1865--The President of Synod proposed Pastor von Rohr of Toledo, Ohio. Seven members of the congregation called him and he was installed on June 27, 1866. A Mr. Fiebranz of Milwaukee, who had business interests here, offered to pay $100.00 of the annual $350.00 salary.

1866--In early July Pastor von Rohr started a parochial school with six pupils and by fall of that year he had eighty. A Branch Congregation at Wilson was also started which paid a third of his salary for six years.

1867--In June of this year property was purchased at Broadway and Liberty for $275.00.

1868--The church was moved to the rear of this property and a twenty foot addition was added.

1869--The growing enrollment caused the congregation to employ a full-time teacher. He was Joseph Mueller, a nephew of Pastor von Rohr.

1870--By this time the congregation has grown to sixty families and a second church was built measuring 36 x 80 feet, brick veneered for $5000.00. The congregation borrowed $1000.00 at 12% interest.

1877--St. Martin's joined the Evangelical Joint Synod of Wisconsin and other States.

1880--By this time a second classroom was needed. Two lots were bought on the northwest corner of Fifth and Chestnut for $800.00 and a one story school building was erected for $3,200.00. The first teacher was Joseph Mueller, a nephew of Pastor von Rohr. The second teacher was O. Gebhard.

1881--A second teacher was called by name of M. F. Walz.

1883--A pipe organ was purchased for $1,300.00 through special efforts of M. F. Walz.

1886--The old church was sold for $75.00 and a new church was dedicated on December 12 at a cost of over $19,000.00.

1890--The West End Branch School was established at King and Minnesota Streets. The lot and the building cost about $2000.00. It was taught by the Assistant Pastor.

1891--The original school at Fifth and Chestnut had grown too small and a second story was added.

1896--On the fortieth anniversary the congregation numbered 500 families and 1400 communicants.

1905--The Rev. Alfred Sauer came to St. Martin's on July 29 and married Elfrieda von Rohr, daughter of the Pastor. After the death of Pastor von Rohr, he was installed as Pastor on January 17, 1909. He taught at the West End School and conducted services at Minnesota City and Minneiska.

1906--Pastor and Mrs. von Rohr leave for Europe to consult a specialist for the Pastor. He returned ill with cancer. Shortly after his return Dr. Will Mayo came to Winona on a special train and the doctor operated on Pastor von Rohr in an emergency on the dining room table, which prolonged his life for a few years. Pastor von Rohr died on December 22, 1908 at the age of sixty five years, two weeks after christening his grandchild from a wheelchair. He had served St. Martin's forty-two and a half years, was President of The Wisconsin Synod twenty years and served in various civic capacities.

1906--was also the year of the fiftieth anniversary of the congregation, at which time a beautiful new altar and pulpit, termed the finest in the northwest, were added to the church as well as galleries on both sides of the church, a new roof and the interior redecorated.

1910--Mr. Max Hackbarth was installed as Principal. He served until 1931.

1911--At a cost of $1,800.00 an addition was made at the west end school. This school was continued until 1921.

1915--Sunday Schools were conducted at Sugar Loaf and in East Burns Valley. By this time the congregation numbered 900 families and about 3000 souls.

1916--On the occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary a new Austin organ was installed, which is still in service today.

1931--The present two-story brick school was built north of the church at Fifth and Liberty. Mr. Traugott Zuberbier became principal that year.

1936--A new congregation was started in Pickwick and called a pastor the next year.

1939--St. Matthew's began sending pupils to St. Martin's.

1943--Pastor Sauer was given his first Assistant in the person of his son, Alfred v. Rohr Sauer, who helped him until 1948 when he was called as Professor of Old Testament Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.

1946--Dr. Alfred von Rohr Sauer became principal, serving until 1947.

1947--Emanuel Arndt was called as Principal.

1948--Following Pastor Alfred's departure Wilmer Hoffmann is called as Vicar.

1950--After finishing his last year at the Seminary, Pastor Wilmer Hoffmann is called back to St. Martin's and installed by The Rev. Sauer. We might mention here the three vicars who supplied St. Martin's, Mr. George Luecke, '49-'50, Mr. Donald Sellnow, '52-'53, and Mr. Robert Carter, '53-'54.

1951--Three phases of renovation are begun.

1954--The Centennial Stewardship Campaign raised $245,000.00 over a three-year period.

1955--The Rev. H. Backer. coming from Mt. Calvary Lutheran in La Crosse, was installed on February 13. Pastor Sauer died on May 17, at the age of 73 years, shortly before his fiftieth anniversary. St. Matthew's built their own school. The previous year St. Martin's School enrollment reached a record 285 students. The following year the enrollment was still 265, including 30 junior high students from St. Matthew's.

1956--A brick exterior of the church refaced with stone gave it a new look. The steeple was lowered by removing the spire, which had been the highest in the city and was found in good structural condition. A new red-tile roof and stained-glass windows were added for a total cost of $155,000.00.

1957--Pastor Wilmer Hoffmann accepts a call to Illinois.

1958--The Rev. Emil Geistfeld becomes Associate Pastor, taking the place of Ref. Hoffmann.

1959--The Rev. Harold Backer dies suddenly of a heart attack. The Rev. R. Korn assists during the interim.

1961--The Rev. A. Deye is called from St. Paul to become Associate Pastor, after the Congregation decided to join The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. Mr. Floyd Broker is called from Young America to be the Principal. He also served as organist and choir director.

1963--The Rev. Geistfeld accepts a call to Vernon Center, Minnesota. St. Martin's becomes active in helping to establish the Sauer Memorial Home for the aged.

1964--The Rev. Merlin Wegener is called from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis to become Assistant Pastor. He served until 1966.

1967--Another St. Louis Seminary graduate was called as Assistant Pastor, namely The Rev. Ronald Jansen. He served until 1970 when he accepted a call to Zion Lutheran of Albert Lea, MN. During his interim The Rev. C. F. Kurzweg assisted and after his death in August, 1970 The Rev. Louis Bittner helped with the work at St. Martin's. Mr. Robert Wolf, who had been called as teacher from Trinity, Lone Oak, MN in 1961, became principal.

1971--The Rev. Kenneth Krueger, a graduate of Concordia Seminary was called as Assistant Pastor and served until 1976.

1978--Pastor A. Deye terminates his position as Sr. Pastor and the congregation calls The Rev. Richard Krenzke as Head Pastor.

1979--A church redecorating project as well as an organ renovation is undertaken. Mr. Gerald Nast accepted the call to serve as principal. He had formerly served in Michigan.

1981--The congregation celebrates her 125th Anniversary with special services on May 2 and 3 at which time former pastors were invited to participate, including Pastors Alfred von Rohr Sauer, Wilmer G. Hoffmann, Merlin Wegener, Ronald A. Jansen, Emil Geistfeld and later in the year Kenneth Krueger. The School had 142 pupils in grades Kindergarten through ninth grade. A preschool is added and the building undergoes changes to provide offices and conference room space.

St. Martin's Lutheran Church and School, Winona, MN