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Zion Lutheran Church
1870 the church held its first meetings in homes and old buildings connected with the old Gillespie Mill and Querbacks Wagon Shop. The first church was a modest frame church that served for 31 years; the parsonage was built in 1881.
Services were conducted in the German language until around 1938, and then discontinued due to W.W. ll One Sunday out of the month the service would be held in the German language.
The church was sold in 1901 to the Christian Church and was used by them until they built their new church. The Christian church then sold the old church, that later became a grocery store at the corner of Macoupin and Easton Street. It became the Red & White Store owned by John Russell. The store was destroyed by the 1948 tornado.
The Lutheran parsonage and old school house were sold in 1907. The school became part of a dwelling across from the High School, and the old parsonage was destroyed by fire.
The present church was built in 1901 and a new 9 room parsonage was built in 1907. Zion owned a large parcel of land behind and to the west of the church. The church sold land beside the church to the railroad in 1904.
Addition to the church in 1914 and the parish house in 1921.
The old parish house was moved to the Richard Sies farm to make room for the new educational building. The new building was dedicated in January of 1965. Zion then bought the old C.C. Bunn house next to the new educational building in order to enlarge its property. The house was originally intended to be used as rental property, instead it became the new parsonage in June of 1967. Later that house was moved to 419 E. Elm after having been purchased by Lane Willis.
In November 1967 a train derailed next to the church, but by the grace of God the church suffered very little damage.
1870 the church held its first meetings in homes and old buildings connected with the old Gillespie Mill and Querbacks Wagon Shop. The first church was a modest frame church that served for 31 years; the parsonage was built in 1881.
Services were conducted in the German language until around 1938, and then discontinued due to W.W. ll One Sunday out of the month the service would be held in the German language.
The church was sold in 1901 to the Christian Church and was used by them until they built their new church. The Christian church then sold the old church, that later became a grocery store at the corner of Macoupin and Easton Street. It became the Red & White Store owned by John Russell. The store was destroyed by the 1948 tornado.
The Lutheran parsonage and old school house were sold in 1907. The school became part of a dwelling across from the High School, and the old parsonage was destroyed by fire.
The present church was built in 1901 and a new 9 room parsonage was built in 1907. Zion owned a large parcel of land behind and to the west of the church. The church sold land beside the church to the railroad in 1904.
Addition to the church in 1914 and the parish house in 1921.
The old parish house was moved to the Richard Sies farm to make room for the new educational building. The new building was dedicated in January of 1965. Zion then bought the old C.C. Bunn house next to the new educational building in order to enlarge its property. The house was originally intended to be used as rental property, instead it became the new parsonage in June of 1967. Later that house was moved to 419 E. Elm after having been purchased by Lane Willis.
In November 1967 a train derailed next to the church, but by the grace of God the church suffered very little damage.
