The History of Zion's Sanctuary
Zion's sanctuary has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1879. It was in October of that year that a small frame church building on Live Oak Street near Harwood finished construction and was dedicated. Ten years later, the church building was moved to the corner of Crockett Street and Cottage Lane. The seating capacity was enlarged and a class room was added for the parish elementary school in 1889. Later a new site was purchased on Swiss Avenue between Good and Cantegral Streets. The church and school building were moved, renovated, and rededicated on March 19, 1899. In 1906, the original frame church building was replaced by a brick church building. The young people donated an Estey pipe organ for the new facility in 1907 at a cost of $1825.
In 1955, the congregation authorized the trustees to purchase 7.93 acres at the northeast corner of Lovers Lane and Skillman Avenue as the new site for Zion Lutheran Church and School. Groundbreaking for the new facilities began October 7, 1956. The facilities, which included an auditorium-gymnasium (designed to serve as interim sanctuary), cafeteria, assembly room, nursery, seven class rooms for elementary and Sunday School, library, staff lounge, clinic, and administration offices. In 1965, six new classrooms, work room, small office, and basement were added to the north educational wing. A Schlicker pipe organ was purchased in 1969 to replace the rebuilt Estey organ.
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Finally, in 1981, groundbreaking began for the current Sanctuary and office complex. The buildings were dedicated in 1982. The Schlicker pipe organ was brought over from the interim Sanctuary and refurbished with tonal revisions and new case work by Robert Sipe. (For more information about Zion's current organ Click here) The chairman of the building committee was John Hoffmeyer. The Sanctuary's high quality acoustics and elegantly designed art-glass windows make it an ideal place for praising our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. |
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