CHRISTDALA CHURCH, 1877 |
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THE CHRISTDALA EVANGELICAL SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH MILLERSBURG, MINNESOTA, RICE COUNTY, USA
Christdala, “Christ’s Valley” Den Svenska Evangeliska Lutherska Christdala Församlingen The first Swedish immigrants who settled in Rice County in southern Minnesota formed the Christdala congregation on July 18, 1877. The Church structure was built during the summer of 1878 at a cost of $230, shortly after one of the first Swedish immigrants, Nicolaus Gustafson, was murdered by a member of the James-Younger Gang during the infamous Northfield bank robbery. The Christdala Church building is original and has never been moved or altered. The Church and 1.125 acre cemetery overlooking Circle Lake to the south appear the same today as they did in the days of the early Swedish immigrants. In 1995, the Christdala Church was placed on The National Register of Historic Places by the U. S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, because of its historic significance. Between 1840 and 1930 over 1,300,000 Swedish immigrants settled in the United States, mostly in Minnesota. The first forty years of the Church, from 1878 to 1918, correspond to the high point of Swedish immigration into the U. S. and into Goodhue and Rice counties in southern Minnesota. The Church and cemetery reflect the distinct accomplishments and contributions that these Swedish immigrants made to the community and to early Rice County and southern Minnesota history. Today the Church serves as a historical reminder of the significance of ethic Swedish communities such as Christdala in the early history of Minnesota. The congregation reached peak membership in 1890 with 230 members and by 1918 had declined to fewer than 100 members. Education was important to the early Swedish immigrants. Once educated, the young people typically left their farms for opportunities in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, about 40 miles north of Christdala. By 1938 fewer than six of the first pioneer settlers remained in the Christdala community. By 1950 there were only thirty members of the congregation and services were eventually terminated in the 1960s. The congregation was formally disbanded on August 21, 1966. Christdala History Book. A 58-page book entitled The History of the Christdala Evangelical Swedish Lutheran Church was prepared in 1994 by Wayne Quist as a result of the nomination of Christdala to The National Register of Historic Places. This book is provided as a small gift for contributions of $10.00 or more for the preservation of Christdala. Please contact Wayne Quist, Association Secretary, by email at wquist@northstarindustries.com Current Activities: Nondenominational Fall Church Services are held each September, an annual Spring Clean-Up Meeting is held in April, and the local Northfield Svenska Klub holds Midsommer festivities at Christdala in June each year, along with weddings, funerals and special events. Christdala Cemetery Burials. John Dalby, Chairman of the Association, has recently placed the Christdala cemetery burials on the Internet at the following address: http://www.interment.net/data/us/mn/rice/christdala_evangelical.htm. John Dalby has also developed an extensive database of the names of people buried in many other southern Minnesota cemeteries. John can be reached at 507-334-9676. Christdala Permanent Fund. The Christdala Church Preservation and Cemetery Association was incorporated in 1994 as a non-profit entity under IRS guidelines to repair and maintain the Church and the Permanent Fund for the preservation of Christdala and its Swedish heritage. Please help with a tax deductible contribution to the Christdala Permanent Fund to ensure perpetual maintenance of the Church and grounds. Please make your check to The Christdala Church Preservation and Cemetery Association and mail it to Dale Quist, President, 3400 West 120th Court, Faribault, Minnesota, 55021, Telephone: 507-645-8086/Fax: 507-645-8804. Major Restoration Work Completed: The Christdala Preservation Association has invested more than $100,000 in the restoration of the Christdala Church and grounds in the last ten years. All improvements and maintenance have been accomplished under established historic preservation guidelines. Christdala's original limestone foundation and basement have been repaired, new front steps and flag poles have been installed, nine old windows have been replaced and a new fence has been installed around the perimeter of the Church grounds. The church has a new cedar roof and several new trees have been planted in the cemetery. Genealogical Information:. Please contact Dale Quist or Wayne Quist if you would like to make a contribution to the Association, are interested in joining the Association, or would like to examine genealogical information using the old Church records and other historical information associated with the Church. Directions to Christdala: The Christdala Church is located in rural Forest Township, Rice County, in southern Minnesota. The Church is situated on a small hill on the north edge of Circle Lake on Rice County Highway #1, two miles west of the community of Millersburg. Christdala is also about 6 miles east-southeast of Lonsdale, 12 miles west of Northfield, 9 miles west of Dundas and 14 miles north of Faribault. From Interstate 35, use Exit 66, travel west one mile to Millersburg and then continue on to Christdala, which is on your right as you drive west. The Christdala Story: 1840 to 1930 - Over 1.3 million Swedes immigrated to the U.S., mostly to Minnesota. 