This file part of www.watertownhistory.org website

 

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church

 

Congregation founded in 1849

 

1866 Church at 207 N Fourth St location demolished in 1960

 

 

1866

 

The church was erected in 1866, the year following the close of the Civil War.

 

St. Luke's dates back to a congregation that was organized before 1849. The first secretarial records speak of councilmen whose terms had expired and new men were elected. This secretarial record is dated Jan. 7, 1849.

 

In the year, 1849 the congregation was incorporated under the name of "The Evangelical German Church, Watertown, Wis."

 

In 1909, with the Rev. Herman Sterz as pastor, the congregation was reorganized and incorporated under the name "(German) Evangelical Lutheran Church," a confessional church body in unity of faith with the Lutheran Church of the Wisconsin Synod. The church known as St. Luke's Lutheran Church had been associated with that synod since that time.

 

1940

   12 13 1940

 

Rededication services were held at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church to mark the completion of a remodeling and redecorating program.

 

The old vestry was removed and a new one built in its place. There was also a second new vestry on the opposite side of the altar. This work was done by men of the parish. It greatly improved the appearance of the church's interior. The pulpit, which for many years dominated the altar, was moved to a new position at one side of the altar.

 

The redecorating was done by Schmutzler's Paint Store and the color scheme and designs throughout were beautifully blended.  A new carpet was laid, a gift from Henry Hafemeister of the Hafemeister Furniture Store.

 

To mark the dedication there were two services; one in German and the second in English.

 

1947

   01 30 1947

The high winds and heavy snows toppled over the large chimney at the old St. Luke's Lutheran Church on North Fourth St. WHS_005_543

 

1949

   11 03 1949

 

Celebration of 40th anniversary of establishment as in Evangelical Lutheran Church communicant member of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Wisconsin and Other States.  Some 540 souls.

 

1955

   08 18 1955

 

St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran congregation, through its board of trustees, last night authorized the sale of its present church property in North Fourth Street as well as the parsonage at 312 South Fourth Street and delegated Verne Halle of the Verne Halle Co., realtor, to negotiate the sales.

 

The sale of the properties is in line with the overall plans of St. Luke's congregation to build a new church and parsonage in the Seventh Ward. Plans for the new church were first announced in the Times on March 4 when it was reported that the congregation had purchased a three and one-half acre tract of land in the Henry Schaller subdivision for $10,000 as a site for its new church edifice. Officials of the church, together with the pastor, the Rev. I. G. Uetzmann, have been at work on overall plans for some time.

 

It now appears likely that the work on the new church will be undertaken in the near future.

 

1955

   08 19 1955

 

Congregation authorized sale of N Fourth St church property (church, 207 N Fourth and caretaker’s house (Frank Schwefel resident), 203 N Fourth) as well as the parsonage at 312 S Fourth St.  Church services, while once only in German, were concentrated in English in 1955, although some German services will still held at the time.

 

1955

   11 14 1955

 

St. Luke's Lutheran Congregation, which is soon expected to begin work on the construction of a new church edifice in the Seventh Ward where it has acquired property in the Henry Schaller development, is going to offer its old property, fronting on North Fourth Street, as a site for an off-street parking lot. The offer is expected to reach the City Council at its next meeting. At one time the city did show interest in the site, when off-street parking lots were first being discussed. It was also learned today that at least one, and possibly more offers from others who own downtown sites, will be made to the council for the development of off-street parking areas.

 

1955

   12 08 1955

 

There appears little likelihood at this time that the City Council will purchase either of the two latest properties being offered for off-street parking lots. The two offers which were made at the Nov. 15 meeting of the council were those of St. Luke's Lutheran Church council and the Watertown Implement Co. The church property fronts on North Fourth Street, where the present church is located. The property includes the caretaker's house to the south of the church building and part of the property runs through to North Fifth Street by means of a small alleyway. The Watertown Implement Co. property is at 309-311 South First Street.

 

1956

   05 10 1956

 

The City Council by a 3 to 1 vote last night decided to offer St. Luke's Lutheran congregation $25,000 for its property in North Fourth Street for off-street parking lot purposes. The offer includes both the church and the caretaker's residence adjoining it. Councilman Raymond F. Franz told the council that while he is a member of the congregation that fact has nothing to do with his request that the offer be made. The congregation plans to build a new church in the seventh ward where it acquired a three and one-half acre site in the Schaller Addition last year. The church offered the site to the city on several earlier occasions the first asking price having been reported as $40,000. In the event the city buys the property it will also have to bear the cost of demolishing the buildings and leveling the area and make it ready for parking.

 

1956

   06 08 1956

 

Pending plans to have the City Council purchase the old St. Luke's Church property in North Fourth Street and convert it into an off-street parking lot received severe setback last night in the form of a vigorous protest petition filed with the Council by 56 taxpayers who own property in the vicinity. The Council at a recent meeting voted to make an offer of $25,000 for the property and this offer is now pending before the congregation. The city, however, has as yet made no commitment to carry through the deal if the church membership approves. The petitioners state that converting it into a parking lot will deteriorate the value of property in the region and will provide a nuisance and that their privacy will be disturbed. They also cite the fact that the general area is already served by other parking lots not too far removed.

 

1956

   08 18 1956

 

The City Council has sounded the death knell for the plan to purchase the St. Luke's Church property in North Fourth Street for the sum of $25,000. The congregation plans to abandon the site when it builds a new church in the Schaller Addition in the Seventh Ward. The old church property had been proposed for a new city parking lot. The vote was 3 to 2, with Councilman Raymond F. Franz, sponsor of the resolution, and Councilman Frederick Harder casting the only votes to purchase the property. Councilmen E. A. Biefeld, B. V. Krueger and George Shephard voted “No” on the measure.

 

1960

   01 28 1960

 

Final services to be conducted in Fourth St church before its demolition.  Congregation moved to new church at S Third and Clark Streets.

 

1960

   03 23 1960

 

Yet another significant Watertown landmark, St. Luke's Lutheran Church, disappeared from the city's scene. It was replaced with a beautiful asphalt parking lot. Work on demolishing the old structure began with the loss of the roof and continued with the wrecking of the brick edifice.

 

The North Fourth Street church property was acquired by the Wisconsin Telephone Co. which used it and other nearby property for developing a new city parking lot which it will turn over to Watertown to replace the city's South Fifth Street parking lot adjoining the telephone company building. The company will use the present lot for expanding its Watertown plant and installations.

 

Cross-References:

No 1: 1875, Rev John H Brockman becomes pastor

No 1:  Image available, 1928, 75th anniversary of City of Watertown, PC_133

No 2:  Image available, 1955, Caretaker’s home adjacent to church, WHS_005_002

No 3:  Image available, 1960, Demolition in progress

No 4:  In 1981 the joint school operation was established. The school was named Trinity-St. Luke's Lutheran School, or TLS.