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Nickie: This is a really nice shot of this church with the clouds hovering over the Crazy Mountains.
[ I am Lisa Lindberg: lisa@lisalindberg.com www.lisalindberg.com Blue Ridge Mountains, near Harpers Ferry, and also of Asheville, North Carolina ]
This church is the Sweet Grass Lutheran Church, Melville, Montana, which my records say was built in 1914. My great-grandfather Jorgen Madson was an early the minister of this congregation: from 1895-1903. (See below for more historical info).
The Winter 2001 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings featured this church as the setting for a local ranch couple’s wedding in January of the previous year. They held it then because they were working folk, and were BUSY during the traditional Summer wedding season. Included in the magazine spread was a shot of the wedding party walking down a Montana dirt road. Against that rustic setting, they all (of course) look gorgeous in their finery of gowns and tuxes. (The newlyweds went to Hawaii for their honeymoon.)
Link: www.chicohotsprings.com/publications/marthastewart2001.html
Historical info:
Beginning in 1895, my great-grandfather Rev. Jorgen Elisius Madson (born 1856 Risor, Norway - died 1928 Absarokee, Montana) was a pioneer Montana circuit-riding Norwegian Lutheran minister.
His “circuit” was the 450 miles (east & west) between Forsyth and Missoula; and the 200 miles (north & south) between Lewistown & Red Lodge. He travelled by train and horse-and-buggy in his role as catalyst in helping people establish congregations - - all originally in the Norwegian language.
About half-way between Yellowstone Park & Billings is the town of Absarokee. A few miles south of the town on the east side of Rt. 78 is a pull-off parking area with a granite monument and Montana Historical Highway Marker #103 honoring Rev. Jorgen Madson’s pioneering work. On the other (west) side of Rt. 78 is the driveway leading to the Madson family home on the Rosebud River.
The 1938 memorial dedication had an accompanying program which listed the dignitaries officiating at the ceremony. Among these were Former Governor John E. Erickson, representing (the then-sitting) Governor Roy E. Ayers, and many ministers, including Rev. L. W. Boe, D.D., L.L.D., President of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota.
The program has historical information about Melville. It says Melville’s Norwegian settlement was founded in 1881, and a schoolhouse was built in 1882. In 1885 the Sweet Grass Lutheran Congregation was organized -- the first Norwegian Lutheran congregation in the state of Montana. Services were held in the schoolhouse until the 1914 building of the church in Nickie Edwards’ photograph.
From 1895-1903, Jorgen Madson was the pastor of this congregation. In those years the church in this photo had not yet been built, so he must have been one of the pastors who held services in the schoolhouse.
Web addresses for the Jorgen E. Madson Memorial, 1938: http://sweetgrass.mtgenweb.org/MADSON%20MEMORIAL%201938.pdf
Google’s html version: http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:nkXI3THlzAEJ:sweetgrass.mtgenweb.org/MADSON%2520MEMORIAL%25201938.pdf+%22jorgen+madson%22+%22melville+montana+%22&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Thank you for the memo and history. I've always made up my own stories in my mind around abandoned homesteads and buildings. What a treat to hear of your familie’s history.
My mom's family was from the Straw area (60 miles from Melville) Not that far in Montana terms. I now like to think that my grandparents, Ada and John Warren, and yours knew each other.
For the first time since October, today I checked this photo page, and find that you just posted a comment 4 days ago !
Here is the link to a page I am currently working on for my great-grandparents who I talked about in my October comment: [Helga Nayes & Jorgen Madson] (http://www.lindberg-work.com/lindberg/madson/nayes-madson.html)
I am still working on uploading text and photos, so everything might not yet register.
I have put your photo onto this page, crediting you, and including a link to this panoramio page. I hope using your photo in this way is ok by you. If not, I will of course take it off.
Just a note to Lisa and Nickie,
I live not too far from this church, and am a member. It is a great photo, but it is reversed. The small storage building is on the left of the church building, as you look at it from this angle.
This year is the 125th anniversary for the Melville Lutheran Church, we are looking forward to celebrating in September.
Thank you for sharing your family history, Lisa. The dedication of the original pastors and leaders is part of why we are still an active church today.
Comments (6)
Very nice!
2009-10-22
Nickie: This is a really nice shot of this church with the clouds hovering over the Crazy Mountains.
