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First United Church of Christ, Reeseville

Observes Centennial

Watertown Daily Times, 06 01 1976

Reeseville--Members of the First United Church of Christ, Reeseville, will be celebrating the 100th birthday of their church with special services Sunday, June 6.

The church’s centennial will begin with communion services at 10 a.m. A service of remembrance will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Heading the list of the speakers at the centennial observation will be the present pastor, the Rev. Emile Jacquet. Others participating will be Rev. Richard Wichiei, Rev. Wilfred Burger, Rev. Dan Schowalter, Rev. John Heinbuch, Jr., Dr. Ralph P. Ley and Rev. Hilbert Klein.

Dr. Robert C. Volkert, a son of the congregation, will deliver the communion service sermon.

The forefathers of the First United Church of Christ of Reeseville were immigrants who came to America from Prussia, Alsace, and Pommerania.

In 1873, The Rev. William G. Kuentzel was called to serve the Reformed Church, as it was then known in Lowell, and a congregation south of Reeseville, which was named Second Reformed Church. He was instrumental in organizing the First Reformed Church in Reeseville, which was incorporated on March 8, 1876. The first services were held in the village public school. During the summer of that year, the church was built at a cost of $1,000. It was dedicated in the fall of 1876.

Rev. William Kuentzel was succeeded by Rev. G. Martinke of Watertown who served for a short time. The next regular pastor was Rev. H. Schwichtenberg, who served only during the winter months. In 1889, the Rev. H. O. Jorris accepted a call to serve the congregation, and in that year a parsonage was built across the street from the church. In 1898, an addition was built to the church. This was used for Sunday school, catechism and Biblical instruction.

Rev. Roland A. Kuentzel, a grandson of an earlier pastor, the Rev. William Kuentzel, began his ministry here in March 1929 and served until his death on Aug. 29, 1938. It was during his ministry that the present house of worship was erected at a cost of $27,000. Dedication took place on Oct. 19, 1930. In this period, also, the merger of the Evangelical and the Reformed churches was accomplished.

Students from the Mission House supplied here until June 1939, when the Rev. Walter Harrell, upon graduation from the Mission House Seminary, became pastor of First and Second congregations. In August, 1941, he left to serve a church in Dayton, Ohio.

The old parsonage on Washington Street was sold, and the present one at 215 Lincoln Avenue, was purchased in September, 1949.

Rev. J. Heinbuch resigned as pastor on Nov. 9, 1952 to serve Immanuel Evangelical and Reformed Church of Milwaukee.

Upon his graduation from the Mission House Seminary in June 1953, Rev. Hilbert G. Klein was installed as pastor here. He filled that position until June, 1960, when he left to serve the Evangelical and Reformed Church in Baroda, Mich.

The 25th anniversary of the present edifice was observed in October, 1955. The following year the Youth Fellowship sponsored a confirmation reunion.

The denomination received a new name in 1957: United Church of Christ. The union of the Evangelical and Reformed churches and the Congregational Christian Churches became effective in Cleveland, Ohio, June 25-27, when the United Church of Christ held its uniting General Synod.

On Sunday, July 1, 1973, in a special recognition service, members and friends of First Church expressed their gratitude to Mrs. Vanita Volkert, who had served as organist for over 50 years.

To date, 13 pastors have ministered to the congregation, of which four are living. They are: Rev. John Heinbuch, Jr., Rev. Hilbert Klein, Rev. Wilfred Burger and the present pastor, Rev. Emile Jacquet.

Two sons of the congregation entered the Christian Ministry. They are Walter F. Kuentzel, son of Rev. and Mrs. Roland Kuentzel, and Robert C. Volkert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy L. Volkert.

Dr. Walter Kuentzel, graduated from both the Mission House College and Seminary, and received the Doctor of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He was a professor at the Mission House Seminary at the time of his death in 1957, following an auto accident.

Dr. Robert Volkert also graduated from the Mission House College and Seminary, and in 1974 received his Doctor of Ministry degree from San Francisco Seminary. He has served churches in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and is presently on the staff of the First Congregational Church in Oakland, Calif.