As we begin a new chapter in the life of our faith community, FLC reflects on our history and heritage. This video captures some of that spirit. The following summary history of First Lutheran was compiled by Elaine Killelea on the occasion of our 125th anniversary in August of 1999.
“In the beginning” and before First Lutheran Church was formed, a small group of Scandinavian immigrants living in the Portland area truly had a vision. In 1872, records show that of the approximately 700 people of Scandinavian birth then living in the Portland area, 57 met to form a Scandinavian Society. In a handwritten account 27 years later in 1899, the Rev. Knut Storli said, even in the beginning the club was formed for “purposes social, business, and in aiding later in the forming of a brethren congregation.”
The group was made up mainly of people of Danish, Swedish and Norwegian birth with a common faith in God and a strong belief in the tenets of the Lutheran Church. So it was that Mads N. Bruns wrote to the Bishop of Ribe in Denmark asking that a pastor be sent to lead a new church. Getting no response, Theodor H. Johnsen then wrote to the Rev. O. Juul in New York, a pastor of the Norwegian Evangelical Synod of America asking him to “aid in the organizing of a church.”
Pastor Juul came to Portland, and on August 24, 1874 at a meeting in Scandinavian Hall located at the comer of Middle and Plum streets, First Lutheran Church of Portland had its birth with 53 people joining that day. Who were these 53 people? The records that are still in existence don’t tell us except that the following officers were elected: “Trustees: Theodor Johnsen, John Lidback, Mads N. Bruns, John N. Westi and Magnus A. R. Lindberg. W. L. Keiler was treasurer and M. A. Tandberg was secretary. Elected as ushers were Henrik Pedersen, John Enger and Tandberg.” Four more names show up in early records, M. C. Mortensen, J. Collerstrom, Nicolay Andersen and N. Bane.
Pastor Juul read the proposed constitution to the assemblage and the minutes tell us “every item was studied throughout, and it was a vote.” It was suggested by the pastor and given a full vote, “that salary should be in the amount of $600 per year, plus offerings received on the three great holidays, and what else might be bestowed on him in his ministerial performances.” A sum of $50 was collected after a further suggestion from Pastor Juul to be given to thefirst full-time pastor, the Rev. N. J. Ellestad, to cover his moving expenses from Minnesota to Portland.
Until sufficient funds were subscribed, services were held in a hired, hall. Finally the congregation was ready to meet its new pastor and the Rev. Ellestad began his work on the 27th of September in 1874. Only a month later, the members agreed to publish in one of the city’s papers a notice “that a subscription is started by the Scandinavians for the construction of an Evangelical Lutheran Church in Portland, Maine.”
It was later noted in the church history that Pastor Ellestad would marry Bertha, the oldest daughter of Theodor Johnsen.
Bad days were ahead. Only ten days before Christmas in 1925, a terrible fire ravaged a four-story brick structure, known as the Thompson Block, next door to the church. A newspaper headline screamed, “Fire levels brick structure and badly damages Lutheran Church.”
Imagine the grateful hearts when the congregation discovered the fire had not harmed the painting of “The Last Supper” still hanging over the altar. The newspaper account states that the general alarm blaze swept through the roof and supporting timbers to the near destruction of the church. It damaged the organ at the -rear of the “main auditorium’ and despite charred timbers, water-soaked walls and smoke-scarred pews, the painting was safe.
Two days before Christmas a special congregational meeting was held in Pythian Temple for making plans to restore the church building. Fire could destroy a building but it could not destroy the spirit of First Lutheran Church.
The annual meeting of January, 1926 saw the members facing important decisions. Three plans were presented and they chose the most costly which would restore the church, make improvements to the kitchen, boiler room, and construct a new ladies room leaving the other toilet for a men’s room. The cost was $6,100 but the building committee asked authority to spend $6,500 to cover any contingencies. Dedication Sunday was set for October 17, 1926.
The next annual meeting saw a jubilant congregation as they voted to thank the building committee for “putting the church back in better than new condition.”
Pastor Bersagel resigned on November 26, 1928 and Rev. Preuss, head of the Eastern District, later recommended the church call the Rev. Emil A. Grefthen. Rev. Preuss suggested an annual salary of $2,000 plus the offerings on the three Festival Sundays. Pastor Grefthen accepted the call on condition that the congregation provide a parsonage.
On April 3, 1929 the decision was made to buy a single house at 210 Prospect street with three rooms and a den downstairs, four bedrooms and a bath on the second floor. The purchase price was $6,800.
Then came the Great Depression and very difficult times for the church and its members. At a meeting on September 14, 1933 the members were warned, “Due to a steady decline in contributions, we are unable to meet the current expenses and we are in danger of losing our church and property through debt.”
