Trinity Lutheran Church of Silva
Silva, Pierce County, North Dakota
Silva, Pierce County, North Dakota
Trinity Lutheran Church of Silva was organized Nov. 22,1900, at the home of Mrs. Betsy Silseth. The first officers were: L. B. Knudson, Olaf Tollefson, Theodore Dokken, Evar Iverson, Charley Larson, Knute Torgerson and Jens Berge, who was the Cantor. Services were held in private homes and schoolhouses and during the first few years they were conducted in Norwegian. Gradually more services were held in English, until in the 1930's, when only one service each month was in Norwegian, and finally all serv ices were in English.
At a meeting of the church in the spring of 1913, it was decided to build a church. The exterior was finished, and services were regularly held even though the interior wasn't finished until 1916. The cornerstone was laid Nov. 3, 1913, with Rev. T. Thomeson of Willow City officiating at the ceremony, assisted by Rev. P. P. Houglum, the local pastor. The basement was excavated in 1920. The present cemetery was purchased from Julius Thompson in 1904 and is located one mile east of Silva and consists of two acres. Fillmore Lutheran Parish was formed in 1914 with Trinity Lutheran of Silva, Highland (located northeast of Silva), and Fillmore Lutheran Church comprising the parish. In 1931, Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Harlow joined the Fillmore parish. The parsonage was located in Fillmore.
Pastors who served Trinity Lutheran Church are as follows: M. Silseth, F.J. Swenson, H.J. Hjertaas, Carl. S. Vang, P.P. HougIum, P.J. Mykland, Edward E. Erickson, Carrol Tollefson, Richard H. Quamme, Olav S. Winther, Robert A. Ahlstrom, M.J. Nilsen and V.J. Eylands.
Trinity was dissolved in January 1972, with members free to Join other congregations. At this time the ALCW was reorganized as the Silva Chapel Auxiliary, and it remains active and arranges for one or two services each year in the church building. The Silva Cemetery Association also remains active, being managed by a board of five trustees, as stipulated in the newly adopted by-laws which were unanimously adopted at a reorganizational meeting held Nov. 27, 1973.
Information - A century of Area History Pierce County and Rugby North Dakota (pages 322-323)
At a meeting of the church in the spring of 1913, it was decided to build a church. The exterior was finished, and services were regularly held even though the interior wasn't finished until 1916. The cornerstone was laid Nov. 3, 1913, with Rev. T. Thomeson of Willow City officiating at the ceremony, assisted by Rev. P. P. Houglum, the local pastor. The basement was excavated in 1920. The present cemetery was purchased from Julius Thompson in 1904 and is located one mile east of Silva and consists of two acres. Fillmore Lutheran Parish was formed in 1914 with Trinity Lutheran of Silva, Highland (located northeast of Silva), and Fillmore Lutheran Church comprising the parish. In 1931, Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Harlow joined the Fillmore parish. The parsonage was located in Fillmore.
Pastors who served Trinity Lutheran Church are as follows: M. Silseth, F.J. Swenson, H.J. Hjertaas, Carl. S. Vang, P.P. HougIum, P.J. Mykland, Edward E. Erickson, Carrol Tollefson, Richard H. Quamme, Olav S. Winther, Robert A. Ahlstrom, M.J. Nilsen and V.J. Eylands.
Trinity was dissolved in January 1972, with members free to Join other congregations. At this time the ALCW was reorganized as the Silva Chapel Auxiliary, and it remains active and arranges for one or two services each year in the church building. The Silva Cemetery Association also remains active, being managed by a board of five trustees, as stipulated in the newly adopted by-laws which were unanimously adopted at a reorganizational meeting held Nov. 27, 1973.
Information - A century of Area History Pierce County and Rugby North Dakota (pages 322-323)
The Silva Lutheran Church, Trefoldigheds Skandinavisk Evangelisk Lutherske Menighed was organized November 22, 1900, on Mrs. Call's farm a short distance southeast of where Silva is now located. Mrs. Call was the mother of Doctor A. M. Call of Rugby. The village of Silva was founded in 1912 and the next year, 1913, the church was built costing about $2,500.00. This has from time to time been extended and improved. The first trustees elected were S. B. Knutson, Olaf Tollefson and Theodore Dokken. Mr. Tollefson was also the secretary. Ivar Ivarson, Charles Larson, and Knut Torgerson were the first elected deacons. The Ladies’ Aid has been very active ever since they were organized at the home of Mr. Olaf Tollefson in 1903. The first officers were Mrs. M. Tinboe, president; Mrs. T. Torgerson, secretary, and Mrs. Charles Larson, treasurer. At first the times were hard and the pastor's salary meager. The first year only $60.00 was agreed on until the times would be getting better. Pastors-Rev. M. O. Silseth, 1900-01; Rev. J. F. Swenson, 1901-04; Rev. H. Hjertas, 1904-05; Rev. Carl S. Vang, 1905-11; Rev. P. P. Hauglum, 1911-13; Rev. I. Hjertesen, Rev. N. J. Holm and Rev. Erickson have been among the later pastors.
By O.T. TOFSRUD
Information - Fifty Years In Pierce County (page 77)
By O.T. TOFSRUD
Information - Fifty Years In Pierce County (page 77)
The present cemetery was purchased from Julius Thompson in 1904 and is located one mile east of Silva and consists of two acres.