Golden Valley Norwegian Lutheran Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Golden Valley Norwegian Lutheran Church
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 Location in South Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Ralph, South Dakota |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1900 |
| Architectural style | Rural Gothic |
| MPS | Harding and Perkins Counties MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000548 |
| Added to NRHP | April 10, 1987 |
The Golden Valley Norwegian Lutheran Church is a historic church located in Ralph, South Dakota. It was built around 1900 by Norwegian settlers. This beautiful church was designed in a style called Rural Gothic style. Because of its history and unique architecture, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Contents
A Look Back at the Church's History
Settlers Arrive in South Dakota
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, big changes happened in South Dakota. A large area of land, once set aside for the Lakota Native Americans, had its boundaries changed. This opened up new areas for people to settle. Many "homesteaders" — people who moved to new land to build farms — traveled to northwest South Dakota. They often used the Milwaukee Road railroad to get there.
The Norwegian Community Builds a Church
Between 1902 and 1910, many Norwegian families came to this area to start new lives. They settled close to each other, forming communities. There were also nearby settlements of Ukrainian and German people.
The Norwegian community first built a church from sod (blocks of earth held together by grass roots). You can still see what's left of it along the highway near Reeder, North Dakota. When that first church became old and worn out, the community decided to build a new one.
Building the New Church
The new Golden Valley Norwegian Lutheran Church was built by volunteers. Men from the local Norwegian community worked together and donated money to create it. This church became super important to the community. It was not just a place for religious services, but also a social hub. People gathered there for fun events like ice cream socials, plays, and musical performances with singing and instruments.
The Church Closes Its Doors
Over time, the way people lived and farmed changed. Farms became larger and more efficient, meaning fewer people were needed to work the land. This led to fewer families living near the Golden Valley Church. Eventually, not enough people attended to keep the church going, and it closed around the late 1960s.
Preserving a Piece of History
The land where the church stands was originally donated by a family before 1921. Later, it was bought by Kit and Barbara Johnson. After Kit's passing, Barbara and her son continued to operate the farm around the church. The church building itself is mostly cared for by their family.
Today, an organization has been created to help protect and preserve this historic church. Families like the Christiansen, Johnson, and Howe families support these efforts. The church now stands peacefully on a gentle slope of Grassy Butte, offering a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Inside, the altar was even brought all the way from Norway! The church is generally well-preserved, and the cemetery behind it holds the graves of many of the original families who founded the church.
