St, Paul’s Lutheran Church, Duluth, Kansas, courtesy Google Maps.
Duluth, Kansas, is a tiny town in Pottawatomie County. It is also an extinct town without a post office.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was organized in the spring of 1875 by the Reverend H.C. Senne of Alma, Kansas, with nine charter members. In October 1875, W. F. Kolterman donated four acres at the northeast corner of his farm for a church building. The first church was built for $554.99 and dedicated in July 1876. The stone structure, measuring 25 by 40 feet, served as a church and school. At that time, the pastor conducted school.
A parsonage was constructed before 1879.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was built on land donated by William Kolterman and August Buchholz. Dedication ceremonies were held on September 18, 1898.
The Duluth Town Council was incorporated on February 23, 1907. Two years later, the council bought 20 acres from Ernest Kolterman at $60 per acre north of Union Pacific Railroad grade. The site was called Doelitz, but it was later changed to Duluth. It was platted in July 1909. The first school teacher was employed in 1909, and a teacherage was erected the following year.
A general store was built by William Kolterman in about 1911 and operated by his son Frank Kolterman and son-in-law Ernest Berges until 1947 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Teske, who operated it until it closed.
The post office was established on August 10, 1912, and occupied one store corner. Miss Bertha Kolterman was postmistress until January 1, 1913, when Ernest Berges took over for 30 years.
One of the most active organizations within St. Paul’s has been the Ladies Aid, organized in 1913 and affiliated with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Another organization was the Youth Group, organized as the Walther League in 1914.
The Duluth Town Council was dissolved on February 20, 1915.
In its peak years, Duluth had a lumberyard, blacksmith shop, band hall, barbershop, restaurant, railroad depot, stockyards, and garage.
In 1926, a new school building was constructed of native rock with modern classrooms and a full basement.
A new parsonage was completed in 1928.
Extensive remodeling was done on the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in 1940.
St. Paul’s Lutheran School, courtesy of Courthouse Lover Flickr.
The Lutheran Day School closed after the 1966-1967 term. Today, the old school serves as St Paul’s Lutheran Church Sunday School for organizational meetings.
Duluth’s post office closed on March 1, 1986.
Today, the community still has named streets, St Paul’s Lutheran Church still stands, and has several homes.
The Onaga USD 322 public school district serves the community and nearby rural areas.
Duluth is about five miles northwest of Onaga.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of Kansas, updated November 2024.
Also See:
Extinct Towns of Pottawatomie County
Pottawatomie County Photo Gallery
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