WORK WANTED: About 20 Germans, just out from the old country, are now stopping in this village for employment. Among them is one blacksmith, three carpenters, one wagon-maker, together with farmers and laborers. Also quite a number of attractive girls who want places to do housework. For further information apply to Michael Waldhier at the new grocery store.

There are still descendants in our congregation from these early members of this church.

The first church building

The very first church was a small remodeled building purchased for $300. It was located on James Street across from where St. Peter’s School is located.

In 1875, there were differences of opinions in the church over money matters and lodge membership, which eventually split the congregation. The pastor resigned and left with a number of the members. They went on to form St. Stephen’s congregation as part of the Wisconsin Synod. First Lutheran chose to be a “non-syndical congregation” at the time and did not become affiliated with a synod until 1958 when it became a member of the Wisconsin District of the American Lutheran Church. Presently, we are a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Early Organizations

The first organization was the King’s Daughters, dating back to 1888, a Bible study group, which introduced the concept of Circles. The Ladies Aid, the Lutheran Youth Organization, and the Brotherhood were other early organizations.

Church building erected in 1892

By 1892, the congregation had grown to 143 families. More space was needed. Land was purchased on the corner of North Center and West Mackie and a new church was built in 1893. This location was chosen because the church would sit high on a hill with a spire 114 feet high so “it can be observed all over town.” The builder was John Herr.

Three bells would hang in the bell tower high above the city: Gloria, the largest; the next in size, Concordia; then, Virginia. They have called us to worship through the years and were installed in our new bell tower which was erected in 2010 for our 150th anniversary as a congregation.

Church services broadcasted over the air waves

Alfred Wittmann served as pastor from 1938 to 1957. Early in his ministry, the congregation began the radio program “Christ’s Messengers.” The first program was aired over WIBU, Sheboygan and WWCF-FM, Baraboo. In 1954, the program began broadcasting over WBEV in Beaver Dam.

German & English church services offered

At this time, the congregation was still holding weekly services in German. The German service was an 8:15am, followed by two English services. By 1940, the average attendance at the German service had dwindled to nine; so, in 1941, it was held only once a month. German services ended in 1953.

The building

The church that was built in 1893 underwent major remodeling and renovation three times. The Fellowship Hall (now called Friendship Hall) was added in 1951 and the education building in 1965 in response to facility needs.

New church building dedicated in 2003

Finally, in 1999, after remodeling and rebuilding, adding, subtracting and moving as needs changed, we started to consider what to do to bring us into the new millennium. How could we help our aging, much changed, frequently redecorated, much beloved church to be ready with excitement to face a future with unknown needs and challenges? Together, we had faced wars and many changes in Beaver Dam and growth of our congregation.

So, on October 15, 2000, it was thirteen hundred families (2,294 souls) that decided to build a new church on the same site where the church had stood for more than one hundred years. It was with much emotion that we watched the church being torn down; but soon the feelings were replaced with the pleasure of seeing the new replace the old. The new church building was dedicated early in 2003.