The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-04-23
The Congregational Church.
An Interesting Sketch of the
Old Congregational
Church About
to be Re-
moved.

moved.
For the following timely article
on the Congregational church the
HERALD is indebted to Paul Hills
dale. 1t is full of interest, and a
really valuable historical sketch of
an old landmark of the city about
to disappear. Ground will be
broken for the new church within
a week, and the old structure will
be moved very soon to the fair
grounds to make room for the Ii
brary building.
Now that the Congregational churc h
edifice is to go out of existence as a
place of worship it may be interesting
to look back at it's history.
In 1868, before the Indian outbreak,
Rev. G. S. Harrison, a Congregation
al Clergyman, came to Sank Centre,
but did not organize a church. He
remained here however, until after
the close of the war.
In 1866 the Superintendent Of the
Congregational Mission sent Rev. S.
K. Fox, and the.Presbyterian Mission,
at the same time, sent Rev. Evans, to
this city, then small village.
Services were held in small shanty
| nj "
iers. This building was neither plast-
cred or painted but was repaired from
time to time as means and necessity
permitted. 1t was situated on the site
now occupied by the W oodbury school
building and was used both as school
house and church, all denomination
| holding services there. Mrs. c.. G.
| Tobey taught as assistant to Mr..
Tuhbs there some years agosaad, this
was the school house till the old part
of the present building was ready.
During the year 1867 two churches
were built on Main-st. nearly oppo-
tite each other. The Presb yterian
church still stands on it's original site,
but is occupied by the Congregations
alists.
Rev A. J. Pike came here in the
! fall of 1868, and found a mem ersh 10
of twenty four and a congregation of
some sixty. At this time the pictur-
esque Indian in his blanket and feath-
| ar "a q to 10 ~
of all kinds WAS plentiful, deer some
time even running through the streets.
Those extinct vehicles, Red River
carts, made wholly of wood and green
hide and drawn by a single oxen,
came in long trains to the village.
This mode of teaming was the only
means OF obtaining or disposing of
goods. The teams would come from
A bercombie, rading with Indians and
trappers, taking furs in exchange,
then return to dispose of these goods
and buy other supplies to bring back
| to the frontier. The danger frem at
| tacks by the hostile Indians made il
necessary to 60 in large numbers. At
! this time the nearest rail road was
at St. Cloud.
In 1872 the village having been
found to small too support two
churches, the Congregational
lists bought the present building
from the Prosbyterians for the
sum of one thousand dollars. A brick
foundation was put in and the church
replastered. The money was raised
by scription at home and abroad, in
sums ranging from a few cents to fifty
dollars, the latter being very rare.
The repairs at this time amounted to
nine hundred dollars and also included
new pews.
A bell was also purch ased and the
church was dedicate on December l8.
1872. The sermon was by H. A. Stin.
son, D. D. of Minneapolis, now pastor
of the Manhattan church in New York
City.
Shortly after this it was discovered
that judgment lien had been filed
upon the lots before they were pur-
chased by the Congreg atiinalists.
After a seven-year controversy, a
clear title was secured by paying six
teen hundred dollars, leaving a debt
of one thousand dollars On the proper
ty.
When Rev. Pike came here he found
a small Sunday school in charge of
Mr.. Dean Stabler, of which he took
charge in 1866. During that wear
there was membership OF forty to fifty
and this increased to one hundred and
twenty-five by the year 1877. Rev.