Mayville Lutheran Church
24 3rd Avenue SE
Mayville, Traill County, North Dakota 58257
24 3rd Avenue SE
Mayville, Traill County, North Dakota 58257
On May 20, 1881, a small group met and organized the Mayville Lutheran Church. Rev. Bjug Harstad was called to serve this new congregation. It wasn't until the early part of Mayville Lutheran Church 1885 that plans for a church building were formed. This became a reality, and the cornerstone was laid July 4, 1886.
Following the union of the three church bodies, the Norwegian Synod, the Hauge Synod and the United Church plans were made to unite the three local congregations. On Sept. 14, 1917, the union was achieved, and a constitution adopted. Rev. N.J. Lohre was the first pastor called to the new congregation called the Mayville Lutheran Church. He was succeeded by Rev. H.J. Froiland and Rev. A.A. Nelson.
In 1940 a new parsonage was built. In Dec. 1948 building plans were approved, and ground broken on Sept. 18, 1949. The church is a modernistic type of architecture. It was dedicated June 10, 1951. In Sept. 1980 the congregation voted to make an enlarged entry and put in an elevator, hoping the project will be finished for our centennial celebration.
The Ladies Aid and eleven circles have been very active all these years. There are three choirs giving us beautiful music which is a special part of every service.
Mrs. Ida Morey was our faithful church organist for 40 years, since then Oscar Jemtrud has given us years of faithful service.
The Sunday School has a senior and junior department with an enrollment of 232.
Rev. T.K. Spande served the congregation from 1951 until June 1975. Our present pastors are Pastor John Braaten and Pastor Jeff Macejkovic. The present congregation numbers 1294.
Information - A Saga of Two Cities, 1881-1981: A History of Mayville-Portland (page 45)
Following the union of the three church bodies, the Norwegian Synod, the Hauge Synod and the United Church plans were made to unite the three local congregations. On Sept. 14, 1917, the union was achieved, and a constitution adopted. Rev. N.J. Lohre was the first pastor called to the new congregation called the Mayville Lutheran Church. He was succeeded by Rev. H.J. Froiland and Rev. A.A. Nelson.
In 1940 a new parsonage was built. In Dec. 1948 building plans were approved, and ground broken on Sept. 18, 1949. The church is a modernistic type of architecture. It was dedicated June 10, 1951. In Sept. 1980 the congregation voted to make an enlarged entry and put in an elevator, hoping the project will be finished for our centennial celebration.
The Ladies Aid and eleven circles have been very active all these years. There are three choirs giving us beautiful music which is a special part of every service.
Mrs. Ida Morey was our faithful church organist for 40 years, since then Oscar Jemtrud has given us years of faithful service.
The Sunday School has a senior and junior department with an enrollment of 232.
Rev. T.K. Spande served the congregation from 1951 until June 1975. Our present pastors are Pastor John Braaten and Pastor Jeff Macejkovic. The present congregation numbers 1294.
Information - A Saga of Two Cities, 1881-1981: A History of Mayville-Portland (page 45)
The Mayville Lutheran Church, of the synod of the Norwegian Churches of America, was organized in 1885. The congregation was established in Mayville by Rev. John Halvorson. A church edifice has been erected and it is one of the largest churches in the city. Rev. B. Harstad was the first minister, with John Halvorson as assistant, and he was succeeded by Rev. H. Allen. Rev. J. Tingelstad and Rev. Ivar D. Ylvisaker are now in charge jointly of six congregations, including the one above named.
Ivar D. Ylvisaker was born in Tronhjem, Norway, May 26, 1868, and was the fifth of seven children born to Rev. Nils and Christie (Hundere) Ylvisaker. His parents came to America when he was a young child and settled in Goodhue County, Minnesota, where his father took charge of a congregation at Zumbrota. The mother still resides in Goodhue County, Minnesota.
Our subject entered the Lutheran College at Decorah, Iowa, when thirteen years of age, and completed a seven-year course, graduating from that institution with the class of 1888, when but twenty years of age, receiving the degree of A. B. He then entered the Theological Seminary at Robbinsdale, and there completed a three-year course. This institution is now at Hamlin. In the fall of 1891, our subject was called to Great Falls, Montana, and remained there two years, and in 1893 entered upon the duties of his present charge. Upon his arrival the Mayville congregation numbered twenty-six families and is now extended to thirty-five families, a work accomplished by our subject. The church building has been remodeled and refitted and is free from debt, and a handsome parsonage has been erected. Three outlying churches have been erected, all of which are free of debt. The church has prospered under the fostering care of Mr. Ylvisiker, and he is loved by his people. He is a gentleman of excellent education and a close student and has a well-selected library of theological works in English, German and Scandinavian, containing some volumes of priceless value.
Our subject was married, in 1892, to Miss Delia Davidson. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ylvisaker, as follows: Herman, Dagny, Sigfrid and Erling.
Information - Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by Janice Louie
Ivar D. Ylvisaker was born in Tronhjem, Norway, May 26, 1868, and was the fifth of seven children born to Rev. Nils and Christie (Hundere) Ylvisaker. His parents came to America when he was a young child and settled in Goodhue County, Minnesota, where his father took charge of a congregation at Zumbrota. The mother still resides in Goodhue County, Minnesota.
Our subject entered the Lutheran College at Decorah, Iowa, when thirteen years of age, and completed a seven-year course, graduating from that institution with the class of 1888, when but twenty years of age, receiving the degree of A. B. He then entered the Theological Seminary at Robbinsdale, and there completed a three-year course. This institution is now at Hamlin. In the fall of 1891, our subject was called to Great Falls, Montana, and remained there two years, and in 1893 entered upon the duties of his present charge. Upon his arrival the Mayville congregation numbered twenty-six families and is now extended to thirty-five families, a work accomplished by our subject. The church building has been remodeled and refitted and is free from debt, and a handsome parsonage has been erected. Three outlying churches have been erected, all of which are free of debt. The church has prospered under the fostering care of Mr. Ylvisiker, and he is loved by his people. He is a gentleman of excellent education and a close student and has a well-selected library of theological works in English, German and Scandinavian, containing some volumes of priceless value.
Our subject was married, in 1892, to Miss Delia Davidson. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ylvisaker, as follows: Herman, Dagny, Sigfrid and Erling.
Information - Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Publ. 1900. Transcribed by Janice Louie