The year was 1920 and the Great War (World War I) had come to an end. The mood of the people was upbeat as was evidenced by the growth and prosperity that was occurring in what was once the sleepy village of Wauwatosa (population 5,000). The railroad depot stood right in the center of the town (where the Chancery parking lot is today). The Wells Street streetcar terminated in the village and connected Wauwatosa and Milwaukee via the viaduct over the Menomonee Valley.

To the north “Milwaukee bungalows” were being built on land that had only a few short years before been the hops farms of the Pabst Brewery. “Pickle Alley” was now a memory as the first of the grand houses were being built in the Washington Highlands. The mood of America was of strong moral character and the number of churches in the area attested to that fact. ... Seven people joined together to request a field missionary and Dr. Wm. Stump of the Northwest Synod was called. St. Matthew’s church became a reality on May 26, 1920.

The first sermon for the new congregation was preached in the Masonic Temple and subsequent services that first year were held in the Germania Hall, 7336 St. James Street. (This structure is now the Lions Club building.) So eager was the new congregation for their own church home that on their very first day they purchased four vacant lots at the corners of Milwaukee and Wauwatosa Avenues for $4,215.75 (the money being advanced by the Board of Missions and Extension of the United Lutheran Church). It was only one month after they were formed that these pioneer members started the Sunday School.

1921 was the year that St. Matthew’s became a “real” church. In January of 1921 a student preacher, William Niebling, visited St. Matthew’s to assist Pastor Stump. Two months later, on March 28, a formal call was issued to William Niebling. The cornerstone for the new parish house (as churches were called in those days) was laid on May 21, 1921 and by December services were held in the new building. (This structure still stands and now is built on all four sides with the nave, the commons, the Upper Room and education building. The library is the old chancel.)

Church reports were handwritten until 1922 and testify to the difficulty the new church had in meeting rising costs, with coal to heat the building then at almost $300 a year. In 1922 it was finally decided to have church committees - specifically Finance, Membership, Property, and Music.

If the first decade of St. Matthew’s was one of expansion and prosperity, the second decade was one of economic challenge as the nation faced the Great Depression.

By 1932 St. Matthew’s had established a Men’s Club, the Woman’s Missionary Society, a Young Men’s Club, and a Young Women’s Club. One of the first activities of the Men’s Club was the sponsorship of the monthly publication “The VOICE.” Each family paid 25 cents for a one year subscription, which for many families was a considerable expense. Many ads were sold to help underwrite the publication cost. Ads were taken out by funeral directors, cemeteries, banks, Northwestern Conservatory of Music (whose building was later purchased by St. Matthew’s to be our Sunday School).

The VOICE reflected the economic hardships of the times as the Men’s Club asked for those in need to contact them. Prayers for the unemployed appeared in the VOICE.

Sunday School (or Bible School as it was called then) was always well attended by both the young people and the adults. In an unusual marriage of church and state, the Wauwatosa School Board voted to allow the dismissal of school children on Wednesdays for the purpose of attending Bible School at the various churches in the community. St. Matthew’s was a popular location because of its proximity to Lincoln Grade School and Wauwatosa High School.

In spite of the difficult times, the articles written for The VOICE were often humorous with a good bit of teasing between the Men’s Club and the “girls” as stated in one of the articles. The men were the visible leaders of the church and held all of the positions of authority. But the women must have chuckled when year after year it was the women who led the church in perfect communion records... a fact duly recorded in the VOICE.

The church became the social outlet for many. Inexpensive recreation in the form of picnics, costume parties, and potluck suppers were offered. Dancing and card playing were still forbidden, however. The Women’s Missionary Society invited missionaries to speak on world issues with missionaries from China, Japan and India the featured locations.

Depression ends
In 1934 the congregation continues its growth and a gradual optimism was seen in the writings and records of St. Matthew’s. There was a feeling that the Great Depression might be easing its grip on the nation as St. Matthew’s found itself in a better position than many of its fellow congregations. In the January issue of the Voice the following reasons were given for this success:

1. The complete cooperation of the men and women who were in positions of responsibility.
2. An increasing, growing interest among men in the affairs of the congregation.
3. A spirit of loyalty and devotion to the pastors and the church by the entire church membership.
4. A consecrated service of stewardship on the part of the Church Council.

