The Posted Coordinates will take you to a guardrail, where you will find a micro container with a log.
Stealth Required: In this area it is very difficult to keep caches from disappearing, so please use great care when retrieving/replacing the container. Note: Due to the high concentration of caches in the downtown area, the cache container could not be placed on the church property.
After signing the log, you will visit a waypoint in front of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, where you will find clues for solving B & F in the Series Finale Puzzle. (See the Waypoint Description and Clue Pics in the Gallery)
Clue for B: Cornerstone Date (19X0)
B = X + 1
Clue for F: Number of Apostle Shields (Y)
F = Y ÷ 4
The Ecumenical Tour Series will take you on a Walking/Driving Tour that highlights the varied and beautiful historic churches in downtown Wausau. Go for a nice walk, or sit back and take a pleasant ride. Either way, we hope you enjoy your discovery of the history and inspired architecture of these magnificent churches.
ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF WAUSAU
Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens (1913) written by Louis Marchetti, pages 352-366 (Transcribed by Marla Zwakman)
This church was organized January 4, 1863 by the German people of Wausau. It was the first Protestant church founded by the German-American citizens, who felt the need of spiritual guidance. They were unable to join any of the existing churches, as the other churches held their services in English or Norwegian, which they did not understand. The German element was not very strong at that time, and there were just families enough to found a church and secure the service of a pastor by all joining together. Consequently the difference in the doctrines of Luther and Calvin were not emphasized and all joined in the worship of the Evangelical church. The first church was built in 1863 and the congregation held service.
The first resident minister was Pastor Waldmann, who was followed by Pastor Stoeffier, until about 1866, when Pastor Albert took charge, who in turn was relieved by Pastor Kern in 1869. Pastor Kern, resigning his pastorate, was followed by Rev. F. Reinecke until 1881, when he resigned, organizing the St. Stephan's congregation. After his resignation Reverend Kern returned, but resigned after a short time, and a missionary held divine service until the arrival of Rev. C. Schaer. Rev. C. Schaer was succeeded by his brother, Pastor Fr. W. Schaer, under whose patronage a new church was built in 1886. At the time it was built it was the finest and largest in Wausau.
Under Pastor F. W. Schaer many families joined the church, and among the many improvements made during his term must be mentioned the large organ installed in the year 1890.
Pastor Schaer resigned in 1909, accepting a call from some Illinois congregation very close to Chicago. Rev. E. Grauer, who succeeded him, arrived in May, 1909, and has since been in charge of the congregation.
Christmas 1909 Inside St Paul's Church in Wausau
Owing to the growth of the city and the organizing of more congregations, some members have withdrawn, joining some congregations nearer to their residence, or because a little closer to their ideas of religious doctrines, but new members have come and the church retains its large influence as a factor in religious life in German-American circles and German thought and tolerance.
In 1912 a new pastorage was built at a cost of $7,200; it has a ladies' aid association with 136 members, a sewing circle with 35 members, a young men's association with 76 members, three choirs and a juvenile band, and the congregation consists of 390 families.
On February 15, 1913, it celebrated its semi-centennial anniversary with great ceremony and a great outpouring of people, the religious and social festivities continuing during the week following, until the next Sunday.
ST. PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Source: The St. Paul's Story: 1863 - 1963; Charles Weinkauf, editor; The Pilot Printing & Publishing Co.; November 10, 1963
In 1942 St. Paul's had a membership of approximately 1500 people. In 1947 the membership rose to 2,355, thus far the largest number of members in the history of the church.
In May 1949, after many years of fundraising and planning, construction of the new guild hall began. Although remodeling the church had also been part of the original plans, the quoted price of $450,000 for the combined projects was deemed to be too extravagant, and at the request of the building committee, the congregation decided to let the remodeling of the church go until a future date.
On Christmas Eve 1951, for the first time in the history of the church, it was necessary to hold two separate services. With the rapid growth of the congregation continuing, services had to be held in both the church and the auditorium of the guild hall. Over 1,100 parents and children attended those two services.
In 1955, total attendance averaged 1,111 people per Sunday. In 1956, the total attendance for the year was 65,867. As a result, work was begun immediately to study the needs of the congregation in respect to completion of the building program. At the recommendation of the Building Committee, the Architectural firm of Irion and Reinke were hired as consultants. The architects convinced the building committee that it would be more economical to build an entirely new church than it would be to remodel the old building.
On May 12, 1960 the bids for the construction of the new church were submitted to the congregation. The bids were approved, and the Wergin Company of Wausau was granted the general contractor's contract. The small windows from the back of the church were saved for the new church. The three bells were taken one by one from the tower of the old church. These bells were eventually placed in the spot designed for them in the new guild hall tower. It was found that the bells were cast in 1886 by Campbell and Sons Bell Foundry of Milwaukee.
On June 26, 1961 the new St. Paul's Church was dedicated. The building was completed at a cost of $365,000. Included in this price were all the furnishings and the new Schlicker pipe organ.
Gabriel Loire, the artist who created the stained glass windows, is a man 57 years old, who lives and designs in a 300 year old house, surrounded by beautiful gardens, in the shadow of the Cathedral of Chartres (located in Chartres, France). He works with over 300 shades of glass which are created for him by his daughter. Mr. Loire's work has been installed in over 600 buildings around the world in such spots as Casablanca, Morocco; Manheim, Germany; Glasgow, Scotland; Santiago, Chile; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; Cairo, Egypt; and at the Kaiser Wilhelm Kirche in West Berlin, Germany. The glass is better than an inch thick, chipped and set in reinforced concrete.
The Apostle Stones on the facade of our church have created a great deal of interest. The stones were carved by hand by a Milwaukee artist; and each stone depicts one of the apostles in the order in which they were called. The last shield, which is blank, is for Judas Iscariot, who erased the good that might have been by his betrayal.
On October 13, 1963, St. Paul's honored its pastor, Rev. Ortwein, upon his completion of twenty-five years in the ministry. Thus ended the first one hundred years of the history of St. Paul's Evangelical Church of Wausau.
