Horace Lutheran Church
650 1st Street E.
Horace, Cass County, North Dakota 58047
650 1st Street E.
Horace, Cass County, North Dakota 58047
Horace Lutheran Church
In 1877, on the 2nd day of June, a group of people from and around the area of Horace decided it was time to organize a church. The first meeting, for this purpose, was held in the farm home of Hans Paulson, located on the banks of the Sheyenne River approximately three and one-half miles north of Horace. The beginning of the church was officially started with the election of the following men: Hans Paulson, Tosten O. Hjaelsing, Elders; Anders Torgerson, Nils Nilsen Walla, Anton Smedstad, Trustees; Lars P. Jensen, treasurer, and Nils T. Nilsen, secretary.
Prior to this time the spiritual needs of the people had been met by the settlers themselves, with help of missionary pastors who would come into the area from older settlements to the east and north in Minnesota. These men walked, snowshoed, or used skis.
The next congregational meeting was held Sept. 21, 1877, at which time it was decided to extend a call to Ole J. Kasa as pastor. But he found it impossible to except the call at that time. The next congregational meeting, Jan. 11, 1878, it was decided to call Rev. Bersvend Anderson as pastor, along with the Hemnaes Congregation, which was located south and east, near the Red River. Pastor Bersvend Anderson served from 1878 until
May 1884; Pastor Thomas Skjei served from 1884 until the spring of 1890; Pastor Gustav Westerlund served from 1891 until the spring of 1893.
We find that from the time of Pastor Westerlund's resignation, until 1896, the congregation was without the services of a regular pastor. At a meeting of the congregation on July 7, 1896, it was decided to extend voting privileges to the women of the congregation. At this same meeting it was decided to call to Pastor Carl Winther, who accepted and served from then until 1903. From 1903 until May 1905, it was Pastor P. G. Arnstad,
and from 1906 until June 1907, Pastor O. J. Malkevik served the parish.
November 1906, a call was extended to Pastor J. H. Johansen. He accepted this call and began serving the church in July 1907. He served the congregation until July 1924. From August 1925, until 1930 it was Pastor H. F. J. Ellingson; 1930 and 1931 it was Pastor W. B. Dahl; 1933-1935 it was Pastor Merland T. Johnson; 1936-1943 it was Pastor Christian Notsund. and 1944-1965 it was Pastor O. E. Dolven; 1965 to the spring of 1970 Pastor Donald Johnson, 1970 to the present it is Pastor Marvin L. Keen.
It is interesting to note that a Sunday School was organized in 1878 at the home of H. Clemenson and has continued since that date.
The original church building was begun in the summer of 1892, and was not fully completed until the winter of 1897. Services prior to this were held in various homes and schoolhouses. The altar, still in the church, was built by J. E. Olson in 1897, along with the pulpit and baptismal font.
The Ladies Aid was organized in 1884 at the home of I. A. Jacobson. As you scan the records of the church you find many instances of how much this group has done for the church. It was this group that was primarily responsible for the Fourth of July festivals held at the church.
Many improvements have been made over the years, from a building heated by a stove to a cellar with furnace, and later a full basement, a new entryway, classrooms, an overflow room, and today an entirely new interior.
It has been and still is a most vital part of the community. It has been said that it was or is, a musical church having over the years been blessed with excellent vocal talents. And can you, in your forties or older, ever forget the singing of the choir during church festivals.
Info from - Their Roots Deep Horace Centennial June 29 - 30 & July 1, 1973
In 1877, on the 2nd day of June, a group of people from and around the area of Horace decided it was time to organize a church. The first meeting, for this purpose, was held in the farm home of Hans Paulson, located on the banks of the Sheyenne River approximately three and one-half miles north of Horace. The beginning of the church was officially started with the election of the following men: Hans Paulson, Tosten O. Hjaelsing, Elders; Anders Torgerson, Nils Nilsen Walla, Anton Smedstad, Trustees; Lars P. Jensen, treasurer, and Nils T. Nilsen, secretary.
