St. Paul's Evangelical (German) Lutheran Church, rural Whitehall
According to church records, baptisms were performed in this vicinity by one of our church’s pastors as early as 1875. It is reasonable to suppose that people had been contacted by a missionary even before this time. More definite information begins in the year 1881 when a traveling missionary came to this part of Wisconsin and finding that a group of Christian people were homesteading tracts of land, made arrangements to bring the Word of God to them. Since the homes were rather small, permission was obtained from the school board to hold services in Pleasantville. After the missionary left, a resident pastor from Arcadia served the group here as well as congregations in Arcadia, Glencoe, and Montana. Because of the inconvenient mode of travel, services were held infrequently.
About 1885 this group of Christians residing in the vicinity of Hale Township bought a parcel of land from Jud Watson. It consisted of two acres and was situated about two miles southeast of Pleasantville. Its purpose was to serve as a pl ace for Christian burial. Ten years later, the now increased group, bought an additional adjoining fourteen acres of land, because they, by reason of generous foresight, believed that a Lutheran Church was of prime importance. This same year they planned and pledged their mutual support to build a church. The incorporation papers were drawn and signed on June 1, 1895. Affiliation was drawn with the Wisconsin Synod. The congregation was to be entitled the “Evangelical Lutheran Saint Paul’s Church.” By the end of autumn, a wooden frame church was completed.
Under the continued support of the members and with additional new members, the congregation soon decided to build a parsonage and have a resident pastor to work and to live in their midst. It was during the winter of 1904 that the parsonage was completed. Rev. L.C. Krug was the first pastor to occupy the parsonage.
In June 1914, a cyclone leveled the first church, but the members immediately began raising funds for a new church. This building was of brick construction and it served the congregation until November 20, 1983, when it was destroyed by fire. The members understand that the people of God are the church, not the building. Then, on December 11, 1983 a motion was made and seconded to appoint a seven-member committee to research the possibility of rebuilding. Fire has not deterred the determination of God’s people.
In 1962 the synodical affiliation of the church was changed to Missouri Synod. At present the congregation numbers 151, of which 118 are communicant members. The Sunday School enrollment is 29.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. G. Weyrauch (1882-1885); with Rev. S. Miller being the present pastor.
(From Pictorial Atlas of Trempealeau County, compiled by Title Atlas Co., Minneapolis, Minn., 1984)
About 1885 this group of Christians residing in the vicinity of Hale Township bought a parcel of land from Jud Watson. It consisted of two acres and was situated about two miles southeast of Pleasantville. Its purpose was to serve as a pl ace for Christian burial. Ten years later, the now increased group, bought an additional adjoining fourteen acres of land, because they, by reason of generous foresight, believed that a Lutheran Church was of prime importance. This same year they planned and pledged their mutual support to build a church. The incorporation papers were drawn and signed on June 1, 1895. Affiliation was drawn with the Wisconsin Synod. The congregation was to be entitled the “Evangelical Lutheran Saint Paul’s Church.” By the end of autumn, a wooden frame church was completed.
Under the continued support of the members and with additional new members, the congregation soon decided to build a parsonage and have a resident pastor to work and to live in their midst. It was during the winter of 1904 that the parsonage was completed. Rev. L.C. Krug was the first pastor to occupy the parsonage.
In June 1914, a cyclone leveled the first church, but the members immediately began raising funds for a new church. This building was of brick construction and it served the congregation until November 20, 1983, when it was destroyed by fire. The members understand that the people of God are the church, not the building. Then, on December 11, 1983 a motion was made and seconded to appoint a seven-member committee to research the possibility of rebuilding. Fire has not deterred the determination of God’s people.
In 1962 the synodical affiliation of the church was changed to Missouri Synod. At present the congregation numbers 151, of which 118 are communicant members. The Sunday School enrollment is 29.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. G. Weyrauch (1882-1885); with Rev. S. Miller being the present pastor.
(From Pictorial Atlas of Trempealeau County, compiled by Title Atlas Co., Minneapolis, Minn., 1984)