St. Paul's Lutheran Church Koop Settlement & Vanderbilt |
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The original settlers in what is now known as Koop Settlement were Lutheran and as follows: Louis Koop, Wm. Wiede, Detrich Koop and family, August Spree and family. Some of the citizens wished to have a pastor called to preach once a month; a pastor from Wharton came to serve them. They held services in the old Hagist school building, which was located where the Casa Blanca school house now stands. The congregation finally called Rev. John Streckfuss and he organized the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in 1910 or 1911. Several other settlers came and this added several more members to the church. The pastor preached two Sundays at the St. Paul’s Church and two Sundays at Palacios. In 1912 Rev. John Streckfuss had a call to a larger congregation; therefore, a call for another pastor was made. A young minister just out of college was sent because the congregation was so small, hence a small salary. This time Rev. Fred Stelzer was sent to preach for them. He was called to a larger congregation in 1915. Rev. E. Steyer was called in 1915. The church was growing larger in number because each pastor gave instructions to the young people in religion and had confirmation classes. Services were held in the old Hagist school house from 1912 to 1915. A one-room school house was moved to Oak Grove, or Koop Settlement, from Vanderbilt. Through the week days public school was held, and on Sunday services were held in this house. The Lutheran children attended school at Casa Blanca in 1918 when the building was first built. The Vanderbilt school trustees sold the Lutheran Church, the old school house that was moved to the Koop Settlement. The young pastor married, and the congregation built a parsonage for him and his wife. This was in 1919. Rev. E. Steyer was called to Lexington in 1920. In the fall of 1920 another young pastor was called by the name of Rev. F. C. Knoernschild. He opened school for the children, who wished to go to the church day school. He taught text books as well as religion. He also started a choir for the young and old alike. The Walther League was established. In 1922 Rev. Knoernschild married Miss Louise Koop, a daughter of one of the outstanding settlers of this community. He was called to San Antonio in 1928. In the fall of 1928 Reverend Burns was called. He taught school and had services. He was called to Sparenburg in 1931. It was about a year before another pastor was called. This time it was Reverend Kolemeyer of Kingsville, who only preached once a month in St. Paul Church. The children attended Casa Blanca school that year, then in the summer of 1932 Reverend Hartsfield and family came to give their service. He stayed about two years. Then came a young pastor, Rev. W. B. Gummelt who stayed up to 1938. This little church has served the people of the community well and has been a blessing to all concerned. Many descendants of these early settlers of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church still reside in the area today.
Cavalcade of Jackson County,
by I. T. Taylor, c 1938, pp. 227-228 |
St. Paul Lutheran Church 108 E. Gayle Street. Edna |
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Lutherans To Lay Corner Stone For New Church Sunday Corner stone laying ceremonies for the new St. Paul Lutheran church in East Gayle Street have been planned for next Sunday afternoon. The service, beginning at 3:30, will be in charge of Rev. Fred Lammert, pastor of the church. He will be assisted in placing the corner stone by the members of the building committee and the masonry contractor, Mr. Jim Morgan. The stone will enclose a sealed box in which will be placed the following objects: A hymnal of the church, a New Testament, a list of the members of the church, a copy of the constitution of the church, a history of the congregation, the name of the architect and general contractor, a copy of the official church papers, this week’s issue of the Edna Herald, as well as a copy of the corner stone laying services. The corner stone will be of gray granite with the inscription: “St. Paul Lutheran Church, U. S. A.” on one side and “1950” on the other side. The stone is being presented to the congregation by Mr. Fred Hoffman, a member of the building committee. THE PROGRAM
Hymn: “I Love Thy Zion, Lord.”
