Zion Lutheran Church
Gets Rid of Dead Wood
A Riviera Electric Tree Crew (Danny Lightsey, Jackie Kennedy, Joseph Gaubatz, and John Isaacs) worked diligently Monday morning (May 3, 2004) for several hours to remove a 90 year-old water oak which may pre-date the actual sanctuary of Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill, constructed in 1915.
The lightning-struck tree with slowly dying crown, had been threatening power lines and the church lying below in recent years. "It was only a matter of time before a piece of this tree came down on the steeple of the church itself." The Riviera crew noted that it typically takes out only one tree a year of this 75 foot stature.
On hand for the tree's removal was long-time Silverhill resident and church historian Ralph Utter who noted that it was Mr. Paul Anderson who had taken horse and wagon to Marlow to get the trees for the boulevards of Silverhill between 1911 and 1915.
In just a few short years this same Paul Anderson would wed Gudrun Erickson to be the second couple married in the then brand new Zion Lutheran Church in 1918, the young water oak tree marking the sidewalk into the church.
Friends of Zion and the historic tree may view the stump in front of Zion Lutheran Church. Pastor Dave, tongue in cheek, notes that the church family requests no cards or memorials.
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