Rev. Louis Baumgaertner

          In the history of the German Evangelical Lutheran church in Huntley, one name has stood out: Baumgaertner. Starting from the earliest period of the church through major transitions, the Baumgaertner name had been of high importance of the development of the German Evengelical Lutheran church, known as the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church. Though the Baumgaertner name is first seen in 1876 with the Rev. John E. Baumgaertner, it was one of his sons that would become one of the most recognized leaders of the church.
          One of four kids, Louis Baumgaertner was born August 17, 1877, to Rev. John E. Baumgaertner. Rev. John Baumgaertner had come to the German Evangelical Lutheran church in Huntley in 1876 to become the second pastor in the church's then short history. He would remain the leader of the church until 1886 when he took a position as the pastor of a church in Nebraska.
          Even with his father transferring to Nebraska, Louis remained in Illinois. After graduating college in 1903 and marrying Margret Schroeder on May 10, 1905, Rev. Louis Baumgaertner took charge of the German Evangelical Lutheran church in October of 1910. In addition to heading the church, Rev. Baumgaertner taught in the parochial school from 1910-1914, when a new full time teacher was hired. In 1912, while Baumgaertner was still teaching, a new brick school was constructed across from the church due to the influx of students. He later returned to teaching when the full time teacher left.
          Although Baumgaertner ended teaching at the school in 1923, he continued to lead the church through some of its greatest changes. During his time as pastor, the church saw its first generation parishioners, who spoke mostly German, dwindle, while second and third generations, who spoke more English, increase. This brought in the need to do more sermons and marriages in English. Baumgaertner organized the first Sunday School in English, and performed marriages in English, as well as German. Baumgaertner also organized the Junior and Senior Walther League, which remained popular for many years.
          While being pastor of the Lutheran church, Baumgaertner and his wife raised five children. There were two boys (John and Martin) and three girls (Marguerite, Clara, and Mary Louise). During his tenure the family lived in the parsonage on Myrtle St. until the church sold the property, which they then moved into a large brick home on the south-west corner of Main and Lincoln Sts. Rev. Baumgaertner retired in 1947 after 37 years with the church. His two sons followed in his footsteps to both become reverends, with Martin becoming a Chaplin for the United States Military.
          Rev. Louis Baumgaertner passed in 1961, and his wife Margret passed on February 10, 1966. Even though his passing was decades ago, the Lutheran church can still feel the effects that his dedicated leadership introduced.
         



Louis Baumgaertner for graduation from college. Photo 1903.

Always the dapper man, Rev. Louis Baumgaertner looked his best for the camera.

 

Bird's Eye View Pt. 3

          The old water tower made photographer's eyes light up with excitement. Many would climb the monument to photograph the town from above. This three part series shows a panoramic view of Huntley from about 1910.
          The final of the panoramic view shows the north-west side of town. The rest of Main St. and its businesses can be seen, and some of Huntley's earliest businesses can be seen near the left side of the photo.  The Devine and Skeels general store can be seen on the left hand side, about half way up the card. This two story, wood frame structure is nestled amongst the large brick Hawley Building. Constructed in 1876 as a hotel, Wm. Devine and John P. Skeels doubled the size of the structure and began operating their general store at the site in 1881. They would remain in operation through 1917.  Another early structure was located north of the store. Pictured at the center of the photo was the Hotel Huntley. Said to have been one of the earliest on the square, this two story, gable roof structure once housed a hotel, the post office, and later a restaurant. Half the structure was razed before the mid '30s, and in the 1940s, the entire structure was razed for a new single story brick structure to house Heineman Hardware. Other structures in the photo include the W. G. Sawyer mill at far left, Sawyer and Kelley mill and the Borden's condensery about half way up the photo on the left, and the Kelley house, a pre Civil War house located on the square (right side of the photo). 
          It's a shame that the water tower is long gone. No more photos will ever be taken to compare then and now, but at least these exist as a reminder of the early days of this growing town.