Connecting With Zion’s Past

by Dennis Dugger

The beginning of September signaled that it was time for the choir to return to its loft.  Usually, the choir is on vacation during July.  However, the summer break was somewhat extended this year with only choir practices for the month of August.

Here are some facts about Zion’s choirs.

Zion’s choir was started 1874 during the pastorate of Rev. George Schoettle, Zion’s second minister.

In 1922 the choir became “Vested”, each member of the choir paying for his/her individual robe.  A photo appeared in one of the local newspapers along with a short article.  It read as follows:

“The vestment of the choir of the Zion Evangelical Church will take place this morning.  The local church is falling into line with the leading churches of the North and East, where the custom has been in vogue for many years.  Much more dignity is lent to the occasion; the solemnity is impressed more deeply upon the minds of the congregation, and beauty is provided in the rich uniformity of the appearance of the singers.  The exact origin of this idea is not known, but it is believed it grew from the vesting of men who occupy high judicial benches and from clergymen whose church require them to be clothed in garbs of dignity.  This practice has not been regularly maintained by local churches with one exception, that of the Trinity Episcopal church.  This denomination makes this a rule of the church body.”

The choir members in the 1922 photo were Mrs. R. Heady, P. Gruenke, Geo. Stadele, Edw. Reed, Mrs. P. Gruenke, Miss Dorothea Hodde, Miss Anna Sweers, Mrs. D. A. Blasberg, Miss Gladys Pantle, Miss Verona Gruenke, Miss Nell Webb, Mrs. P. A. Hodde, Miss Hulda Frohne, organist, Miss Elizabeth Adelmann, and Miss Laura Ruth Gruenke.  I found this photo of the first vested choir at Zion to be especially interesting since 8 of the 15 shown were from my wife’s family.  Gay’s mother was Miss Dorothea Hodde.  Her grandmother was Mrs. P. A. Hodde.  Mrs. P. Gruenke was her grandmother’s sister; P. Gruenke was her grandmother’s brother-in-law.  Miss Hulda Frohne was another sister of Gay’s grandmother.  Mrs. R. Heady, Miss Verona Gruenke, and Miss Laura Ruth Gruenke were first cousins of Gay’s mother. 

Among the other members was Mrs. D. A. Blasberg, the pastor’s wife.  And, of course, the Adelmann and Pantle names are familiar surnames to present day Zion members.

The first Junior Choir was started about 1926, and a few years later a Children’s Choir was created for children under age twelve.

In the late 1920’s, the choir became very organized with officers; a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.  On January 9, 1934, the Church Council decided that a Music Committee would be formed consisting of three members: the Vice-President of the Board, the President of the Choir and one member of the congregation who understood music.

For many years the Council voted to give each choir member a dollar at Christmas.  In 1933, due to the Depression, this practice ended by vote of the Council.  Instead, the Council treated the choir to a party.

In the 1947 75^th Anniversary Booklet it was written that “As a tradition of the choir, every Mother’s Day a choir made up only of men in the congregation renders the special music.  In later years this tradition was discontinued only to be revived ever now and then.  This has been reversed on a few Father’s Days with choirs composed of all women.

On Oct. 16, 1955, Zion’s choir presented a public Evensong service.  The service include about ten selections among them three by Mozart and Schubert, and a couple of “Negro Spirituals”.  Choir members were Rose Wiesman; Diane Begley; Mrs. Bert Gilliam; Mrs. Lawrence St. Hillier; Mrs. R. L. Lyon, the director; Joan Helmers; Mrs. Thomas Milton; Mrs. Ray Hofelich; Mrs. Robert King; Mrs. W. R. Pollock; Robert St. Hillier; Louis Adelmann; Robert King; Douglas Harris; Vernon Messerly; Mrs. Edward Kunze; Jean Bratcher; Marguerite Knott (later Mrs. Thomas Bell); Thomas Powell; Chester Fark; Ott Pantle; Shirley Bratcher; Marvin Harris; Mildred Meisenheimer; Helen Beckley; Mrs. Donald Lammer; Chester Warner, and Robert Leib.

In 1960, Mrs. Jo Bratcher and Mrs. George Bratcher used their sewing skills to make 24 new choir robes.