Meetings include entertainment
The congregation meeting was a time not only to conduct formal business, but of fellowship as well. A dinner was prepared by the women of the church and entertainment was provided in the form of an accordion solo and a harmonica duet. The evening ended with a drawing for attendance prizes. No wonder they always had a quorum back then!

1934 was a busy time for the children of the congregation as well. The Sunday School picnic was an all-day affair at Washington Park. After games, lunches, and ice cream there was an afternoon tour of the Zoo! Yes, the Zoo was originally housed at Washington Park. Further changes for young people occurred when the Young Men’s group and the Young Women’s group merged to form The Luther League, the official young people’s ministry group of the United Lutheran Church.

Mortgage Debt Reduction Plan
The Church Council launched a three-year plan to wipe out remaining debt. They also looked for ways to ease the crowding in the Sunday School. A second service was added at 8:00 a.m. to accommodate the increasing membership. The first Sunday of every month was known as “Debt Reduction Sunday” and an extra green envelope brought in the added contributions.

By September 1936 the Three Year Program was nearing an end. A special appeal was made to raise the final five thousand dollars. This was the amount needed to repay the loan issued by the Board of Home Missions and to pay off the first mortgage on the church building. The special committee formed to oversee the program made a final effort by visiting the homes of the members. They posted a big, red thermometer in the entry to measure the contributions as they came in. The appeal extended to the Sunday Schoolers’ pennies as everyone waited, with the close of 1936, to see if their goal had been met.

Brutal winter of 1936
The winter of 1936 must have been particularly brutal as, according to The Voice, a low winter attendance reflected the sub-zero temperatures and the fact that many Wauwatosa roads were impassable. In spite of this 45 women attended the February luncheon of the Missionary Society. The weather did force the postponement of The Forum, a five week Lenten Program. After such a winter it was not surprising that the June 2nd celebration of Pastor Niebling’s 15th anniversary of ordination became a memorable event. As the Pastor entered the chancel to deliver his sermon he was greeted with quite a few surprises! The chancel was filled with floral tributes, many professionally done by local florists, but some were simple bouquets of fresh flowers from the gardens of members who wanted to express their affection for their pastor.

Victory Banquet celebrates end of debt
It was 1937 and the members of St. Matthew’s learned with joy that the Three Year Program has been a success! A grand total of $5,863.85 had been raised! Benevolences were increased to include Inner City missions, the Red Cross, Lutheran Welfare, and a variety of other missions at home and abroad. New pews were ordered along with new carpeting.

Changes were occurring in the nation as well. Church and country were united in a common cause when President Roosevelt declared, in one of his “Fireside Chats,” that October 3, 1937 would be “Loyalty Day.” He stated that there was a need for such a day “in order that we shall rebuild spiritual fires and strengthen the abiding foundation of our nation.” St. Matthew’s held special services just for Loyalty Sunday. 

Worship attendance grows
As word spread of the ministry at St. Matthew’s under the leadership of Pastor Niebling, the church became more and more crowded on Sundays. An apology was offered in the first issue of The Voice in January 1938 to those who had to be turned away from the midnight service on Christmas Eve. All through 1938 the crowding continued as the church tried to get more people to use the 8:00 a.m. service.

If one word could be used to catch the spirit of what was happening at St. Matthew’s during 1939, that word would be CHANGE! New emphasis was placed on choirs, music, worship forms and decoration. The Voice was no longer published monthly in booklet form, but became a “streamlined” single page weekly typewritten notice. One side of the Voice resembled a Sunday bulletin while the other side contained news of the Synod.

St. Matthew’s was now being lavishly decorated on the outside for the Christmas season. The Voice notes the donation of four-foot tall electric candles that flanked the doorway entrance. The very latest in modern lighting had also been donated for use as a decoration – a large neon light in the shape of a star. 

Worship services added
More worship services were added. In addition to the two Sunday services and the Lenten services, Advent Vesper services were initiated to prepare the congregation for Christmas. Remember, all the services remained the responsibility of one pastor.

The ministry for young people was thriving in the late 1930’s. In addition to Luther League for confirmation age and up, there was a pre-confirmation group known as “Children of the Church.” Both of these groups were programs of the United Lutheran Church.

