Holy Cross Lutheran Church
The first Lutheran service in Scott County was held in 1890 in the Buffalo School house, eight and one half miles southeast of Scott City. Lutheran families came long distances by wagon or two-wheeled carts to attend these services, including: The John and William Wilken families, the Karl W. Strickert family, the Preusch family from Healy, and the Uppendahl and Ehmke families from Amy.
Buffalo School House 1890
In the early days, services were in German, the language of Lutheran Church members who emigrated from Germany. This "foreign language" did not encourage English-speaking neighbors to visit or attend services. During the U.S. involvement in World War I, English became more widely used in public and in the church. Children were not encouraged to learn and speak German. For the benefit fo older members, a German service might be held once a month. Early ministers serving the Scott County area were: Rev. Eric O. Metzdorf, Rev. W.W. Wehmeier, and Re. C.H. Meyer.
September 18, 1925 was when Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in Scott City. The Constitution was signed by the following: Fred F. Strickert, Fred Stralow, Gottlieb Burr, Henry Knaus, Philip Burr, Andrew Groshans, Edgar Strickert, F. H. Mahler, O. F. Hoeme, E. J. Eikelberger, Louise Schauer, H.G. Wilken, Wm. Rodenberg, Ben H. Brueggeman and O.W. Strickert.
Early meetings were held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. A new basement church at 12th and Court was dedicate on Christmas Eve, 1925. The Rev. Rudolph Gehle became installed as pastor on December 17, 1938, and it was during his pastorate that the plans for the new Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church were begun. Serving on the building committee were F. H. Mahler, Fred Stralow, August Ehmke, Gottlieb Burr, Gus Rueter, the chairman Fred Strickert, and the pastor. The brick church was completed and dedicated January 1, 1947.
Rev. Karl E. Kuebler was installed minister in March of 1949 and was a popluar leader in the community. During the term of Rev. J.W. Becker, in 1956, an addition to the church was made. Many of our present church members volunteered their services to this addition. Other ministers to serve since then are: Rev. Clarence Born, Rev. Ronald G. Folle, Rev. Richard J. Kaczor, Rev. Robert J. Klotz, Rev. Gerhard A. Pera, Rev. Scott Lemmerman, and Rev. John Riebhoff. Rev. Warren Prochnow is our current pastor.
See Lutherans Online-- Thrivent Website
http://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo_ProcServ/dbpage=page&GID=01185001360993148240464178&PG=01185001360993148240573329
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