[ I am Lisa Lindberg: lisa@lisalindberg.com www.lisalindberg.com Blue Ridge Mountains, near Harpers Ferry, and also of Asheville, North Carolina ]
This church is the Sweet Grass Lutheran Church, Melville, Montana, which my records say was built in 1914. My great-grandfather Jorgen Madson was an early the minister of this congregation: from 1895-1903. (See below for more historical info).
The Winter 2001 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings featured this church as the setting for a local ranch couple’s wedding in January of the previous year. They held it then because they were working folk, and were BUSY during the traditional Summer wedding season. Included in the magazine spread was a shot of the wedding party walking down a Montana dirt road. Against that rustic setting, they all (of course) look gorgeous in their finery of gowns and tuxes. (The newlyweds went to Hawaii for their honeymoon.) Link: www.chicohotsprings.com/publications/marthastewart2001.html
Historical info:
Beginning in 1895, my great-grandfather Rev. Jorgen Elisius Madson (born 1856 Risor, Norway - died 1928 Absarokee, Montana) was a pioneer Montana circuit-riding Norwegian Lutheran minister.
His “circuit” was the 450 miles (east & west) between Forsyth and Missoula; and the 200 miles (north & south) between Lewistown & Red Lodge. He travelled by train and horse-and-buggy in his role as catalyst in helping people establish congregations - - all originally in the Norwegian language.
About half-way between Yellowstone Park & Billings is the town of Absarokee. A few miles south of the town on the east side of Rt. 78 is a pull-off parking area with a granite monument and Montana Historical Highway Marker #103 honoring Rev. Jorgen Madson’s pioneering work. On the other (west) side of Rt. 78 is the driveway leading to the Madson family home on the Rosebud River.
The 1938 memorial dedication had an accompanying program which listed the dignitaries officiating at the ceremony. Among these were Former Governor John E. Erickson, representing (the then-sitting) Governor Roy E. Ayers, and many ministers, including Rev. L. W. Boe, D.D., L.L.D., President of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota.
The program has historical information about Melville. It says Melville’s Norwegian settlement was founded in 1881, and a schoolhouse was built in 1882. In 1885 the Sweet Grass Lutheran Congregation was organized -- the first Norwegian Lutheran congregation in the state of Montana. Services were held in the schoolhouse until the 1914 building of the church in Nickie Edwards’ photograph.
From 1895-1903, Jorgen Madson was the pastor of this congregation. In those years the church in this photo had not yet been built, so he must have been one of the pastors who held services in the schoolhouse.
Web addresses for the Jorgen E. Madson Memorial, 1938: http://sweetgrass.mtgenweb.org/MADSON%20MEMORIAL%201938.pdf
Google’s html version: http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:nkXI3THlzAEJ:sweetgrass.mtgenweb.org/MADSON%2520MEMORIAL%25201938.pdf+%22jorgen+madson%22+%22melville+montana+%22&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Thank you for the memo and history. I've always made up my own stories in my mind around abandoned homesteads and buildings. What a treat to hear of your familie’s history. My mom's family was from the Straw area (60 miles from Melville) Not that far in Montana terms. I now like to think that my grandparents, Ada and John Warren, and yours knew each other.
Hi Nickie,
For the first time since October, today I checked this photo page, and find that you just posted a comment 4 days ago !
Here is the link to a page I am currently working on for my great-grandparents who I talked about in my October comment: [Helga Nayes & Jorgen Madson] (http://www.lindberg-work.com/lindberg/madson/nayes-madson.html)
I am still working on uploading text and photos, so everything might not yet register.
I have put your photo onto this page, crediting you, and including a link to this panoramio page. I hope using your photo in this way is ok by you. If not, I will of course take it off.
Thanks again for a great photo.
Lisa
Just a note to Lisa and Nickie, I live not too far from this church, and am a member. It is a great photo, but it is reversed. The small storage building is on the left of the church building, as you look at it from this angle. This year is the 125th anniversary for the Melville Lutheran Church, we are looking forward to celebrating in September. Thank you for sharing your family history, Lisa. The dedication of the original pastors and leaders is part of why we are still an active church today.
Wow greenranch. I must have had this photo in my archive from a slide. I did not know it had been reversed. Good eye. Nickie