90-year-old murals depicting Jesus hang on the wall at Saint John's Lutheran in Algoma, Apr. 12, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
ALGOMA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Those worshipping at St. John’s Lutheran in Algoma were treated with new artwork to admire. However, anyone who was at the church between 1936 and 1966 would probably call it old artwork.
“This was a gift to the congregation from the young people of 1936,” said Chrisopher Jackson, Saint John’s Lutheran Pastor.
Two murals depicting Jesus were put into storage when the church built a new building in 1967.
They’re hanging on the walls of the previous building in 1952.
“The ones got a lot of plaster on the back, so when they pulled it off the wall, they must have pulled some of the plaster with it,” said Todd Haltaufderheid, Saint John’s Lutheran Board of Trustees Chairman.
In 2026, the murals were displayed, beginning on Easter Sunday.
“Some of our older members, they actually remember our older church building in which they were installed. And so, there’s a great deal of nostalgia about that particular building and about these murals,” said Jackson.
“My wife remembers. She grew up in this congregation, so she remembers them from the old church and when she was a child. So, it was pretty neat for them to see them again,” said Glen Smith, Saint John’s Lutheran President.
How were they found?
In early 2025, when Haltaufderheid was cleaning and reorganizing a storage room, he reached up on top of cabinets to move a piece of carboard when a tube storing both murals came tumbling down.
“Of course, it knocked me on the head, and I grabbed it and I didn’t know what it was. It was just unique. And it was the fact that they had back in those days the foresight to save them, to take them off the wall and roll them up and hopefully down the line have them reused,” said Haltaufderheid.
The church is exploring options for the future of the murals. Restoration is on the table.
“They got them down to the art center and it was anywhere between $48,000 and $53,000 for the pair to have them redone,” said Haltaufderheid.
Alternate displays are also possible.
At least for now, they’re displayed in the open. Just like they were 90 years ago.
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