January 2008 FALL PILGRIMAGE This Room Was Small and the Flooring Could Not Accommodate Heavy Steel the 2007 Fall Pilgrimage of the Commis- Shelves

"WE are the end-product of our history." FLASHBACKS Revealing glimpses of our creative past

Official newsletter of the UNITED METHODIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN

Vol. 34 No 1 January 2008 FALL PILGRIMAGE This room was small and the flooring could not accommodate heavy steel The 2007 fall pilgrimage of the Commis- shelves. By 2001, plans were started to sion on Archives and History was held move the materials to the first floor of the Saturday, October 7, at the Wisconsin building. Conference Headquarters in Sun Prairie. The meeting convened in the newly re- In 2007, all the archival materials were furnished archives room on the ground moved to the space on the ground floor. floor. Steel shelving is now used to hold the material. There is also adequate work Mary Schroeder opened the meeting space. Money from the Memorial Funds with a presentation on the history of Ar- has been used to order a display case chives and History in the Wisconsin Con- which will be in the foyer outside the Ar- ference. One of the earliest and best chives. known historians was the Rev. Herman Block. He prepared and published sev- A service of dedication of the Archives eral accounts of the origins of the Evan- followed this historical perspective. The gelical and then the Evangelical United Rev. Jeff Nicholas led the service. The Brethren Church in Wisconsin. The Rev. space and its furnishings were dedicated Block wrote most of his materials in pen- to the Glory of God and for service in the cil. After his death, his historical material Wisconsin Annual Conference. This was was given to the State of Wisconsin His- done in loving memory of the Rev. Rich- torical Society. ard (Dick) O'Neill, who was so instrumen- tal in preserving the history of the confer- In 1988, at the time of the EUB-Methodist ence. Dick also served as president of merger, some of the historical materials the Wisconsin Conference Historical So- were stored at Methodist Manor in West ciety. Allis. Other materials were placed in the Conference Museum in Greenfield. Later The United Methodist Church in Waupun some of the materials were moved to the recently published an outstanding history Algoma Boulevard United Methodist of the congregation. Marsha Schaub, a Church in Oshkosh. When the confer- member of the church and the daughter ence office was opened, the materials of the woman who promoted the history, were again moved to the third floor of the gave some information about the writing conference office building. of the books well as helpful hints about gathering and organizing material. 2

About twenty years ago, Joan Grube Wi- stored in acid free folders. Take out old ese carefully documented her family his- paper clips. Avoid using glue on preser- tory, but then also organized and re- vation of historical papers. corded the church history. She sorted and organized church records but also used Local church records should be sent to microfilm of old newspapers and hand- the archives. These include land records, written memories. Unfortunately, physical membership records, church histories illness halted her work, but she left in- photographs and artifacts. Lynn distrib- struction on how to complete the work. uted materials on record guidelines for Her daughter, assisted by her brother, a local church historians as well as informa- brother-in-law and her husband com- tion about what should be kept and what pleted the work and had the book pub- should be discarded. (Note: If you want a lished. The impetus to have the work copy of this material, either contact me or published came with the 1994 Sesquicen- the Archives office. ED.) tennial of the congregation. Two members of Archives and History, Mrs. Schaub then gave helpful hints who have published books on local about collecting material and preparation United Methodism, Sandy Kintner and of a history. These included genealogy Lois Olsen, talked about their books , ma- records and church records, including terial and means of publishing. administrative board minutes, quarterly conference minutes and committee re- The meeting closed with an outdoor bar- cords. Other materials were found in the becue with burgers and brats, thanks to State Historical library in Madison and the Jeff Nicholas. What a delightful way to Conference Archives in Sun Prairie. close the day, sitting on the sunny lawn of Long-time members of the congregation the conference building, enjoying both provided personal recollections. food and conversation with others of like mind. She recommended that the amateur his- torian ask for help from people who are We hope to continue to revive the fall pil- knowledgeable about printing and pres- grimage each year. Perhaps you have a entation. Printed copies of the book were suggestion of a church or area that would sold but copies were also presented to provide insight and history to the Wiscon- local libraries, Methodist Archives and the sin Conference. local historical society. PORT WASHINGTON Lynn Lubkeman, the conference archivist, On October 14, 2007, Port Washington presented information about material United Methodist Church celebrated the needed for saving records. Preservation 150th anniversary of the founding of their boxes should be acid free. Photos should church. The preacher for the morning be kept out of light and stored in plastic service was Bishop Linda Lee. Following sleeves. Paper that is older that fifty the morning worship there was dinner at years is more stable than present day which aspects of the history of the con- material. The papers, again, should be gregation were presented. 3