1856 - George Miller homesteaded 160 acres and platted a village recorded as “Millersburg.” Miller erected a mill and a hotel and a partner started a general store, attracting “Yankee” settlers from the east. Later a post office and blacksmith shop were established. 1870 - First Swedish immigrants settled in the Millersburg area from the Red Wing-Vasa area in southern Minnesota and initially held services in their homes. 1871 – The Lester post office established by John W. Thompson one mile west of Christdala. Thompson’s business card read: Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Real Estate Developer, Minnesota State Legislature, Postmaster.” More than half a dozen Swedish families now lived in the vicinity. 1873 – Severe economic depression in the U.S. 1876 – Nicolaus Gustafson, a recent immigrant from Sweden, was killed in Northfield on September 7, 1876 during the notorious James-Younger Gang’s robbery of the Northfield bank. Gustafson was buried in Northfield because the Millersburg Swedish community had no church or cemetery. Millersburg Swedes immediately started planning for the construction of their own church and cemetery. 1877 – The first Swedish immigrants to settle in the dense and virgin “Big Woods” of Rice County formed the Christdala congregation on July 18, 1877. Christdala congregation was established by 13 founding families on 1.125 acres of land given by neighbors Peter Youngquist & Carl Hirdler. Christdala was admitted into the Minnesota Conference of the Lutheran Augustana Synod. 1878 – Christdala church building was constructed by John Olson and John Lundberg of Northfield for $230.00. The existing Christdala Church building is original and has never been altered or moved. 1878 to 1918 – High point of Swedish immigration into the U.S., Minnesota & Rice County. 1880 – Pulpit was built by John Olson for $15.00, interior walls plastered, native ash wainscoting installed. Oil lamps and first organ acquired. Annual membership dues were $4.00 for men, $3.00 for women and the church building had an insured value of $600.00. 1881 – Front steps and horse stalls were built; table, chairs, baptismal font purchased (still in church today). Each family required to provide one cord of basswood per year for heating. 1882 – Christdala congregation reached 70 families and Sunday church attendance averaged 170 people. 1885 – Christdala church constitution adopted. Over 55% of Christdala’s budget was dedicated to education. The church records stated: “The fruit of a surrendered life becomes capable of sacrificing personal advantages for the sake and welfare of the group.” 1886 – New organ purchased from Wick Organ Company in Chicago (still in use today). 1890 – Membership peaked at 230 members. Church resolution: “Resolved that all children know their ABCs before they attend school.” 1892 – Carpet installed inside church. Treasurer’s report: “All debts have been paid and there is a balance of $147.14 in the treasury. This is the best condition in all of our history.” 1893 – Window shades & burial equipment acquired. Economic depression in U.S. (“Cleveland’s Panic”). 1895 – 60-foot bell tower added to front of church. 1897 – Congregation acquired Blacksmith Sandbo’s house west of Millersburg for $552.99 as a parish house. 1901 – Bell installed in belfry. 1903 – English services offered once a month on Sunday afternoon or evening. 1917 - English adopted as the only language. New wood-burning furnace and hot air registers installed, wood fireplace in basement removed, convection floor slats covered. Original hand-fashioned kneeling benches replaced with 18 identical oak pews, 9 on each side of the center aisle. 1927 – Christdala celebrated 50th Anniversary. 1938 – Fewer than six pioneer families remained in the Christdala community. 1942 – Christdala’s 65th Anniversary: “The blessings of their endeavors are ours.…as giants in the earth they stood, their faith in God availing.” 1950 – Church membership declined to 30 members. 1957 – Interior walls replastered and painted for Christdala’s 80th Anniversary. 1966 – Membership declined to a handful, Christdala congregation disestablished. 1978 – Christdala cemetery association established. 1994 – Christdala Church Preservation & Cemetery Association incorporated as an IRS-approved charitable organization for tax-deductible gifts. Substantial funds raised to preserve the church with new paint, roof, windows, fence, front steps, flag poles. 1995 - Christdala formally placed on “The National Register of Historic Places” by U.S. Department of Interior (National Park Service) because of historical significance. Lt. Governor Joanne Benson officiated at official induction ceremony at Christdala. “The History of the Christdala Evangelical Lutheran Church” prepared, copies available upon request. 2002 – Christdala celebrated 125th Anniversary. Christdala Preservation Association established a Permanent Fund goal of $500,000 for perpetual maintenance. Checks may be written to The Christdala Church Preservation & Cemetery Association.
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