First Bergen - 1874

(Information taken from Diamond Jubilee Anniversary Book covering 1874 - 1949)

1874 - Bergen Church is Built

Up to this time, the congregation had no house of worship and the need for one was becoming decidedly apparent. Little money was in circulation and what little there was had become worthless because the banks that had issued it had failed. The Civil War was breaking out and many of the men were volunteering in their country's service. The people were very poor and in many instances suffered from want of the barest necessities. But the need for a house in which to worship God took precedence over material wants. "Where there is a will, there is a way," and with faith in God, and with the belief that He would bless the undertaking of this project, they went to work and erected a church at a point one mile east from the present location of Story City, in 1861. This church was to serve the entire community. From now and on, every year brought new settlers and the territory grew and spread, especially to the east. It was soon found necessary to erect another church in the East settlement, the locality surrounding the present site of Roland. The committee members elected to find a suitable site for this church were: Samuel Haaland, Aslak Thompson, Claus Jacobson and Rev. Amlund. The site for the new church was located on the Southeast corner of Michael Hegland's farm. The Bergen church was erected in 1874. This church served Bergen congregation 55 years and its cost was six thousand dollars. It was for many years the largest church building in this part of the State.

New settlers were arriving in ever-increasing numbers from Illinois, from around the towns of Grand Mound, Calamus, and DeWitt, in Clinton County, and directly from Norway. The growth of the congregation necessitated the calling of an assistant pastor. Rev. C.B. Jacobsen was called and he accepted. This was in 1877. This arrangement continued in effect but a short time, when it was deemed best for all concerned to divide the charge into two congregations, each with its own resident pastor. This was accomplished in a friendly manner in the year 1878. The Eastern settlement was organized under the name of the Bergen Congregation of Roland, Iowa. The Western settlement retained the original name, The St. Petri Congregation of Story City, Iowa.

Quaint Customs

Customs have changed to a great extent since the earlier days of the congregation. In those days people drove to church in horse-drawn lumber wagons over roads that were mere trails, later in lighter wagons, next buggies, and then automobiles. Horse stables were erected in the nineties and occupied the Northeast corner of the church yard.

The men and women nearly all dressed in black. They were segregated in the church, the men sitting on the right hand side and the women on the left. Many of the men in those days chewed tobacco, and some of them indulged in their favorite pastime while listening to the sermon. Inevitably large splotches of tobacco juice were left on the floor where they had been spitting. Consequently, the following notices were posted on the pillars supporting the balcony in the old church: "Tobak syptning forbydes i Kirken." (It is forbidden to spit tobacco in the church.)

Funeral service of Ingeborg Sevde (grandmother of Lois Durby)

Organist is Alma Hanson; Soloist is Otto Hanson

As the congregation continued to grow and the members had more money, it was felt that the grounds should be improved and the church building repaired. In 1891 the ground was leveled and trees were planted. The plastering was taken off the walls and ceiling and replaced with yellow pine, new floors were laid, the walls and ceiling were varnished, and the benches were painted. The church now presented a clean and neat appearance. This same year a pipeless furnace was installed, the large register being placed in the center of the aisle between the benches. Many a stately lady walking down the aisle over the register found her long skirt billowing like a balloon from the ascending hot air, somewhat to her embarrassment and the quiet amusement of the worshipers. They soon got used to this new-fangled contraption.

Another important event occurred in the year 1894, when the congregation was host to the Norwegian Synod which held its annual convention in the Bergen church. The convention lasted six days, from May 23 to May 29. Most of the high dignitaries of the Synod attended this meeting and took part in the proceedings which were both instructive and interesting. Many ministers and lay delegates from other congregations were also in attendance. All these visitors were entertained in the homes of the members of the congregation, the men of the congregation transporting the visitors back and forth to the morning, afternoon, and evening sessions of the convention. All meals were served in the homes. The wives attended as best they could, as most of their time was taken up in dressing chickens, standing around hot stoves, cooking and baking, and washing dishes. Also at this time the question was brought before the congregation as to whether or not the congregation should affiliate with the Synod. A vote was taken, resulting in a closely contested victory for the negative side, and the matter was deferred to some future time.

The Language Question

In the early days of the settlement, the immigrants had little opportunity to learn English and it was but natural that they should worship in the mother tongue. However, as time passed by and the younger generations grew up and became more proficient in English than Norwegian, there became a constant and increasing demand from them that English should be used in the place of Norwegian. Therefore, in 1917 a compromise was effected so that the services were to be held in English, with the exception that Norwegian services should be held on certain Sundays, as at that time, quite a number of the elderly people did not understand English well enough to get the substance of a sermon. The young people had used English, previously for many years, in the young people's societies.

Farewell to First Bergen Church

On Sunday morning, October 27, 1929, Rev. Smedal had charge of the last services to be held in the old church. It was indeed proper and fitting that Rev. Smedal should preach the last sermon to be heard there, to give the final benediction, and to bid a last farewell to this old house of worship where he had christened, confirmed and married so many and preached funeral sermons over many of the congregation's youths and aged pioneers.