History
The Crow Wing Apostolic Lutheran Church of French Lake (also known as the Riverside Church) was decided to be built at the annual meeting of the Cokato Apostolic Lutheran church on January 6, 1885, as an annex to the Cokato congregation. The reason for this decision was that many families had moved into the French Lake and Albion area, necessitating a meeting house nearer home than the Cokato church. Transportation being horse and buggy in those days.
A special meeting was held at French Lake September 26, 1885, how to raise the necessary funds. It was decided to send out collectors to each member of both the French Lake and Cokato areas.
Nels Nelson donated 1/2 acre of land for the church site, and at that same meeting a committee of three men ( Jacob Ojanpera, Esaias Kostani and Matti Mukkala) were designated to arrange for the laying of the foundation of the church building. The construction work was done mainly by the French Lake congregation. The church was completed in 1887.
Those performing ministerial duties were the same for the Cokato church, namely; Isak Barberg, Caleb and Jacob Wuollet and William Lahtinen, until his death in the sinking of the Titanic. Various other men have served both the French Lake and Cokato congregations since that time.
The church was actively used until the 1950’s when it was decided to discontinue using it, due to better model of transportation, which made possible for all remaining members to attend the Cokato church.
Charter Members listed include my Great Grandfather Isaac Yliniemi.
Another bit of history; My cousin Geraldine had surgery this past week and praise God she made it through the surgery and is doing well.
She wrote: It was a LEFT POSTERIOR COMMUNICATING ARTERY ANEURYSM Dr. Copelad [at Abbott Northwestern ] says it was a very high risk brain aneurysm due to the size and location and the fact that I'm almost 100% Finish in Heritage. The treatment was ENDOVASCULAR EMBOLIZATION This treats the aneurysm from the inside of the blood vessels and is minimally invasive.
This may be hereditary on the Yliniemi side.
Far Side
I had never thought much about funding and building churches back in those days. Can’t imagine that happening in these modern times.
ReplyDeleteI love that church. I don't care for the modern churches of today. So happy for your cousin! That is really strange that it is indicative of Finnish ancestry and amazing that the doctor knew that. At first I thought he was kidding her. Stay warm, it was 13 this morning and some of our snow is still here.....this is the coldest winter I ever remember here and there's another storm coming Wednesday night into Thursday.
ReplyDeleteTake care!
Interesting history! Any kind of brain surgery is scary, glad things went well for your cousin.
ReplyDeleteSo glad Geraldine came through her surgery alright, Connie. I pray for her continued recovery! ~Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteWonderful news for your cousin Geraldine.
ReplyDeleteThe church is simply beautiful, especially knowing that the tools we have now were not available to the workers.
Interesting church history. Glad you cousin is okay after such a scary surgery.
ReplyDeleteThe front of that church is wonderful. It is interesting to hear the history and the wonderful thing is that it is still standing.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who is 100% Finnish... she lives on Cape Cod... should I warn her about this? She is in her 70's.
ReplyDeleteIt couldn't hurt. From what I understand it is a genetic thing:(
DeleteI enjoyed learning more church history. The builders erected that church rather quickly given the weather extremes there.
ReplyDeleteIt seems scarier having a "minimally invasive" procedure in your brain than in your heart. Glad it was successful.
Our pioneer ancestors faced many challenges and succeeded. Building a church took lots of effort.
ReplyDeleteWhat a scary condition and surgery! So glad she is doing well! I love church history and visiting old churches and cemeteries. My area was settled by Germans and most of our older churches are brick. Somehow our family church (now owned by our extended family) is a wooden one, despite our German history and the fact that even the neighboring family farmhouses are all brick, too.
ReplyDeleteChurch history is fascinating! And so glad to hear your cousin Geraldine is doing well after that surgery!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful church and story about the building of it. It looks so pretty inside. I would love to tour it someday, or attend a service there.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that your cousin came through her surgery well. It does sound like a scary process. Prayers that she will continue to recover well.
Blessings,
Betsy
Church histories are fascinating. It's also interesting that one of the pastors died in the Titantic.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful to know your cousin got through surgery okay and is doing well. It's a bit scary if that runs in the family!
Good news for your cousin!
ReplyDeleteGone are the days of people actually building their own churches. Of course in our area we see the Amish gather and raise a barn or rebuild a home after a fire.
Our modern life and community has lost some of the old cool ways.
My mom and dad grew up in Cokato, Minnesota! Never hear about that city. Small world. :)
ReplyDeleteGood news for your cousin! :) I hope she recovers well.