CHURCH HISTORY 1876-1917
NORWEGIAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Northwood. Iowa, was organized on the 10th of October 1876. The original signers of the constitution were E. K. Savre. ,J. B. Thompson. Ole Haraldson. H. J. Hanson. Hans Robertson and Fred Johnson. For a number of years before this organization Norwegian services had been conducted by the late Rev. T. A. Torgerson.
Rev. J. Nordby was called as the first pastor of the congregation and entered upon his duties in Sept. 1876.
In January 1881 Rev. J. Nordby was succeeded by Rev. H. B. Hustvedt who served until 1884, when Rev. H. J. Strand was called as his successor.
Rev. H. J. Strand served the congregation until in the fall of 1889. when Rev. T. Lee became pastor of the congregation and has served continuously up to the present time. During 1897-88 Rev. G. T. Lee was assistant pastor.
In 1889 the congregation bought two lots in block 61 in Northwood and in the year 1895 erected their beautiful church edifice, now valued at $6,000.
The congregation owns a beautiful cemetery located adjacent to the Northwood cemetery and has an interest in the synod parsonage property.
There has been a steady growth in membership since the date of organization, until the actual membership now numbers 178. besides a number of families who make this congregation their church home without having joined the congregation.
The Ladies' Society has existed since the congregation was first organized and has been a powerful factor in building up and maintaining this congregation and in addition to this has liberally contributed to the cause of missions.
A Young People's Society has been organized for a number of years and has contributed their income to the erection of the church. The present membership is 50.
Two years ago a Men's Society composed of nearly all the active members of the congregation, was organized. The purpose of this society is to discuss important topics that are of interest to the congregation and contribute the income of the society to the general support of t he church.
Divine services are conducted in the Norwegian and English languages. Services are not as frequent and regular as they ought to be owing to the fact that four other churches are served by tin- same pastor.
The congregation confesses the Lutheran faith in practice and doctrine, as that faith is set forth in the Book of Concord, the Confession of the Lutheran church. The congregation belongs to the Synod For the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of America.
Source: The Semi-centennial Souvenir of Northwood, Iowa, 1907, page 69.
Rev. O. T. Lee served the parish until 1917, when the church was combined with the United Lutheran Church of Northwood on Sept. 11, 1917. The combined church is known as the Northwood Lutheran Church. The Rev. Hans Fosnes is the pastor.
Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, Vol. I, 1918, page 386.
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, 10/28/2013.
