Frankenlust Township near Bay City in Bay County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church / Amelith
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 26, 2021
1. St. John Evangelical Lutheran / Amelith Marker
Side 1
German missionary Pastor Ferdinand Sievers organized St. John Church in June 1852 to serve a colony of German migrants, some fleeing the turmoil that followed the European revolutions of 1848. Initially, the church met in a log cabin that also once housed recent arrivals to the colony of Amelith. In 1870 a wood-frame Gothic style church was built. The present structure was completed in 1912. Schools run by the church began in 1853 with instruction in German surviving until World War I. Some church services continued in German until 1979. During World War II, German prisoners housed at Freeland Camp were ministered to by St. John Lutheran. An addition to the church was completed in 1997.
Originally a part of Saginaw County, Amelith was named after the birthplace of Pastor Sievers wife, Caroline Koch. She was the daughter of German industrialist Friedrich Koch. To settle German migrants, Koch purchased two thousand acres of the former Saginaw Bay Chippewa Reserve at $1.25 an acre. In 1851 the first settlers arrived from the Bavarian town of Rosstel. Residents had easier access to Bay City than to Saginaw, and the area was transferred to the Bay County township of Frankenlust at their request. At one time the town included a coal mine and
this page online
Erected 2012 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L2245.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.
Location. 43° 32.25′ N, 83° 59.252′ W. Marker is near Bay City, Michigan, in Bay County. It is in Frankenlust Township. Marker is on Amelith Road, 0.2 miles west of Kraenzlein Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1664 Amelith Rd, Bay City MI 48706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Frankenlust / St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church (approx. 2.9 miles away); James Clements Memorial Airport (approx. 4.9 miles away); O-Ge-Ma Ke-Ga-To (approx. 5.1 miles away); Beet Sugar (approx. 5.3 miles away); Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Sion Church (approx. 6 miles away); Sage Public Library (approx. 6.1 miles
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 26, 2021
2. St. John Evangelical Lutheran / Amelith Marker
Side 2
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 26, 2021
3. St. John Evangelical Lutheran / Amelith Marker
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 26, 2021
4. St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 26, 2021
5. St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 418 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 26, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
