History on East Freeborn Lutheran Church (Arranged by Topic) 

(from the East Freeborn 125th Anniversary Book (1985) with occasional additions and punctuation edits)

Our church Building.

               The first East Freeborn Church was an octagonal log structure. Each side was 16 feet long and the walls were about 16 feet high. Christopher Narveson Helge Knutson and Ole Hansen (Indal) were the builders. According to the records kept by Eric Johnsrud, on April 17, 1865, a group of men met at the home of Ole Hanson and decided on a building site. Every man was asked to bring certain number of logs hewed on two sides ready to be put on the wall. Those who couldn't bring logs were asked to bring money for lumber. Ole Hansen (Indal), Christopher Narveson and Helge Knutson offered to build the walls and lay the roof for $387.

               To begin with, the church had an earthen floor and the seats were rough planks laid on logs. Later, Lars Moen of Calmer, Iowa did the inside work. Not until 1867 was the floor laid and a balcony builds; Then in 1869 seats, pulpit and an altar were built by Ellef Treangen.

               Because of its shape, the building was called the butter form since in olden times it was customary to prepare butter for market in such octagonal forms. It had a large octagonal top at the peak of the roof, presumably for a bell. The church was built on the west side of the road almost opposite the place where the present church now stands (the bare section of the cemetery).

               When the new church was built, the pulpit, altar and pews were sold to the Hayward Church, but were destroyed by a fire some years later when the Hayward church burnt to the ground. The old log church was sold to Ingvald Ingvaldson and rebuilt by him on a farm in its original shape and used as a barn. A replica of the octagonal log church was constructed by Edwin Gulbrandson of Albert Lea, Minnesota and is on display at the Freeborn Historical Society Museum in Albert Lea.

               A new church was built in 1884 on the east side of the road. It was built by Lars Moen and according to records kept by Eric Johnsrud, the building and the fixtures came to a complete cost of $5000.

               In 1928, the East Freeborn Church was extensively remodeled enlarged and improved. The stained-glass windows were installed at that time period it was rededicated on April 28, 1929 by president Nils Kleven of the southern Minnesota district. The approximate cost of remodeling was $12,000. The contractor was Louis Lysne of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota who also drew up the plans.

               Before the 90th anniversary in 1951, the interior of the church was rededicated, and a new asphalt tile floor was laid in the sanctuary and narthex. New pews, pulpit, acolyte chairs, candelabra, missal stand and other altar appointments, baptismal font, new hymn boards, and an amplifying system were installed. Tables, chairs, dishes, new ceiling, hot water heater, and water pressure system were added to the kitchen and the church parlors. An oil burning furnace and modern restrooms were also added.

               A new pipe organ was installed in June 1954. The organ was used for the first time on June 20 of that year, commemorating reverend C. S. Peterson's 25th year as a pastor.

               Land was bought for a parking lot from Nels Spangelo in 1956.

                In 1957,  the exterior of the church was painted, new cement walk laid and new doors installed at the front entrance. A large window was installed in the mother's room so they might enjoy the service from there.

               Plans for improvement to the narthex were drawn up in 1967 by March of 1968. The minutes of the trustee meeting indicate that an addition to the narthex with a new wide entrance and basement remodeling were completed at the cost of $7650.

               The evergreens that grow along the north fence line and the ash trees on the South lawn were planted in April 1969.

               The existing yellow paint on the walls of the sanctuary was applied in 1972.  At that time, it was decided to lay carpet and the trustees thought it would be wise to paint first. The color was chosen to coordinate with the carpet. The education unit and the exterior of the building were painted in 1975, and a new sound system was installed.

               Improvements to the kitchen were made in 1978. New ceiling tile, wall paneling and countertops were installed and new electric stoves were bought.

               The landscaping was done around the church in 1980; And the church was insulated and air conditioned in 1981.

               The majority of improvements were necessary in 1983. The stained-glass windows in the sanctuary were deteriorating and leaking. The congregation voted to the necessary repairs.  The vote was probably decided by the weather at the time of the vote. A thunderstorm was in progress and water was running in the southwest window. The rotten parts of the frames were replaced, the windows strengthened, and storm windows installed at the cost of $22,212.50. The steeple and roof were also repaired that year at the cost of $10,500.

               The bathrooms adjacent to the dining room were replaced with new handicap access ones in 1984 at the cost of $5185.15. That same year the roof of the education unit was repaired at the cost of $5250.