In 1840, the Ohio Evangelical Association In 1903. the Epp family came from She- spent the Rev. John Lutz to explore mis- boygan to Port Washington. The son, sionary work in Wisconsin. A few years George Edward Epp, consecrated himself later, the Rev. J.G. Miller, an Evangelical at the altar of the church to the Christian missionary, stopped in Port Washington ministry. He married Cora Runkel, a to conduct services for the first time for a member of this church on September 3, small group of Protestant Christians. Port 1907. He later became the Bishop of the Washington was part of the Menomonee Eastern area of the Evangelical Church Circuit and was known as the Ozaukee and this congregation deems it a great Mission. The organization of the congre- privilege to have recommended Bishop gation occurred in 1857, under the minis- Epp to the Christian Ministry. try of Henry Huelster from Sheboygan. The name Emanuel Evangelical Church The Ladies Aid Society was organized was adopted with services in German. September 1900,with 41 members and Services were usually held in homes. the Women's Missionary Society was or- The Sunday school was established in ganized in 1919. Youth society was or- 1858 with 21 attending. ganized by the Rev. F.J. Siewert in 1896, followed by the Young People's Alliance The first church building was erected on in 1919. These young people took an ac- the corner of Jackson and Milwaukee tive interest in the Forward Movement, Streets in 1862. Articles of Incorporation which was sponsored by the church at were filed with the Secretary of State on large. The budget plan of finance was in- August 18,1865. The first parsonage troduced in 1918, and the Young People's was purchased at this time, located on alliance went out in teams and collected Wisconsin Street. Dr. Milton Siewert, long $4,415.00 which was $1,115.00 more time member of Grand Avenue Church, than the budget called for. The Christian was born in this house in 1894, during Endeavor replaced the Young People's the time that his father, F.J. Siewert, was Alliance in 1942. pastor. All preaching services during this time The congregation began to consider the were in the German language, with the erection of a larger building in 1898. The exception of the Sunday school and following year an acre of land was pur- young people's work which was done in chased on Grand Avenue. The north side English. In 1912, however, the congrega- of the land facing Grand Avenue was ten tion voted to have all services conducted feet below the level of the street. The in English. At the time of the 75th anni- south side was a high gravel hill. It took versary on October 20, 1932, Port Wash- forty days of volunteer labor on the part of ington was still a mission church, but a the men of the church fill in the lot with very successful congregation of 134 gravel from the hill. A Parsonage was members. built in 1899. The next year, 1900, the second church structure was built adja- During the 1940's. a number of improve- cent to the parsonage. ments were made. A Hammond electric organ was purchased. Stained glass windows were given as memorials by a Although not all the appointments had number of church families. Several mem- been installed, the first service in t he bers donated a new sanctuary pulpit, pul- new sanctuary was held on April 23, pit chairs, altar and baptismal font. 1967, exactly one year after the conclud- ing service in the old building. They serv- Grand Avenue Church had a National ice of transition began in the Fellowship Service Roll of honor of eleven men Hal with the Call to Worship and Invoca- fighting in WWII. During this time, any- tion. During the singing of the hymn,"On- thing German was thought to be unpatri- ward Christian Soldiers," (which was the otic, so the Evangelische Gemeinschaft last to be sung in the old structure,) the sign was replaced with the title in English. congregation left the Fellowship Hall and proceeded to the new building. The Centennial was celebrated in 1959 with the return of Bishop George Epp as Another dream of the congregation was guest preacher. Feelings were running the purchase of a new parsonage in high that the church needed to grow. The 1976. The old parsonage next to the new Century Club had been formed for the church was razed in 1980. This improved purpose of raising money to build an the appearance of the church and greatly Educational Unit. Ground was broken on increased the visibility from the street, A May 31,1959. The addition was com- Bell Tower, using the original bell from the pleted and dedicated in May, 1960. In old 1900's church, was built on the site of 1964, the congregation voted to build a the old parsonage. Dedication of the Bell new sanctuary on the same site of the old Tower was October 3. 1982, as a part of building. The last service in the old the 125th anniversary of celebration. sanctuary was held on April 24, 1966 and demolition of the building took place in A fire was discovered in the church about May. The Cornerstone laying was held on 9:00PM on March 11, 1984 by a police- August 26,1966. man on routine patrol. The fire was found to have been caused by an electrical In July 1966, the congregation purchased short in the narthex ceiling. Heavy dam- the Shell Oil Company buildings immedi- age was done to the narthex and much ately east of the church, thus providing smoke damage to the sanctuary and of- parking space for the parishioners in the fices. The $100,000.00 cost was covered large back yard of the garage. The by insurance and repairs were completed building itself was retained as a rental in a matter of months, while Sunday serv- property for many years, providing in- ices were held in the Fellowship Hall. come needed to offset the mortgage ex- pense. In 1988, the Port Washington Fire A Cambridge 785 Rogers organ replaced Department burned these buildings as a the Hammond electric organ, which no training exercise. The old underground longer could be operated. This compre- gas storage tanks were carefully removed hensive two=manual organ was a gift and the entire property was developed as from members of a family of the congre- a parking lot. gation. The organ was dedicated on Oc- tober 11, 1992. 5

