Our History
The Beginning
Experienced by a few in the family, recalled that all might have an instructive reflection.
It was the Spring of 1940 and the first stirring of recovery from the days of “walking the tracks” for coal to heat the house, of walking the streets to pass the time, of fishing – for meat, of recycling everything because that’s all there was …. had begun. In Waukesha people still came (from elsewhere) for mud baths at 2 of many hotels, the Metropolitan Church Assn. (sometimes, called Holy Jumpers) had its national headquarters, the City Hall was the old hospital, there were elm trees everywhere, there were 8 grocery stores and markets within 2 blocks of the 5 Points, and right up the middle of Summit Avenue rolled an electric train…bound for Pewaukee Lake and the famous Waukesha Beach (the trip started, downtown Milwaukee; Waukesha students attending the old Lutheran High used it). When this train left the city (at Moreland Blvd.) and headed for the country, it passed a tiny suburb – WESTOWNE. Here our Lord decided the seed of His Word would be sown, a vineyard established. If you had been there, you might not have noticed this; the visible things and procedures would have been more evident.
There was the human decision to canvass, first on the South side of Waukesha (area of Grand and West Avenues), then to the West side, by Pastor J. de Galley at the direction of the Mission Board. The results encouraged the Board to call Pastor W. Hoyer, to focus on Westowne and begin Exploratory Services.
Where? Find a building, a room. It wasn’t a suburb with business places suitable for worship .. Northview School and a factory. It came down to the latter, the 2nd floor warehouse of Supreme Bottling Works, September 8, 1940, 16 in attendance for s the first worship. They had the Word. The setting offered very little that was appealing.
Something different? Indeed, land and a building. But who would lend 16 people enough to get it? Synod? It could only offer the sum of $1,200, the members were hardpressed to maintain themselves. A site of 6 lots (156 X 250′) was available. a “pre-fab” barracks building, sold as surplus at Great. Lakes before World War I was available, in a barn near Brown Deer. There were two hearts grateful for the Word, Pastor and Mrs. 0. Nommensen (Chmn of M.B.), who agreed…
