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1837 – present
Founded: October 14, 1837, with St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran congregation itself, organized that day in the Allen County Courthouse by the Rev. Jesse Hoover — the congregational history counts 23 heads of families at the organizing; the historical marker on the site counts 24 families. The school is as old as the congregation: before there were free public schools in Fort Wayne, the parish taught its children.
Course: The congregation has held its ground at Barr and Madison since 1839, and adopted the name St. Paul's in 1846 when it joined the newly formed Missouri Synod. A teacher named Husmann was teaching the school when Pastor Wilhelm Sihler arrived in 1844. The school, at 1125 Barr St, is owned and operated by the congregation.
Fate: Operating. St. Paul's is the oldest continuously operating elementary school in Indiana, public or parochial.
Sources:
- St. Paul's Lutheran School, "History" and Parent Handbook (school.stpaulsfw.org).
- M. H. Bertram, A Brief History of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1837–1962.
- Historical Marker Database, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church marker (organized Oct. 14, 1837; school organized the same year).