The Werking Dairy property immediately same time, a new roof was applied to the west of the church was for many years a church sanctuary. dairy store, where milk and ice cream were sold. It was extensively remodeled Material taken from the history of the and expanded into a full-time restaurant congregation and operated for a number of years,but eventually closed. In 1997, the congre- ZION gation purchased the property. It has provided additional parking space. Members A COUNTRY CHURCH of the congregation cleaned out the res- In 2000, as we marched into a new cen- taurant equipment, thus making the facil- tury, the congregation of Zion United ity usable for church activities. Two days Methodist Church on Highway F west of a week, the building is used by the Wis- Baileys Harbor in Door County,celebrated consin Department of Transportation for its 125th birthday. We recited the number drivers licensing. easily and often, but could any of us- An interesting contemporary celebration even those whose families were here at of Jesus' Last Supper was presented at the beginning- really picture the world of the Maundy Thursday Service on April 9, 1875? 1998. Twelve men of the congregation Abraham Lincoln had died and the Civil presented each of the twelve disciples in War had ended just a decade before. a most meaningful and memorable serv- Wisconsin had ceased to be a territory ice in the Fellowship Hall. only 27 years earlier and Door County The woman's organizations of Ladies Aid and Baileys Harbor, its first village and and Missionary Society were dissolved the first county seat, were just 24 years since the late 1980's. This was due to so old. The settlements of Egg Harbor, many women working full time and not Ephraim, Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay wanting to attend evening meetings. In were newer yet, and not even a path 2003, however, several women decided through the forest connected them. that there as a strong need for fellowship Travel was almost solely by water. Mail among the church women. Out of this and supplies had be brought from Green need, the Awesome Women's group was Bay, a round trip that in winter could take conceived. They are an all church nearly week across the ice. There was women's group, meeting four times dur- no bank and only a few small stores, but ing the year. The fall meeting was de- there was a newspaper - the four=page veloped into a retreat weekend, followed Sturgeon Bay Advocate, founded in 1862 with a Christmas party in December, and A hard life awaited the pioneers. These informal meetings in March and June. were hardy souls, attracted by the prom- Necessary repair of the roof of the Edu- ise of owning their own land. In 1867,the cational unit needed to be done in 2004. Wisconsin Commission on Integration The entire roof was rebuilt and at the had distributed a pamphlet that painted a rosy picture of "58,000 acres of wild land in Door County" available at an average English. It wasn't until 1925-26 that Eng- cost of $1 an acre. Even better, the fed- lish was the sole language used. eral government's Homestead Act en- compassed 3,000 acres, and $10. would In 1919 Emmanuel Church was struck by buy 160 acres for any man who would lightning and burned. The small congre- live on the land and improve it. gation managed to erect a new building, but many of the members drifted away ad It was a time of tremendous growth in the the congregation disbanded ,leaving Zion state, and among those who made their the only northern member of the Door way to Door County and settled in then County Mission until Calvary Church in Maple Grove area were a group of Ger- Egg Harbor was completed in 1924. For man families. For the most part they a time, a church in Nasawaupee was were members of the Evangelical Asso- served once a month. The Zion pastor ciation and they were eager to maintain also served the Fish Creek Community their religious ties. Church.

