Trotters Evangelical Church
North Dakota Highway 16
Trotters, Golden Valley County, North Dakota
North Dakota Highway 16
Trotters, Golden Valley County, North Dakota
HISTORY OF THE TROTTERS CHURCH
In the year 1911. Mrs. W. A. Greenup organized a ladies aid society. It was the first Christian organization in the community. Mrs. John Herrick was elected president. Under her leadership a Sunday School was formed a year or so later. Its meetings were held at the Trotters schoolhouse. Through the efforts of Rev. Balkum, a Sunday school missionary. a lady named Mrs. Webb of Minneapolis, Minnesota, became interested in the community's work of organizing a church. She offered to donate one thousand dollars toward the erection of a church building. By this lime Rev. Rosco. the pastor of the United Brethren Church in Beach began holding monthly church services at the schoolhouse. In 1931 Rev. Rosco and the District Superintendent, W. B. Nelson, invited people to a meeting to discuss joining the United Brethren Church in Beach. A year later the Congregational Church building was purchased, torn down. and rebuilt al Trotters on an acre of land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Luther Hodges, Sr. In order to make the rebuilding of the church possible many individuals. as well as the erection board of the United Brethren Church and the local aid societies donated money.
A committee was delegated to purchase some chairs from an abandoned church in Love Joy, N. Dak. These became the first chairs for the Trotters Church.
The Trotters Church was dedicated on September 3, 1933. The original trustees were as follows: Mrs. Pearl Omley. Mrs. Lawhead. Mr. P. V. Moore, Mr. Ed Franklin, and Mr. E. Metcalf. That same fall Rev. Rosco and his family moved to Oregon leaving Rev. W. B. Nelson to take charge of the Beach and Trotters churches which had been united in one circuit. At this time, in addition to Sunday school. Bible school was begun.
In 1934 an offer was made to purchase song books belonging to the Circle Church.
Rev. Nelson served the Trotters Church for four years. In September 1937. Rev. Herman Grove became pastor. Church services were now held twice a month except in the months of January and February. A new pastor named Rev. Boffa came in 1939. He was followed by Rev. Reichart until 1942. He was replaced in 1943 by Rev. Kenney. In 1946 the Trotters Church voted in favor of a union of the Evangelical and United Brethren Church conferences. Rev. Kenney worked with the church for five years. Rev. Bott became pastor in 1948. Rev. James S. Conforth was the pastor until 1954. Rev. Lee Birdsall became the new pastor in 1954. He served the church until 1957 when Rev. Swift became the pastor. In 1960 Rev. Morgan came to carry on the churches work. He was replaced by Rev. Knuth in 1961. Rev. Harrison was the new pastor until he was replaced by Rev. Lee Birdsall in 1965. On July 12, 1969, the board members of the Trotters Church signed the Articles of Incorporation thus joining the Evangelical Church of North America. Church services were now held every Sunday except in the months of January and February. Rev. Birdsall worked with much dedication until he retired in 1970. Rev. Roger Bole came to work with the Beach and Trotters Churches until June of 1974 when he and his family moved to Oregon. Then David Sanderson came to complete his one year of internship at the Beach and Trotters Churches. Many church goers were reluctant to see this young man leave after only one year. In the summer of 1975 another young pastor, Rev. John Schneider, came to work with the two Churches.
From the churches earliest beginnings in 1911 until the present time much hard work and dedication has gone into the building and work of the Trotters Church. At present the Trotters Church has a very active ladies aid, the Webbs Willing Workers. One of their projects is an annual Harvest Festival dinner that is well attended. Recently a Sunday school has been organized which meets once a month at an area home and a Bible school is held at the church for one week each summer. It is our hope that this dedication and fellowship will continue and grow for many more years.