For the first-time in the history of First Lutheran we read of dissatisfaction with, the pastor. Letters were written to synod, but the problems were not resolved. However, the church was getting ready to mark another milestone – its sixtieth anniversary on September 23, 1934.
In the anniversary booklet one finds a change in format from years past – advertisements were included in the back, probably to help defray the printing costs.
The financial times were still difficult and in January, 1936 the church had a new proposal to consider Immanuel Lutheran had proposed to unite with First Lutheran as one congregation. Negotiations continued, but finally First Lutheran decided to remain as it was with help from the synod’s Board of Missions.
Theida Guild was organized March 9, 1937 with the express purpose of working for the church in a social group. Dues were set at ten cents a month and plans were made for money-making projects.
Pastor Grefthen was to resign in 1937 and the Rev. Kenneth R. Torvik was called in 1938.
When Pastor Torvik arrived he breathed new life into the church. The depression was over and people were going back to work. The church began to thrive again. In 1939 First Lutheran observed its 65th anniversary with thankful hearts. And on the last Sunday of the year, the congregation was happy to burn the old church mortgage.
In 1940 a Moller two-manual pipe organ was given to the church by John William Coleman. It was installed in the balcony and the console was placed at the right of the chancel. New choir pews were added and the altar rail enlarged with a center opening. This is the same organ we hear at every worship service.
Then came the war years and copies of the First Lutheran Messenger from that period show a long list of members who had gone to serve. Here at church, Red Cross groups were formed to sew for the refugees in Europe.
Pastor Torvik was released part-time to serve as pastor for young men and women of the Lutheran faith in the service at Portland Harbor defenses, Kittery Navy Yard and the Bangor Airport. The use of the church vestry was offered as a service center to aid in Pastor Torvik’s work with the military.
These were busy times and the war had an impact on the congregation as sugar rationing curtailed church suppers and gas rationing meant cutting unnecessary driving even for the pastor.
All this time the congregation was working toward paying off the parsonage mortgage and in 1944 when the 70th anniversary arrived, part of the celebration was the burning of that mortgage.
In the fall of 1945, Pastor Torvik accepted a call to a church in Holmen, Wisconsin. He had served First Lutheran for nearly eight years and had seen the church go from troubled times to a debt-free, spiritually alive congregation.
The Rev. Erling Nilssen arrived and was installed in February 1946. The church was looking ahead to the 75th anniversary in 1949 and the congregation was asked to donate $5,000 to remodel the church. A new heating, system was installed in both the church and parsonage. The anniversary bulletin says, “The church auditorium and vestry were redecorated. New floors were laid and a new hot water system installed in the kitchen.” This was when the Lutheran Daughters of the Reformation was formed.
Pastor Nilssen was followed by the Rev. Edgar C. Sovik who served as interim pastor during 1950-1951. Pastor Sovik was a returned missionary to China.
In 1951 the church had a, new pastor, the Rev. Herman Jorgensen. In a newspaper account of the installation it was noted that Pastor Nilssen had returned from Long Island, N.Y. to install the new pastor. Pastor Nilssen was the vice president of the Atlantic Circuit of the Lutheran Church.
The congregation was studying a new direction in 1956. The city was changing and the church was no longer located at such an advantageous site as the property had been when the church was young. Space was limited and many meetings were held to decide whether to expand, remodel or even to build a new church in another part of the city. Sixty-nine percent of the congregation voted to relocate. Photos taken at that time bear out the need for larger quarters. And so, a fund drive was started with a goal of $70,000. The drive netted pledges of $71,600 to be collected over three years. Two years later the church announced it had purchased a one and one-half acre tract of land at 132 Auburn Street.
The Rev. Walter Baertschi arrived in 1958 and was to participate in the groundbreaking service on June 1, 1959. Spencer, Millward & Associates was chosen as architects and Paul B. McLellan Co. was chosen to build the new church of “contemporary design,” according to the dedication program. A cornerstone laying ceremony took place on October 11, 1959 and the church was dedicated May 8, 1960. The altar, pulpit and clergy chair still in use 38 years later were all given as memorial gifts. It was a glorious occasion with all area Lutheran clergy participating in the dedication. The Rev. Arnold Nelson of Philadelphia gave the address and led evening services throughout the week. In 1965 the church purchased a new parsonage at 46 Melody Lane in the North Deering area for approximately $30,000.
The Rev. Roy A. Bredholt succeeded Pastor Baertschi and was installed in July, 1963 as the church was looking forward to its 90th anniversary to take place the next year.
This also was the year that a committee was formed to explore the best course of action for the needs of the Sunday School. The church also voted unanimously to support a missionary-nurse in Cameroun, Corinne Johnson. Another significant event of the 90th anniversary was the burning of the mortgage for the sanctuary and assembly hall.