The first Evangelical congregation in In the `40s, the old wood stove that had Wisconsin had been organized in Green- warmed Zion through 'many a frigid winter field. Now the Zion Fellowship, as it was was replaced with an oil burner. In the called, was the second Evangelical con- '80s, when the oil burner began to gregation in northern Door County when smoke, a gas wall furnace was installed. it was established in 1875. The new Calvary Church was completed in 1965. The Rev. Emil Rhode, pastor of Em- manuel Church in Sister Bay, also served Stephen Polster, the son of Dorothy and Zion. Martin, was the first member of Zion to enter the ministry. He served as a sum- On July 16, 2006, Zion celebrated an- mer assistant to the Rev. Shepherd for other milestone - the centennial of it's two years in the '70s and graduated from church building. For 31 years, members seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. All of his sib- held worship services in their homes and lings and their spouses were present for in the log Maple Grove School but the a special service at Zion, on July 5,1998, desire of church building became a reality celebrating his appointment as superin- when an acre of farm land was donated tendent of the Winnebago District. In to the Board of Trustees. 2004, he was named assistant to Bishop Linda Lee. While most Evangelical churches in Wis- consin began to conduct services in Eng- The booklet printed for Zion's Centennial lish about 1900, German was the only in 1975 included this poignant question: language used at Zion until 1918. The "WIII our farms again attract young fami- Rev. William J. Abe, Zion's pastor from lies or will we just age and die?" How 1917 to 1923, initiated Sunday School in amazed the congregation of 30 years ago English. Morning and afternoon services would be to see their church today. were in German and evening services in 7

