This file part of www.watertownhistory.org website

 

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

Founded in 1854

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Website

 

1854      Founding of "Die Deutsche Evangelische Lutherische Gemeinde (The German Evangelical Lutheran Church) of Watertown on October 22 under the leadership of the Reverend Christian Sans

 

1858

12 02       Donation visit to Rev. Christian Sans   WD

 

1859

03 17          Plans for building a school house    WD

 

1863      Traveling by Pastor (and Synod President) Johannes Bading to Germany and Russia to gather funds for the establishing of Northwestern College

 

1888      Dedication of St. Mark’s New Lutheran Church  09 14 WG    Building of the present church structure for slightly over twenty-three thousand dollars, and changing of name to "Die Evangelische Lutherische Sankt Markus Gemeinde (The Evangelical Lutheran Saint Mark's Congregation) of Watertown, Wisconsin"

 

1893      Commissioning of our synod's first missionaries to work among the Apache Indians in Arizona in a service at Saint Mark's

 

1904-1944  The Rev. Julius Klingmann, 78, pastor of St. Mark’s Church, died in Neenah of a heart ailment from which he had suffered for some time.  May 03

 

1906      The finishing touches are being put on the new St. Mark's church parsonage, which will be ready for occupancy in a few days and into which Rev. Julius Klingmann, the pastor, and his family will move after Christmas. The building is a credit to the congregation of St. Mark's and to the city and has been erected on Madison Street at the end of Seventh Street [610 E Madison], making a striking appearance from the main thoroughfare of the city.

 

For appearance and convenience, it is one of the best residences in the city. It is a commodious twelve-room house with all the modern conveniences, including steam heat, gas and electric lights, hot and cold water, baths and a beautiful fire place. Down stairs there are six rooms as follows: Pastor's reading rooms, library room, alcove, setting room, dining room and kitchen. The rooms are all finished in white oak and make a striking appearance. The dining room is especially pretty, being finished in painted work with burlap background.

 

Charles Huenfeld, the contractor, certainly did an excellent job and one that has given general satisfaction. Theodore Dobbratz has likewise shown his excellent workmanship in the interior and exterior decorations. Every room is a model of neatness and reflects much credit upon Mr. Dobbratz. The mason work was done by John Diehl and is in keeping with the balance of the work.     Dec 11

 

1908

07 10 &

11 20       Decorated by A. Liebarg & Co., electric lights placed and two water fonts    WG

 

1909

07 02       Lutheran Home Corner Stone Laid; St John’s participation   WG

 

1916      Forming of Trinity English Lutheran Congregation by members of Saint Mark's who were interested in having English services

 

1928      Establishing a second pastoral position at Saint Mark's

 

1956      The building committee of St. Mark's Lutheran Church today called for bids for the new parochial school the congregation will construct this summer.  Bids will be received up to 4 p.m. on May 7 and are to be sent to or delivered to the residence of the pastor, the Rev. Gerhard Redlin, 610 Madison Street. Theodore Guse is chairman of the committee.  Bids will be received for the general work and there will also be separate bids for the following, either separately or any combination of bids: heating and ventilating, plumbing and drainage, and electrical work.      May 11

 

1956      At a meeting held last night, St. Mark's Lutheran Church gave the “go ahead” signal for the construction of a new parish school to be erected on its property fronting on Cady Street.  Final approval of the plan was voted.  It was also disclosed that the Maas Bros. Construction Co. of Watertown has been awarded the general contract and that the plumbing and heating contract will go to the Otto Biefeld Co. while Arthur Ruesch will do the electrical work.  Plans now call for construction to begin this summer.  The architects are Edgar A. Stuebenrausch and Associates, Sheboygan.  The new school will be one story high, with full basement and will be designed to allow future expansion when the present St. Mark's School is abandoned.      May 09

 

1956      St. Mark's Lutheran congregation turned out in large numbers Sunday afternoon for the cornerstone laying ceremonies held at the parish school which is now under construction.  A beautiful fall day marked the occasion. St. Mark's Church, where a brief service was held prior to the ceremony itself, was filled to capacity.  The program opened with a hymn and this was followed by the pastor, the Rev. Gerhard Redlin, reading from the scriptures.  The choir sang an anthem and the address of the afternoon followed. It was delivered by the Rev. K. A. Timmel of Trinity Lutheran Church.      Sept 25

 

1971      Building of the church narthex

 

1981      Establishing a third pastoral position at Saint Mark's

 

1987      Building of the church's parish center

 

1995      Establish fourth and fifth part-time / semi-retired pastoral positions at Saint Mark's

 

1998

10 27          Farewell to Rev. Donald Sutton; served congregation for the past 13 years   WDT

 

2006

11 18          Church Choir Celebrates 115 Years

St. Mark's has had musical groups in its midst since the very early days in the 1850s. For many years, the male chorus provided music for regular worship services as well as for special occasions.

 

In 1891 a group of individuals received permission of the minister at the time to form a chorus of mixed voices. It was a new concept for the congregation because at that time men's and women's groups were separated in almost every avenue of church work.

 

The first organizational meeting of the choir was held on Oct. 31, 1891, 115 years ago. Later that year, on Christmas Eve, the choir made its first public appearance. They sang “Ihr Kinderlein kommet” (”Oh Come Little Children”) during the children's Christmas service.

 

Since its inception, the choir has weathered depressions, wars, changes in church life and many other things associated with the past century. (WHS_005_542)

 

2008

03 26          Professor/Rev. Cyril Spaude, 1930-2008.  Upon retirement from Northwestern College served in WELS ministries including St. Mark's   WDT

June       $4.3 million school building addition and renovation project started in June 2008.

 

2009

02 20          Dedication of new and renovated school building and music center; Professor Emeritus Daniel Deutschlander guest speaker   WDT