Near Astoria in Brookings County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Singsaas Lutheran Church
August 15, 2021
1. Singsaas Lutheran Church Marker
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States Department of the Interior
1921
Listed 2003
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1921.
Location. 44° 31.562′ N, 96° 27.892′ W. Marker is near Astoria, South Dakota, in Brookings County. Marker is on 487th Avenue, 0.2 miles south of 197th Street, on the right when traveling south. Located at Singsaas Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19715 487th Ave, Astoria SD 57213, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lake Hendricks Norwegian Colony of 1873 / Brookings County (approx. half a mile away); Lake Hendricks State Park / Brookings County (approx. 3.2 miles away); Old City Hall Bell (approx. 15.7 miles away in Minnesota).
Also see . . . South Dakota SP Singsaas Lutheran Church - National Archives Catalog.
"Significance(Submitted on July 2, 2023.)
The church body was first organized in 1874 when the first pastor arrived to hold service in the home of John Knutson. In 1882 the first parsonage was constructed on the property with a second parsonage to follow in 1904. The 1904 parsonage was moved in 1992. The first churchwas constructed in 1884 and was utilized until 1921 when the current building was constructed. Also located on the property historically was a double privy to the west of the church, a bam at the parsonage for the pastor and a barn to the south of the church for the parishioners.
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The Singsaas Lutheran Church ... typifies the “second generation” of church construction in the eastern portion of South Dakota. Structures that are constructed as a second generation church are those building from 1915 forward. They typically exhibit an increased focus on stylistic interpretation of religion and a commitment to creating an impressive house of worship. These buildings are larger in size, scale and massing than their earlier counterparts and are more identifiable as being influenced by the Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival or Classical Revival styles of ecclesiastical architecture."
August 15, 2021
2. Singsaas Church
August 15, 2021
3. History of Singsaas Lutheran
"Our forefathers, who arrived in this area on July 14th, 1873, had a deep and rich spiritual background that they received in Norway, which has been a great blessing down through the years. With such a background it was no wonder that their first thought was to organize a congregation for worship.
In October 1874, Rev. Elling Eielson, and laymen Utheim and Norback,, visited this colony. While they were here, a meeting was called at the Nils Trooien home on October 6th in an attempt to begin a congregation. As a result of this meeting, Singsaas Lutheran congregation was organized on October 26, 1874.
In 1882 the first parsonage was built and given to Pastor Guldbrand Evenson as a gift. Thirty-five acres were also sold to Pastor Evenson for $100. Later, parsonage land was bought back at $550. In 1904 a new parsonage was built, replacing the old one, at a cost of $1,725.
The first building was built in 1884 and completed at the price of $1,075. A bell was installed in 1885, and pews were purchased in 1890. The church was dedicated in November 1890.
The congregation increased rapidly from 1890 to 1907 when it had a membership of 700 souls. Singsaas was, at one time, one of the largest rural congregations in the Hauge Synod.
The area covered by the congregation extended from Astoria, SD to the north, about 4 miles south of Lake Hendricks, 2 miles west of Oak Lake, and east into Minnesota.
To serve the membership better, a second building was built in Hendricks in 1903 at a cost of about $3,000. In 1909 a third building was built at Astoria, SD.
In 1918 former members from Singsaas together with local people at Astoria organized Bethel Lutheran in Astoria. Nineteen former Singsaas members organized First Lutheran in Hendricks in 1930.
In 1921 the congregation built and furnished a new building costing about $15,000."
In October 1874, Rev. Elling Eielson, and laymen Utheim and Norback,, visited this colony. While they were here, a meeting was called at the Nils Trooien home on October 6th in an attempt to begin a congregation. As a result of this meeting, Singsaas Lutheran congregation was organized on October 26, 1874.
In 1882 the first parsonage was built and given to Pastor Guldbrand Evenson as a gift. Thirty-five acres were also sold to Pastor Evenson for $100. Later, parsonage land was bought back at $550. In 1904 a new parsonage was built, replacing the old one, at a cost of $1,725.
The first building was built in 1884 and completed at the price of $1,075. A bell was installed in 1885, and pews were purchased in 1890. The church was dedicated in November 1890.
The congregation increased rapidly from 1890 to 1907 when it had a membership of 700 souls. Singsaas was, at one time, one of the largest rural congregations in the Hauge Synod.
The area covered by the congregation extended from Astoria, SD to the north, about 4 miles south of Lake Hendricks, 2 miles west of Oak Lake, and east into Minnesota.
To serve the membership better, a second building was built in Hendricks in 1903 at a cost of about $3,000. In 1909 a third building was built at Astoria, SD.
In 1918 former members from Singsaas together with local people at Astoria organized Bethel Lutheran in Astoria. Nineteen former Singsaas members organized First Lutheran in Hendricks in 1930.
In 1921 the congregation built and furnished a new building costing about $15,000."
Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2021. This page has been viewed 373 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 20, 2021. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
