Quonset Hut - Saying Goodbye

As our new building is going up, we will be having to say goodbye to old buildings.

Click to watch video tour. (Use back button to return to this page.)

A Quonset is a prefabricated portable hut having a semicircular roof of corrugated metal that curves down to form walls. Quonset Huts were developed during World War I, but made popular during World War II. After the war, surplus buildings were sold to the public for $1,000.

Wikipedia on Quonset Huts

Polar Inertia has some great photos of other buildings.

Hanover Cemetery

Historic School

The old school building, located next to the Historic Hanover Church, on the north side, is now home to many interesting historical artifacts and is used as a museum.

Some of the more interesting artifacts are described in detail below.


A brief listing of some of the historical artifacts that you would find at Hanover are as follows:
a mimeograph, dated 1890's
school desks, dated early 1900's
clock face from old Trinity steeple, dated 1890's
altar from Trinity, dated early 1900's
school books, German ones dated mid to late 1800's, and English ones dated early 1900's tools and toys dated late 1800's from the early Hannover community

BIBLES:
a 1736 large German pulpit Bible
a 1653 German family Bible
several Bibles, different shapes and sizes, dated in the 1800's
an 1870's Bible, printed in Latin

In April of 1992, the congregation assigned the administration of the Old School building, just north of the church, to the Old Church Preservation Committee who now use the school as a visitor's center and Regional Lutheran History Center for Southeast Missouri.


To make a contribution to the Historic Hanover Lutheran School, send your donation to:

Hanover Lutheran Church
2949 Perryville Road
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Please mark clearly on your envelope:
"Historic Hanover School Fund."

All contributions are considered a charitable donation and will be used to preserve the historical building

The Processional Cross

The cross is from the Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France. The cross itself dates back to the early 1700's, though the wooden part was replaced about 100 years ago due to deterioration. The design of the copper cross includes an angel/cherub's head and wings at the end of each arm. The cross was found in Atlanta by a daughter of the late Clement E. Koerber. It was acquired from two partners who specialize in antique religious artifacts. originally a wall-hung cross, it was restored and then converted into a processional cross by Bernard Spenle, a German artisan from the Republic of Georgia. The processional cross was given by family and friends in memory of Clement Emil Koerber. The grandparents of Clement, Wilhelm George and Elizabeth Manter Koerber were charter members of Hanover Lutheran Church when it was organized in 1846. (Presently used in main sanctuary.)

Historic Church

Historic Hanover Lutheran Church has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987.

The significance for approval was considered to be the style of architecture and the impact the congregation that met for worship there had on the spread of Lutheranism in Southeast Missouri.

Hanover has been called the "Mother Congregation of Lutherans in Southeast Missouri."

Old Hanover now serves a Ministry of Presence, and is available for special services, tours, Christian events, and weddings.

The congregation of Hanover Lutheran Church chose in 1976 to turn the old church building over to a committee to preserve and restore the almost 100 year old structure. A preservation group, called the "Friends of Old Hanover Church" provides financial support for the building with no budget funds provided by the congregation.

To make a contribution to the Historic Hanover Lutheran Church, send your donation to:

Hanover Lutheran Church
2949 Perryville Road
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Please mark clearly on your envelope: "Historic Hanover Church Fund."

All contributions are considered a charitable donation and will be used to preserve the historical building.