Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church and School, Omaha, NE - LCMS

Church History

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MT. CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL

 

1922 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elsasser, Sr., members of Cross Lutheran Church, moved their family to the 49^th and Center Street area where they built a home. There was no church for them to attend in this area, so the pastor of Cross Lutheran Church came to the house to instruct the Elsasser children. Other children in the neighborhood were soon invited to come as well.

 

1923 By the end of this year there were 14 children going to Sunday School in the Elsasser home. The District Board for Missions took notice of this.

 

1924 Rev. W. W. Stoeppelwerth of Scottsbluff, NE was called as missionary to the area. Later in the year property was secured at 52^nd and Woolworth and a chapel was constructed. On December 21^st, the new chapel was dedicated and named Mt. Calvary.

 

1926 On December 10^th Mt. Calvary officially organized and adopted a constitution.

 

1928 Definite steps were taken to start a Lutheran school. By fall Walter E. Brase was called to be the teacher and the new school was opened. The same building at 1421 South 52nd Street that was used for the church was also used for the 1-room schoolhouse.

 

1931 In April the congregation formally made application to become a member of the Northern Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

 

1932 Members of Mt. Calvary began looking at some properties on which to build a new church. It was decided to purchase the property at 56th and Leavenworth.

 

1934 On December 9th the new church was dedicated. Worship services were then held in this building while school continued to be held at the 52nd and Woolworth location.

 

1949 On March 28th the roof of the school at 52nd and Woolworth caught fire. The building was soon sold. School was then held in the basement of the church. In the spring, expansion plans that were drawn up in 1946 were revised for a new education building and parsonage.

 

1950 Ground breaking for the new school portion was held on March 19th, through a blanket of snow. On August 27th, the parsonage and the 1st story of the present school building were dedicated.

 

1960 The property underwent extensive renovations, with numerous additions including the 2nd story of the school.

 

2001 The members of Mt. Calvary celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the Church, and the new 75th Anniversary Sign, which can be seen from Leavenworth Street, was dedicated.

 

2004 On September 12th a groundbreaking ceremony was held at Mt. Calvary for the first time in 44 years. The ground was turned and blessed for renovations on the west side of the property.

 

2005 On June 5th the new renovations were dedicated.

 

2011 We are thankful that we have been granted the privilege of serving our Lord and Savior in the Omaha area for 85 years and pray that we may continue to be a blessing to our community and all who enter our doors for many years to come.