Thursday, May 30, 2019

Swedish Zion Lutheran Church and Cemetery


This lovely old stone church is less than a mile south of the Canada/U.S.A border in north-central North Dakota.  It's a landmark in the community and is known to the locals simply as the "Little Stone Church."


The flying buttresses help to keep the walls straight and secure.

Posted just inside the double swinging doors was a comprehensive history of the church.  A well deserved "thank you" to the person or persons responsible for sharing the history of their congregation.  Here is a brief summary:   

The Swedish Lutheran Congregation was formed in 1896 and held Sunday services in member's houses for the first few years.  In 1902 a tithing plan was implemented to raise money for the construction of a church where each member donated one cent per bushel of wheat he harvested that year.

An appointed and generous secretary donated the land for the church and cemetery.  A mason from Chicago, along with his two apprentices, were hired to construct the church and together with volunteers from the congregation began construction of the church in the spring of 1903.  The church was opened for services later that same year.


The view from the cemetery.



A main "family" marker with individual headstones for each family member.


The church looks really quite inviting.


The original door and latch as seen from inside the church.  Lots of hands have opened this door over the past one hundred and sixteen years.


The interior of the church was renovated in 1953 for the fiftieth anniversary and the wallpaper was added at that time.


Most all of the historical Lutheran churches in the surrounding area still have these "old-fashioned" kneeling altars.


The walls are two feet thick of solid cut stone.  Lots of kids have sat in this window well.


Building this church must have been hard, back-breaking work...horses, ropes and man-power were the modern conveniences of the day.  While the church was being built members of the congregation would have been busy with their day-to-day lives...planting and harvesting their crops, getting the kids off to the one-room-school, tending the farm animals ...these were tough and determined people.

It was good so see that the church and cemetery were still maintained after all these years.  If you ever have a chance to visit this historical place, please make a donation to preserve it.  There is a little donation box at the back of the church...every little bit goes a long way to help preserve the past.

Almost forgot...the mason and his two helpers were paid $400.00 for the construction of the church.  Money well spent.

I hope you enjoyed the "Little Stone Church."

Photographed on December 15, 2018.

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Hello...it's Lovely to See You



Westerham Congregational Cemetery, June 2, 2017

Greetings and welcome to "Past Presence."

The primary focus of this blog will be on pioneer churches, cemeteries and schools.  Most likely I'll change it up a little from time to time...as they say, variety is the spice of life.  My current plan is to post something new once or twice each week.  The blog will draw from a large archive of photos dating from the fall of 2016 to the present day and onwards.

Some of you may know me from BW Bandy's blog "The View from Here" where I've been guest posting for the past year or so.  You can see those posts here:  The View from Here

Here's a sample of what's to come:

Above is Westerham Congregational Cemetery in the Gascoigne, Saskatchewan area.  The black crosses look stark in the Saskatchewan prairie landscape.


Zion Lutheran Church, June 2, 2017
Zion Lutheran Church near Horsham, Saskatchewan.  The roof collapsed years ago but the walls are still standing upright.


South of Empress, Saskatchewan , June 2, 2017
Cattle on a hillside near the Empress Cemetery in Saskatchewan...a lovely day in late spring.


Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery, June 8, 2017
Saint Margaret's Church and Cemetery at Eagle Butte in the Cypress Hills of Alberta.  The church seats about thirty-two people comfortably.  This past Easter service was attended by fifty-five people...standing room only!


Saint Anthony's Church at Grosswerder, December 12, 2017
Saint Anthony's Church at Grosswerder, Saskatchewan.  The big yellow church out in the country.


Congregational Church at Gros-Ventre/Tothill, May 20, 2018
Buffalo beans blooming in front of Congregational Church at Gros-Ventre/Tothill in southern Alberta.  There is a small cemetery just west of the church.


Cypress School, June 20, 2018
Cypress School, north of Elkwater in the Cypress Hills of Alberta.  This little one-room school was open for fifty-eight years...that must be a record.


Peace Lutheran Church, August 9, 2018
Peace Lutheran Church in the R.M. of Stonehenge, Saskatchewan.  Lots to see in the area.


Near Savoy, October 18, 2018
The half-moon above Pony Hill Cemetery near Savoy in north-central Montana.  Be it near or far, I always feel "at home" in the prairie landscape.


Saint Joseph Catholic Church, October 19, 2018
On top of a small and very steep hill is Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Zortman, Montana...right in the middle of the Little Rocky Mountains.


Turner Cemetery, October 21, 2018
Turner Cemetery north of Turner, Montana.  Flyin' high!


Union Cemetery, December 18, 2018
Union Cemetery just outside of Sherwood, North Dakota...the long shadows of winter.


Saint Raphael's Roman Catholic Church, December 17, 2018
Saint Raphael's Roman Catholic Church in Cantal, Saskatchewan.  A cemetery and school cairn are a little west of this big stone and wooden church.


Saint Olaf Cemetery, December 18, 2018
Saint Olaf Cemetery near Tioga, North Dakota...a long abandoned church sits east of the cemetery.  I love the big open prairie of the area.


Winner Township School #2, December 19, 2018
The winter sun setting on Winner Township School #2 near Blacktail Lake in Williams County, North Dakota.  This was the last shot of the day and then it was back to Estevan, Saskatchewan for the night.

Thanks for the visit!