1880. The first photographs appeared in newspapers, using halftones. The first parcel post became available. The Cologne Cathedral, begun in 1248 in Germany, was finally completed. Another wave of colonial expansion began in Africa. "Darwinism" was promulgated as a theory. The population of Evanston was counted as 4,400. Pastor Doering acted in the capacity of a Lutheran parochial school-teacher for the new Lutheran School at Evanston. A schoolroom was provided for in the residence of Mr. Joachim Witt on Greenwood Street near Florence Avenue. The Messrs. Joachim Witt, Fred Wies, A. Handke were elected to act as school trustees.
1881. James Garfield became President of the United States on March 4 and was shot and killed on September 19. Chester Arthur became President. There was a much noted Gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, on October 26. The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada was founded, the predecessor of the American Federation of Labor. The Evanston Volunteer Fire Department got its first hook and ladder truck (horse-drawn). Hillside Free Methodist Church was begun in Evanston. At Bethlehem, Catechism Instruction ("Christian Lehre") was begin in connection with the Sunday service. In July, Pastor Doering accepted a call as a missionary in the State of Oregon. A call was extended to Pastor Adam Detzer to succeed Pastor Doering. He accepted the pastorate and was installed into office on the September 11, 1881 as Bethlehem's first resident pastor. His duties included providing for religious services in Glencoe, where Pastor Doering had been resident pastor, as well as teaching in the school.
1882. The first Labor Day celebration was held in New York City. Chicago introduced cablecars. The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to restrict immigration except for merchants, students, teachers and other visitors. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote Treasure Island. Ebenezer A. M. E. Church was established in Evanston and Evanston became a city. The congregation at Bethlehem purchased a lot on Wesley Avenue and Greenwood Street for a school building for $600. The school building was located on Greenwood Street near the alley. Part of the building was to be used as a parsonage.
1883. The United States adopted standard time to help the railroads maintain schedules. Bavarian immigrant Oscar F. Mayer and his brothers Gottfried and Max leased a bankrupt Chicago meat market. The Metropolitan Opera was founded in New York City. The new seminary building of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States in St. Louis was dedicated. At Bethlehem, the first school-parsonage was built. The contributions ranged from $1 to $15 for this building, but there is no record of the total cost.
1884. People could now make long distance phone calls. The U. S. Federal Bureau of Labor was established in the Department of the Interior. The National Confectioners Association was founded in Chicago by 69 manufacturers. The first subway (underground railway) was completed in London. Second Presbyterian Church originated as Presbyterian Church of South Evanston. Bethlehem Lutheran Congregation of Evanston was granted membership in the Synod German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. On September 20, it was decided to relieve the pastor of his duties in the classroom and to either call a parochial school teacher or employ a normal-school student to teach, but no regular schoolteacher could be obtained at this time.
1885. Grover Cleveland becomes President of the United States. The Congo becomes the personal possession of King Leopold II of Belgium. Trains are delivering newspapers daily. The first skyscraper (ten stories high) was built in Chicago. Kirchen- Gesangbuch for Evangelisch Lutherische Gemeinden was published by Concordia Publishing House. St. Luke's Episcopal Church was established in Evanston. At Bethlehem in November, Mr. Herman Feuchter consented to take charge of the parochial school for the salary of $25. per month.
1886. The first automobile was built by Daimler. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor and women protested being excluded from ceremonies. In Chicago, 350,000 workers demonstrated for the eight-hour workday, founding May Day as an international workers' holiday. The "Haymarket Massacre": Police attack Haymarket Square labor rally in Chicago, sparking violence and eight deaths; eight labor leaders are convicted and those not hanged are later pardoned. The American Federation of Labor was founded with Samuel Gompers as its first president. Richard Sears joins with Alvah C. Roebuck to form a new catalog sales company in Chicago. Calvary Baptist Church was established as a Swedish Baptist
congregation in Evanston. On February 7 Pastor Detzer and Secretary Feuchter were appointed to ascertain how much the members would be willing to give for a new church. On April 11 it was decided to build a new church edifice on Greenwood Street and Wesley Avenue at the cost of $4000. This area would be annexed to the City of Evanston this year. Pastor Detzer, H. Voigts, Wm. M. Suhr, Joachim Witt, John Witt and C. F. Weiss served on the building committee. The cornerstone of the new church was laid on August 8 and the new church was dedicated on November 21. A special English service was held in the afternoon to which a number of local people were invited. The following pastors officiated at the dedicatory services: Pastor August Reinke, Pastor Schuette of Milwaukee, and Prof. August Crull of Fort Wayne, Indiana (the translator of "The Lord hath Helped Me Hitherto" in 1882). The dedicatory program for the English service in the afternoon states that Rev. C. F. Eissfeldt delivered the sermon, while the 50th anniversary history prepared in 1922 says that Prof. Crull delivered the English sermon. It was likely that Pastor Eissfeldt had been originally scheduled but that Prof. Crull came instead. A call was extended to Mr. M. E. Bittner, graduate of the Normal School of Addison, Illinois, to serve as a teacher of the parochial school. He was inducted into office on the 29th of August.
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