St. Olaf Lutheran Church
47°28'05.6"N 97°02'17.1"W
Hillsboro, Traill County ND 58045
Eldorado Township, Traill County, North Dakota
47°28'05.6"N 97°02'17.1"W
Hillsboro, Traill County ND 58045
Eldorado Township, Traill County, North Dakota
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The St. Olaf Lutheran Church came into being on December 28, 1878, organized by the Rev. B.A. Harstad. H.H. Strom donated the land to the congregation on which the church and cemetery are located. This land was untouched by plows and still remains the original North Dakota prairie grass.
The first services were held in sod homes. Later, in 1883, the local schoolhouses became the setting for the worship services. The first church building was erected in 1892. This was destroyed by a tornado in 1900. The present church was built the following year, 1901. The name St. Olaf was chosen because it had been the name of the church in Iowa which the homesteaders had attended.
The Women's Missionary Society, now known as the St. Olaf L.C.W. was organized in 1891. The pioneers were mission minded and in those first years to express their mission concern began sponsoring an annual mission festival, the proceeds of which were given to missions. It was through the efforts of the St. Olaf L.C.W. that the church annex was built in 1953. This structure serves as a kitchen and dining room.
St. Olaf has been served by eleven pastors, B. A. Harstad, John Tingelstad, J.R. Rorvik, George Lane, L.A. Haatvedt, O. Turmo, S.K. Thollehaug, O.P. Stavaas, N.G.W. Knutson, A.T. Tjornhom, and C.F. Savereide, the present pastor who has served St. Olaf since 1941. Laura Olson, a daughter of the congregation, served in the mission field in Madagascar for 36 years. The Rev. Ervin Ydstie, a son of the congregation, serves an A.L C. parish in Fertile, Minnesota.
A fine monument which graces the north side of the St. Olaf Cemetery grounds was erected in 1978, a gift to the church given in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Ole H. Olson by their children.
On October 1, 1978, St. Olaf Lutheran celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Information – Hillsboro, North Dakota The First Hundres Years Hillsboro ND Centennial June 18 -21, 1981
The first services were held in sod homes. Later, in 1883, the local schoolhouses became the setting for the worship services. The first church building was erected in 1892. This was destroyed by a tornado in 1900. The present church was built the following year, 1901. The name St. Olaf was chosen because it had been the name of the church in Iowa which the homesteaders had attended.
The Women's Missionary Society, now known as the St. Olaf L.C.W. was organized in 1891. The pioneers were mission minded and in those first years to express their mission concern began sponsoring an annual mission festival, the proceeds of which were given to missions. It was through the efforts of the St. Olaf L.C.W. that the church annex was built in 1953. This structure serves as a kitchen and dining room.
St. Olaf has been served by eleven pastors, B. A. Harstad, John Tingelstad, J.R. Rorvik, George Lane, L.A. Haatvedt, O. Turmo, S.K. Thollehaug, O.P. Stavaas, N.G.W. Knutson, A.T. Tjornhom, and C.F. Savereide, the present pastor who has served St. Olaf since 1941. Laura Olson, a daughter of the congregation, served in the mission field in Madagascar for 36 years. The Rev. Ervin Ydstie, a son of the congregation, serves an A.L C. parish in Fertile, Minnesota.
A fine monument which graces the north side of the St. Olaf Cemetery grounds was erected in 1978, a gift to the church given in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Ole H. Olson by their children.
On October 1, 1978, St. Olaf Lutheran celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Information – Hillsboro, North Dakota The First Hundres Years Hillsboro ND Centennial June 18 -21, 1981
The St Olaf Congregation was organized December 28, 1878, by a group of immigrants who had come to homestead in what is now Eldorado township.
Reverend B. N. Harstad became the first pastor and organizer.
The first church was built in 1892 and was destroyed by cyclone in 1900. A year later the present church was erected at a cost of $2000. The site on which it stands was donated by Herbjorn Strom.
The St Olaf Ladies Aid was organized in 1891. Their contributions to the upkeep and furnishings was a great help financially.
Religious instruction in the Norwegian language was provided for the children from the very beginning. Teachers were hired and board and room was furnished by the parents. The school term was usually two months.
The pastors who served St Olaf through the years have been B. A. Harstad, John Tingelstad, J. R. Rorvik, George Lane, L. A. Haatvedt, O. Turmo, S. K. Thollehaug, O. P. Stavaas, N. G. W. Knutson, A. I. Tjornhom and C. T. Savereide who is the present pastor.
The Hillsboro parish was organized in 1884 with St Olaf as a part of the parish. The pastor resided at Hillsboro.
In 1918 as a result of the merger of the three Synods The Emmanuel Lutheran and the Norwegian Lutheran Evangelical Church both of Hillsboro United and took the name Our Savior's. The parish was reorganized, and St Olaf continued in the parish.
An annex was added to the church in 1953 to serve as a dining hall and kitchen.
The 75th Anniversary of the congregation was celebrated in 1954. Several of its former pastors were present. Miss Laura Olson, a daughter of the Congregation (recently retired), served for many years as a missionary in Madagascar.
The Reverend Ervin Ydstie, grandson of a charter member of the church is now serving a congregation in Wolford, North Dakota.
Information – Pioneers THE OLD SETTLER'S MEMORIAL MONUMENT ASS'N, INC. PRESENTS A LOOK INTO THE PAST
St. Olaf Congregation Marks 90th Anniversary in 1968 rural Hillsboro, North Dakota
The St. Olaf Congregation was organized December 28, 1878, by Reverend B.A. Harstad. The first services ere held in sod homes. In 1883, the services were transferred from the home to the local schoolhouses.
The first church building was built in 1892. This was destroyed by a cyclone in 1900. The present church was built the following year.
The 75th Anniversary was celebrated June 20, 1954, and the 90th Anniversary of St. Olaf Church was celebrated on October 20, 1968.
The name St. Olaf was chosen because it had been the name of the church that the homesteaders had attended in Iowa.
St Olaf has been served by eleven pastors, including the present pastor, Reverend C.F. Savereide.
Laura Olson, a daughter of the congregation, served thirty-six years in the mission field in Madagascar. Reverend Erin Ydstie, a son of the congregation, is serving in the ministry. The missionary society, now known as St. Olaf L.C.W. that the annex was added to the church.
Information – Traill County History Vol. II
The St. Olaf Congregation was organized December 28, 1878, by Reverend B.A. Harstad. The first services ere held in sod homes. In 1883, the services were transferred from the home to the local schoolhouses.
The first church building was built in 1892. This was destroyed by a cyclone in 1900. The present church was built the following year.
The 75th Anniversary was celebrated June 20, 1954, and the 90th Anniversary of St. Olaf Church was celebrated on October 20, 1968.
The name St. Olaf was chosen because it had been the name of the church that the homesteaders had attended in Iowa.
St Olaf has been served by eleven pastors, including the present pastor, Reverend C.F. Savereide.
Laura Olson, a daughter of the congregation, served thirty-six years in the mission field in Madagascar. Reverend Erin Ydstie, a son of the congregation, is serving in the ministry. The missionary society, now known as St. Olaf L.C.W. that the annex was added to the church.
Information – Traill County History Vol. II