This file part of www.watertownhistory.org website

Trinity Lutheran Church

Established 1916

Trinity Lutheran School

10 06 2004

Trinity Lutheran Church of Watertown, 605 S. Fourth St, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its church building and the 30th anniversary of the Trinity School building.

Trinity's origin began in 1916 with English services and 13 members in St. Mark's School auditorium. Pastor Frederic Stem was called as first pastor. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church was established on Nov. 5, 1916. It was commonly referred to as Trinity English Lutheran Church.

The Ladies Aid was organized in 1917.

Buchheit Home

The first congregation met in a house built by one of Watertown's early settlers, Luther Cole, on the William Buchheit property (SW corner of Fourth and Wisconsin) which was purchased by the church in 1919. The home was remodeled and church services were conducted there for many years.

The existing parsonage was built in 1921, and by 1922, the church had 212 communicant members. Rev. Kurt Timmel was named pastor in 1932.

Trinity members had some participation in the operation of St. Mark's School starting in 1920, and Articles of Agreement for the school provided Trinity with the opportunity to call a teacher in 1933. She was Hertha Sievert, who taught for 47 years.

A building committee was established in 1945 and in 1952 plans were approved to build a new church. The old house/church was razed by Trinity members.

The new church building was dedicated on Dec. 6, 1953, with some of the remaining work finished in 1954. The stained glass windows were installed in 1962.

In 1966, the Rev. Walter Schumann was called to replace Rev. Timmel, who retired.

Trinity Lutheran School

The Trinity School Building Committee was established in 1972 to pursue its own school due to crowding at St. Mark's School.

Trinity Lutheran School was built on Western Avenue on land purchased from the city, and the school was dedicated Jan. 6, 1975. Principal was Allen Krause and the school had three teachers and 95 students. Twenty of the students were St. Luke's members.

Phillip Glende was named school principal in 1978, and Robert Moldenhauer took over in 1980.

Trinity-St. Luke's Lutheran School

In 1981 the joint school operation was established. The school was named Trinity-St. Luke's Lutheran School, or TLS. Communicant membership was 530.

The Rev. William Gabb was called to replace Rev. Schumann, who retired.

Due to enrollment growth, expansion plans for the school got under way in 1987. St. Luke's became joint owners of the school, and plans for a building addition were approved. The school was dedicated in 1988.

When James Moeller became principal in 1990, the school had a staff of nine, and 193 students.

The new organ was installed in 1991 in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the church, Communicant membership was 595. The sound system was replaced with a new sound system in 1992.

The Rev. Paul Eickmann joined the church as part-time pastor in 1995.

In 1997 a new bell system was installed. A buildings committee was established to plan for a church addition, and a heating and cooling systems upgrade.

School expansion prompted a decision in 1998 to establish a split campus. St. Luke’s built the school on Clark Street and Trinity purchased full ownership of the Western Avenue campus.

There were several changes in ministry in 1999. The Rev. Robert Voss served as interim pastor after Rev. Gabb accepted another call. Rev. Eickmann retired, and Rev. Mattek was called.

Gerald Kastens joined the church as minister of discipleship in 2000, the same year the church addition and upgrade were approved.

The new Parish Center addition and heating and air conditioning systems were dedicated in 2001.

In 2004 communicant membership was 653. The school staff numbered 15 and student enrollment was 279.

Cross-References:

No 1: Trinity Lutheran website

No 2: St. Luke’s chapter