Life Was Good
The years had passed quickly for the young congregation. Much had been accomplished in nearly two decades, and yet so much more work remained. Where had time gone? 1940 marked Pastor Niebling’s nineteenth anniversary at the helm of St. Matthew’s, a milestone also celebrated by Eleanora, the church organist. It was an exciting time for the church - 714 confirmed members including 295 families, 354 Sunday School children, and an annual budget that was nearly $10,000. In 1940, the City of Wauwatosa was alive too, and business was thriving. The Village business district centered around Harwood and State, where folks shopped at LeFeber’s Department Store, Keenan Drugs, the A & P Food store, and Ben Franklin’s five and dime. To accommodate the growing number of automobiles, the city instituted a new concept – angle parking. Yes, it was a great time to live and worship in Wauwatosa.

A Shadow Is Cast
Does it get better than this? In 1941, St. Matthew’s burned its second mortgage. The congregation was finally debt free and looking forward to raising money for some much needed improvements to the small building it had outgrown. By 1941, 85% of homes in the Washington Highlands had all ready been constructed. The automobile was king and mobility was the name of the game. New businesses began to pop up outside the traditional business district. In 1941 A & P opened a new, modern supermarket at 7326 West North Avenue. Eight flavors of frozen custard were offered daily at Ted Gottwein’s new restaurant located at 61st and North. But while new doors opened, some doors closed forever. 1941 signaled the demise of Siegesmund Grocery, a neighborhood grocery store located at 1386 N. 72nd Street. The family owned enterprise, which had operated since 1886, simply couldn't’t compete as customers drove their shiny new vehicles to the larger, national food chains. A banner, erected in the heart of the Village proclaiming “Buy Extra Bonds”, dramatically set the tone for the next few years. War was looming.

The GI Generation
After the bombs fell on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, church leaders put plans for future building improvements on hold. But in January of 1942, St. Matt’s congregation was called to vote on whether to enlarge the inadequate church building. The vote passed by an overwhelming margin and the Council began to prepare plans and gather estimates for the renovation. Life had changed. Young male parishioners shipped out to war. Gas was rationed. It was hard to find new tires for those automobiles that once cruised North Avenue. The St. Matt’s congregation did whatever they could to help the troops overseas. The Women’s Missionary Society baked cookies for the troops and sewed for the Red Cross. The church underwent a bit of minor remodeling in 1942, and a small electric organ was donated which enhanced worship. In 1942, St. Matt’s also welcomed a new neighbor – the Wauwatosa Fire Department. The Fire Department’s new quarters, located at 1463 Underwood, combined a former laundry with a new structure attached to the back of the current police station. The new headquarters provided dorm space for twenty-six men.

The Advent of Women
Men were at war. And stereotypes were being broken. To aid the war effort, women began working out­side the home in record numbers. Employment was abundant and surprisingly, the economic climate had improved to the point that Pastor Niebling was finally given a much-deserved raise. In 1943, St. Matthew’s launched its building fund drive. The drive employed a strategic fundraising concept that urged people to purchase war bonds and turn them over to the church. By doing this, people could support both the church renovation and the war efforts. In a two-month period, the building fund grew to an impressive $15,000. The war had put restrictions on building projects and materials, but the congregation was determined to be ready to build when the war was over.

Waiting for V Day
There was a glimmer of hope in 1944 that the war would finally come to an end. In September, the Voice of St. Matthew’s proclaimed, “ While we cannot know when the war will end, St. Matthew’s will be open all day for prayer on “V Day”. But as the year wore on, that glimmer of hope faded and vanished. Problems on the home front also plagued Wauwatosa residents in the form of communicable disease. In September of 1944, the City of Wauwatosa Health Department issued a quarantine on all Sunday School classes to prevent a polio outbreak.

The quarantine lasted for three weeks. Three months later the congregation found itself celebrating yet another Christmas without many of its young men and women stationed overseas. The Church Council sent each of them a two-pound box of Fanny Farmer chocolates.

