The pleasant town of Silverhill, Alabama, situated among the pines ten miles east of Mobile Bay, was founded in 1896 by the Svea Land Company of Chicago. The officials were: Oscar Johnson, C. O. Carlson and C. A. Vallentin. The name of the town was derived from a custom observed by Martin Lowell, who operated a turpentine distillery on sloping ground east of the town site, called "the Hill" (now Oscar Johnson Memorial Park). Mr. Lowell paid his workers in silver coins, brought from a bank in Mobile by boat to Daphne, then in bags carried over his mule's saddle. There were few roads in those days, and most people walked or road horseback through the dense pine forest. The "Hill" became "Silverhill" and the new town was so named. In years to come the "Hill" was a picnic spot for the churches.

         Dr. and Mrs. E. C. Slosson and two daughters, now Mrs. Ellen Slosson Boise and Mrs. Lois Slosson Sundberg, had lived south of Silverhill since 1888, where they raised sheep. They were originally from Illinois. It was through this family that much of the colony land was purchased. Dr. Slosson made countless trips on horseback to assist ill and needy people. The Slosson home was always open to travelers and to land seekers who came to the new colony. As soon as the Oscar Johnson home was built, it also harbored people coming to settle in the area. A hotel was erected, and a small store and later a post office occupied the same building. A large general store was built in 1902 by Theodore A. Johnson of Chicago.

         The first "colonist" family to arrive in Silverhill were the Westerlunds with infant daughter, Esther Louise, now Mrs. George Lundberg. The center of the town was laid out in four squares, called Market Square, somewhat like the markets in Sweden. They are four beautiful parks, planted with flowers, shrubbery and pecan trees.

         The early settlers were Scandinavians, mostly Swedish. After clearing enough land to build houses and to lay out their fields, they began to think of churches and schools.

         The first worship service was held in Oscar Johnson's office, where all denominations met. During the week, school classes were held as soon as the need arose. The first teacher was Miss Millie Anderson and she was followed by Miss Sarah Carlson.

         As the settlement grew, churches were built: first the Baptist, then the Mission Covenant and later Zion Lutheran Church. Mr. Oscar Johnson kindly donated lots for churches and a school.

         Rev. H. F. H. Hartelius was sent to Silverhill by the Augustana Synod. At a called meeting on December 18, 1905, it was voted to organize the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church. This decision was filed for record in the Office of Probate in Baldwin County on May 21, 1906. A constitution was also adopted. The first members of the congregation were: Sam Jacobson, Hugo Valin, Herbert Jacobson, Jonas Hammarstrom, Lina Hammarstrom, Gilbert Jacobson, Bengt Johnson, P. M. Johanson, Carl Johan Swenson, Emma Kristina Swenson, P. W. Paulson and wife, Lars Peterson, Tilda Peterson, Erik Ulrickson and Mrs. Otto Anderson.

         The first trustees were Jonas Hammarstrom, P. W. Paulson and Lars Peterson. The first organist was P. W. Paulson and the first Sunday School superintendent was C. H. Vallin. Church and Sunday School services were held in the Swedish language, as most of the people were of that nationality having been born in Sweden. This was changed many years later to English as the children became adults and also other nationalities came to Silverhill.

         The Rev. H. F. H. Hartelius of the Augustana Synod served as Pastor to this mission field, and was asked to conduct six services during 1906. The first service was held on the 3rd Sunday in January, 1906.

         By this time a school had been built and permission granted to the congregation to hold services there until a church could be erected. Mrs. Grace Edhegard now occupies the old schoolhouse, which had been remodeled into a dwelling.

         There is no regular written records of Zion's services from 1906 to 1914, when the Ladies Aid vas organized at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carl J. Swenson. Mrs. Swenson was elected the first president. This organization has held monthly meetings ever since its organization. It changed its name to the Lutheran Church Women when the church joined the Georgia-Alabama Synod, ULCA.

         In 1915, Rev. Swanlund was sent to the mission field in Silverhill where he re-organized the work and labored with great zeal. At the service held on January 18, 1915, a business session followed. Mr. Victor Olson was elected as secretary and treasurer. The congregation voted to express appreciation to Mr. Oscar Johnson for donation of three lots for the congregation which were across from the Edhegard residence, formerly the old public school.

         On July 10, 1915, the building committee was formed consisting of Victor Olson, Carl J. Swenson, Hans Erickson, Sven Torsen, F. O. Linder and John Elfstrand who himself gave $500 to start the fund. Mr. Hans Erickson was elected chairman and Mr. Victor Olson was designated as the architect. Mr. Erickson supervised masonry for the foundation. The church building was painted white and had a bell tower which waited for the bell for several years. Members helped in the construction of the building.

