Churching the Scandinavians

In 1963, the 55-foot angles of the new sky-climbing structure at 123 Wayside Lane were completed just in time for Easter services.

But the roots of the church were planted in an era when the only real architecture in town was the Koochiching County Courthouse. Then called the “Swedish Lutheran Church,” it was as much a representation of local ethnicity as it was religion.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of First Lutheran’s beginning.

Before the turn of the century, sermons were delivered along the banks of the Rainy River by missionaries in the open air. Some of them walked incredible distances to get here, and preached in their native tongues — Swedish, Norwegian and German.

As a new century unfolded, settlers were beckoned to this frontier area by the glittering waters of Rainy Lake as well as the rivers. The promise of gold at Rainy Lake City, homestead land, logging, and newly advertised jobs called out to adventurous spirits looking for a home. An astounding new power dam was being built over the rushing waters along the border where a paper mill was planned.

In 1908, Henry O. Hemming, missionary pastor of the Roseau Swedish Lutheran Church, was sent into this area by the Augustana Lutheran Church Synod to attend to the “large number of unchurched Scandinavians,” according to a historical report. Traveling by horse, foot, snowshoes, train and boat between Roseau and International Falls, Hemming developed 16 preaching stations in farmhouses and log schools between Warroad and the Falls.

John Magnuson, 96 years old and the oldest living member of First Lutheran, was born in the tiny town of Ross near Roseau. He grew up listening to sermons in his native Norwegian tongue.

The Rev. Hemming’s guidance resulted in the 1909 formation of Loman’s Bethany Lutheran (a sister congregation of First Lutheran) by Scandinavians who settled around the junction of the Black and Rainy rivers. The church first met in the Erick Gustav Johnson cabin which still stands. Erick’s son — 92-year-old Paul Johnson, is another senior member of First Lutheran.

Simultaneously in the Falls, Swedish settlers began to unite under Hemming’s tutelage. The first congregation of Lutherans in this area was registered as the “Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethel Church of International Falls” (later to be named “First”). They met in a school on the southwest corner of Second Street and Fifth Avenue (where the M&O staff house would later stand ). That school was later purchased by the newly developing Methodist church to be moved to the corner of Fifth Street and Eighth Avenue. There, the succeeding 1921 brick Calvary Methodist stood for many years. The old school house was then moved again, a block over to Fifth Street and Eighth Avenue (converted by M&O into a triplex apartment) where it stands today.

Commonly called the “Swedish Lutheran Church,” Bethel would later paint that name on the front of a country clapboard, Gothic-style structure which would serve the congregation until 1963. Now an apartment, it still stands today.

It began in 1910 in International Falls on three lots at 700 Sixth Street given by the Minnesota and Ontario Paper Company. There, Bethel completed a chapel costing $465, and hired Edward A. Lindgren as its first pastor. Lindgren served as far west as Baudette on both sides of the Rainy River. His biography reveals that it was normal to walk at least 100 miles a month, sometimes piggy-backed across a river by another Lutheran, to reach the other shore.

Thirty-four charter names were recorded. Morning services were delivered in the Swedish language, and evening services were in English.

In 1914, the chapel became a parsonage and a striking, 30-foot by 60-foot church facing Sixth Street was built for $4,000. The Luther League and Ladies Aid were formed. In 1919, the Fort Frances Zion Lutheran, a daughter church, was organized.

In 1925, the church women raised $4,000 to pay for the basement built below the existing church. An itemized materials list for the project still exists, according to BettyJeanne Henrickson, member and a celebration event organizer.

By 1927, two more Lutheran churches stood in Borderland. Townspeople had come to distinguish the three of them as the Swedish Lutheran, the Norwegian Lutheran (Zion) and the German Lutheran (St. Paul’s). The Swedish Lutheran was increasingly conscious of its ethnic reputation and was seeking to serve a larger base as English was now used in most of its services (the Swedish “Jul Otta” (Christmas morning) services continued into the 40s).

Wishing to diminish its ethnic identity and remind the local community that it was, in fact, the earliest Lutheran church to be founded locally, the Bethel congregation earnestly gave itself the name “First” Lutheran Church, by which it is called today.

Memories

Born in Coleraine, Shirley Kocinski’s history at First Lutheran goes back to her childhood days when her family moved to the area from Nashwauk. Her father was a hoist engineer who worked in the mines of the Iron Range, but the Great Depression moved his family to Borderland where his hoisting was needed to unpile pulp yard logs for the paper mill. The year was 1934.

Previously Presbyterian, Kocinski said it was their Seventh Street neighbors who played a major role in her bond with First Lutheran. “All through my life, I’ve continued,” she said.

Pete and Ida Reuter, pillars at First Lutheran, commented to Kocinski’s parents that Shirley and her brother Ladd should go to church — and promptly brought them to theirs.

Kocinski remembers a strong ethnic atmosphere in which Swedish dishes such as fruit soup and lefse were prepared in the Sixth Street church kitchen.

“The Finlanders went to our church, too,” she said. She added that she thought it nice to have been so warmly received even though she didn’t have any Swedish background. “And not all the pastors were Swedish either,” she noted.