When the Rev. Don Heeringa held his bers from other denominations began to first service at Zion on June 28,1992, he appear. Myrtle Johnson's mother, Anna, found six people in the congregation, rep- added a wing to her home to handle the resenting a total membership of 17. To- crowd, and from the early '60s until day, Zion has 94 members, including as- 1994, she was the hostess of dinners in sociates and affiliates, and more than one May and October, providing all the china, summer Sunday has seen nearly 80 peo- silver and chairs -no plastic or paper ever ple crowded into the pews. Many of graced her tables! Often more than 100 these are summer residents who return were served in about three hours. There year after year. While maintaining ties was never a set charge, just a basket for with their home church, they also play an donations and at least one time the total active role. was more than $600. Some of the money the ladies earned was used to re- A Composition book contains a detailed furbish the church in the early 1970s. description of the founding the Zion La- dies Aid Society on November 14, 1928. Today the money-makings dinners have The by-laws the ladies adopted specified been replaced with pot-luck picnics. In that each should entertain the group once recent years, there have been three each a year and that the hostess "shall serve summer. There is an annual pre- no more than five articles." Each member Christmas party for year-round church was also to furnish a cake at each meet- members. The smells, the tastes, the fel- ing and to pay 25 cents per meeting in lowship carry on the Zion tradition begun dues, whether present or not. The original so long ago. group disbanded in 1933, but was revived two years later with new charter mem- Hymn sings on two summer evenings bers. have become a tradition at Zion and through the community since they were Shared meals - welcome respites from started in 1993. Record attendance to the the seven-days-a week job of farm- date is 146, representing 13 different de- ing- became a Zion tradition and were nominations. often hosted by a family that had just butchered a cow or hog. During the war In 1996, a tie with Zion's past was reborn years, the rationing of butter, sugar and when the words "In the Cross of Christ I coffee created a hardship for those who Glory" were repainted on the wall above hosted the dinners, and it was suggested the pulpit. A long-ago paint job had cov- that the affairs become potlucks. Dona- ered them, but once again, as in the be- tions of 25 cents for each adult and 10 ginning, they are a focal pint for worship- cents for each school-age child were re- pers' attention. Other important events quested. that year were the formation of a Circle of Prayerline and the installation atop the In the 1950s, the Ladies Aid Society be- steeple of a cross in the memory of Frank gan serving dinners as a money-making and Agnes Gauger. And to accommodate venture. Word of the wonderful food the ever=growing crowd, land was do- spread fast in the community, and mem- 8 nated to expand the parking lot and than$1,000 to One Great Hour of Shar- cemetery. ing, the fourth largest amount in the state. Evelyn, for many years an integral part of During the oil crisis in the 1980s, it was the work of Zion, felt a strong call to enter decided that Zion would close after the the ministry. She served her first pastor- Thanksgiving Eve service and not re- ate in 2002. She is now the associate open until Easter. Members attended pastor of the First United Methodist Calvary during the winter months. After Church in Neenah. much discussion, year-round worship services resumed in 1996. The criteria The obvious need for more space, for continuing was an average atten- counter-balanced by a reluctance to dance of ten. That winter the average change Zion's appearance was dis- was 21! By 2004, it has increased to 29. cussed for a long while. A drawing of the Sunday School classes for children and proposed addition and the estimated adults were also restarted in 1996. cost was presented in July, 1999. It was overwhelmingly accepted. Within weeks, Candlelight Christmas Eve services were more than half of the money was pledged initiated in 1996 and have become one of and by the time the new addition was the most-loved Zion traditions. The 2002 completed, it was debt-free. service drew 111 people, the largest crowd ever attending a service in our Zion's 125 birthday party in the summer church except for the hymn sings. Music of 2000 celebrated the new addition to by the late American Folklore Theatre the church - with a meeting room linked composer/vocalist/actor/playwright, Fred to the present sanctuary to accommodate Alley, is usually a very special part of the overflow crowds, Sunday School rooms, evening. a kitchen and - hallelujah! - indoor bath- rooms. As life continues to blossom at Zion, we have not forgotten our goal of ministering In 1975, Zion members were afraid their to others. Our goal is to give half of the church might age and die. Age, it has, but congregation's income each year to those die -not likely! May God bless its growth in need - locally and world -wide. In and vitality for another 132 years. 1963, when flooding ravaged the Mid- west, Zion members contributed an aver- Material provided by Patty Williamson, age of more than $75 each to relief ef- Ph.D forts- the highest of any United Methodist congregation in northeastern Wisconsin. In 1999, Lay Delegate, Evelyn Mingle, returned from annual conference with three honors for the congregation - the Town and Country Church of the Year Award, recognition for giving the most per member in the Nicolet District for hunger related issues and for contribution more THE SHIRLEY On the evening of October 8, there were a series of presentation on the history of COLLECTION the work in Sierra Leone. Dr. J. Steven O'Malley, the J. T. Seamons Professor of On October 8, 2007, United Theological Wesleyan Holiness History at Asbury Seminary in Dayton,Ohio hosted an event Theological Seminary, presented a de- entitled the Shirley Collection. There was tailed description of the work. He has an exhibit of artifacts, cloths and pictures written several books concerned with that came from Leslie and Grace Shirley, United Brethren history. long time missionaries in the United Brethren Church in Sierra Leone. Slaves taken from Sierra Leone were es- pecially skilled in rice cultivation and Grace Shirley was the daughter of W. H. some of them were brought to North Adams, a pastor in the Wisconsin Con- Carolina where they worked in the rice ference of the United Brethren in Christ. fields. Bunce, Island, a small island just Grace was also ordained in the Wiscon- east of Freetown, was a holding place for sin Conference. The Shirleys served in slaves. The slave pits are still there as Sierra Leone from 1943 until 1968. They well as a number of graves of both Afri- held a number of positions. They were cans and slave traders. both on the faculty of the Bunumbu Teachers College, a joint effort of the Attending the meeting in Dayton were a United Brethren, the British Methodist number of retired missionaries, including and the Anglican Churches. Les also myself, as well as a number of Sierra Le- served as mission superintendent of the oneans. United Brethren Mission while Grace was the most wonderful, gracious hostess of LAMARTINE the Freetown Mission house. The Lamartine Methodist Episcopal Grace was a woman of many gifts. She Church was organized in 1857 by the had a lovely singing voice, played the pi- Rev. Henry Requa, presiding elder of the ano with great skill and had a deep inter- Fond Du Lac District. Worship services est in the indigenous music of Sierra Le- were held in the homes of members and one. She was also an artist and there are later in the school house until the church several of her original prints from Grace building was erected in 1859. It is still part that deck my walls. of the present building. The foundation beams were hand hewn logs which could The Shirleys had no children. After Grace be seen when the building was raised to died, Les remarried. It was from the sec- put a basement underneath. An addition, ond wife that the many artifacts of the which included a front vestibule, closets, family were given to United Seminary. and an upstairs room which was used for The Seminary staff was assisted in the a dining room was built in 1867. organization of the items by Wright State University The first stoves used for heating were placed at the back of the pews; they had 10

Milwaukee paper reported the loss of $75,000. to the community.

