Our History

At the beginning of the Twentieth Century, the village of Beecher was 30 years old, and the area was developing rapidly. Businesses included general stores, blacksmiths, hotels, and saloons. Other establishments sold lumber, hardware, furniture, and farm equipment. There were two grain elevators, two doctors, two banks, a creamery, and a printing office.

The surrounding area was populated by successful farmers, most of whom were German homesteaders. The C.E.&I. Railroad serviced the area with twelve stops at the Beecher Depot each day. Joliet, and other towns goods arrived daily, and milk and grain were shipped out.

Three German Lutheran Churches were located in the rural area: St. John's Lutheran Church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and St. John's Lutheran German Evangelical Church. Two churches were located within Beecher. In January 1902, the German Evangelical Saint Luke Church was organized and the building dedicated in September 1902 on the corner of Woodward and Penfield Streets. The congregation Church members, organized in 1872, voted to replace their original wooden structure with a new brick church on the corner of Penfield and Elliot Streets in December 1903.

1903 also brings us to the incorporation of the EVANGELISH LUTERISCHEN ZIONS GEMEINDE which at this time is referred to as Zion Lutheran Church Beecher. The initial register, as shown here, contains the names of seventeen men in the order of signing. They are considered as the Founding Fathers of Zion Lutheran Church:

Herman Thuernau, Henry Stade

C. B. Boicken, Martin Arfmann

Ed. Langreder,Fred Schuette

Fred Kegebein, J.W. Knuth

Wm. Rump, H.F. Wilke

Wm. J. Hinze, H. Seitz

Wm. Ahrens, Henry Hartmann

H. Behrens, Ernest Fette

Louis Stade

 

Also at the December 27 meeting, a Building Committee was organized and Wm. Rump and Wm. J. Hinze were appointed to solicit subscriptions for a church building from the Founding Fathers.

With the new organization of the new Zion Lutheran Church underway, the new congregation began holding services (all in German) in the Village Hall on Woodward and Penfield Streets. On February 18, 1904, the congregation issued a Call to Rev. L. J. F. Going of Elmore, Ohio and voted to join the Missouri Synod.

From the beginning, the intention of the Founding Fathers was to erect a structure to house both the church and school. At a meeting on Sunday. May 1, 1904, building plans were completed. The undergcroft (ground floor) would be used for a school, and the upper level for a church. Three lots on Indiana Avenue were purchased for $400 and construction soon began. Rev. Going accepted the Call and was installed as Pastor on June 12, 1904. His responsibilities included pastoral duties as well as teaching all eight grades of school. The cornerstone was laid on June 26, 1904, and the new church was dedicated to the glory of God on October 16, 1904. Total cost was $6,900, which included interior furnishings.

It was a joyful and thankful day for the members of Zion Lutheran Church. As they offered praise to God, the members joined in singing two meaningful hymns:

 

"Here, in Thy name, eternal God,

We built this earthly house for Thee.

I choose it for Thy fixed abode,

And keep it from all error free."

and

"Now thank we all our God,

With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things hath done,

In whom His World rejoices."