Mount Clemens in Macomb County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Zion Church
Photographed By Joel S., July 17/20154
1. Zion Church Marker
Organized on July 3, 1854, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church was the first German Protestant congregation in Mount Clemens. Its founding trustees were John Rossow and Abraham Devantier from Prussia, John William Miller and Carsten Roecker from Hanover, and John Charles Reimold and John George Murthum from Wuerttemberg. Zion Church operated as a free congregation, welcoming all Christians. It served primarily German-speaking Catholic and Protestant immigrants, including Lutherans, Calvinists and Huguenots. Worshipping at first in the Macomb County Courthouse, the congregation purchased this site, the former Methodist Academy, in 1862. The nave of the present brick sanctuary was built by Minard Barr in 1880. The tower and transepts were added in 1895.
The itinerant ministers who served Zion Church in its formative years were Methodist, Lutheran and Evangelical. The first resident pastor was the Reverend William Kies (1862-1864). He was followed by the Reverend Hermann Gundert (1864-1903), who contributed $4,000 of his own money to help fund the tower and transepts of the present church building. It was not until the 1920s, during the pastorate of the Reverend F.A. Roese (1903-26), that English became the language of the worship service and of church records.
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Erected 1986 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1251.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1838.
Location. 42° 35.971′ N, 82° 52.693′ W. Marker is in Mount Clemens, Michigan, in Macomb County. Marker is at the intersection of New Street and Pine Street, on the right when traveling north on New Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 68 New Street, Mount Clemens MI 48043, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Saint Mary's School (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Carnegie Library (about 500 feet away); Mount Clemens Pottery (about 700 feet away); John DiGiorgio (about 700 feet away); Joe Kopicki (about 700 feet away); Alexander Macomb
Photographed By Joel S., July 17, 2015
2. Zion Church Marker
Additional commentary.
1. Evangelical Deaconess Hospital and Evangelical Home for Children and Aged
The Evangelical Deaconess Hospital no longer exists (it was on E Jefferson near Elmwood). The Evangelical Home for Children and Aged is now Hartford Nursing & Rehabilitation Center at 6700 West Outer Drive.
— Submitted July 18, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
Photographed By Joel S., July 17, 2015
3. Zion United Church of Christ and Marker
Photographed By Joel S., July 17, 2015
4. Zion United Church of Christ
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 552 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 18, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
