The Church’s Building Stone:
Local Triassic Sandstone:

  Above: A 1903 newspaper explains that this church’s brownstone (Triassic sandstone) was quarried in the hills near Schoeneck. The reporter mentions that this Schoeneck church resembles Ephrata’s Salem Lutheran Church, which was built one year earlier in Lincoln.
Ephrata architect Wilmot K. Romig designed that Ephrata Lutheran church. Both churches feature rock-faced brownstone ashlar from Schoeneck, laid in finely crafted courses. Perhaps the same architect and masons worked on both churches.

The Ephrata Lutheran Church in Lincoln
Built One Year Earlier:

  Above: A 1902 Ephrata Review newspaper explains that Ephrata carpenter / architect Wilmot K. Romig designed and built this Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church. One year later the newspaper reported that the newly dedicated United Brethren Church in Schoeneck “very much resembled” the Ephrata Lutheran Church. Presumably Wilmot Romig also designed and built the Schoeneck church. He also worked as a cabinetmaker, so he may have created some of the interior woodwork for both churches.

 “Wiest Memorial United Brethren Church, King Street, east side, south of Queen Street, Schoeneck; 1903; one and one-half story, one bay L-shaped sandstone Gothic Revival church; entry in bell tower at corner of L; Gothic stained glass windows; 1903 datestone.” Our Present Past, page 348, Historic Preservation Trust, 1985.