unique and all original c. 1929 antique american park view church illuminated single hinged door letterboard directory designed and fabricated by or for the e.h. stafford mfg. co., chicago, ills. the massive glass-paneled door signboard was originally mounted outside of the church near the entrance doors. the nicely aged oxidized patina is uniform throughput. the reverse-painted glass sign is original and intact. the signboard and bronze frame are in great overall condition. park view lutheran church traces its roots to 1907, when the reverend theodore graebner began searching for a location to erect a church for his congregation, which was officially organized in 1908, with services being held in the shoe shoe shop of nils andersen. two years later, in 1910, the first wooden church was built on a triangular lot located at 3921 n. monticello street. six years later, the wood-framed church was demolished to make way for their second church built on the same site. in june of 1929 the official groundbreaking for the indiana limestone "french gothic" style church took place at 3919. n. monticello street. construction of the new church was completed a year later, in june of 1930, when the church was dedicated and parsonage relocated. in 1949 park view is remembered in the will of the late erick erickson with a 40,000 "legacy," which made possible refinancing of the church's long-standing mortgage that was paid off or "burned" in 1956. a year later the church underwent extensive remodeling, including poured concrete entrance steps, alterations to the chancel, and the purchase of a pipe organ. in 1964 the church purchased the neighboring property located at 3911 n. monticello, where plans were hatched for a parish education unit. in 1970, the park view school was completed.