St. Paul's Lutheran Church and School

History of the Church

Ninety three years ago, East Northport was a small rural community. To go to church on Sunday, the people used a horse and buggy on unpaved roads. However, the Lutherans had no church unless they traveled to Huntington Station. A group of women wanted a place to worship according to their beliefs and to have a social life centered around the church. On February 13, 1914, these women met at Mrs. Herman Richter’s house to organize the Lutheran Ladies Aid Society and to lay the foundation for a Lutheran Church in East Northport. The East Northport Firemen granted permission for Lutheran services to be held in their hall at the corner of Larkfield Road and Ninth Avenue. The first service was held on March 15, 1914. The following year, the House and Home Company deeded three lots located on the northeast corner of Vernon Valley Road and Bellecrest Drive to the congregation to be used for religious purposes only. On November 21, 1915, the cornerstone of the basement was laid and was finished in March 1916. The basement was used for worship services, Sunday School and meetings.

By May 1923, the upper story was added and the church completed. By 1946, the Sunday School needed more space and a room was erected northward on the vacant lot next to the church.

After World War II, the congregation continued to grow. Looking ahead into the future, the Youth Building foundation was laid on March 1, 1953. The building was dedicated as a place “where the youth of the congregation may gather for social, recreational, as well as religious refreshment.” It was a time to consider building a new church. Property just east of the church was acquired and on March 8, 1959, the first worship service was held in the new church.

In 1963, a parsonage on Montauk Avenue for the assistant pastor was purchased. The parsonage next to the church needed too many costly repairs and so it was torn down. A new parsonage on spruce drive was purchased, and later sold, a the pastors purchased their own homes.

The Vernon Valley Inn, where Mueller’s Restaurant once stood, was purchased by the congregation. In July 1969, the Inn became the Educational Building. In 1971, St. Paul's Lutheran School of East Northport, New York, opened, prividing Christian education to children on Long Island, starting in pre-kindergarten through the fifth grade.

The 1916 basement and the 1923 church were restored. The old church became known as the Chapel and was rededicated in April 1986.

Our latest endeavor has been the addition to the narthex, accomplished by extending the room southward. In our 93rd year, we are still growing.

External links

* [http://www.StPaulsLutheranChurchAndSchool.org St. Paul's Lutheran Church and School website]