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Verheiratet:
- The marriage takes place in der "Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church", Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland, USA.
May be the marriage was not realized in Harpers Ferry because the new "St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church" (erected in 1852) was taken over by the U.S. Government due to the Civil War (1861/65) and used as a hospital. The marks can still be seen where the walls were shattered by a canon ball fired from Maryland Heights. As a result of the war, services were not held in the church until 1869.
It seems that it was a problem to find a church wich was not claimed by the U.S. Government. The Church in Middeltown was also used as Hospital, but only until 1863.
[1]
- Church?s History of Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church, Middletown
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The exact date for construction of the first church is not known but was near the revolutionary war period. Money was scarce and it is recorded that the farmers gave wheat, which was made into flour, and afterward exchanged for lumber and labor employed in construction of the church. The church was sextangular in form, surmounted by a tower which contained a bell once used on a man of war, and also contained a fine organ. This was truly an auspicious beginning in the new location.
Since most of the members were of German extraction, that language was used exclusively until 1826. The old log church was torn down in 1812 to be replaced by a fine brick building. Some members demanded that only the "mother tongue" be used in the new church but that was not to be. Times were changing and it was evident that those using the English language had an economic advantage, so it was used exclusively after 1834.
The brick church was erected on the same site as the first log church. It?s dimensions were 40' X 50', and cost about $9,000. Dedication was in September 1815 and it was at this time that the name Zion was used. The official name has been retained as ?Evangelical Lutheran Church Zion?.
By 1858 church membership had grown significantly; a building committee was appointed and a Baltimore architect was selected. On February 27, 1859 services were held in the old church for the last time. On April 22, 1860 the new church was dedicated with about 2,000 people present. This beautiful structure stands today as the third on the same site. Facing the Old National Pike, the principal route westward for settlement in Ohio and beyond. The congregation of over 600 had committed itself to house of worship of grand proportions, not sparing elegant details. All of this was accomplished not for display but to provide an enduring house of worship and for proclamation of the gospel and administration of the sacrament.
Little could the people of Middletown imagine the horrors that would be visited on their small town within 3 years.
On Sunday, September 14, 1862, the bloody battle of South Mountain was fought between the forces of the Union and the Confederacy, just a few miles west of Middletown. This was followed a few days later by the terrible conflict at nearby Antietam. The wounded from both battles filled all surrounding villages. So it was in Middletown. Most buildings of sufficient size became hospitals. Zion Church being the largest building in town, and in excellent condition, was designated by the Army as a "general hospital". This meant that this facility would receive critical patients, especially those requiring surgery. Pews were removed and were replaced by cots. The undercroft, container Sunday School rooms and the balcony were also utilized. In addition, the two-story brick building housing the Female Academy was brought into service. Hundreds of young men were brought up the beautiful columned portico into the church to be care for by Army and local physicians and ladies of the community. Many lost limbs and many died. Some were buried on church grounds.
By January 1863 the Army turned the church back to the Church Council. The church was awarded $2,395 damages for its use and was re-occupied for worship on August 30, 1863. Many years later a bronze plaque was affixed on the front of the church in recognition of its service as a general hospital with the governor of Maryland in attendance. [2]
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