Bloomfield Lutheran Church (New Hope Lutheran Church)
500 Main Street
Upham, McHenry County, North Dakota 58789
500 Main Street
Upham, McHenry County, North Dakota 58789
In the year 1900, a number of Norwegian Lutheran families settled about twenty miles west of Willow City. Rev. T. E. Thomesen, living near Willow City, then had a missionary pastorate extending throughout the Turtle Mountain territory as far as St. John, east to Ox Creek, and the Willow City territory. Upon request from Mr. Andrew Lunseth, Rev. Thomesen arranged a meeting with these settlers. On October 31, 1900, Bloomfield Congregation was organized at the home of John Johnson. It is said that Augustin Lundervold made the motion to name the new organization BLOOMFIELD CONGREGATION after the congregation by that name in Ostrander, Minnesota, from which place many of the settlers had come. Rev. T. E. Thomesen became Bloomfield Congregation’s first pastor.
The officers of the newly organized congregation were Trustees: Lars Lundervold, John Meland, Tjostel Kongslie. Deacons: Iver Austin, Andrew Jurgenson, Andrew Lunseth. Secretary: Ole Jacobson. Treasurer: Jacob Jurgenson.
At the beginning of 1901, the congregation consisted of 68 souls, 33 confirmed, 18 voting members. The year 1901 also saw the organization of a Young Peoples Society, the forerunner of the present Luther League.
The charter members of Bloomfield Congregation are Andrew Lunseth Family, Andrew Jurgenson Family, Jacob Jurgenson, Sr., Iver Austin Family, Even Haraldson Family, Ole Jacobson Family, Ole J. Reno, John Meland Family, John Birkeland Family, Augustin Lundervold, Abraham Tvedten.
Other early pioneer members joining the congregation later were Jacob R. Jurgenson, Lars Lundervold (Nov. 17, 1900), Tjostel Kongslie and Henry Jurgenson (January 26, 1901), Anton P. Hagen, C. J. Moldstad, John J. Molstad (November 18, 1901), John Johnson (February 23, 1902), Jens Braaten (November 12, 1906).
Bloomfield Ladies Aid was organized December 14, 1901, at the home of Mrs. Even Haraldson. As early as July 2, 1902, we find the Ladies Aid discussing plans for building a church. Plans were made but actual work did not begin before the spring of 1905, on account of scarcity of money. At that time, Rev. T. E. Thomesen was serving at a salary of $100 per year.
The year 1906 saw the church being built, and the people rejoiced at having a church once more in their midst in their new community. A great deal of credit goes to Rev. Thomesen and the committee for the carefully planned and well-built church and its beautiful oak furnishings.
It is said that when the venerable old Jacob Jurgenson found that the cemetery, his donation, was accepted by the congregation and that the church would be visible from his homestead on the hill, he wept for joy and said: "Now the church spire will at last be visible to all my children."
The first service was held in the new church June 10, 1906; and the first marriage in the new church took place August 5, 1906, when Tina Braaten became the bride of Oscar Anderson.
In the fall of 1904, the. first religious school was held. 1904 will be remembered as a tragic year for the settlement, when a typhoid epidemic raged, and a little later, a severe siege of influenza. There were many new graves on the hillside overlooking Upham that year.
November 18, 1917, at the annual meeting, Rev. T. E. Thomesen, after a most faithful shepherding of seventeen years, resigned as pastor of Bloomfield Congregation. Arrangements were then made to affiliate the congregations of Bloomfield at Upham, Zion at Towner, and Trinity at Berwick, into one pastorate. A call was extended to Rev. R. T. Wanberg, who was installed at Bloomfield Church by District President August 24, 1919.
October 5, 1919, the Sunday School was organized with Mr. H. M. Holte as Superintendent. Religious school in the summers had been carried on since 1904. Since 1929 adult confirmation classes have been carried on continuously.
