Timeline

September 1854

Founded

Zion congregation was organized under the leadership of the Rev H. Mueller, our first pastor.

Charter members were: John C. Niemann, Henry Prange, William Whitehouse, Gottieb
Whitehouse, John Keiser, Henry Kruse, Gerd Arkebauer, Henry Mueller, Herbert Keiser and
Mrs. Nobbe

1856

The Beginning

Worship services were held at the home of John Niemann for the first two years.

William Whitehouse donated a frame house for the congregation to use for worship.

A Christian Day School was founded.

1860

Frame Church

The congregation purchased a frame church, and it was relocated to a plot of ground donated by John Niemann on the east end of Mt. Olive. The building served as both church and school. A parsonage was also erected.

1866

New Church

A new church building was erected at a cost of $10,000 with a pipe organ and bells installed soon after.

1868

Railroad

It was necessary to sell a part of the church property to the Wabash railroad. Everything possible was done to prevent the railroad company from laying their route across the church property, but all objections were over-ruled.

1886

Parsonage

A new parsonage was built

1894

School Building

A new school building was erected.

1924

Art Glass Windows

The interior of the church was redecorated, and new art-glass windows were installed.

1938

Pipe Organ

A new Wicks electric pipe organ was installed at a cost of $3,000.

1964

Building Committee

A new building committee was formed. Approximately 28 lots of ground in the southwest part of Mt. Olive along old Route 66 were purchased for a future building program and a building fund was started. However, the congregation voted not to proceed, but a
parsonage was completed on the new property in 1972.

1966

School Merge

The Immanuel Lutheran Church Christian Day School merged with the Zion American Lutheran Church Christian Day School to form the Mt. Olive Lutheran School.

1969

School Closing

In the summer of 1969, because of dwindling enrollment and rising costs, the school was closed.

1985

New Building Committee

Another building committee was appointed and in May 1985, the congregation voted to proceed with a building program. Construction began in early

1986

Tornado

Progress was delayed when a tornado struck on July 10, 1986, destroying the new building.

1986-87

Cornerstone

On September 28, 1986, the Laying of the Cornerstone took place, with a Dedication service held on February 22, 1987.

1987

Old Church Sold

On July 22, the old parsonage, school building, and contents of the old buildings, including the church, were sold at auction. The old church was later demolished.

1987

ELCA Formation

The American Lutheran Church, the Lutheran church in America, and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches merged to become the current Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.