St. Paul Luthern Church, School and Cemetery

Thorndale began in the wrong place. It was founded in 1878 about three miles west of the present town, soon after the International-Great Northern was built, and a railroad employee named it for the thorny plants of the region: mesquite thorn, prickly pear and sagebrush. A post office, a store and a hotel opened. In 1880 the store was sold and moved east to the tracks at the present site, and the other businesses eventually followed. By 1884 the town had a church, a school and 130 residents, according to the Handbook of Texas.

What the plaque says

St. Paul Luthern Church, School and Cemetery August Polnick and his family moved from Lee County to Thorndale in 1881. The family were the first recorded Germans and also the first Lutherans in this area. Their former pastor, G. Birkmann, made ministerial visits to Thorndale over the next five years. A congregation gradually formed with Thorndale residents and Lutherans in the nearby Hochkirche (Noack) community. By 1890 the combined parish recorded 69 communicants, with services held exclusively in German. Later in 1890, Karl Michalk donated ten acres of land for a church, school, and cemetery. The church building was dedicated in 1891. The first burial in the cemetery was that of the infant son of Ida Schultz in 1891. A. W. Kramer was called as St. Paul's first full-time pastor in November 1893. He arrived in March 1894 and also assumed the role of teacher for the school. As the economy rose in Thorndale, Lutherans continued to arrive. By 1899 St. Paul's had 208 members and in 1900 the church congregation moved into a new building. The first full-time schoolteacher, J. Jaeckel, was called in 1900 to improve the school and the facilities. Church membership reached 654 by 1911; the parish boasted 830 members by 1939. A tornado damaged the church building beyond repair in July 1940, and a new one was erected later that year. Sunday School began in 1948. Services were held in both English and German beginning by World War l. By 1952, there was one German service each year. Women became voting members of the congregation in the 1950s. Always involved in community development, both church and school remained active at the close of the 20th century. (1999)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Milam County Courthouse and Jail — 21 mi
  Cameron's 1892 Renaissance Revival courthouse and the 1895 St. Louis-built jail beside it, now the county museum, are listed together on the National Register.

More markers nearby

• St. John Lutheran Church — 0.3 mi
• Locklin Cemetery — 4.6 mi
• Salty Community — 4.8 mi
• Town of Thrall — 5.5 mi