1931 saw the organization of a Lutheran Brotherhood, that has been active in assisting with various church projects and needs, such as beautifying church property, improving and taking care of the cemetery, and in promoting Boy Scout work. In 1954 Bloomfield Congregation bought a new addition of land for the cemetery and added new fence and double gates. The men of the church have been giving much of their time, under the supervision of Mr. Oliver Vormestrand, to beautifying the cemetery.
June 7, 1942, was a day set apart and a day never to be forgotten by the congregation when it could with pride and joy send out two sons into the service of the Holy Ministry, ordaining Lowell and Carlyle Holte, sons of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Holte. June 4, 1950, Vernon Holte, the third and last son of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Holte was ordained into the Holy Ministry. Thus our faithful workers throughout the years, Mr. and Mrs. Holte, have given their all to their church, their time, their talents, and their sons. Lowell is today in Home Mission work in the state of Washington, Carlyle has been Association Director of the International Luther League, and Vernon is a Navy Chaplain.
1940 saw the Upham community emerging from the depression years of 1930-40, which was a very difficult time for church and community alike. December 1941 to August 1945 marked World War II. There is one gold star on the service flag to the memory of Ernest Burlog.
In 1939 the Icelandic Hall, then on the meadow at the other side of the Mouse River, was moved to a place beside Bloomfield Church and made into a Parish Hall. The moving took place under tribulations, and the men have often related with hearty laughs how the hall went through the ice on the river and had to be pulled out with great effort.
The year 1955 sees but one charter member of the congregation remaining, Mrs. George Swenson, Hibbing, Minnesota. Younger members have taken their places and are now carrying on the work. With the help of very active auxiliary organizations, The Ladies Aid, Luther League, and Sunday School, Lutheran Brotherhood, and Church Council, Bloomfield Congregation has grown through the years into a fine, active congregation that is a pride to any community.
In 1950 the church interior was remodeled and Nuwood Walls and ceiling installed. A new heating system (oil) and other improvements were added, under the supervision of Mr. H. V. Kirkeby, who gave all his time generously to this work. John Becker has also given many years of very faithful service as officer and beautifying and caring for the church.
1955 sees thirty-six years of service in Bloomfield Congregation for Rev. R. T. Wanberg. It also sees a very crowded Sunday School, a Parish Hall long since outgrown, and the necessity of plans for building and expansion. Bloomfield Church has served Upham Community well throughout the years, and, by the grace of God, will continue to hold its place in the future religious life of the community.
Information – Golden Jubilee 1905-1955 Upham, North Dakota (pages 106-108)
The officers of the newly organized congregation were Trustees: Lars Lundervold, John Meland, Tjostel Kongslie. Deacons: Iver Austin, Andrew Jurgenson, Andrew Lunseth. Secretary: Ole Jacobson. Treasurer: Jacob Jurgenson.
At the beginning of 1901, the congregation consisted of 68 souls, 33 confirmed, 18 voting members. The year 1901 also saw the organization of a Young Peoples Society, the forerunner of the present Luther League.
The charter members of Bloomfield Congregation are Andrew Lunseth Family, Andrew Jurgenson Family, Jacob Jurgenson, Sr., Iver Austin Family, Even Haraldson Family, Ole Jacobson Family, Ole J. Reno, John Meland Family, John Birkeland Family, Augustin Lundervold, Abraham Tvedten.
Other early pioneer members joining the congregation later were Jacob R. Jurgenson, Lars Lundervold (Nov. 17, 1900), Tjostel Kongslie and Henry Jurgenson (January 26, 1901), Anton P. Hagen, C. J. Moldstad, John J. Molstad (November 18, 1901), John Johnson (February 23, 1902), Jens Braaten (November 12, 1906).
Bloomfield Ladies Aid was organized December 14, 1901, at the home of Mrs. Even Haraldson. As early as July 2, 1902, we find the Ladies Aid discussing plans for building a church. Plans were made but actual work did not begin before the spring of 1905, on account of scarcity of money. At that time, Rev. T. E. Thomesen was serving at a salary of $100 per year.
