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Norway Lake Settlers and Their
Stories
This photograph
shows a milestone in the history of the Old Log Church. It is also
described in the text below, reproduced from Keeping the Faith...
Sharing the Faith, First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake - 1862-1992.
(click the photo to open in a new window
with a larger view)
THE FIFTY YEAR
JUBILEE
In 1916 the
Lutherans at Norway Lake celebrated the 50th anniversary of their
first organized Lutheran Church.
Gabriel Stene gives the following account of some of the events
included in that celebration.
"Sunday, July 2, was a bright, beautiful morning, roads were good
and everything pointed to pleasure; even nature with the green
fields and grass and flowers along the roadside seemed to be dressed
in holiday attire to salute the passersby.
The roads in all directions gave an appearance of a regular moving
picture with all kinds of rigs running on wheels from the most
stylish automobile to the old style pioneer wagon, all wending their
way towards the south side of Ole Knutson's grove where were spied
in long distance, three large tents pitched on the very ground where
(had) stood the little old log church erected by the sturdy pioneers
fifty years ago, the first Norwegian Lutheran church in Kandiyohi
county.
The place looking as familiar as ever; even the birds in the forest
sang songs they did fifty years ago, joining in harmony with the
fifty years' jubilee which was the object and aim of the large
gathering of several Norwegian Lutheran congregations that morning.
At about 10:30 a.m. it was estimated that about fifteen hundred (had
assembled) and by afternoon the estimate was over two thousand.
"At 10:30 the meeting was opened by the selection of a song b y the
choir after which Rev. L.P. Torkveen delivered a very impressive
morning sermon.
After the service, a free dinner was served by the ladies.
At the noon recess the large gathering enjoyed some excellent music
by the Sunburg band and pictures were taken of the group by Elkjer
of Willmar and Merryman of Kerkhoven.
"The afternoon session was called to order by the Rev. N.J.
Njus.
Old settlers from 1862 to 1895 were called upon to take places
provided for them on the platform.
Those responding were Ole Knudson, E.O. Glesne, Erick Paulson, Hans
Petterson, Mrs. Nels Peterson, Johannes Halvorson, Ole Halvorson and
Peter Broberg."
The festivities continued for three days, and Gabriel Stene
concludes his account with the following evaluation of the event.
"The local ministers as well as the visiting ministers exchanged
thanks and expressed their joy and happiness over the harmonious and
good meeting they had enjoyed.
"This concluded the Norway Lake Jubilee of fifty years with not a
word of misunderstanding in religion or creed.
Three days' work with good understanding and harmony the prevailing
element.
Those present will never forget the Norway Lake Fifty Year Jubilee
of several Lutheran churches, held at Norway Lake July 2,3 and 4,
1916."
The task of feeding so many people a free Sunday dinner did cause
some problems as far as the food supply was concerned.
But quick trips to the Knutson and Boe homes evidently solved the
problem.
The Norway Lake Lutheran Historical Association (NLLHA) is a non-profit corporation.
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