Ebenezer Lutheran Church
220 N. Doheny St.
Northwood, Grand Forks County, North Dakota 58267
220 N. Doheny St.
Northwood, Grand Forks County, North Dakota 58267
|
1898 Ebenezer Lutheran Church 1998
1 Sammuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shem and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us". Limited Edition 1 of 250. Info from - back of Ebenezer Lutheran Church plate. |
EBENEZER LUTHERAN CHURCH
Northwood, North Dakota
Ebenezer Congregation traces her Christian heritage back to the spiritual revival which swept Norway in the 18th century as a result of Hans Nielsen Hauge's influence and religious zeal. In the 1890's, a spiritual awakening swept across many of the Norwegian settlements in America. No area was more deeply influenced than the Goose River Valley and the Northwood Community.
This spiritual fervor brought great blessing, but with it came also some problems because many members in the Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church felt that their loyalty was to the Norwegian United Lutheran Church Synod, and many were also sympathetic to the "Friends of Augsburg."
On June 27th, 1898, this group which believed their loyalty was to Augsburg and the Lutheran Free Church met at the home of Anders Lunden to organize the "Ebenezer Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church." The following 32 people and their families became charter members: Mons Hegg, Amund Ostmo, Gudbrand Halvorson, Alex Erickson, Peter Korsmo, Sander Sanderson (Raaen), Christian Halvorson, John Benson, Halvor Hovland, John Peterson (Nokle by), Peter Hanson, Erick Dokken, Christen Olson, Christ Holte, Herlick Trageton, Andrew Ostlie, Edon Larson, Ole Langhaug, Andrew Thingelstad, Paul Bry, Ole Swenson Sr., Anton Ostmo, Syver Halvorson, Anders Lunden, Erick Evenson, Knud Lien, Anton Halvorson, T. A. Ulberg, Thorvald Ruud, Ole Brorby, G. N. Korsmo and Christ Olimb.
The first services of the Ebenezer Congregation were held in the Odd Fellows Hall which they rented for $100.00 per year. On July 12, 1899, the congregation purchased the Hall for $2,100.00.
Construction of the present church began after spring's work in 1 909. The lower auditorium was used late in the year, 1910. According to memory the first service in the main auditorium was the funeral for Gunder N. Korsmo, on February 18th, 1911. Three gasoline lamps were purchased in March of 1912, but electric lights were installed the following year. In the summer of 1913, the building was completed and furnished with pews, altar, etc., for a total cost of $22,765.00. This included lot, sidewalk, construction and furnishings.
In 1919 the old parsonage was sold for $3,000.00 and a new, large house was built on the lot North of the church. Total cost of this fine house and double garage amounted to $15, 276.70. Mr. Coltom was the contractor for the house and church.
Due to the overcrowded situation in Sunday School in recent years, the congregation voted on April 5, 1957, to proceed with building operations of a Sunday School Building. Construction began in the summer of 1958, and was completed in February of 1959. Mr. Adolph Thingelstad directed the building operations. This building has nine classrooms, pastor's study, overflow room and recreation room. Total cost of construction and furnishings amounts to $55,288.00.
The first resident pastor of Ebenezer Congregation was Rev. O. J. Edwards who served from 1898 to 1903. Other pastors have served as follows: Rev. Elias Aas, 1904-1914; Rev. J. M. Halvorson, 1914-1924 and 1937-1938; Rev. P. G. Sonnack, 1925-1932; Rev. H. P. Halvorson, 1932-1937; Rev. Johannes Ringstad, 1938-1948; Rev. G. Ronholm, 1948-1949; Rev. Julius Hermunslie, 1949-1957; Rev. Paul Blikstad, 1957-1958. The present pastor Rev. Gordon Berntson began his work here in August of 1958.
One of the above pastors, Rev. H. P. Halvor son, passed away while he was serving this congregation. The funeral service held on November 22nd, 1937, was the largest funeral service ever witnessed in Northwood.
Another interesting note is found in minutes of a business meeting held on April 16, 1904, when the motion passed to increase the pastor's salary to $500.00 per year, plus three offerings.
Ebenezer has sent two of her sons into the Christian ministry. They are the late Rev. Ingel H. Hovland, who served from 1912 until the time of his death in 1957, and Rev. Axel Kordahl, who was ordained in 1952 and is now serving the Hoffman Lutheran Parish, Hoffman, Minnesota.
Daughters of the congregation serving as Pastor's wives are Mrs. Ingel Hovland (Gurine Trageton), Mrs. Arthur Rohll (Oline Korsmo), Mrs. John Stensvaag (Hannah Mehus), and Mrs. John Strand (Mildred Thorsgard).