As always throughout the history of First Lutheran Church the congregation was grateful for what had been accomplished with the help of God and were looking forward to where He would lead them next.
The need seemed greatest at that time for more Sunday School space and in 1965 the council voted to spend up to $45,000 for a church education wing which was dedicated in March of 1966. It made room for 13 classrooms, the pastor’s office and secretary’s office.
In 1966 two plots of land became available for $3,500 which would connect the church lot with Washington Ave. Before the council could approve the purchase an anonymous donation was received for the entire amount.
Pastor Bredholt ended his ministry at First Lutheran the Sunday after Easter 1969. The Rev. Linn Opderbecke arrived in 1969 and another big change was ahead.
With the additional space in the education wing, the congregation decided to make a major commitment to community outreach. A preschool was established in 1970 after a thorough feasibility study showed a need. Gloria DePalma was named director.
First Lutheran had its first intern in 1974 and Pastor Opderbecke was to write in his annual report that the intern and the program had far exceeded all his expectations. Randy Rehbein was to serve from September 1974 through August 1975, followed by John Ward from January to July 1976 then Bill Schruba from September 1976 through August 1977.
1974 was the centennial year for First Lutheran and the congregation was planning a banner celebration. The church had come a long way in 100 years, never losing sight of the mission to serve the Lord and always, with thankful hearts, remembering how richly the church had been blessed.
Pastor Opderbecke noted that the average attendance during the centennial year had been 150 people and that the income for the year was $47,874. The annual report shows that the church was still faithfully supporting Corinne Johnson in her mission work.
The celebration theme focused on “100 years of Blessings.” Centennial plates and cookbooks were sold and a banner made to mark the occasion. A congregational photo was taken following the centennial worship service on September 21. Three hundred members and friends gathered to hear Dr. David Preus, synod president, deliver the keynote address at a banquet held the evening before.
In June 1975 First Lutheran sponsored seven Vietnamese refugees in the Portland area. Initially the program required total support financially and emotionally, but by year’s end, the refugees were already self-supporting.
Another intern, Martha Wolf arrived in September 1975. Next came Gilbert Mear from France.
In 1980, while still involved with Vietnamese refugees but no longer providing support for them, the church responded to a new request from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and agreed to sponsor a Cambodian family to arrive in 1981.
In 1982 the congregation had to bid farewell to Pastor Opderbecke and his famfly. He had served the church for 12 very productive years. Church officers pinch-hit during the vacancy and were thankful when the Rev. Gregory Pagh accepted the call and arrived in 1983.
In 1982 the, church had begun talking about a latchkey children’s program, and in 1984 plans were made to build a preschool playground with expenses not to exceed $5,000.
The next year the congregation was faced with another big decision: To buy or pass on property abutting church land on Washington Ave. A special meeting was called to inform the congregation of the possible uses for the house and land. They made the purchase and later voted to sell the house, but they had gained land.
After prayerful consideration, a proposal was made to raise funds for a before and after school care program (latchkey) and a summer day camp. In 1988 the program got underway with 60 before and after school students enrolled. Miriam Englund was hired as director of the school program The preschool program continued as well with 130 children; Patricia McCarron, preschool director.
Pastor Pagh resigned in 1991 and the Rev. David Alvord answered the call arriving with his wife and daughters the Sunday after Easter in 1992. Pastor David came in like a breath of fresh air and his enthusiasm for his ministry has been contagious. In 1995 the church bought a new red van with First Lutheran Church emblazoned on the sides. It is used for the school program, confirmands’ trips to Camp Calumet and for many other church-related activities.
The church began holding two worship services each Sunday morning in 1995. In that year, the church began looking toward its 125th anniversary in 1999. The council could see the need for many repairs and improvements. Chief among them was a cry for more parking space, but the parsonage needed work too, and thus was born the 1999 Fund. The goal was to have everything in good order before the August 1999 anniversary.
How much have we grown in 125 years? Pastor David’s annual report of June 1997 showed that the congregation had grown to 508 members with average attendance of 204 at worship every Sunday. This is what 53 courageous and faithful forebears began in 1874. Thanks be to God.
A history is always incomplete as many activities are left unlisted, for example, participation in Portland Area Lutheran Services (PALS) and the Wayside Evening Soup Kitchen. People make a church and over the years many unsung heroes have been involved in the day-to-day work that has kept everything running, from music to finances.
All the early church records were written in Norwegian, so it is right to mention that Lars Lund and Aase Kjos-Hansen have worked over the years as translators, and Lois Mitchell, historian, has faithfully kept records and scrapbooks that tell us of our past.
Let us follow our 125th anniversary theme by “Going forward with Joy and Thanksgiving”.
