THE NEW CHURCH
At the annual (arsmotet) meeting it was decided that the building committee
should remain and Pastor Nyren was replacing Pastor Olson on this committee. May
4, 1895 it was decided to build a lower level below the old church and to
"further change and improve it to make it look better and more comfortable".
Brother Rose was elected to get a drawing made for this purpose. When Mr. Rose
later produced a drawing of the new church building, the committee got very
interested. At that meeting it was decided to start building the new church and
begin to start taking subscriptions. This was June 1st. Mr. A. Walin was elected
to collect subscriptions and on the next meeting he reported that $5,550 had
been received in subscriptions. A magnificent sum! Now the decision to build was
renewed and a building committee was elected consisting of the following 15
members: Engstrom, Walin, Clauson, Wik, J. A. Johnson, John Landgren, Aug.
Lundberg, Wolin, J. A. Rose, Pastor Nyren, Tournell, Hans Johnson, Blomberg,
Andr. Benson, and F. Lundberg.
Tournell was elected chairman of the building committee and the heaviest work
fell on him. At first it looked quite dark, but the Lord helped surprisingly.
Tournell put himself into this project with all his energy and made good
progress. Because they had interest and unity for the project it was very
successful. The church was built during the "panic" of 1895. At that
time, many were unemployed, but then it was much cheaper to build. Many gave
free donations in the form of labor. More funds were collected through
subscriptions and many business people donated $50, 25, etc. John Widdicomb gave
the biggest donation. He donated the turned "spindles" used in the fences around
the gallery and choir gallery. Mr. Widdicomb has also, from time to time,
remembered us with gifts and showed his good will by paying for the chairs so
that they could be sold on auction to members. This brought $710. The whole
subscription rose to $6,416. But of this, $4,805 was outstanding at the time of
dedication. A great deal thereof has not yet come in and will never be received.
Through special drives, songfests, etc. funds have been collected, but at the
time of dedication the debt of the church was $8,024. Total net worth of the
church property is $17,476. During the years some have been paid off every year.
During several years quite a sum has been collected through so called
"centoffering", in which everybody would give one cent per day. Better results
could have been achieved if all had taken part. Also, funds were collected by
every member giving one day's pay. The sewing circles have also contributed a
great sum of money, especially from the older people. This had reduced the debt
to $4,000, which debt we just this year have erased.
The last meeting in the old church was held July 7, 1895. During the building
of the church, the German Lutheran Church on Mt. Vernon Street was rented.
Thanksgiving Day we could congregate under our own roof as the lower level was
completed. It was with thankful hearts and strange feelings we again gathered
together in our own church home.
1936 City
Assessor file image
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