Info from – Northwood, North Dakota Diamond Jubilee 1884-1959 (pages 74 & 75)
Northwood, North Dakota
Ebenezer Congregation traces her Christian heritage back to the spiritual revival which swept Norway in the 18th century as a result of Hans Nielsen Hauge's influence and religious zeal. In the 1890's, a spiritual awakening swept across many of the Norwegian settlements in America. No area was more deeply influenced than the Goose River Valley and the Northwood Community.
This spiritual fervor brought great blessing, but with it came also some problems because many members in the Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church felt that their loyalty was to the Norwegian United Lutheran Church Synod, and many were also sympathetic to the "Friends of Augsburg."
On June 27th, 1898, this group which believed their loyalty was to Augsburg and the Lutheran Free Church met at the home of Anders Lunden to organize the "Ebenezer Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church." The following 32 people and their families became charter members: Mons Hegg, Amund Ostmo, Gudbrand Halvorson, Alex Erickson, Peter Korsmo, Sander Sanderson (Raaen), Christian Halvorson, John Benson, Halvor Hovland, John Peterson (Nokle by), Peter Hanson, Erick Dokken, Christen Olson, Christ Holte, Herlick Trageton, Andrew Ostlie, Edon Larson, Ole Langhaug, Andrew Thingelstad, Paul Bry, Ole Swenson Sr., Anton Ostmo, Syver Halvorson, Anders Lunden, Erick Evenson, Knud Lien, Anton Halvorson, T. A. Ulberg, Thorvald Ruud, Ole Brorby, G. N. Korsmo and Christ Olimb.
The first services of the Ebenezer Congregation were held in the Odd Fellows Hall which they rented for $100.00 per year. On July 12, 1899, the congregation purchased the Hall for $2,100.00.
Construction of the present church began after spring's work in 1 909. The lower auditorium was used late in the year, 1910. According to memory the first service in the main auditorium was the funeral for Gunder N. Korsmo, on February 18th, 1911. Three gasoline lamps were purchased in March of 1912, but electric lights were installed the following year. In the summer of 1913, the building was completed and furnished with pews, altar, etc., for a total cost of $22,765.00. This included lot, sidewalk, construction and furnishings.
In 1919 the old parsonage was sold for $3,000.00 and a new, large house was built on the lot North of the church. Total cost of this fine house and double garage amounted to $15, 276.70. Mr. Coltom was the contractor for the house and church.
Due to the overcrowded situation in Sunday School in recent years, the congregation voted on April 5, 1957, to proceed with building operations of a Sunday School Building. Construction began in the summer of 1958, and was completed in February of 1959. Mr. Adolph Thingelstad directed the building operations. This building has nine classrooms, pastor's study, overflow room and recreation room. Total cost of construction and furnishings amounts to $55,288.00.
The first resident pastor of Ebenezer Congregation was Rev. O. J. Edwards who served from 1898 to 1903. Other pastors have served as follows: Rev. Elias Aas, 1904-1914; Rev. J. M. Halvorson, 1914-1924 and 1937-1938; Rev. P. G. Sonnack, 1925-1932; Rev. H. P. Halvorson, 1932-1937; Rev. Johannes Ringstad, 1938-1948; Rev. G. Ronholm, 1948-1949; Rev. Julius Hermunslie, 1949-1957; Rev. Paul Blikstad, 1957-1958. The present pastor Rev. Gordon Berntson began his work here in August of 1958.
One of the above pastors, Rev. H. P. Halvor son, passed away while he was serving this congregation. The funeral service held on November 22nd, 1937, was the largest funeral service ever witnessed in Northwood.
Another interesting note is found in minutes of a business meeting held on April 16, 1904, when the motion passed to increase the pastor's salary to $500.00 per year, plus three offerings.
Ebenezer has sent two of her sons into the Christian ministry. They are the late Rev. Ingel H. Hovland, who served from 1912 until the time of his death in 1957, and Rev. Axel Kordahl, who was ordained in 1952 and is now serving the Hoffman Lutheran Parish, Hoffman, Minnesota.
Daughters of the congregation serving as Pastor's wives are Mrs. Ingel Hovland (Gurine Trageton), Mrs. Arthur Rohll (Oline Korsmo), Mrs. John Stensvaag (Hannah Mehus), and Mrs. John Strand (Mildred Thorsgard).
Info from – Northwood, North Dakota Diamond Jubilee 1884-1959 (pages 74 & 75)