Paying the Price
As the calendar pages turned to reveal the year 1945, St. Matt’s congregation had indeed realized the price of war. Three members of the congregation had died in battle – Lt. Heun, Pvt. O’Connell, and Lt. Leistikow. Harvey Ruck and Mahlon Erickson were missing in action. Other members had been decorated with Purple Hearts for their heroic actions. The war was hitting close to home and people did their best to deal with gasoline shortages and rationing of sugar, coffee, butter, meat, eggs and flour. Church suppers were cancelled. There was also a shortage of fabric for clothing, and nylon stockings and shoes were being rationed too. St. Matt’s prepared to celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary in May by planning a banquet at the Milwaukee Athletic Club that would cost $2.50 per person. The need for a larger church building became painfully evident as the 1945 confirmation service had to be held at Reformation Church. Quite simply, St. Matt’s had burst its seams. But the original cost estimates for building a new church had skyrocketed from $75,000 to $100,000 due to inflation. This disappointing news was quickly forgotten on May 8, 1945 as the war finally came to an end.

Do We Stay or Do We Go
In its first twenty-five years of existence, St. Matthew’s had survived the Great Depression and World War II. Its post-war challenge would be to build the new church that was so desperately needed and planned for so many years. At the annual meeting in 1946, the final details of the new building were announced. The congregation was presented with two options – to rebuild on the present Wauwatosa Avenue site or to build on a plot of vacant land located on the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and 73rd Street. The congregation voted to keep the church at its original location, where it stands today. The building fund had increased to a record $65,449.29. But while one building was scheduled to be erected, a cruel twist of fate severely damaged another Wauwatosa landmark. In March of 1946, Wauwatosans looked on in horror as Keenan’s Drugs on Harwood Avenue became engulfed in flames. The Wauwatosa Fire Department managed to save the building with the assistance of two engines and a truck from the City of Milwaukee.

Where’s the Lumber?
1947 was a good year for the church. Membership skyrocketed to 981 individuals. A third service was added to handle the extra demands on the small worship space. Church assets had also grown to $100,000. The Sunday School had outgrown its boundaries, so the church bought a building at 7525 Milwaukee Avenue to ease Sunday School overcrowding. The building the church purchased was the former home of Northwestern Conservatory of Music, which had offered Tosa children in grades 2-6 musical performance opportunities since 1920. Things were looking up and yet there were no building materials available anywhere to start construction of the new building. The wait was on. And a new day was dawning in Wauwatosa and the nation. On December 3, 1947 WTMJ-TV hit the air­waves with its first television broadcast. Life would never be quite the same.

Slice of Life
While the people of St. Matt’s waited patiently to build the new church, they tried to enrich the organization in other ways. In June of 1948, James Reid, a theological student, was added to the staff as Pastor Niebling’s first Assistant Pastor. Over the years, the City of Wauwatosa had become a community of homes and a place for families. Emery Walker, who lived in the Kneeland Walker House on 74th and Hillcrest, was often seen riding his horses around the estate until he retired them to pasture in 1948. In spring, high school track meets were held at Hart Park’s athletic fields. And on a fall day in 1948, one could look southbound on Wauwatosa Avenue and catch a glimpse of Wauwatosa High School’s Homecoming Parade. Kids, cars, floats, toilet paper, and the football team– a ritual that still happens every fall some 60 years later.

It’s About Time!
Ground was finally broken on the new church in January of 1949. Three months later the church’s cornerstone was laid. Total cost of the new building was projected to be $235,000 - a far cry from the original $75,000 estimate made seven years earlier. The first service in the new church was held on December 11, 1949. There were 776 members in attendance. The church was formally dedicated in a ceremony on January 8, 1950.

Thanks to Robyn McGill for researching this historical information about Wauwatosa and St. Matthew’s history, some of which is based on the 75th Anniversary book written by Joyce Heinrich. Both Robyn and Joyce are members of St. Matthew’s.

Say Hello to New and Improved
St. Matthew’s beautiful new church was formally dedicated on January 8, 1950, approximately one year after the ground­breaking ceremony. The church experienced growing pains during the previous ten years and all the problems that came with cramped conditions. But now the congregation had a brand new space – a space so large that extra people were required to orchestrate Sunday Services. An ushers guild and an altar guild were formed to handle increased Sunday crowds. The war was long over, but the church focused on raising funds for 425 refugees, sponsored by Lutheran agencies, who now lived in the area. Additional benevolence centered on contributions to the Christian Higher Education Drive. Post-war change was beginning to be seen every­where. WWII vets came home and built ranch houses that dotted the landscape from Lovers Lane Road (Highway 100) west to 124th Street. 1950 also saw the closing of the quarry founded by John Schoonmaker 100 years earlier. The quarry, located at 68th and State, produced lime initially, and then crushed stone for aggregate in concrete.

