Music was always an important part of life for Norwegian American Lutherans. Shown here is a band from the Red Wing Seminary. Front of photograph reads: Red Wing Seminary, Lidberg, Red Wing.
This panoramic photograph shows a view of the buildings comprising the Hauge Synod's Red Wing Seminary campus as it appeared in 1907. In the 18th century, rationalism swept the churches of Europe and Norway to the detriment of a heart-felt spiritual life. In 1796, a Norwegian farmer named Hans Nielsen Hauge (1771-1824) experienced a conversion and began traveling throughout the Norwegian countryside preaching and holding revival meetings. At this time, such activity by a layman was prohibited and Hauge was persecuted and jailed by the government at the urging of the state church. But Hauge's pure and simple Gospel could not be quelled and many of his followers migrated to America. One such person was Elling Eielsen (1804-1883) who came to America in 1839 and preached among the Norwegian settlements of northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin. Like-minded pastors and congregations joined with him to form a synod in 1846. Eielsen had a contentious personality and eschewed any formal organization. His followers repeatedly broke and regrouped, a majority finally forming the Hauge Synod in 1876 without Eielsen. In 1879, the Hauge Synod opened a seminary at Red Wing, Minnesota, on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Front of photograph reads: Red Wing Seminary, copyright 1907 by Edward H. Lidberg.
Served in the Minnesota Legislature: House 1947-62 (District 19); Senate 1963-66 (District 6). For biographical information, see the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library database at: http://www.leg.mn/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=13522
Served in the Minnesota Legislature: House 1903-10 (District 29); Senate 1911-14 (District 29); Senate 1915-46 (District 19). For biographical information, see the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library database at: http://www.leg.mn/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=13680
Served in the Minnesota Legislature: House 1903-10 (District 29); Senate 1911-14 (District 29); Senate 1915-46 (District 19). For biographical information, see the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library database at: http://www.leg.mn/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=13680
Served in the Minnesota Legislature: House 1903-10 (District 29); Senate 1911-14 (District 29); Senate 1915-46 (District 19). For biographical information, see the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library database at: http://www.leg.mn/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=13680
Served in the Minnesota Legislature: House 1911-1912 (District 29); House 1915-1918 (District 19). For biographical information, see the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library database at: http://www.leg.mn/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=10956
External view of the Red Wing Printing Company, located at 220 Bush Street. Pictured left to right are Jens K. Grondahl, George Gulbranson, William Kline, Unknown boy, Policeman Jansen, and W. L. Beeman.
From 1879-1917, Red Wing Seminary was the center for the Hauge Synod, that group of Norwegian American Lutherans that followed the principles of Norwegian lay preacher Hans Nielsen Hauge (1771-1824). Their emphasis was on a heart-felt sense of sin and grace reflected in a regenerate life-style. This photograph shows an unidentified group of men, women, and children in front of a Red Wing Seminary building. The relatively few women and children, however, implies that it was a gathering of students and/or clergy, rather than a convention. Assuming there is clergy in this group, note the complete lack of any clerical vestments, which were generally not approved of by Haugeaners. Back of photograph reads: Red Wing Seminary, Red Wing, Minnesota. Via LTS, Dr. Svendsbye's office, from Bethel Lutheran Church, Lead, S.D., Pastor Emil D. Greiner.
A photograph showing the exterior of Kenyon Evangelical Church which was organized in 1898. Built in 1914 the Cornerstone was laid on August 16. In 1968 it merged with the Kenyon Methodist Church and is now Kenyon United Methodist Church. Written on the back, "Mrs. Ernest Huake 511 oak St. N.E., Brainerd, Minn. Dear Mrs. Huake, How are you all? We are having a lovely time. Got here at 5:00 Sat. evening and had such nice trip. Essie is fine and we all send our love to you all. Do not know exactly when we'll be home. With much love, Minnie."
Contributing Institution:
Minnesota Annual Conference United Methodist Church
Early Barn Bluff businesses are shown. On the far left is the sawmill of Grannis, Daniels and Company. The Francis Ives building is in the center and the Metropolitan Hotel, which was later destroyed by a fire in 1869, is on the left.
External view of a Red Wing boarding house, which was formerly a city hospital. It was located on East side of Dakota, North of Main Street. There is a sign on the side of the building that reads, "American House."