Christmas at Immanuel, 1982.
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Princeton
Circa 1939
The original church, circa 1920, with transportation by both Model T's and horse and buggy.
Altar in original church, 1913.
Altar in 1991.
Second Church Parsonage, Built and Dedicated in 1924.
Second Church Sanctuary - Dedicated May, 1950.
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Northeast view 1991.
Construction of church sanctuary 1949.
Original parsonage used as office 1971 - 1977.
Second Sanctuary with Addition built in 1978.
1891: April 19
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized under the guidance of Rev. Carl Roehmer of the Evangelical
Synod of Ohio and Other States.
July 28
Construction of church began.
November 8
Dedication of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Princeton, Minnesota to the "honor and glory of the Triune God."
1893: July 4
The Rev. William Graberman was installed.
1894: November
The first parsonage was built south of the church. (This house was razed in 1978).
1896: September 13
The Rev. Emil Schimpfky was installed.
1897: July 2 & 3
On consecutive nights, two cyclones struck the area, causing destruction but sparing church property. The
church record states: "God spared us from all evil and gave us into the protecting care of His holy angels. To Him
alone be Praise, Honor and Worship."
1898:
Members planted 18 acres of wheat which yielded a considerable net profit. Repeatedly members rented land, raised wheat
and thus paid off the $750 debt for the church and parsonage.
1899: Advent
The "Jugend Verein", or "Youth Club," purchased the first church organ.
1900: April 22
The Sunday School organized on Quasimodogeniti ("as newborn babes") Sunday.
1901: November
The church addition was completed for Catechetical Instruction and Sunday School use.
1902: April 13
Rev. George Stamm installed. During his pastorate new pews were purchased.
1911: September 11
Rev. Eugene Ahl installed. Starting in 1911,
Immanuel's pastor also served Good Hope
Lutheran Church at Spencer
Brook.
1917: March 4
Rev. Berthold Ehwald installed at Immanuel and
Good Hope.
1919: April 19
Rev. William Vogel installed at Immanuel and
Good Hope. Musically inclined, he organized the
"Immanuel Congregation
Band."
1922: January 2
The corner lots north of the church were purchased from Mrs. R. C. Dunn in anticipation of building a new church one
day.
November 23
Church rededicated upon completion of alterations and repairs which enlarged its seating capacity.
1924: May
Construction of new parsonage begun. Original parsonage sold for $1,000.00.
November 2
New parsonage dedicated with Rev. Vogel preaching in German in the morning and Prof. Dr. W. D. Ahl preaching in English
in the afternoon.
1925: Sometime after March
Rev. Henry H. Dohmeier installed at Immanuel and Good Hope. During his pastorate, the congregation
went through some difficult times caused by the Depression. When the banks went broke in 1931 - 1932, the church, like many,
lost money.
1930:
Due to merger of synods, St. John's Lutheran Church of Livonia Township formed a parish with Immanuel, sharing pastors.
1936: July 26
The Rev. William F. Tinge was installed, serving Immanuel and St. John's Lutheran Church of Livonia Township.
1937:
Improvements included painting the church and the parsonage. An organ blower was installed. English hymnals were
purchased by the Luther League and the Ladies Aid.
1938: Fall
WPA placed sidewalk, curbing, and boulevard with the Luther League paying costs.
1940: January
A Building Fund was created and special Building Fund envelopes were inserted for each month in the contribution envelopes.
In 1940, St. John's Lutheran Church of Livonia Township moved into Zimmerman. They continued to share a pastor with Immanuel.
1941: June 29
50th Anniversary Celebration with former pastor Rev. William Vogel of Owatonna having an English service at 10 a.m.,
former pastor Rev. Henry Dohmeier of Albert Lea delivering a German sermon for the 2 p.m. service, and Rev. W. F. H. Kerl of St. Paul
preaching in English for the same service. An English Confirmation Reunion Service was held at 8 p.m. with sermon by Rev. Walter
Pilgrim of Waseca. Rev. Pilgrim's wife was the former Teresa Bensemann, a member of Immanuel. Also, his father had preached
at the first Mission Festival held here in 1901. To provide more space for this Golden Anniversary celebration, a tent
was erected on the vacant lots on the north side of the church. The keynote hymn for this event was "All Glory Be To God On
High".
1941: December 7
A special council meeting was held following church services to discuss the hanging of the church bell presented to
Immanuel from St. John's Church. This bell was hung on Wednesday, December 10, 1941.
1945:
The Sunday School Board was created. Its members were elected by the congregation to serve as part of the Church Board.
1946: October 27
Furnishing a room in the new hospital ($260.00) was approved by the congregation to be funded by offerings of individual
communicant members with any deficiency to be paid by the Ladies Aid and/or Luther League.
1947: January 9
Three amendements were made to the Constitution: Council member terms were set at three years, a financial secretary
would be elected to assist the Treasurer, and no council member could be re-elected without a lapse of one year.
During 1947 Immanuel joined other Minnesota District ALC congregations in creating the American Lutheran Memorial Camp at Onamia, named to honor all U.S. service personnel, including the 121 District members who gave their lives in World War II.
February 13
Congregation voted to discontinue German language services by a vote of 56 - 13.
November 23
American Lutheran Hymnal (the brown hymal) was used for first time.
1948: June 13
The ordination of Alfred Oelschlager.
July
The "Every Member" canvas begun in March reported $19,770 in money and pledges had been secured for the Building Fund.
1949: April 19
At a potluck congregational meeting held at the Co-op Hall, the congregation voted to build a new church with construction
to begin in August. Estimated cost was $36,000 for 33' x 72' building. Architect E.J. Bichetti was hired.
May 22
By vote of 86-47 the dimensions for the new
church were increased to 36' x 72'. The
additional cost would be $1,500.
July 11
A Building Committee was created to serve
until the new church was completed: Art Rust,
Henry Prahl, Ernest Gens, Ed
Henschel.
1950: May 14
Dedication of new church was followed by a dinner.
June 25
The congregation voted to sell the old church to the Minnesota District Society of the Evangelical Free Church for $1,500.
(This church was later destroyed by a fire.)