Windows 1951
In 1951, the church established a Window Fund to raise money to install art glass windows throughout the new chancel area. Windows in the new church were of the frosted variety. It had been cost prohibitive to install more ornate windows during construction, so the church delayed the project for a few years. 1951 was also the year that St. Matt’s called Jerome Jackson to be an assistant pastor. The west side of the city continued to see increased industrial development as Briggs & Stratton purchased a large plot of land located at 124th and Burleigh.

Boom Town
1952 was a rather quiet year for St. Matthew’s. But for the City of Wauwatosa, things couldn't have been busier. The size of the city tripled that year through annexations. Automobiles were everywhere and traffic congestion became apparent within the small Village. To ease the parking short­age, several buildings in the Village were cleared and in 1952 the Blanchard Street public parking lot was built.

Singing Up a Storm
St. Matt’s music ministry really took off in 1953, with the establishment of three different choirs – one junior choir, and two senior choirs. The musical groups enjoyed great attendance and met on different evenings to accommodate people with various scheduling needs. St. Matt’s Windows Fund had finally reached its goal and plans were made to have the new church windows installed by Christmas. Assistant Pastor Jerome Jackson, who had been in charge of youth ministries, Junior Church for Sunday School Children, and Vacation Bible School, left for a new position in Appleton. He was replaced by Pastor Bruce Kloese. In 1953 the Underwood Hotel, located at 7416 Harwood Avenue, ceased operation and was converted to apartments.

Carpool Anyone?
Everyone loved the new church. But all available parking was street-based. And Sunday morning parking had become such a problem that church officials asked members of the congregation to form carpools. Sunday School space also remained at a premium. So when the Payne home, located to the south of the church, went up for sale in 1954, the church bought the property – paving the way for the future Niebling Educational Building.
Of course, new construction is never perfect. Ventilation was added to the choir balcony – a serious omission in the original building plans. In 1954, the Church Council increased its size to 12 members. Tickets to the Milwaukee Braves’ Lutheran Appreciation Night cost just $2.00. And Pastor Bruce Kloese, who had arrived just 19 months earlier, left St. Matt’s for a new opportunity in Green Bay.

But things change and we adapt. In 1954, frozen custard entrepreneur Ted Gottwein made a major change to his successful business by adding breakfast and lunch to his menu and shifting his restaurant hours to daytime only.

Hustle - Bustle
The years of 1955 and 1956 held a strong focus on youth for both the church and the community. In 1955, St. Matt’s hired Pastor Wagner to replace Pastor Kloese. Pastor Wagner brought experience in youth programs and hospital chaplaincy to the congregation. That same year construction began on Longfellow Junior High School (now known as Longfellow Middle School). 1956 marked Pastor Niebling’s 35th year of service. In those 35 years, church membership had grown from a mere 75 people to 1,685. The mid-50’s was a bustling time for the church. The Church Council had approved a full time custodian, new office equipment, a choir room with improved facilities, and a fund for a brand new pipe organ. The Sector Project, a new stewardship program, kicked off with home visits to encourage church attendance, benevolence and evangelism. Wauwatosa’s city emblem was created in 1956 through a children’s design contest. The winning design prominently featured a cross.

That’s Men’s Work
Even though women had joined the workforce in large numbers during World War II, there were still jobs in 1957 that society classified as men’s work. Painting Fellowship Hall would be one of those jobs. Church men got together to paint the hall plus numerous other small rooms while the women made coffee and cakes. But women played a special and important role in the Women’s Missionary Society. The group, which changed its name to the Lutheran Church Women in 1957, coordinated foreign missions, home missions and community projects. St. Matt’s congregation had a lot to celebrate in 1957 – the church became debt free once again. To commemorate the occasion, a free Thanksgiving week dinner was held at the Pfister Hotel for St. Matt’s members. The congregation was looking for its next big challenge – and a new pastor, as Pastor Wagner had been called to Appleton. In October, the new Wauwatosa Memorial Civic Center was dedicated. The new building, located on the southwest corner of North Avenue and Wauwatosa Avenue (site of the former Underwood estate) was home to city hall and a state of the art library. The Harwood Library, built in 1896 on a triangle of land located at Milwaukee and Harwood Avenues was razed.

