St. Paul's Lutheran Church De Witt, Nebraska

The founders of St. Paul�s Lutheran Church were German immigrants primarily from the Westphalia Province. Many of these families had been neighbors in Germany and were again neighbors in this new country. Attending Sunday services had been a priority for their lives in the �old country� and they desired to renew this regular Christian fellowship. In December of 1883, a meeting was held at which they decided to call Pastor Fleishmann to serve as their Pastor, in addition to serving his congregation near Clatonia. These services were held in the schoolhouse located near Soap Creek.
The congregation was officially established in the spring of 1884. Nicholas Tobaben donated 4 acres of ground for the church building and cemetery. In February of 1885 plans were drawn up for a building, which would be 18� X 26� X 12�. The cost of the building was $364.95.
In 1891 a committee was elected to plan a larger church. This building was to be 32� X 56� X 18� with a 10� X 14� hall and a 70� tower. In the summer of 1896 this church was struck by lighting and burned to the ground. Later that year the building was replaced with another of similar dimensions. In 1923 the church was raised three feet and a basement was dug for a schoolroom and furnace. They also added a room to each side of the tower. In 1924 the chancel was carpeted. Electric lights were installed in 1926. In 1930 a twelve-foot addition was added to the west end to make room for the installation of a new Hinners pipe organ. By ballot vote in 1942, they chose to dig out the whole basement and purchase a new furnace. The inside of the church was redecorated in 1943-1944.

The membership kept growing to the point that Sunday services were very crowded. More room was also needed for Sunday School Classes, so after weighing their options, they voted to build a new church during a special congregational meeting on August 25, 1952. William Spilker donated ground across the road for the new facility. The cost would be about $100,000. Ground was broken on September 4, 1955. The cornerstone was laid on November 20, 1955. Dedication was held November 4, 1956. Minor changes were made to the church since this time. The entrance was enclosed in 1962. In 1979 the kitchen was remodeled and in 1984 restrooms were added to the first floor making the facility more handicap accessible.