The First Church

Plans were made for a church building at the first consistory meeting held June 15, 1891. It was decided to solicit for money. On February 1892 mention was made that the school formerly used for meetings was too small. Abe Eernisse and Martin Kallemeyn were appointed as building committee. The church was approximately 36' x 24'. The first part was dedicated August 16, 1893. It was heated by a large pot-bellied soft coal stove which stood a short distance inside the entrance. The stove pipes extended the full length of the building to the north. There was no bell or clock. The church was lighted by kerosene reflector lamps on the walls. The offerings were gathered using black velvet bags attached to the end of a pole. The poles were used to reach each contributor. A pail for drinking purposes was placed in the back on a long bench. Straw mats were used for runners. Chairs were held together with boards. There were some benches in the rear that did not have any backs. The men sat on the east side and the women on the west.
The pulpit was placed on a raised platform which was in the center front of the sanctuary. The pulpit was handmade. The most elaborate piece of the pulpit furniture was a red upholstered divan which held three persons.
Shutters on the exterior were provided in the 1894 for shade, protection from the weather, and vandalism. There was a wooden plank porch with a board walk leading to a raised platform, used by the ladies to step into their horse-drawn conveyances. At first the horses were tied to buggy wheels. In 1892 the first horse barns wre built and stalls were rented.
In 1900 the church was remodeled by adding a south entrance and consistory room to the north. It was interesting to note that communion was held in this addition. The communicants gathered around a crude table and left their contribution under a napkin on the corner of the table.

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