Pure Land
Church parking was still a prime concern in 1958. It was such a hot topic that 150 church members attended a congregation meeting to address that very subject. Nothing could keep folks away – not even a snowstorm that raged all day, closing just about everything else. Up for discussion was the possible purchase of a piece of land to the west of the church owned by Pure Oil. The land would be used for parking. 1958 was also the year that St. Matt’s joined in a $500,000 capital campaign to build Luther Manor. The City of Wauwatosa had been expanding to the west throughout the 1950’s. By 1958, the westward expansion combined with the freedom offered by the automobile and freeways had taken a drastic toll on the original Wauwatosa Village. On March 1, the streetcar era ended, with the closing of the Wells Street #10 line. The Harwood terminal in the Village was closed forever.

Meet Me on the Mall
By the end of the decade, St. Matt’s congregation was truly thinking big picture. They were looking forward to a new education building and plenty of convenient parking. And they were continuing efforts to develop the Lutheran community, by reaffirming support for Luther Manor and agreeing to support the new Carthage College, to be located on a 68 acre Lake Michigan site in Kenosha.
In 1959, “Meet Me on the Mall at Mayfair” was the slogan promoting the fabulous new shopping destination located in Wauwatosa. By January, both Marshall Fields and Gimbels had opened their doors. The development, which cost more than $20 million, turned rural pasture into a commercial hub within a few years. Highway 100, formerly Lovers Lane Road, was renamed Mayfair Road. The Mall, in all its grandness, was a precursor to the 1958 demise of Lefeber’s Department Store. Lefeber’s had served Wauwatosa residents from its Village location since 1886.

~~Robyn McGill
Communications Committee

*Some information gathered above is credited to the 75th Anniversary book written by Joyce Heinrich.

St. Matthew’s history, through the eyes, experiences and memories of its members Four members of the congregation shared memories of St. Matt’s through the years during Education Hour at the church’s 90th Anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 16.

Arvis Kraetsch, Joyce Heinrich, Karie Clement, and Al Van Lith gave their perspectives on the history of St. Matthew’s. Robyn McGill has written creative summaries of their talks which we will share in upcoming issues.

Here is the first story, from Arvis Kraetsch.

Remember….. Dust on the Pews

Arvis Kraetsch has seen a lot of change in almost 80 years as a member of St. Matt’s congregation. His parents, Art and Jennie joined the church back in March of 1934. At that time, the Depression was in full swing and money was very tight. Arvis recalled vivid memories of Sunday School, which was held in the church basement. Because of the struggling economy, Sunday School children had little to give, averaging perhaps 5 or 10 cents a week. Church was a good place for social activity and St. Matt’s hosted a Men’s Club, dart ball, and a bowling league. The wooden stage in the church basement was the focal point for many activities including plays. Eleanora Niebling, the church organist, played a reed organ in the early 30s. Arvis said, “Sometimes during the church service, the belt of the organ would pop off, requiring a member of the Church Council to run down and slip the belt back into position.” By 1935, the old reed organ was replaced by a Hammond and the church also received new wooden pews made by Lentz Millwork, located at 70th and State in the Village.

Arvis remembered that the church really started to grow in the 1940s. By then the church was debt free, having paid off its mortgage. Pastor Niebling asked the congregation to support the mission work of the greater church. The Sunday School supported missions in both Africa and India, as well as a domestic mission called Rocky Boy.

Men were called to serve their country in great numbers between 1937 and 1945. St. Matt’s had an Honor Roll located in the back of the church that displayed the names of all service men. People were very patriotic during the war years. Sunday School children continued to pack the house. Arvis explained that every last inch of space was in use, and teachers were leading Sunday School class over the backs of pews. To ease overcrowding, the church purchased the Northwestern Conservatory of Music along with two old houses south of the church for Sunday School expansion. “We taught in every room of the old houses,” said Arvis. “Even the bathroom – that was my room.”