Hymn: “On Christ the Solid Rock Stand.” History of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Edna, Texas The first Lutherans to move into the area south of Edna and west of the Lavaca River was the family of Mr. Gustav Stoerig who came from Germany in 1898. The first Lutheran serves were held in 1907 or 1908 after a number of Lutheran families moved from Seymour, Indiana, into the same community. These were the families of Mr. Louis Koop, who did not remain very long, of Mr. Dietrich Koop and Mr. August Spree. Because of the Koops the community became known as the “Koop Settlement.” The first Lutheran services were held in the home of Mr. Gustav Stoerig and then in the Hagist School, later called Casa Blanca, at the cross roads, about 5 miles from Vanderbilt and 6 miles from E. Toro on the El Toro-Vanderbilt road. Because the Lutherans who moved from Seymour, Ind., had held membership in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, they requested the services of the Missouri Synod pastor at Wharton. He was the Rev. C. Newmann. After he left Wharton, the Rev. John Streckfuss came to Wharton and served the Lutherans at the “Koop Settlement.” In the year 1911, the Rev. Fred H. Stelzer came to Palacios and came and conducted service twice a month in the “Koop Settlement.” Since the work at the “Koop Settlement” seemed to be more important, the Rev. Mr. Stelzer moved there, and at the same time holding services at Palacios. At that time the congregation was organized under the name of “St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at Vanderbilt, Texas.” When the Rev. Mr. Stelzer left in 1916, he was succeeded by the Rev. E. Steyer, who remained until 1920. During that time German language was discontinued in the services and was never used again. Also in the year 1918, Mr. Dietrich Koop gave an acre and a half of land to the congregation in order that there might be room for a church and a place for a parsonage. At that time they decided to buy the Koop school for use as a church. Next the parsonage was built. The church, with several additions, and the parsonage have been used up to the present time. The plans of the members of the church were carried out more fully in 1929 when the Rev. E. C. Knoernschild accepted the call as pastor. At that time a Christian Day School was opened. The young people were organized as a Walther League, the name of the Lutheran youth group, in 1923. By 1925 the congregation had grown so much that it was necessary to build an extension to the church. The pastorate of Mr. Koernschild continued until 1928 when he accepted a call to San Antonio. The next pastor was the Rev. A. Bruns who came in the fall of 1928 and remained until 1930. In 1930, two brothers by the name of Hartfiel served the church. The one brother was not an ordained clergyman and only preached for a while. Then the other brother the Rev. H. Hartfiel, was called as pastor and remained until 1933. For over a year neighboring pastors came and preached and not until the fall of 1934 did the congregation receive another pastor. This was the Rev. Walter B. Gummelt, a recent graduate of the seminary. His pastorate continued until the end of 1944. During that time many improvements were made on the property. With the coming of the REA, lights were put into the church. Then in 1942 another extension was added to the church. An attempt was made in 1941 to buy the Casa Blanca School for use as church and establish the church at the place where the Casa Blanca School stood. But this was never carried out. The next man to serve the congregation was the Rev. C. G. Albers who was installed on April 8, 1945 and continued to serve until his retirement from the ministry on May 29, 1949. He is now making his home with one of his children near Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. During his pastorate the question of a new church arose. At first the congregation thought of building a new church out in the “Koop Settlement.” In 1947, however, consideration was given the idea of building in Edna. As a result of this study on part of a committee the congregation decided to buy property on East Gayle Street in Edna. This was done in December, 1947. The present pastor was installed in the congregation on Oct. 2, 1940. He is the Rev. Fred R. Lammert, who, although a native Texan, had served a church in Norfolk, Nebraska, for a number of years. Among the duties that confronted the new pastor was the completion of the church building project. It was decided by the congregation to abandon a set of church plans on which the building committee had been working and so they secured the services of Mr. Hiram A. Salisbury of Houston who developed the plans for the present church which is under construction. Ground breaking was held on July 2, 1950, and then the actual construction was begun by Mr. W. C. Hausler of Rosenberg. The cost of the church building is around $66,000, but this does not include the furniture. Only three men who were charter members of the church in 1912 are still with the congregation. They are: Messrs. August Spree, Frank Koop and Wm. Wiede. In anticipation of its move to Edna the congregation has accepted for itself a new name, namely: “St. Paul Lutheran Church, Edna, Texas.”
