The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-07-28
History Of Grace Lutheran
Church From l94l To 1850
Membership More Than Doubled In
One Yedr; Fucker Pastor 8 Years

One week day IN ApIli I94Z, a
the urging and expense of thu
late Mr. Henry w Horst, a con
tractor Of Rock Island, Ill, anC
a member of the Board Of Drec
tors Of the Lutheran Church
Missouri Synod, a ear full Of mer
from Miami and Fort LauderdalC
drove to Key West for a day o.
mission work.
In addition to Mr.. Horst there
were Pastors c. r. Kellermann o.
Miami, Dallas Gibson Of For
Lauderdale, Theodore Bartusch Of
Miami Beach, and Teacher Char
les l.. Ruff of Fort Lauderdale
They spent a few hours canvas
sing parts Of the city, then held
an afternoon service IN the home
Of Mr.. and Mrs, Larry Escheu on
White street, Pastor Kellermann
preaching the sermon, and re-
turned to their homes, AS the
nearest Lutheran pastor was sta
toned in Miami, ITO miles away
over the old highway, reading
services and Sunday school were
conducted for the first few
months in the Eschen home by
Mr. George W Haug, an active
Lutheran layman stationed in
Key West at the time.
Pastor Bartusch of Miami
Beach was the pastor in charge
and came down about once q
month TO hold a mid-week
preaching service,
LIT August 1912 the Rev. Fred.
erick II. Fucker succeeded Pastor
Bartuseh in Miami Beach anc
also took charge Of the Key West
mission, introducing regular
twice-monthly Wednesday even
ing services in September of thai
year.
Beginning in October 1912
these services were held in the
third-floor knight Of Pythias
hall on Fleming street. Sunday
school was conducted each Sun
day morning at the Eschen home
by Mrs. Eschen, her daughter
Mrs. Carl lllsley, and Coas
Guardsman's wife, Mrs Mile,
Black Beginning with Easter
Sunday in l945 the services wer,
held on Sunday evenings, but still
only twice month.
After VI Day in l945 there wa.
such an exodus from Key West
both Of military people and civil
ianS, that the mission barely sur
vivedi at several services tina
fall there were only three. fou
or five worshiperS present. For
tunately, the postwar boom il
tourist travel began in that win
ter, and a surprisingly large mum
Der OF service men came back t
key West To live after their dis
charge From the armed fssrees. Il
n March ia4g the place Of wor
ship was changed TO the ground
floor hall IL the Golden Eael
building ON Petronia Street
which Grace congregation share,
with the Seventh Day Adventist
Tor more than four years.
An interesting incident hrough
this move. Prof Paul G. Andre
of Chicago had been sent 10 Re
West for the winter because q
heart trouble, under strict order
from his doctor not to climb an
steps
One Sunday evening in Febru
airy he came an hour early an
took thirty minutes to negotiat
the two flights of stairs to TIA
place Of Worship 50 as to be abb
to partake ot the Lords Suppe
Though he suffered no ill effect
from this fothidden exertion. IN
very next service was held IN tn
new greund floor quarters 10 81
able him to GENE regularly /
church Without rislSing his life.
Delktn b Schneider of Mitwat
kee, u student at Concordia S,
minary IN st, Louis, was the fir.
summer field worker Ia serV
Grace Church.
He conducted weekly Sunda
morning services from June /
to September 1, 1916. and r,
opened the Sunday school aft,
the polio epidemic o. that sun
mer. The growth Of Grace co.
gregation 60 its present size rea
~ began. under God. with NJ
Sch0eider'S term Of service, /,
with some help from the men
bers he canvaSsed almost the {
tire city Of KEY West during IN,
summer finding dozens Of I.utl
Grams who knew nothing OF .,
chureh'S presence in the city. an
many unehurehed prospects, son
% Whom IN the course If Il