The New Zion Church

Through the kindness of the proprietors of the Hausfreund and Post, the Argus is enabled to furnish its readers with the above cut of the handsome new Zion Lutheran church; row rapidly being constructeH The building in architectural design will surpass any of the beautiful public buildings with which Ann Arbor is dotted. It will be a fitting monument to the energy of Rev. Max Hein and the trustees of the church, who by their labors have been able to add this handsome edifice to thecollection of fine churches. The building will be 65 feet on Washington street and 98 feet on Fifth avenue. The front elevation shows a handsome tower rising to a height of 145 ■ on the one corner and a smaller tower 75 feet in height at the opposite corner. The main entrance is large and imposing, massive doors opening from a flight of broad steps. Above the doors is a large circular window of cathedral glass, sixteen feet in diameter. The sides each showagableof regular proportions, in the center of which is a large arched window, 15 by 24 feet in size, of bright-colored cathedral glass. In the basement, which is eleven feet high, are the school room, Sun day school room, society parlors, boiler room and toilet rooms, all being specially adapted for the use. Un the first floor is the entrance lobby, 15 by 40 feet, and the niain audience room 65 by 83 feef. This room is well propoitioned, the side walls being 23 feet high and the center of the ceiling 32 feet. It is specially arranged for its acoustic qualities. A broad gallery extends 1 across the south end, while in the north is a niche for the alter and pulpit, on the left of which will be the organ and choir seats, and 011 the right the vestry seats and the sacristy. The room will be finished in antique oak throughout. The entire building will be heated by steam and lighted by both electric lights and gas. The architect of the building is Charles Sauer, whose first work this is in church architecture. The contracts so far let for the building are: Koch Bros., mason work, $8,150; Charles Sauer, carpenter work, $8,450; O. O. Sorg, painting, $395; Schuh & Muehlig, steam heating, $1,100; Northville School Furniture Co., church seats, $900. Besides these contracts the plumbins; and gas fixtures, seats for school and Sunday school rooms, and other incidentals will increase the cost about $3,000. The building will be completed before jan. ist, '95. The congregation is composed of 415 families, numbering about 1,500 souls iti all. The society is not oneof the wealthiest, and in this connection they deserve the greatest honor, for notwithstanding the fact that their new home will cost about $22,000 it will be entirely free from debt when completed, $19,000 of the amount having already been subscribed, and sixty families have not been called on yet. Another credit to the Zion society is that this large sum has been freely given within the congregation, not a cent having been solicited or received from outside sources. The history of the lot on which the new edifice is being erected is one of general interest. Early in the history of Ann Arbor, upon it was built one of the first schoei houses of our system. the builder being Asa L. Smith, who carne to Ann Arbor in 1824 from Rochester, N. Y. A journey in those days was a serious undertaking. Whenhearrived in Detroit he met Messrs. Rumscy and Allen, of Ann Arbor, who pictured in such glowing terms the fature of the then village of Ann Arbor, that he decided to lócate here, and arrived with his family May 27, 1824, coming up the Huron river on a flat boat which was polled against the current. .Mr. Smith was a carpenter and among the buildings put up by hini was a school house, consisting of one room with a large porch, on the lot of which this is a sketch. In this school house a private school was kept, Miss Rumsey, a daughter of the founder of Aim Arbor, being the teacher. In those days there was no public schools and the tuition, 2.50 to $3 a term, was a large sum for some of the early settlers to pay. Among the scholars living who attended this school was Mrs. Sophie Hutzel, nee Mann, of West Washington street. Many of the early settlers were from New England and on March 23rd, 1847, tlle First Congregational church of Ann Arbor was organized with 4S members. At first they worshiped in the old court house but arrangements were soon made to build the brick church which has ust been torn down to make way for the new Zion church. The lot was sold to the congregation by Harrison Goodrich. The contract was let for what was the largest and finest church then in Ann Arbor. The contractor became very much involved and suddenly ran away, leaving his creditors to do the best they could under the circumstances. The frame workof the roof wasup but all the rest of the work was unfinished. A new contract was made with Fitch Hill who finished the building so that in 1849 the congregation coulc occupy it. The cost of the building was about $6,000, alarge portion o: of which was raised by the members renting pews for a number o: years and giving their notes for the same. The church was occupied by the First Congregational society unti the year 1875 when it was sold to the Zion's Lutheran congregation for $4,300. During the time it wa occupied by the Congregationalist the following pastors officiated: Rev E. P. Ingersoll, Rev. L. S. Hobart Rev. William L. Mather, Rev. Jo seph Estabrook, Rev. George Can dee, Rev. Samuel Cochrane, D. D. Rev. E. A. Baldwin, Rev. William Smith, Rev. H. L. Hubbell and Rev. H. R. Ryder. The late Loren Mills was was the first deacon. During the winter of 1860-61 this church was the scène of some thrilling events, among them being an effort to restrain free speech. Parker Pillsbury, the great abolitionist, came to the city to talk upon the subject and warn the people of the arming and drilling of troops in the south. He urged the people of the north to prepare for the coming conflict. He called a meeting in the old Free church and a mob collected, drove him and the audience from the building and wrecked it inside. Later on the same evening Parker Pillsbury met a few citizens at the house of Jacob Volland and spoke there. About a month after this it was 'announced that the distinguishedWendell Phillips would speak in Ann Arbor. The question was where to get a hall. As a last resort the trustees of the First Congregational church were appealed to, and after long discussion, granted the use of the building. The students of the University heard that Wendell Phillips was to be mobbed. The war spirit was already in the air and a meeting was called and the students attended in a body, prepared to quell any mob. The boys were there prepared for a fight, which did not come off. The . after effects of Phillip's speech were shown by the large enlistments among the students and citizens when the rebellion broke out. Many distinguished men not only worshipped in the church but also occupied the pulpit during the twenty-five years. The first meeting held for the purpose of organixing the Zion Lutheran congregation was on July 16, 1873, and on August i3th following the church property was purchased from the Congregatianal society for $4,300. The congregation started with about 50 families and now has 250. Rev. F. H. Belser, of the Ohio synod, was the first pastor and was followed in 1890 by Rev. Max Hein, who still filis the pulpit. The first board of elders elected was composedof William Merkle, Philip ohr and Christian Mack, the trusees being Fred Hutzel, Adam D. Seyler, Louis Schlefcher, Conrad Schneider, Christian Hoffstetter and "rederick Schmid. The church in its organization is ndependent and not a member of ny synod, although .its pastors have )een. The last services were held n the old church Sunday, April 1. !"he day following the work of demolition was commenced. The work of building the foundation was ommenced Monday, April 24.