Early History of Zion
Zion began when Pastor Erland Carlson of Chicago conducted the first service in this area by an Augustana pastor in a little schoolhouse in Menekaunee, which at that time was part of Oconto County. He made the trip to Menekaunee from Green Bay in a sailboat. On August 10, 1875, a public meeting was held at the Nils Lundquist home. According to an agreement between some Swedish Lutheran people, the following notice was publicly announced: “That we will, on the 22nd day of August 1875, at 7:30 p.m., in the Scandinavian Lutheran Church building, incorporate ourselves as a Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church at Menekaunee, Oconto County, Wisconsin.” From the record of the minutes, we learn that Pastor M.C. Ranseen from Elgin, Illinois, presided at the organizational meeting. The new congregation chose the name “Zion” and adopted the Augustana Synod’s Constitution for the congregation. The Rev. Carl Olander was the first resident pastor, being called January 2, 1876. In July of 1876 the Scandinavian Church building we were using burned to the ground and we had to find a place to use for three months for services. Pledges were taken for a new church and nearly $1,000 was pledged at the meeting. Zion decided to build on a lot which was donated by the Menominee River Lumber Company. Then the question arose as to whether the new church should be owned by the Swedes, Norwegians, and Danes together, or by the Swedes alone. The Swedish decided to build a church by themselves. Around 1893 the church building was enlarged. It was actually sawed in half to accommodate the new addition. During this renovation it was decided to put in electric lights, a furnace, and running water. During this time the Young People’s Hall was built next to the church. Later it was known as the Parish Hall.