The Lamartine congregation frequently has been yoked to other congregations. In 1881, it was yoked with Hamiston which was about 3 1/2 miles from Fond du Lac. Later it was yoked with the RockRiver Congregation which was discontinued in 1925. In 1929, the congregation became a part of the Waupun a heating surface with lids. On these charge. stoves, the women of the church made coffee and cooked quantities of oysters Extensive renovations of the building which were served in the upstairs room. were made several times. The first was This was reached by climbing a long nar- done during 1903-07. The Young Peo- row flight of steps. These suppers were ple's Class was so large there was a called "donation suppers". Tickets were need of a classroom . The upstairs room sold for 50 cents. which had been used only for storage was remodeled. Revival meeting were often held in the church , sometimes lasting six weeks or The original steeple was blown off during more. The people gathered from far and a terrific windstorm in the spring of 1918. near every night. The crowds were so The steeple was so badly damaged that it large that benches had to be placed in could not be saved. The base on which the aisles. The last revival meetings the spire sat was repaired and left that were held as late as 1915 with an evan- way until 1953 when the trumpets for the gelist by the name of the Rev. Headon in carillon bells were placed on the steeple. charge. From these trumpets, the sound of the hymns which were played automatically In 1896, the Methodist Church building from disks, could be heard throughout the was miraculously saved from being community each evening at seven. burned when a barn on the place owned Hymns were played manually every by the Lamartine Creamery caught fire Sunday morning preceding the morning and burned. Sparks set fire to the Baptist service. church and it burned down. It was located on the site now occupied by a The women's organization has long been house. Pieces of burning shingles were a part of the congregation. Originally it carried by strong winds to the Methodist was the Ladies Aid. Among the many Church and set fire to a barn nearby. It activities, they tied quilts, made articles was only by the efforts of the villagers for the Green Bay hospital and provided that the Methodist Church and other clothing for needy families. nearby buildings were undamaged. A 11

A repeated event was the Ladies Aid Fair food costs. It was decided that each at the Modern Woodman Hall. Booths woman would donate $20.00 to help the were erected where various articles were treasury. sold. The homemade candy was sold and fortune telling booths were common. In the fall of 1947, the Methodist Youth Fellowship was organized. The young On August 30, 1940 the organization was people used their meetings for devotion- chartered as the Women's Society of al studies and serious discussions. At Christian Service. There were sixteen Christmas they went caroling to the shut- charter members and they met twice a ins. They also carried out projects to month: one was a devotional and busi- help the church financially. They painted ness meeting and the second was a din- the church basement and bought paint for ner meeting which attendance as high as the outside of the building. They mowed 74 and the charge of 25 cents. Funds in the lawn, contributed to the organ fund those early days were accomplished with and purchased a pew at that time of the strawberry festivals, ice cream socials, remodeling. rummage sales, serving luncheons at auctions,and domino socials. By the 1960s, the group drove to Oakfield where they participated with that Youth In the fall of 1949 they started offering Fellowship. suppers to raise money. Some of them were pancake suppers in January and Two members of the congregation have chicken and turkey suppers in the fall. served as ordained ministers. The Rev. Donald Williams was educated at Ripon The turkey suppers started in 1959 were College and Garrett Seminary. He was complete family meals including home ordained elder in 1949. During the sec- made pies. In the first few years peas and ond World War, he served in the infantry. carrots were served, but later this was He later served the Tomahawk congrega- changed to corn which was donated by tion for three years and then was called the Oakfield canning company. In the back into service as a Chaplain at Fort 50s, the price was $1.50 and $.75 for Hood and in the Yukon territory. After children. serving the Algoma Church, he moved to Boston Seminary to work on a doctorate. When the first dinners were served there He served a number of churches in the was no running water at the church so it New England Conference. He is now re- was carried from the house beside the tired. church. The toilet was outside near the row of trees at the back door. Later to The Rev. Alvin Briggs attended Lamartine provide water, a hose was run to the Church and St. Matthew's Methodist church which made thing easier. Church, in Fond du Lac. He attended Oshkosh State Teacher's College and In 1973, the turkey suppers had to be Garrett Seminary. He was ordained elder discontinued due to the long hours of in 1957. He served a number of preparation, limited number of workers churches in the Wisconsin Conference, but mainly because of the increase in and retired in 1991. 12

