Nebraska Historical Marker: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 1904-1952

Nebraska Historical Marker: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 1904-1952

Location

Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery, West of intersection of Road Q and Road 2000, Webster County, Nebraska

View this marker's location 40.205500, -98.373268

View a map of all Nebraska historical markers, Browse Historical Marker Map

Marker Text

Three German Lutheran congregations, Zion, Salem, and Emmanuel, built churches in Stillwater Precinct, Webster County, Nebraska. Emmanuel was the last to build and the last to disband. Emmanuel Lutheran Church was formally dedicated on this site, July 16, 1905. Services were conducted in German in the morning, and in English that afternoon. Worship in both languages continued, with German being used less frequently in later years.

The first recorded activity in the church records was the baptism of August Friedrich Blobaum, March 13, 1904. The last recorded service was February 2, 1952, with Communion being received by Augusta Degener, Corrine Degener, Frank Degener, John F. Degener, Robert D. Degener, Anna Scheiding, Edwin Scheiding, Clarence Schutte, Harold Schutte, Emma Stumpenhorst, William Stumpenhorst, and Fred Sundermeir.

The Emmanuel Lutheran Church was an inspiring structure in its day with its Christian cross, atop a sixty-foot steeple, rising above the prairie farmlands. In 1952 the building was moved to Rosemont to serve another congregation. The cemetery remains as Emmanuel's legacy to the Stillwater community.

Marker program

See Nebraska Historical Marker Program for more information.