September 24, 1949 was a special day for Arvis Kraetsch. That’s the day he married his wife Pearl. The wedding was set for 4:30pm. It was a memorable day – for several reasons. Earlier that same day, construction workers broke through the wall of the original church to join it with the brand new church. The workers left a little dust in the process. At 2:00 p.m. Arvis received a phone call asking if he could show up to his wedding early to dust off the pews! Arvis now jokes that his wedding “made the walls of the church come down.” Arvis met his wife Pearl three weeks after getting out of the military. It was 1946 and they both sang in the church choir. Arvis said, “Pastor Niebling didn’t think it would last, but we made 59 years.” Arvis continues to sing in the choir. His dear wife Pearl passed away Feb. 7, 2009.

Four members of the congregation shared memories of St. Matt’s through the years during Education Hour at the church’s 90th Anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 16.

Arvis Kraetsch, Joyce Heinrich, Karie Clement, and Al Van Lith gave their perspectives on the history of St. Matthew’s. Robyn McGill has written creative summaries of their talks which we will share in upcoming issues.

Here is the second story, from Joyce Heinrich.

A Faith-Filled Journey

“I have been a member of St. Matthew’s for sixty years,” said Joyce Heinrich.  “Looking back I see it as a community built on faith.”  Joyce and Donald Heinrich were married at St. Matthews on May 27, 1950.  Their ceremony was the second wedding hosted in the new church.  “The interior of the church was very traditional with a single long aisle, altar at the front and the organ and choir loft at the rear,” remembers Joyce.  “Imagine the uproar created in 1999 when a very forward thinking congregation accepted a plan to gut the interior and replace it with the very contemporary and inviting church we now have.”

But according to Joyce, progressive thinking and leadership throughout the years has enriched St. Matthews congregation in so many ways.   Joyce said, “ St. Matthews seemed always to find just the right pastors to serve, council members to lead and members to take on ever new challenges.”  Recurring challenges included overcrowding and parking. 

“Parking was always a problem and so in 1973 I recall a very heated discussion on the wisdom of buying four lots on the corner of Milwaukee and Underwood Avenues for $52,000 when the four lots on which the original church stood cost a mere $4,215 in 1920.  Fortunately the big spenders prevailed and a once in a lifetime opportunity to ease parking was solved,” said Joyce. 

But as Joyce points out, a faith community is measured by more than parking lots and new buildings.  “In 1946 St. Matthew’s spent $8,400 on itself and $7,200 on others.  We have always been a leader in our benevolence giving to the ELCA,”said Joyce.  “Our food ministries and our community outreach programs as well as our support of sister congregations in Africa and El Salvador are known throughout the synod.”

Joyce is also extremely proud of the fine music and educational ministries that have blossomed at St. Matthews over the decades.  “The music ministry here has always been important,” said Joyce.  “In 1943 the first small electric organ was donated.  It was followed by a real Shantz pipe organ in 1963 and the grand 3135 pipe Schlicker organ dedicated along with the renovated sanctuary in 2000.”

Joyce Heinrich celebrates the last 60 years of memories at St. Matthews and looks forward to what the future will bring.  “St. Matthews has a firm foundation thanks to its past, and now with the help of God and with the strength of its present members, who knows what wonderful stories will be told in the next ninety years?”

Four members of the congregation shared memories of St. Matt’s through the years during Education Hour at the church’s 90th Anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 16.

Arvis Kraetsch, Joyce Heinrich, Karie Clement, and Al Van Lith gave their perspectives on the history of St. Matthew’s. Robyn McGill has written creative summaries of their talks which we will share in upcoming issues.

Here is the third story, from Karie Clement.

“Proud to Call St. Matthew’s Home”
Karie Clement moved to Wauwatosa in 1974. Her family joined St. Matt’s and Karie found herself quickly immersed in youth activities at church. Karie lived near Pastor Gary and Sue Erickson and often babysat for the family. “My bell choir career started with Sue Erickson as the director. We were one of the first groups to use the bells.” In the late 1960’s a few octaves of handbells were donated to the church and the collection has grown throughout the years. Karie recalls, “Practices back then were Sunday nights. Sue and Gary lived just 2 blocks from our house and Sue would pick me up and take me to practice. We had a uniform back then—dark pants and white shirt with a vest that my mom helped to make with matching bow tie. Yikes! “

Karie also has vivid memories of confirmation and how it has changed over the years. “Confirmation was much different back then than what it is now. It was more formal and classroom style. Two teachers I remember are Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead. When I see them here at church, I remember how horrible our class was to them. They were always so nice and the boys especially, were so cruel.”

