Title: St. Paul's Lutheran Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records
Bulk Dates: 1878-1920
Inclusive Dates: 1870-1920

Creator:

• St. Paul's Lutheran Church (La Crosse, Wis.)

Unique Identifier: MSS 042, Micro 15

Quantity: 0.1 cubic feet

Physical Description: 1 reel of 35 mm microfilm

Repository:

La Crosse Public Library
Contact Information

Archival Location:

La Crosse Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Records of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, mainly 1878-1920, located on the North Side of La Crosse, Wisconsin. The congregation is still active and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The church records include baptisms, 1878-1924; confirmations, 1882-1920; marriages, 1881-1920; burials, 1888-1920; lists of members of the congregation; lists of members who have left the congregation; holy events, communion records, 1877-1920; and congregational minutes, ca. 1877-1880.

All records were written in the Norwegian language.

Language: Norwegian

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.lcpl-mss042

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41575523

(Accession No. 1997.023) Purchased by the Archives with gift funds from the Genealogical Society of Utah with permission of Rev. Duane Kamrath, Pastor, Oct. 1997. Originals filmed in July 1981; GSU control number 1306451.

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

[Identification of item], St. Paul's Lutheran Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records, MSS 042, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

Finding aid written by Anita Taylor Doering, Dec. 1997; translation by Amanda Lambert with help from Helen Brieske, March 1999.

Records of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, mainly 1878-1920, located on the North Side of La Crosse, Wisconsin. The congregation is still active and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The church records include baptisms, 1878-1924; confirmations, 1882-1920; marriages, 1881-1920; burials, 1888-1920; lists of members of the congregation; lists of members who have left the congregation; holy events, communion records, 1877-1920; congregational minutes, ca. 1877-1880; and what appears to be records of a youth group, ca. 1877-1880.

All records were written in the Norwegian language.

Originally there were three churches on this reel of microfilm. For patron ease, these have spliced apart. The original volume that was microfilmed had pagination (page numbers), and these are included in the reel list below.

On November 16, 1870, the St. Paul's Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was formed under guidance from Peder L. Asbjornsen, pastor of the Bostwick Valley congregation. The newly formed group counted 38 charter members and elected C. H. Walgeford as deacon; Simon Christoffersen and Gustaf Adolph Quarford as trustees. In April of the following year, a house of worship was purchased "somewhere on 8th Street" which was known as "Spiritual Hall." The building was later moved to a leased lot on North 11th Street between Pine and Badger Streets which was purchased in 1876. In 1882 a building was purchased from the Presbyterians near 6th and King Street for $3,500.

In October of 1871, the congregation called Pastor Asbjornsen to serve them. He ministered to the congregation until 1875 when Rev. Egil H. Midtbo was called to serve. By this time, the membership rolls counted 49 souls and Sunday School began. The congregation also became part of a parish with La Crosse, Bostwick Valley, Houston (Minnesota) and Looney Valley (Minnesota). Several pastors came and went between 1880 and 1894 when Rev. Rasmus Andersen preached his own installation sermon. Pastor Andersen died in 1914 and many changes occurred during his tenure. A new facility was constructed on the southwest corner of West Avenue and Division Street and services were first held there Christmas Day in 1896. The parish formed in 1880 was dissolved and St. Paul's and Eden congregation in Galesville formed a parish. This relationship was dissolved in 1918 and St. Paul's became an independent congregation holding worship services every Sunday. Rev. Andersen's successor, Pastor O. C. Myhre, began using the English language in the weekly services. In 1920, under the leadership of Rev. H. T. Braa, the congregation voted to have one service a month in Norwegian and all other services to be conducted in English. By 1940 Rev. Mars A. Dale used English exclusively in worship services. In 1942, the constitution was revised and the name was officially changed to St. Paul's Lutheran Church of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Again, many pastors had come and gone during this time.

In 1953, Rev. Arthur M. Feroe became pastor of St. Paul's serving 31 years--the longest of any senior pastor for the congregation. A new Parish House and Chapel were completed in 1956 and ground-breaking services for a new church building were held in 1960. The dedication took place in December 1961. The old building was razed and a parking lot constructed on that site. "Damascus Illumination," a two-piece sculpture by artist Paul T. Granlund, was placed in front of the church in 1966. By 1970, the congregation numbered 1,400 baptized members. After Rev. Feroe retired, Rev. Arnold J. Athey was installed as pastor in early 1985 and continues to minister to the congregation at this time. His wife Joyce has developed a Christian lifestyle curriculum for students age three through high school.

(MSS 019)

St. Paul's Lutheran Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) Records

• St. Paul's Lutheran Church (La Crosse, Wis.)
• Church records and registers--Wisconsin--La Crosse
• Lutheran Church--Wisconsin--La Crosse
• Norwegian Americans--Religion

Reel 1   Item 2	Diamond Jubilee 1870-1945 booklet: Seventy-five Years With Christ (in English)
Reel 1   Item 2	St. Paul's Lutheran Church Centennial booklet, 1870-1970 (in English)
	Church register
Reel 1   Item 2   Page 3	Congregational Minutes [ Menighed Medlemmer]
Reel 1   Item 2   Page 87	Communion Records [ Nadvariester], 1877-1880
Reel 1   Item 2   Page 101	Members of Congregation [ Foriegnelse over Menighedslemmer]
Reel 1   Item 2   Page 110	Youth Records [ Barnedaabene]
Reel 1   Item 2   Page 118	Communion Records [ Communicanter]
Reel 1   Item 3   Page 1	Baptisms [ Dobte], 1881-1899
Reel 1   Item 3   Page 33	Confirmations [ Konfirmerede], 1882-1898
Reel 1   Item 3   Page 51	Marriages [ Agteviede], 1881-1899
Reel 1   Item 3   Page 64	Burials [ Jordfastede], 1888-1899
Reel 1   Item 3   Page 71	Communion Records [ Narvargiester], 1881-1898
Reel 1   Item 3   Page 105	Members of Congregation [ Foriegnelse over Menighedslemmer]
Reel 1   Item 3   Page 135	Members who left congregation [ Afgaade]
Reel 1   Item 3   Page 143	Holy Events [ Oversigt over de Kirkelige Handlinger], 1893-1899
Reel 1   Item 4   Page 1	Baptisms [ Dobte], 1899-1924
Reel 1   Item 4   Page 65	Confirmations [ Konfirmerede], 1899-1920
Reel 1   Item 4   Page 97	Marriages [ Agteviede], 1899-1920
Reel 1   Item 4   Page 113	Burials [ Jordgastede], 1899-1920
Reel 1   Item 4   Page 129	Communion Records [ Nadvargiester], 1899-1920
Reel 1   Item 4   Page 153	Members of Congregation [ Foriegnelse over Menighedslemmer]
Reel 1   Item 4   Page 183	Members who left congregation [ Afgaaede]
Reel 1   Item 4	Holy Events [ Oversigt over de Kirklige Handlinger], 1899-1920