Prior to this time the spiritual needs of the people had been met by the settlers themselves, with help of missionary pastors who would come into the area from older settlements to the east and north in Minnesota. These men walked, snowshoed, or used skis.
The next congregational meeting was held Sept. 21, 1877, at which time it was decided to extend a call to Ole J. Kasa as pastor. But he found it impossible to except the call at that time. The next congregational meeting, Jan. 11, 1878, it was decided to call Rev. Bersvend Anderson as pastor, along with the Hemnaes Congregation, which was located south and east, near the Red River. Pastor Bersvend Anderson served from 1878 until
May 1884; Pastor Thomas Skjei served from 1884 until the spring of 1890; Pastor Gustav Westerlund served from 1891 until the spring of 1893.
We find that from the time of Pastor Westerlund's resignation, until 1896, the congregation was without the services of a regular pastor. At a meeting of the congregation on July 7, 1896, it was decided to extend voting privileges to the women of the congregation. At this same meeting it was decided to call to Pastor Carl Winther, who accepted and served from then until 1903. From 1903 until May 1905, it was Pastor P. G. Arnstad,
and from 1906 until June 1907, Pastor O. J. Malkevik served the parish.
November 1906, a call was extended to Pastor J. H. Johansen. He accepted this call and began serving the church in July 1907. He served the congregation until July 1924. From August 1925, until 1930 it was Pastor H. F. J. Ellingson; 1930 and 1931 it was Pastor W. B. Dahl; 1933-1935 it was Pastor Merland T. Johnson; 1936-1943 it was Pastor Christian Notsund. and 1944-1965 it was Pastor O. E. Dolven; 1965 to the spring of 1970 Pastor Donald Johnson, 1970 to the present it is Pastor Marvin L. Keen.
It is interesting to note that a Sunday School was organized in 1878 at the home of H. Clemenson and has continued since that date.
The original church building was begun in the summer of 1892, and was not fully completed until the winter of 1897. Services prior to this were held in various homes and schoolhouses. The altar, still in the church, was built by J. E. Olson in 1897, along with the pulpit and baptismal font.
The Ladies Aid was organized in 1884 at the home of I. A. Jacobson. As you scan the records of the church you find many instances of how much this group has done for the church. It was this group that was primarily responsible for the Fourth of July festivals held at the church.
Many improvements have been made over the years, from a building heated by a stove to a cellar with furnace, and later a full basement, a new entryway, classrooms, an overflow room, and today an entirely new interior.
It has been and still is a most vital part of the community. It has been said that it was or is, a musical church having over the years been blessed with excellent vocal talents. And can you, in your forties or older, ever forget the singing of the choir during church festivals.
Info from - Their Roots Deep Horace Centennial June 29 - 30 & July 1, 1973
Horace Lutheran Church Horace, North Dakota 1877 -1952
Seventy-five years old, June 2, 1877, this Congregation began by meeting in homes, later schools.
Rev. O. Kasa had services here until Rev. Bersvend Anderson took charge in 1878-1884. Parsonage was built in 1884. Present church built 1892, cost $2,700. A cellar was dug, and furnace put in 1903. New parsonage built 1915, cost $3,000. Church raised and basement built in 1928, cost $2,300. In 1951 changed name to Horace Lutheran Church. Also put in oil furnace, water system and remodeled kitchen.
Rev. J. H. Johanson served the longest time 1907-1924. Present Pastor is O. E. Dolven, since 1994.
Info from - back of Horace Lutheran Church plate.
Seventy-five years old, June 2, 1877, this Congregation began by meeting in homes, later schools.
Rev. O. Kasa had services here until Rev. Bersvend Anderson took charge in 1878-1884. Parsonage was built in 1884. Present church built 1892, cost $2,700. A cellar was dug, and furnace put in 1903. New parsonage built 1915, cost $3,000. Church raised and basement built in 1928, cost $2,300. In 1951 changed name to Horace Lutheran Church. Also put in oil furnace, water system and remodeled kitchen.
Rev. J. H. Johanson served the longest time 1907-1924. Present Pastor is O. E. Dolven, since 1994.
Info from - back of Horace Lutheran Church plate.