On 1946. the trustees decided that the CICERO building should be elevated and a basement put under the entire structure. In In the village of Cicero, a group of farm- the basement there is a large dining room ers associated with the Evangelical Asso- that is also used as a recreation center ciation first met in 1881.The first sermon with one place set apart for the Youth Fel- was preached by the Rev. F. Dite, an itin- lowship Corner. The far side of the room erant minister. The following year, the includes a fireproof furnace room with an congregation was formally organized. oil burning furnace. There is also a Their first church building was erected in kitchen space with cupboards, sink and 1883. working area . The main entrance was rearranged. The old pews were rebuilt. The building had a door on the north that The chancel was built cross the open had a small round window above the front. door. Inside, the door to the east led to the balcony and on the east, to the jani- On June 23, 1957, a centennial service tor's closet There was also a door on was conducted by the Rev. George Reed. the left through which the women en- In March, 1966, an extensive remodeling tered to their side of the church while the project was approved. Plans included a men sat on the right side. A wainscot par- well, septic system, inside plumbing, gas tition, running through the center of the furnace and new front steps. During the church, separated these sections. In the remodeling, services were held in the front of the church to the west was the Lamartine Lincoln School Building. The "Amen Corner." This area had benches dedication of the changes were made in where some of the church elders sat an- July, 1968. nounced Amen at appropriate times during the service. In the spring of 1968, Lamartine was put on a three-point charge with South Byron During the fall, stoves were set up in and Oakfield with services at Lamartine each corner of the rear. These were box- at 8:30 AM. In December, 1974. the type - long and low with lids on top. Long South Byron congregation discontinued pieces of wood were fed to these hungry services. iron beasts. The two small benches be- hind each stove were in great demand on In 1986. further alignment was made. cold winter days. The stove pipes were Oakfield and Eden became one charge fastened to the ceiling by wires and led to and Lamartine was yoked with the Bran- the two chimneys at the south end of the don Congregation. In 2000, the Lamar- church. To light the building, for evening tine congregation merged with Fond du worship, kerosene lamps were placed by Lac Salem. The union has been suc- three white painted windows on each side cessful. This union has received recogni- while a hanging bracket in the front held tion across the conference and beyond. six similar lamps.

Material taken from the church history. In 1884, the Articles of Incorporation were drawn up. Article II states: The object 13

of the Society shall be the promotion of In 1971,a well was dug, indoor plumbing the interests of religion in our midst and was installed and a restroom was added. the spread of Scriptural holiness through- In 1973, the old school house lot across out the world. from the church was purchased and developed into a parking lot. In 1980, the Eight pastors served the congregation building was resided and a storage shed during the next 24 years. On November built. In 1984 a new communion set 15, 1906. the congregation voted to buy was purchased and a communion rail 25 cords of stone. The congregation was was installed. to break the stones, everyone helping. On December 26,1906, they voted 9 to 4 The 100th year of the congregation was to build a new building. During the con- celebrated on September,19, 1982 which struction, the congregation met in the old was the 75th anniversary of the building. Lathrop home. On September 16, 2007, the congrega- The new building was completed in Octo- tion celebrated the 100th anniversary of ber, 1907. The Rev. G Fritsche, District the church building and the 125th anni- Superintendent, led the dedication serv- versary of the congregation. During the ice, when the Rev. Herman Koten was morning service, the sermon was given the pastor. by the Rev. Dr. Bener Agtarap, who had served as pastor from 2002 through The congregation observed a series of 2006. He and his family were natives of changes. Services changed language the Philippines. from German to English. The church records also changed language but it was The morning's service was attended by a not until 1920, that the minutes were re- number of former pastors as well as chil- corded in English. In 1921, electric lights dren and grandchildren of pastors. replaced the oil lamps. In 1928, wood Other guests came from as far away as was still being burned in the furnace. In Tennessee, Michigan and Minnesota. 1929, the wood furnace was replaced by a coal furnace and in 1946, to an oil fur- Material prepared by Audrey Thiel nace. The building was redecorated in 1937, and the steeple was repaired in 1938.

In 1955, a new entrance was built and new chancel furniture was built to re- place the well worn pieces that had been used for half a century. A dedication and dinner helped to celebrate this achieve- ment in 1957. This was the 75th anniversary of the congregation and the 50th anniversary of the church building.