was purchased in December, 1911 and dedicated in January 1912. A
parsonage was built on
Fourth
street. A new puplit and altar were dedicated and
electric lights replaced the bracket lampson on the wall.
In 1918 the church was raised and held in place by poles resting on stones
while a basement was excavated. This room was built for the Sunday school. Between 1919 and 1929 a major remodeling
project took place in order to modernize the church interior. This work included new emorail windows among other
things. The was was $3,011.39 which was paid by the Ladies Aid group.
In 1941, the
50 anniversary was observed. A special project that year included
a new furnace. An addition on the south side of the church was built to make
room for a heating plant. A sacristy,
chancel and organ room was added with a furnace room and rest rooms downstairs.
The basement was enlarged for more Sunday school rooms and the church parlor
for social functions.
A church
decorator was engaged to redecorate the church interior. On December 12, 1943
this unit was dedicated.
New Parsonage – 1955 - A new parsonage was built on
First Street
where the congregation had
purchased land from the Village of Prairie du Sac. On May 8, 1955 the new home
for the pastor was dedicated. The first occupants were Pastor Behrens and his
family. Pastor Behrens accepted a Call and moved to Reedsburg in 1956.
Pastors
1891 - 1956 |
| Pichler |
1891-1893 |
| George Sandrock |
1893-1895 |
| F. Eigenmann |
1895-1904 |
| Conrad Meyer |
1904-1912 |
| F. Lambertus |
1912-1918 |
| A.C. Zeilinger |
1918-1921 |
| O.C. Bliese |
1921-1927 |
| John Keiser |
1927- 1929 |
| David Rath |
1929-1944 |
| Elmer Henrichs |
1944-1950 |
| James Behrens |
1950-1956 |