1952-1955

1952

An "Ingathering for Synod" took place in March. Sixty-six men from the congregation visited homes to collect cash or pledge for "The Conquest for Christ." They gathered $13,950.

Earl Dunzweiler obtained and erected a fire escape for us and volunteer workmen painted it. The fences were also painted.

Pastor Pohl added a stole to his white robe. The stole symbolizes the "yoke of Christ" and will be the same color as the altar paraments. The deacons began wearing insignia pins to identify them in their capacity as ushers.

The organist, the pastor, and Karl D. Schmid looked into the possibility of the electrification of our organ.

1953

Trustee Louis Weber was instructed to secure burglary insurance.

A collection was taken for the March of Dimes to help fight polio. The Walther League put $2 in dimes in parking meters in front of the church.

The congregation gave organist Carl F. Schmid $100 in honor of his 35th anniversary.

A motion was passed to hire a full-time secretary and a plan was proposed to partition the front room of the parsonage for two offices; one for the pastor and one for the secretary. However a secretary was not hired until 1968.

Lutherans of the area filled a boxcar with 25,200 pounds of clothing for the needy.

The Brueggemann reunion was held in Zanesville with more than 101 family members in attendance at Blackstone Park. Rev. E.A. Brueggemann was pastor of our Church from 1905 to 1909 and three of the family members are pastors in the Synod.

1954

The council and the congregation voted to enlarge the church and add educational facilities. Carl Wietelmann was named chairman of the building committee and LeRoy Wille was appointed secretary. Other committee members are Dr. W.W. Renner; Walter Mees; Louis Weber; Fred Long, Sr.; Herman Todd; Otto Miller; Harry Drake; William Dunzweiler; Rolland Gaumer; Carl Rittberger, Jr.; Rev. Herbert Krieger, and Pastor Pohl.

We accepted the sum of $8,450 as our fair share of the contribution to the Synod. The "every member visitation" and the "expansion drive" were combined. The amount of $200,000 was needed for the building program. Members pledged $130,000 to be paid over the next three to five years.

We resolved to purchase the Mast property at 118 S. 7th St. for $8,000.

1955

It was recommended the constitution be changed to have eight deacons and four trustees.

We purchased a strip of land from William Dunzweiler that adjoins the lot he gave the church. The cost of the additional land was $16,500.

The building committee advised that we build a new home for the pastor on Pfeifer Dr. next to the property donated by the Dunzweilers The new parsonage was dedicated on June 19, 1955.

The property at 106 S. 7th St. was purchased for $13,500. The residence of caretaker Carl Brock and the old parsonage were razed.

The Men's Club sponsored the display at the Muskingum County Fair. Those in charge were Rolland Gaumer, John Heclo, and Fred Long, Sr.

It was announced that enlarging the church, building a new chancel, parish hall, and educational units would cost around $250,000. The cornerstone laying took place on December 11, 1955. Volunteers carried chairs, dishes, and materials from the old parish hall. After Pastor Pohl appealed for help with carrying materials out of the parish hall and to temporary storage, 81-year-old "Tante" (aunt in German) Lena Jacob was seen walking slowly down the ally carrying a chair.