Information - Golden Valley Pioneers (Pages 353-354)
In the year 1911. Mrs. W. A. Greenup organized a ladies aid society. It was the first Christian organization in the community. Mrs. John Herrick was elected president. Under her leadership a Sunday School was formed a year or so later. Its meetings were held at the Trotters schoolhouse. Through the efforts of Rev. Balkum, a Sunday school missionary. a lady named Mrs. Webb of Minneapolis, Minnesota, became interested in the community's work of organizing a church. She offered to donate one thousand dollars toward the erection of a church building. By this lime Rev. Rosco. the pastor of the United Brethren Church in Beach began holding monthly church services at the schoolhouse. In 1931 Rev. Rosco and the District Superintendent, W. B. Nelson, invited people to a meeting to discuss joining the United Brethren Church in Beach. A year later the Congregational Church building was purchased, torn down. and rebuilt al Trotters on an acre of land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Luther Hodges, Sr. In order to make the rebuilding of the church possible many individuals. as well as the erection board of the United Brethren Church and the local aid societies donated money.
A committee was delegated to purchase some chairs from an abandoned church in Love Joy, N. Dak. These became the first chairs for the Trotters Church.
The Trotters Church was dedicated on September 3, 1933. The original trustees were as follows: Mrs. Pearl Omley. Mrs. Lawhead. Mr. P. V. Moore, Mr. Ed Franklin, and Mr. E. Metcalf. That same fall Rev. Rosco and his family moved to Oregon leaving Rev. W. B. Nelson to take charge of the Beach and Trotters churches which had been united in one circuit. At this time, in addition to Sunday school. Bible school was begun.
In 1934 an offer was made to purchase song books belonging to the Circle Church.
Rev. Nelson served the Trotters Church for four years. In September 1937. Rev. Herman Grove became pastor. Church services were now held twice a month except in the months of January and February. A new pastor named Rev. Boffa came in 1939. He was followed by Rev. Reichart until 1942. He was replaced in 1943 by Rev. Kenney. In 1946 the Trotters Church voted in favor of a union of the Evangelical and United Brethren Church conferences. Rev. Kenney worked with the church for five years. Rev. Bott became pastor in 1948. Rev. James S. Conforth was the pastor until 1954. Rev. Lee Birdsall became the new pastor in 1954. He served the church until 1957 when Rev. Swift became the pastor. In 1960 Rev. Morgan came to carry on the churches work. He was replaced by Rev. Knuth in 1961. Rev. Harrison was the new pastor until he was replaced by Rev. Lee Birdsall in 1965. On July 12, 1969, the board members of the Trotters Church signed the Articles of Incorporation thus joining the Evangelical Church of North America. Church services were now held every Sunday except in the months of January and February. Rev. Birdsall worked with much dedication until he retired in 1970. Rev. Roger Bole came to work with the Beach and Trotters Churches until June of 1974 when he and his family moved to Oregon. Then David Sanderson came to complete his one year of internship at the Beach and Trotters Churches. Many church goers were reluctant to see this young man leave after only one year. In the summer of 1975 another young pastor, Rev. John Schneider, came to work with the two Churches.
From the churches earliest beginnings in 1911 until the present time much hard work and dedication has gone into the building and work of the Trotters Church. At present the Trotters Church has a very active ladies aid, the Webbs Willing Workers. One of their projects is an annual Harvest Festival dinner that is well attended. Recently a Sunday school has been organized which meets once a month at an area home and a Bible school is held at the church for one week each summer. It is our hope that this dedication and fellowship will continue and grow for many more years.
Information - Golden Valley Pioneers (Pages 353-354)
Trotters Evangelical Church is an unincorporated community located in Golden Valley County, North Dakota, United States. Here are some interesting details about Trotters:
Information - Copilot with GPT4
- Location: Trotters lies on North Dakota Highway 16, approximately 28.3 miles (45.5 km) north of Beach1.
- History and Name: The community was named after Francis Leighton Trotter, who served as the first postmaster in the area. Trotter carried mail from Wibaux, Montana, to establish the post office, even working without pay for a year. Leonard Hall, the town’s sole resident for much of the twentieth century, served as the postmaster of the Trotters post office, which opened in 1904. The post office also functioned as the town’s grocery store and gas station1.
- Climate: Trotters experiences a semi-arid climate according to the Köppen Climate Classification system, abbreviated as “BSk” on climate maps1.
Information - Copilot with GPT4