1845
St. Lorenz Lutheran Church was founded on August 18, 1845, by 15 German settlers led by Pastor Friedrich August Craemer. They named their new community Frankenmuth, meaning “Courage of the Franconians,” and established St. Lorenz Church. The settlers, sent by Pastor Wilhelm Loehe of Neuendettelsau, Germany, aimed to serve both Chippewa Indians and German immigrants.
1846
The following year, in 1846, an additional 90 settlers arrived, including families pivotal to the community’s growth, like the Zehnders, who later became known for their significant local businesses. With many children in the settlement, they began a school for both settler and Indian children. Initially, the school operated in Pastor Craemer’s log cabin, which also served as the first church. As the Indian population moved westward, an Indian mission was established in 1848 on the Pine River, continuing until its closure in 1869.
1852
By 1852, the congregation built a larger frame church to accommodate its growing numbers. The one-room school had 47 students at this time. Teacher Riedel, in 1855, taught 80 children in German, but by the end of the year, classes were conducted in both German and English. In 1861, a second school district was established a mile west of the church. Over time, the number of one-room school districts in the Frankenmuth area grew to eight.
1895
By the 50th anniversary in 1895, the enrollment was 376. During this period, a unique arrangement allowed tax funds from township treasuries to support St. Lorenz’s teachers. However, in 1901, the State Superintendent of Education ended this arrangement, leading to the establishment of public schools in each district in 1902. Subsequently, St. Lorenz Schools ceased receiving public tax funds.
1928
In 1928, St. Lorenz built a Central School on Main Street in Frankenmuth, starting the consolidation of one-room school districts, completed by 1946 with an enrollment of 360 students.
1957
St. Lorenz decided to build a new school on Churchgrove Road, initially with eight rooms for lower grades.
1966
In 1966, the new school had expanded and added on the Learning Center. This addition was large enough to abandon the Main Street School.
1969
By 1969, St. Lorenz needed more space and a gym and music addition was added to the school.
2003
In 2003, a new preschool wing and dining room were added to accommodate growing needs. By 2006, St. Lorenz Lutheran School had an enrollment of 511 students, with 30 teachers and nearly 20 support staff. The school’s curriculum and facilities have continually evolved, reflecting the community’s growth and educational standards.
2019
In 2019, the school expanded its facilities by adding two new classrooms for the middle school. These state-of-the-art spaces were designed to accommodate growing enrollment and provide students with modern, collaborative learning environments.
Today
Today, St. Lorenz Lutheran School boasts a baptized membership of 4,500, continuing its legacy of faith and education.
