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A Brief History of Bethany Lutheran Church Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach (OB to locals) has been and still is a hippie,
liberal, and middle-class beach community. Ocean Beach is
casual and hip, and it has some interesting characters,
antique stores, surf shops, assorted shops, and restaurants
along Newport Avenue. Like the locals and visitors, Ocean
Beach's casual, laid-back beach culture creates a relaxing
atmosphere.
In the early 1900's, Ocean Beach brought in electricity, paved
streets, and a street car line and by 1913 was a resort town.
People came to visit Wonderland, San Diego's first
amusement park on the beach. Unfortunately, it washed
away in a few years and the center of activity shifted to
dance halls, a skating rink and a merry-go-round. Visitor's
picnicked at the beach and came to see other local
attractions. Though the resident population was less than
300, OB was a popular weekend and vacation spot.
Ocean Beach remained a solid, unique hometown community
nonetheless. Several of OB's original churches are active
today including Bethany Lutheran.
Bethany's first church service was held in the Ocean Beach
Women's Club House on Sunday, December 9, 1934 at 3:00
p.m. Shortly thereafter, on July 8, 1935, the church saw
through the start of a Lutheran Sunday School, complete with
25 students and three teachers.
Around February 1936, Mrs. Victoria Kunz donated a fifty foot
by 100 foot lot of land that cost $750.00 -- where Bethany sits
today. She also donated $2,700.00 for the erection of a
chapel.
On April 26, 1936, Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church was
dedicated after many years of prayer and effort to bring a
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to the Ocean Beach area.
From 1955 to 1960, a Building Fund was built up and small
debts were paid off. As a result on June 5, 1960 ground was
broken for a new church building.
On October 2, 1960 the cornerstone was laid after a brief
ceremony and the new church building was built. Bethany
stands tall and strong today as it did back in 1960.
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