         The church held its first service in the new building in 1915. The first organist as Miss Anna Linder (later Mrs. Trygve Anderson). Mr. Victor Olson was elected the Sunday School Superintendent. The teachers were: Mrs. S. Torsen, Miss Gudrun Erickson (Mrs. Oscar Swanson) and Miss Anna Linder.

         On July 23, 1916, Arthur Larson, a student from Augustana Seminary, came to serve during the summer. He organized catechetical classes Luther League and a choir. Miss Elvera Johnson was the first bride married in the church. She married Philip G. Armstrong of Omaha, Nebraska, who later served for many years on the church council and as church treasurer. About this time an organ was donated by a Lutheran congregation in Chicago.

         During the summer of 1917, Arnold Nelson, a theological student, was sent to serve the congregation. He came also the next summer and was married to Miss Hildur Swenson.

         Supply pastors served the congregation for several years in this period. In 1914 and 1917, Pastor John Leaf made several trips for his parish in Tennessee to hold services. In 1918, Rev. Stone of Minneapolis, Minnesota, spent two months in Silverhill and held services during that period. All services were conducted in the Swedish language until 1919.

         In August, 1919, Rev. John Benson, Jr., was called by the congregation and he accepted the call. It was then necessary to take steps to build a parsonage for the new pastor and his bride, Edith. Plans were drawn by an architect, Arthur Busch, and were accepted. Many donations of labor and money helped to construct the parsonage.

         While at Silverhill, Pastor Benson also supplied at St. Elmo and Thorsby. After a most successful ministry at Zion, he resigned in 1923 so that he might prepare himself for missionary work in China.

         In 1924, Rev. E. Oscar Johnson served as pastor until 1930 when Rev. J. P. Samuelson was called. He served until 1936 when he retired and built a home in Silverhill. Mr. Roy Johnson, a theological student, served during the summer of 1936. In 1937, Mr. Thure Johnson, another student, served as summer supply. Rev. Samuelson was supply pastor for the congregation during this time when no pastor was available. The Sunday school continued its work under the leadership of Mrs. Fred Hallberg (nee Muriel Olson).

         Rev. D. N. Anderson accepted the call of the congregation in 1940 and continued to serve until 1948. Rev. after U. Brown of Mobile, was supply pastor from 1948 to 1951.

         From 1952 to 1956 Rev. Valdemar H. Lefstead, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mobile, was the regular supply. In April 1953 the congregation became affiliated with the Georgia-Alabama Synod, ULCA, at the convention in Atlanta.

         During the summer of 1954, Mr. George West of the Southern Seminary, was the supply pastor. Mr. Clarence K. Derrick, Jr., served during the summer of 1955. He likewise was from the Southern Seminary. During the other months in the years 1952-1956, Pastor Lefstead conducted services twice a month.

         In 1956 Rev. Fulton B. Counts of Knoxville, Tennessee, accepted the call of the congregation. He resigned in 1958 to accept a call to Burkes Garden, Va. During his pastorate, gas heaters were installed (1956) and rest rooms (1958), were added.

         Rev. William Eubanks, pastor of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Mobile, was supply pastor from July to October, 1958, on second, fourth and fifth Sundays.

         In 1959, Mr. Robert Tutas, in the U. S. Naval Service in Pensacola, served as lay pastor under the guidance of Pastor Lefstead, preaching, teaching confirmation and Sunday School classes, and visiting the sick until August 1961 when he left to go to Newberry College to begin preparation for the gospel ministry.

         Rev. Richard Achgill of Houston, Texas, served as pastor from August, 1961, to August, 1962.

         In 1963, Rev. August G. Suechting, a retired pastor, became the regular supply and vice-pastor of the church.

         Donations of money and work through the years have made it possible for Zion to have its present facilities. Among them are mentioned: pulpit, altar and organ bench by Frank O. Linder; $1500 by John Elfstrand in whose memory a bronze plaque has been placed in the church; a wood cross and candelabra by Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Carlson in memory of Arthur Anderberg; $100 in memory of Carl Larson by his family; a cabinet for paraments, altar linens and Sunday school supplies and also a loud speaker system by Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Swanson; an individual communion service by Mr. and Mrs. Philip Armstrong; and, a painting of Christ, drawn by Sharon Lynn Prahl and painted by Fred Hallberg, Sr.