And while many things have changed, some things have remained an annual tradition at St. Matt’s, including the Christmas pageant. “I was an angel for several years for the Christmas pageant,” said Karie. “One year, Channel 4 came in and recorded the performance and showed it on TV. I remember some­one brought in a big screen TV to church the night it was showing and we all sat around and watched it. That was back before we had TVs here at church. It was cool. One year, Pastor Gary had asked me to be Gabriel. That was very special for me. “

Karie eventually grew up and went away to college. She met a man named Goop, and when they were ready to be married, they came back to St. Matthew’s. Karie remembers, “It was a wonderful ceremony and Pastor Gary married us, Sue sang for us, Dave Reinhart’s dad played the trumpet and this young guy, John Paradowski, played the organ and piano.”

Karie has continued her involvement with the church along with her husband and children Anneke and Quinten. She is still involved with the music ministry. “I have been back with the bell choir for about 15 years now. Things are much different. John is the director and he doesn’t pick me up from home to bring me to practice. And thankfully, we don’t have a uniform.”

Karie and her husband have served the church in many ways including being members of the Church Council. She recently concluded her term as Council President in February. Karie Clement’s relation­ship with St. Matthew’s spans a period of more than 35 years – from child to adult to parent. Karie remembers, “In 2002 we moved to Germantown—about 25 minutes away from St. Matthew’s. When we moved, I thought briefly about looking for a new church closer to home. But I never bothered looking. My memories are very special to me and I am happy that I am a part of this wonderful congregation. I have made some wonderful friends and built special relationships. I am proud to call St. Matthew’s my home and feel a sense of comfort here. “
- Robyn McGill

Four members of the congregation shared memories of St. Matt’s through the years during Education Hour at the church’s 90th Anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 16.
Arvis Kraetsch, Joyce Heinrich, Karie Clement, and Al Van Lith gave their perspectives on the history of St. Matthew’s. Robyn McGill has written creative summaries of their talks.
Here is last of the four, from Al Van Lith, current Church Council President.

“Growing On Our History”
Al Van Lith and his wife Susan became members of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in June of 1995. “We were out at that time – church shopping,” quipped Al. “We happened to show up here on Palm Sunday. And sitting in the old chapel and hearing the music… we didn’t give a second thought after that. We knew exactly where we were going.”

Al is the current President of the Church Council. “I feel honored to be in that position,” said Al. He acknowledges that he is one of a long line of council presidents. Charles Houston became the first council president on May 8, 1927.

Throughout his fifteen-year association with St. Matthew’s, Al admits, “There’s been a lot of change in this church.” In 1995, Pastor Gary was assisted by Pastor Shelstad who left a year later. That’s when Pastor Chris Manke came on the scene. Pastor Margaret Schoewe would arrive ten years later in 2006.

Al remembers the yearly talent shows held in the basement. “It was great seeing the pastors up there in costumes, cowboy hats – and everyone had a chance to express themselves in a fun way.”

He also remembers the beginning of many events including the Walk Through The Bible series, Forty Days of Purpose, Alpha and the growth of the church’s outreach efforts. “I’ve seen the relationship with Tanzania grow,” said Al. “I’ve had the opportunity to witness that, to be on the first trip to Tanzania. I’ve seen our relationship with Reformation grow, and Cross Lutheran.”

Change is often positive, but Al respects how St. Matt’s incorporates change with the past. “We don’t lose our history,” Al reminds us. “The original church is totally encompassed in the existing structure. We have the stained glass windows that go from the chapel into the church.

Those are the original stained glass windows from the first church. We have everything from the second church – the stained glass windows, the beautiful work. And then we have the new addition with the etched glass coming in.”
“St. Matt’s grows on its history. And we have a lot of it here. And I think it’s quite an exciting year that we have our 90th anniversary now. Because not only do we have our 90th anniversary - we are in a position now to also once again be debt free.”
- Robyn McGill