Zion Lutheran Church (Juliaetta, Idaho)

The early history of Zion Lutheran Church of Juliaetta, Idaho is closely connected with the history of Lutheran families in this vicinity. Florian Schaupfer came from Steinmark, Austria to Juliaetta in the fall of 1883 with his wife and two children. The first Lutheran services in this community were held in a log school house on the Florian Schaupfer Homestead. These first services (1937) were conducted by Rev. Zelle of the Missouri Synod, who came from Pendleton every six weeks. Rev. Anton Horn, Ohio Synod missionary in the Northwest, was the next to conduct services in the Florian Schaupfer home. He also started work in Cameron. Rev. H. Rieke was located in Genesee, Idaho and organized the Cameron and Juliaetta congregations.

In 1904 the church was purchased at a cost of $400. In the summer of 1937 it was completely redecorated and other renovations were made. Fire destroyed the church in the early 1950s, and a new structure was built in 1956.