“I remember the kindness and generosity,” Kocinski said. The Reuters ran a “wonderful family business” where sons Pete and Carl were butchers, and son Paul made deliveries.

These were the days when ladies wore fancy hats and white gloves, and children wore their finest things to church. The Ladies Aid served “splendid five o-clock suppers” when the paper mill changed shifts, Kocinski remembers.

First Lutheran, still known for its strong choir and musical direction, was no different in those days. As a youngster, Kocinski remembers turning the hymnal pages for organist Eleonore Hoglund. Kocinski joined the choir herself under the professional direction of good friend Gwen Ogren Talsness, mother of Jon Talsness who is a prominent member today.

The choir was then situated at the front of the church (First Lutheran’s choir now sings from the balcony) and Kocinski remembers looking out and noting the same families sitting in the same pews every Sunday. Still a choir member today, she finds herself singing the old hymns “the way Gwen directed them.”

Kocinski married her late husband Frank in the Sixth Street church and their four children went to Sunday School there.

She remembers the complaining when the A-frame was planned west of town, by those who could easily walk to the church downtown. “They said they wouldn’t come,” she said, “but they did.”

Helen Caswell has been a member of First Lutheran since the 1950s when she and her late husband Frank Caswell, an engineer, came from Minneapolis so he could work at the paper mill.

With strong female friendships within its walls, First Lutheran women provide a sturdy foundation. Many have served in various roles. As her four children were growing, Caswell taught Sunday School and Bible School, and led a Girl Scout troop which met in the basement. Most rewarding has been her participation in the traditional “Christmas in July” bazaar which started decades ago and has provided funds to meet important needs at First Lutheran.

Caswell said the recent resurfacing of the church’s gargantuan, steep roof “was really a big deal. I mean, we love the roof but this was something else!” She remembers how visible from the highway it once was, but said vintage trees now shelter its distinctive angles.

Duayne Johnson is the descendant of Erick Gustav Johnson, the Lutheran pioneer, charter member, and stone mason who crafted the steps that still lead into Loman’s Bethany Lutheran Church.

Son of 92-year-old Paul Johnson and the late Helen Johnson, Duayne and brothers Sam, Richard, Danny and Robin were raised in the church. Their dad came to the Falls in 1939 to work at the mill.

Duayne has fond childhood memories of the Sixth Street church which “was well organized and very well attended. But, as a kid, you hated to go,” he said. “Still I remember a lot of fun.”

He participated in junior choir, youth Luther League, confirmation classes, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. The Rev. John Palmquist (served 1954-57) was his favorite pastor, “a great guy who took groups of kids to services in Canada.”

A church council member about 20 years ago, Duayne notes that while discussion continues today on a merge with Zion Lutheran, Norwegian and Swedish rivalry was still such an issue then, that it kept older members from tolerating the idea.

Relative newcomers, Jean (Hardwig) and Jim Wood joined First Lutheran in 1980 when they moved back to the area. Having different religious backgrounds, the couple were searching for a church as a compromise.

“We walked in First Lutheran and it felt like home,” Jean said. “We never went anywhere else.”

All of the people who talked with The Journal agree that First Lutheran’s history harbors remarkable details, and many notable passages for its pastors and interns.

In a 1944 story about its 35th anniversary event, The Daily Journal reported that the only living charter members Mr. and Mrs. N.L. Olson (he, the president of International State Bank and the church’s first trustee and treasurer) and Mrs. Carl Hoglund would be in attendance. J.J. Hadler would speak.

The Journal reported in 1969 that the Rev. Dr. Melvin Hammarberg, previously a First Lutheran pastor but ascended to president of the Minnesota Synod of the Lutheran Church of America, would be the guest speaker at a 60th anniversary celebration. Then-serving Rev. Virgil Anderson’s family quartet sang at the event. Several previous pastors attended the huge gathering at the Union Hall.

There have been joyous life celebrations, but life’s sorrows have been shared, too. John and Margaret Magnuson have been First members since 1950. When their son Richard Magnuson, a deputy sheriff, was killed in Roseau County, they relied on First Lutheran a lot, said Margaret, who quilts at the church.

At least 42 individuals have served in pastoral or associated roles at First Lutheran. The church has confirmed 82 classes of Lutheran youths — all just beginning their spiritual journeys. Some will stay a lifetime. Some will leave.

But for people like Shirley Kocinski, nothing could replace what First Lutheran has meant to her life since those days when it first welcomed her inside.

“It was a warm and friendly church, and still is,” Kocinski said. “So you see, it’s been my home all these years — and it’s been a wonderful home.”

Research by the late Arthur Holmstrom contributed to this story.

Two days of Celebration

First Lutheran Church members will be celebrating 100 years of history on Saturday with historical displays, a silent auction, games, karaoke, barbecues and a program beginning at 2 p.m. The public is welcome at the program.

On Sunday, an anniversary breakfast is scheduled at 9 a.m. and Bishop Tom Aitken will officiate a special worship service at 10:30 a.m.