Old St. Paul's Lutheran Church

NEWTON. Founded in 1757 and built in 1818, this church is one of the area's oldest. The simple, two-story structure was partially built using timbers from a previous church. It also features a slave balcony (later co-opted by men and boys) and a carved sounding board (also called a tester), which hangs over the pulpit to direct sound outward. The church was begun by German immigrants, and the cemetery that surrounds Old St. Paul's boasts many headstones dating as far back as the 18th century.