Time Line of Zion- St. Peter's Church

• Before the first church was completed, families had to travel to Boeger Store in Hope for worship services. This was a difficult journey especially with a large family, and it did not take long to find that a church was needed in the Potsdam area.
• April 20, 1883- The German Reformed Zion Congregation was formed. The services were held at the homes of members before the church building was completed.
• July 12, 1883- The first church in Pershing was completed by now. It stood in the same spot as the church does today, but the doors opened toward the bluff.
• 1904- A piece of land was purchased for $10 to build a parsonage
• February 8, 1912- The first church burned down. Rev. Hanisch and Mrs. Hanisch rescued books, pews, and supplies. Mrs. Hanisch brought out the Altar Bible. The church burnt to the ground, and  the bell melted from the heat. In November of the same year, Rev. Hanisch passed away because of lung damage from the smoke.
• July 28, 1912- Dedication services for the new church were held. The church cost $3000 to build.
• 1935- Until this year, all church services in Pershing were conducted in German. It was decided that half of the church holidays and the first and third Sunday services of each month would be conducted in English.
• 1936- A chicken house was built between the church and parsonage so that the pastor could supplement his salary by raising chickens during the depression years.
• 1938- The congregation voted to hold every church service in English.
• 1959- The Pershing church merged with St. Peter's congregation of Fredericksburg to form Zion-St. Peter's Evangelical and Reformed church.
• 1962- Zion- St. Peter's Evangelical and Reformed church changed their name to Zion-St. Peter's UCC after the merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Church.

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