Rev. J. A. Kranz
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Midway township was homesteaded in 1862 in a time when the area was dotted with camps and indian villiages. By 1870, there were 8 families living in Midway Township. Four of them were Finnish and 4 of them were Swedish. On the corner of Midway Road and North Cloquet road lived John Berg. His homestead was to become Midways first school and eventually would see the birth of what we today call "Midway Church". |
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On January 15, 1874 eleven families gathered together at John Bergs home with the purpose of forming a church. John Berg, Daniel Peterson, Carl Nordgren, Lars Norman, A.P. Swanstrom, John Anderson, A. Brynteson, J.A. Swenson, F. Forsberg, Lars Johnson and J.W. Carlson were to become the founding members of "The Swedeish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Midway". They were also about to create the second Swedish congregation in the Duluth area with the first being "The First Swedish Lutheran Chuch of Duluth" or Gloria Dei as we know it now.
Services were held in private homes until John Olson made arrangements for a second story to be added to his home for the purpose of worship. By 1883 the school house had been moved from the Berg homestead to a farm on the Stark Rd. The church services would be held in the school house until a proper church was built.
Records indicate the land that the church was built on was given as a gift from the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad company. Newspapers from the time state that the membership also bought 10 acres of land and that the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad donated all of the lumber. Olaf Gulbrannson acted as the contractor and recieved $50 for his services. All other labor and supplies were donated. The first church (see photo above) was completed near our present church back in 1889 for the sum of $5000. No mortgage was ever taken.
Services were held in private homes until John Olson made arrangements for a second story to be added to his home for the purpose of worship. By 1883 the school house had been moved from the Berg homestead to a farm on the Stark Rd. The church services would be held in the school house until a proper church was built.
Records indicate the land that the church was built on was given as a gift from the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad company. Newspapers from the time state that the membership also bought 10 acres of land and that the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad donated all of the lumber. Olaf Gulbrannson acted as the contractor and recieved $50 for his services. All other labor and supplies were donated. The first church (see photo above) was completed near our present church back in 1889 for the sum of $5000. No mortgage was ever taken.
"The Ladies Aid has contributed much to the welfare of the church. In 1910 and 1912 they were actively working for a new church. The need of a new edifice was keenly felt by the active members. The lofty spire from which sounded the peals of the bell, the raised pulpit, the red velvet valance edged with gold fringes all sank deep into our hearts and made the first little church very dear and quaint to us."
- Excerpt from The Diamond Anniversary Booklet 1949
 Church Congregation 1906
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They were humble, hard-working emigrants - poor in material goods but rich in a heritage. With a strong faith in God and firm in their belief that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was for all people.
A thousand year culture accompanied many of these emigrants across the oceans and untamed lands to their settlements. These cultures include peaceful country churches with steeples reaching up to their God; ornate altars and pulpits; organs and bells; communion rails and cemetaries adjoining the churchyards. Besides their meager possessions, they brough with them their precious Bibles and beloved Swedish Psalmbooks with the Swedish liturgy and ancient responses. Oppressed and discontented, seeking religious freedom, room to grow and a better standard of life, they endured hardships beyond our modern day conception. Devout faith and convictions brought them through. |
As you would expect, all services were conducted in Swedish. It should come as no surprise that all the early records are also in Swedish. It's unknown if they kept any books prior to 1917. Once the new church is built they begin to keep records. It's not until 1926 that things change over to English.
1974
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2024
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Church Cleaning Day Ladies (year unknown)
Mary Andium (?)
Selma Ostman (Gronquist)
Martha Haugsand (Johnson)
Hazel Carlson
Gina Stark Peterson
Selma Fahrm Peterson
Helga Johnson
Mrs. Russ
*Photo donated by Lowell Peterson from Gina Starks collection*
Mary Andium (?)
Selma Ostman (Gronquist)
Martha Haugsand (Johnson)
Hazel Carlson
Gina Stark Peterson
Selma Fahrm Peterson
Helga Johnson
Mrs. Russ
*Photo donated by Lowell Peterson from Gina Starks collection*