Valley Grove Churches #3
by Patti Deters
Title
Valley Grove Churches #3
Artist
Patti Deters
Medium
Photograph - Photography, Digital Art
Description
"Valley Grove Churches #3" by Patti Deters. Even on a cloudy day, this historic white church with the steeple and bell tower at Valley Grove, Nerstrand, MN is beautiful, especially with the added colorful texture. "Valley Grove - Two Churches #3" by Patti Deters. Here's a history of these two churches taken from valleygroemn.org - "A newly ordained young pastor from Norway, Bernt Julius Muus, arrived in the United States in 1859 and conducted his first worship service in the congregation on November 18, 1859. (Pastor Muus later became one of the founders of St. Olaf College.) The following year, the community decided to build a church of locally quarried limestone. The one-room structure, with a gallery and steeple, was finished in 1862 and dedicated on October 18, 1868. You see it before you on the left.
In 1870, the congregation changed its name from Tyske Grove to Valley Grove, and in 1874 the members purchased and installed the first church bell.
The congregation outgrew its original building, and in 1894 the white wood- frame church facing the original church was completed. The older stone church became the guildhall, and the pulpit and bell were moved to the new clapboard church, where they are today. The organ was delivered by sleigh and is still in use there as well.
With the decline in small farming and the growth of other congregations, Valley Grove attracted fewer members. The church was decommissioned in April 1973. The Society for the Preservation of Valley Grove Churches formed under the leadership of neighbor and St. Olaf art professor John Maakestad in June 1974. The group later changed its name to the Valley Grove Preservation Society."
Please enjoy more of my images at patti-deters.pixels.com.
Uploaded
October 30th, 2016
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Viewed 257 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/14/2024 at 6:56 PM
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Comments (2)
Holly April Harris
Gorgeous! I am very pleased to feature your lovely artwork in the group ‘Covered Bridges and Historical Buildings.’ Please add it to the “2023 First Quarter Featured Image Collection” thread in the discussions area to record and display your image amongst the best in the group. Thank you! 1/25/23