The year 1906 saw the church being built, and the people rejoiced at having a church once more in their midst in their new community. A great deal of credit goes to Rev. Thomesen and the committee for the carefully planned and well-built church and its beautiful oak furnishings.
It is said that when the venerable old Jacob Jurgenson found that the cemetery, his donation, was accepted by the congregation and that the church would be visible from his homestead on the hill, he wept for joy and said: "Now the church spire will at last be visible to all my children."
The first service was held in the new church June 10, 1906; and the first marriage in the new church took place August 5, 1906, when Tina Braaten became the bride of Oscar Anderson.
In the fall of 1904, the. first religious school was held. 1904 will be remembered as a tragic year for the settlement, when a typhoid epidemic raged, and a little later, a severe siege of influenza. There were many new graves on the hillside overlooking Upham that year.
November 18, 1917, at the annual meeting, Rev. T. E. Thomesen, after a most faithful shepherding of seventeen years, resigned as pastor of Bloomfield Congregation. Arrangements were then made to affiliate the congregations of Bloomfield at Upham, Zion at Towner, and Trinity at Berwick, into one pastorate. A call was extended to Rev. R. T. Wanberg, who was installed at Bloomfield Church by District President August 24, 1919.
October 5, 1919, the Sunday School was organized with Mr. H. M. Holte as Superintendent. Religious school in the summers had been carried on since 1904. Since 1929 adult confirmation classes have been carried on continuously.
1931 saw the organization of a Lutheran Brotherhood, that has been active in assisting with various church projects and needs, such as beautifying church property, improving and taking care of the cemetery, and in promoting Boy Scout work. In 1954 Bloomfield Congregation bought a new addition of land for the cemetery and added new fence and double gates. The men of the church have been giving much of their time, under the supervision of Mr. Oliver Vormestrand, to beautifying the cemetery.
June 7, 1942, was a day set apart and a day never to be forgotten by the congregation when it could with pride and joy send out two sons into the service of the Holy Ministry, ordaining Lowell and Carlyle Holte, sons of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Holte. June 4, 1950, Vernon Holte, the third and last son of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Holte was ordained into the Holy Ministry. Thus our faithful workers throughout the years, Mr. and Mrs. Holte, have given their all to their church, their time, their talents, and their sons. Lowell is today in Home Mission work in the state of Washington, Carlyle has been Association Director of the International Luther League, and Vernon is a Navy Chaplain.
1940 saw the Upham community emerging from the depression years of 1930-40, which was a very difficult time for church and community alike. December 1941 to August 1945 marked World War II. There is one gold star on the service flag to the memory of Ernest Burlog.
In 1939 the Icelandic Hall, then on the meadow at the other side of the Mouse River, was moved to a place beside Bloomfield Church and made into a Parish Hall. The moving took place under tribulations, and the men have often related with hearty laughs how the hall went through the ice on the river and had to be pulled out with great effort.
The year 1955 sees but one charter member of the congregation remaining, Mrs. George Swenson, Hibbing, Minnesota. Younger members have taken their places and are now carrying on the work. With the help of very active auxiliary organizations, The Ladies Aid, Luther League, and Sunday School, Lutheran Brotherhood, and Church Council, Bloomfield Congregation has grown through the years into a fine, active congregation that is a pride to any community.
In 1950 the church interior was remodeled and Nuwood Walls and ceiling installed. A new heating system (oil) and other improvements were added, under the supervision of Mr. H. V. Kirkeby, who gave all his time generously to this work. John Becker has also given many years of very faithful service as officer and beautifying and caring for the church.
1955 sees thirty-six years of service in Bloomfield Congregation for Rev. R. T. Wanberg. It also sees a very crowded Sunday School, a Parish Hall long since outgrown, and the necessity of plans for building and expansion. Bloomfield Church has served Upham Community well throughout the years, and, by the grace of God, will continue to hold its place in the future religious life of the community.
Information – Golden Jubilee 1905-1955 Upham, North Dakota (pages 106-108)