St. John's Historical Timeline

1860s

  • St. John's Lutheran Church founded, 1862
  • Pastors Eberhardt, Haas, Reuther served
  • American Civil War, 1861–1865
  • Bay City incorporated, 1865
🛠️

1870s

  • First church building dedicated, 1872
  • Applied for Michigan Synod membership, 1873
  • Bay County created, 1874
🎓

1880s

  • First resident pastor A.P. Mueller, 1885
  • Tower bell purchased, 1886
  • Elementary school built, 1887
  • Statue of Liberty dedicated
📖

1890s

  • First school teacher arrived, 1890
  • Major church renovation
  • Pastor Henning served, 1892–1908
🌍

1900s

  • Wright Brothers flight, 1903
  • Church temporarily closed, 1908
  • Withdrew from Michigan Synod
🇺🇸

1910s

  • Titanic sank, 1912
  • English services added
  • World War I ended, 1919
🎶

1920s

  • Church and school enlarged
  • First Academy Awards, 1929
  • English & German services held
🌍

1930s

  • Star-Spangled Banner national anthem, 1931
  • Prohibition ended, 1935
  • World War II declared, 1939
🇺🇸

1940s

  • Pearl Harbor attacked, 1941
  • World War II ended, 1945
  • School remodeled
🛠️

1950s

  • Korean War began, 1950
  • New parsonage constructed
  • First U.S. satellite launched
🚀

1960s

  • New church dedicated, 1962
  • 100th Church Anniversary
  • Moon landing, 1969
🌉

1970s

  • Last German service, 1970
  • Vietnam War ended
  • Third Street Bridge collapse
💻

1980s

  • VBS introduced
  • Computer technology added
  • Berlin Wall fell, 1989
📖

1990s

  • Preschool program established
  • Mission Statement approved
  • Elevator added to church
📡

2000s

  • Phase I renovation completed
  • 9/11 attacks, 2001
  • Sound system upgraded
🪟

2010s

  • Church windows replaced
  • 150th Church Anniversary
  • COVID-19 emerges, 2019
📺

2020 – Present

  • Online worship & virtual learning
  • Livestream cameras installed
  • Facility upgrades continue

More details to come.