BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE FOUNTAIN EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN CHURCH - 1878 to 1948
1878 - Following a disagreement over theological questions
in the West Lemonweir Church, 15 families left to establish a new
congregation known as the Fountain Evangelical Lutheran in Hustler.
The group met in homes and schools. Pastor J. E. Nord was the
first regular pastor.
1881 - The first sanctuary was built.
1899 - The members contracted to build a new church for $1,000
plus the old building. Records show that one of the rules was that
know one was allowed to spit on the new floor, or into the heat register,
or outside the church doors.
1939 - Half the services were in English. The pipe organ
was installed.
1942 - All Norwegian services were discontinued.
1948 - Talg Hotel in Hustler was purchased as a home for the
elderly, also a parsonage was purchased in Hustler.
PASTORS WHO SERVED
J. E. Nord: 1880 - 1883
O. H. Stenson: 1884 - 1888
N. A. Giere: 1890 - 1898
Lars Lund: 1899 - 1912
John Madsen: 1912 - 1921
O. M. Kleven: 1921 - 1929
A. M. Rusten: 1929 - 1948
Oscar Thompson: 1948 - 1957
Ronald Nowlan: 1958 - 1962
Gordon Hendrickson: 1962 - 1986
Daniel Henderson: 1987 -
sources: Fountain & Trinity Lutheran Churches booklet; Juneau County The First 100 Years, published 1988 Juneau Co. Historical Society and New Past Press Inc.
Fountain Lutheran Church
By Lawrence Onsager
Whatever the specific cause, in 1878, some of the members of the West Lemonweir congregation decided to break away from their church. That their discontent was theological is suggested by a statement in the church history:
The great objective of these families was to keep the word of God in its truth and purity.
The implication is that, in their minds, the congregation that they left had not done so.
On July 4, 1878, fifteen families met on the farm of Helge Bratland (later owned by Roderick Benson). Osmund K. Ormson was chairman of this meeting and apparently a leader in the departure from the West Lemonweir Church. He was elected church treasurer, a post he held for forty years. He also had the honor of naming the church.
The Fountain Lutheran Church was founded by O. K. Ormson, his brothers-in-law, Daniel Larson and John Benson, Andres Osmundson, Erik Standeness (Halverson), Paul Paulson, Helge Bratland, Sveinung Helgeson, Ole Tveiten, Ole Nilsen Kleven, Peter Erickson, Ole Boen, Bjedne Evenson, Ole Johnson, Lars Aarhus, and Kjostol Iverson.
At first they met in the homes of members and in school houses. They received the help of the Reverend M. Falk Gjertsen, but it wasn't until 1880 that Fountain Church installed its first regular pastor, the Rev. Johannes E. Nord (see), who also served the Freeman and Franklin Churches in Vernon County and had to travel 50 miles to conduct services.
The first child born in the congregation and baptized in the new Fountain Church was Ellen Benson, dau of John Benson and Angjer Ormson. She was born on February 23, 1881. The little girl was also the first member to die, at the age of 2 years, 9 months in November 1883. The first confirmation class included John O. Tveiten, Ole Helgeson, Bjaerne Bjaernesen, Kari Moklev, Oline Helgesdatter, and Elizabeth Martinson. The first couple to be married at Fountain were Lars Aarhus and Anne Jacobsen.
The first church was built in 1881 by the members. It was 24 by 34 feet and was 14 feet high. Before it was half completed, services were held in it. The church was enlarged in 1887, and was dedicated by the district president, Rev. G. Hoyme, in 1888. By the late 1890's, it became apparent that the church was too small. In 1900, a drive began to finance a new church building. The building contract was let to John O. Johnson, who, reportedly, did the work for a "very reasonable fee." The new church was 32 by 56 feet, and 18 feet high, with an 84 foot spire. A team of horses owned by Olaus "Louie" Nelson raised the 1,240 pound bell to the belfry. The first service was held on Christmas day, 1900. The new church was dedicated by Rev. G. Hoyme in November 1901. There were renovations to the building in 1928 and 1952-3. The original Fountain Church was moved to the farm of Bjedne Evenson, where it was used for years as a granary.
In the three years the Rev. Nord served, the congregation doubled in size. He was succeeded by Rev. Ole H. Stenson (see) in 1884, who served until 1888, by which time the church rolls again had doubled. There was no regular pastor from 1888 to 1890. Succeeding pastors were Rev. Nils A. Giere (see), 1890-1898; Rev. Lars Lund, 1899-1912; Rev. John Madsen, 1912-1921; Rev. O. M. Kleven, 1921-1929; Rev. A. M. Rusten, 1930-1948; Rev. Oscar Thompson, 1948-1957; Rev. Ronald Nowland, 1959-1962; and Rev. Gordon J. Hendrickson, 1962--.
Norlie disagrees in the date of organization, 1879, and lists the pastors and their dates of service differently. He has O. H. Stenson, 1884-89; O. Barikimo, 1889-91; N. A. Giere, 1891-97; L. Lund, 1897-11; and J. Madsen, 1912--.
In 1911, Fountain and the Plymouth Church constructed a parsonage near the Plymouth Church. In 1921 this parsonage was sold and a new one built at Elroy (Plymouth Township). The Greenwood Church in Greenwood Township, Vernon County was added to the parish in 1929. Bethany Lutheran Church in Mauston was established in 1944, and became part of the parish. Fountain purchased the hotel in Hustler (Fountain Township) in 1946, and converted it into the Fountain Lutheran Mission Home for the Aged, with a capacity of 18 residents. In 1948, the parish links with Plymouth, Greenwood, and Bethany were severed. The parsonage in Elroy was sold and a home was purchased in Hustler for a parsonage. The new parsonage was dedicated in 1950. At the end of 1952, the congregation entered a new parish alignment with Trinity Lutheran Church in Hustler.
return to home page