1888: Carl “Charles” Elbe Lutkens (1869-1950) & Adams Sachs (1858-1921) homesteaded Elbe along the Nisqually River. They named the town after the Elbe River in Hamburg, Germany from where Lutkens had emigrated.
1891: Heinrich “Henry” C. Lutkens (1832-1919), his wife Christine Böttcher Lutkens (1848-1933) & their other children settled in Elbe.
1892: The Elbe Post Office was established.
1893: Pastor Dr. Lewis Herman Schuh (1858-1936; of Tacoma’s German Evangelical Trinity Church) traveled to Elbe to organize the Elbe Evangelical Lutheran Church congregation & to hold its first services in the Elbe Town Hall.
1895-1905: Pastor J. F. Oertel (of Puyallup) led worship services in homes in Elbe.
1903: Sachs platted the town of Elbe.
1904: The Tacoma Eastern Railroad reached Elbe. H. Lutkens donated the land for its depot.
1904-1905: H. Lutkens platted additions to the town of Elbe
1906: It was built 24’ long x 18’ wide. Its 44’ tall steeple (housing a railroad locomotive bell) is topped with a 4’ tall iron cross. H. Lutkens donated the land & lumber for its construction; and served as a deacon. Pastor Karl Kilian (1869-1945) designed, built & dedicated it; and then was its first pastor.
1926: The Mountain Highway (Highway 7) was paved from Tacoma to Mt. Rainier National Park’s Nisqually entrance.
1930: Services in German ended.
1933: Kilian retired after being its pastor for 27 years.
1944: Lake Alder was formed behind it when the Alder Dam was completed on the Nisqually River.
1973: Rev. Dr. Ervin E. Krebs (of Tacoma) reinstituted monthly worship services.
Oct 8, 1976: It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
July 1, 1984: Bishop Clifford Rolf Lunde (1930-1987) became it honorary pastor; it therefore became a cathedral (the seat of the bishop); and its “pfaarhaus” (fellowship house) was dedicated next door.
2015-2021: Pastor Margaret O’Neal served as its most recent pastor.
elbe, evangelical, lutheran, church, also, known, little, white, church, elbe, small, church, elbe, pierce, county, washington, church, been, listed, sources, including, ripley, believe, world, smallest, functional, church, national, register, historic, places. The Elbe Evangelical Lutheran Church also known as the Little White Church of Elbe 2 is a small church in Elbe Pierce County Washington USA The church has been listed by sources including Ripley s Believe It or Not as the world s smallest functional church 3 4 5 Elbe Evangelical Lutheran ChurchU S National Register of Historic PlacesThe church pictured in 2011Location54206 Mountain Hwy EElbe Washington U S Coordinates46 45 52 49 N 122 11 39 44 W 46 7645806 N 122 1942889 W 46 7645806 122 1942889Built1906ArchitectKarl KillianNRHP reference No 76001899 1 Added to NRHPOctober 8 1976 Contents 1 Chronological History 2 References 3 Sources 4 External linksChronological History Edit1888 Carl Charles Elbe Lutkens 1869 1950 amp Adams Sachs 1858 1921 homesteaded Elbe along the Nisqually River They named the town after the Elbe River in Hamburg Germany from where Lutkens had emigrated 1891 Heinrich Henry C Lutkens 1832 1919 his wife Christine Bottcher Lutkens 1848 1933 amp their other children settled in Elbe 1892 The Elbe Post Office was established 1893 Pastor Dr Lewis Herman Schuh 1858 1936 of Tacoma s German Evangelical Trinity Church traveled to Elbe to organize the Elbe Evangelical Lutheran Church congregation amp to hold its first services in the Elbe Town Hall 1895 1905 Pastor J F Oertel of Puyallup led worship services in homes in Elbe 1903 Sachs platted the town of Elbe 1904 The Tacoma Eastern Railroad reached Elbe H Lutkens donated the land for its depot 1904 1905 H Lutkens platted additions to the town of Elbe1906 It was built 24 long x 18 wide Its 44 tall steeple housing a railroad locomotive bell is topped with a 4 tall iron cross H Lutkens donated the land amp lumber for its construction and served as a deacon Pastor Karl Kilian 1869 1945 designed built amp dedicated it and then was its first pastor 1926 The Mountain Highway Highway 7 was paved from Tacoma to Mt Rainier National Park s Nisqually entrance 1930 Services in German ended 1933 Kilian retired after being its pastor for 27 years 1944 Lake Alder was formed behind it when the Alder Dam was completed on the Nisqually River 1973 Rev Dr Ervin E Krebs of Tacoma reinstituted monthly worship services Oct 8 1976 It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places July 1 1984 Bishop Clifford Rolf Lunde 1930 1987 became it honorary pastor it therefore became a cathedral the seat of the bishop and its pfaarhaus fellowship house was dedicated next door 2015 2021 Pastor Margaret O Neal served as its most recent pastor References Edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 https www thenewstribune com news local news columns blogs larry larue article26277226 html bare URL The Smallest Churches and Chapels Family Motor Coaching Family Motor Coach Association March 2009 America s smallest roadside churches NBC News July 10 2006 Get Outta Town Seattle Map c 1 500 000 San Francisco MadMaps 2006 Roadside attractions 14 Evangelische Lutheran Kirche 54222 Mountain Hwy East Elbe Washington ISBN 193391100X Sources EditFilley Bette 1996 The Big Fact Book About Mount Rainier Dunamis House ISBN 1 880405 06 7 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elbe Church Washington Historic Elbe Evangelical Lutheran Church Association nbsp This article about a property in Washington on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp nbsp This article about a church or other Christian place of worship in the U S state of Washington is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elbe Evangelical Lutheran Church amp oldid 1168965245, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
