Zion Lutheran Church (Dalles, Or.)

Services were first held in The Dalles in the homes of Swedish and German imimigrants by traveling missionaries during the 1880s. In the spring of 1896, the Rev. Louis G. Gray moved to The Dalles from Oregon City, believing this to be a good place for Lutheran mission work. Under his guidance a congregation was organized and a new church building was erected. Official organization took place on January 1, 1897 with 21 charter members. In 1901, Zion was one of the founding congregations of the Pacific Synod. One of its pastors, Merrell Boulton, served as president for seven years, and another pastor, Walter I. Eck, served as secretary for thirty-five years.

The present church was erected over a two-year period, with dedication on May 25, 1952. Work is continually being done on the improvement of the church property, including carillonic bells, memorial stained glass windows, and the restoration and incorporation into the design and function of the church of many of the original artifacts from the early church.

From the guide to the Zion Lutheran Church, Dalles, Oregon, Records, 1897-2012, (Pacific Lutheran University)