Edna Weekly Herald, September 28, 1950 |
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 The New St. Paul Lutheran Church will be formally dedicated in ceremonies Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The magnificent new church building of Austin limestone is located at 108 East Gayle Street. (Photo by Nelson) Edna Weekly Herald, April 26, 1951 |
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The new church building of St. Paul Lutheran Church will be dedicated in special services next Sunday afternoon at 3, according to the pastor, the Rev. Fred R. Lammert. The public is cordially invited. The dedication rites will begin at the church doors with the opening of the doors at 3 o'clock. The Rev. Roland Wiederaenders of San Antonio, president of the Texas District of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod--will deliver the dedicatory address. Guest organist will be Geo. O. Launer of Houston, member of the American Guild of Organists. The choir of the church will sing "Praise Ye the Father" by Gounod. The evening service will begin at 7:30 with the Rev. F. H. Stelzer of Thorndale, first resident pastor in the "Koop Settlement" delivering the sermon. There will be "open house" at the new church from 6 to 7 on Sunday for those who will be unable to attend the services. A cordial welcome is extended to those who wish to come and see the new church at that time. At 7 o'clock Mr. Launer will present an organ concert on the Baldwin electronic organ. Among the numbers which he will play will be "Larghetto" by Haenael and "Reve Angelique" by Rubenstein. The church, designed by Hiram A. Salisbury, A. I. A. of Houston, is built in a modified English Parish Church style. The exterior walls are of Austin shell lime stone backed with tile masonry; the trim around windows and other ornamental features are of Austin cream stone; the roof is hand split shakes. The ornamental wood trusses are of Washington fir and the entire wood ceiling is exposed. Above the altar is a triple window showing the "Triumphant Christ." The center panel shows the ascending Christ blessing the people. On one side is a medallion of the victorious Lamb of God and on the other side the "cross and crown" which speaks of the Christ who suffered but now lives in glory and majesty. Various Christian symbols have been placed upon the altar, pulpit and lectern and in the side windows. The builder of the church was W. C. Hausler of Rosenberg. Ground breaking ceremonies were held on July 2, 1950, and the cornerstone was laid on October 1. Special gifts by members of the congregation to the new church include:
Schulmetronic chimes and
tower speaker, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Schneider;
Memorials dedicated to the
memory of departed members include: The building committee consisted of the following: F. W. Schneider, James Denard, C. F. Hoffman, Francis Koop, Jack Schaefer, John Shutt and Marvin Wiede. On the finance committee for the building program were Arnold Koop, C. F. Hoffman, F. W Schneider, Wm. Wiede, John Koop and John Shutt. The committee on arrangements for the dedication are F. W. Schneider, Arnold Koop, John Stoerig, Homer Spree and Mrs. James Denard. Officers for 1951 of the congregation are: Arnold Koop, president; Marvin Wiede, vice-president; James M. Denard, secretary; Orville Browning, treasurer; Elders C. F. Hoffman, Harold Koop, Jack Schaefer; Trustees, Henry Born, Francis Koop and Edward Spree; members of finance committee, John Koop; Sunday School officers, Marvin Wiede, Homer Spree and Alfred Shutt. Ladies' Aid officers: Mrs. James Denard, president; Mrs. Orville Browning, vice-president; Mrs. Harvey Shutt, secretary; Mrs. Virgil Koop, treasurer. On April 1, the congregation had 156 baptized members and 95 communicant members. The Sunday School has an enrollment of 53 children. Thirty-three men are voting members of the congregation. The Ladies Aid has 33 members and the Walter League 16. The congregation, which formerly worshipped in a frame building in the "Koop Settlement," has had eight pastors. They are Rev. F. H. Stelzer, Rev. E. H. Stever, Rev. E. C. Koernschild, Rev. A. A. Bruns, Rev. H. O. Hartfield, Rev. W. B. Gummelt, Rev. G. C. Albers and the present pastor, Rev. Lammert. Services were first held about the year 1908 when the Lutheran pastor from Wharton served the people of the Koop Settlement.
Dedication Service The service of dedication of the new St. Paul Lutheran Church will begin at 3 p. m. Sunday at the church at 108 Gayle St. The pastor, Rev. Fred Lammert, and unlock the door and then the chairman of the building committee will open the doors.
Then will follow the services
as follows: The liturgist is Rev. Lammert, pastor of the church. The speaker is Rev. R. Wiederaenders, president of the Texas District, the Lutheran Church, the Missouri Synod. The organist will be George O. Launer of Houston.
Edna Weekly Herald, April 26, 1951 |
