Community Churches

When visiting the Haigler area at the end of May, Leah and I drove some country roads and took some pictures of some of the country church sites around the northwestern portion of Cheyenne County, Kansas, just south of Haigler and north of St. Francis, Kansas.

It is interesting to note that there were quite afew Lutheran churches built in the area. In some recent reading, I was reminded of the population of Russian German immigrants who homesteaded in this area. When I was growing up, I didn't realize the uniqueness of those immigrants and the fact that it was the only area of the country where they settled. The Lutheran religion was important to them and they brought their beliefs with them. As a result, each small "community" had its own church in the days when traveling more than 10-20 miles was an all day trip.

Here are some pictures I took of some of the cemeteries that are left in the wake of "progress" which caused most these churches to be moved or demolished.

Salem Lutheran Church (still having services every Sunday)



Zion Lutheran Cemetery (Church is gone)


Hope Valley Church and Cemetery


Immanual Lutheran Church and Cemetery

I remember this church the best because we could see it from our house. I missed it being against the skyline after they moved it to the SouthFork Community in 1951. It is now sitting at the museum in St. Francis and is still being used for weddings and other community functions.


Here is a link to an article about the Immanuel Lutheran Church
http://www.stfranciskansas.com/things/Pictures/Ye%20Old%20Church%20Brochure.pdf


Hackberry Community Church and Cemetery

This church, cemetery and school site only has the cemetery left, but early in this century, it was an important part of the Hackberry Community. The church held non-denominational type services and after the church was gone people still met in the schoolhouse for church and other community meetings.
The school building from this site was moved in the late 1970's to the Charley Zuege place now owned by Steve and Tammy Workman.