The Old Indian Church

Saturday's geocaching excursion delivered another historical landmark in northeastern SD; the Old Indian Church, located east of South Shore. Two signs pointed to the National Register of Historic Places building, but I have to admit this is the first time I noticed the signs along State Highway 20. It is NOT the first time I have been on the road. Interesting what you don't see if you are not looking for it. In my defense, it is a mile north of the highway, so is not visible from the road. However, the roadside signs have been in place for years.

The Old Indian Church was originally called the Brown Earth Church. It was built by members of the 'church party' faction of the Sisseton-Wahpeton tribes who left the Sisseton Reservation in 1875. 

Some twenty-five families left the reservation and established the Brown Earth settlement. With their own labor they built this church. 

Stephen R. Biggs, a missionary from Lac qui Parle mission society helped with some of the expenses.

The hand hewn oak logs were cut locally. 

In 1876, there were 41 communicants in the Presbyterian congregation. Shortly after, the settlement began to decline. Some of the Brown Earth settlers moved to the Birch Coulee area in Minnesota and others to the Upper Agency area near Granite Falls, Minnesota. After 1886 the church was in disuse.

In 1892, the church was sold to the Elim Covenant of Stockholm. In 1901, the Christian Church of Stockholm purchased the church. They sold it to the Grant County Historical Society in 1905.

Through the years, the church has been used intermittently for functions such as the Grant County picnic, school picnics, and the occasional church services. Two weddings were held in the church.

I signed the guest register and noted the comment above mine. It was signed by the couple who had been married in the church 25 years ago, this month. 

In 1928 (or possibly 1931) The American Legion Post #171 of Stockholm and Strandburg, took over the maintenance of the church and cemetery. They added a cement floor and replaced some of the logs using logs from the original log cabin on the Amandus Nelson homestead.

 It has a working bell. I should have rung it.

I found three grave markers under the large tree. I did not notice the cemetery as we entered the well-kept grounds, but did see the headstones when I stepped out of the truck to close the gate.

Josette, wife of the first pastor died at the age of 29.

I love finding historic treasures such as this one. Another nearby historic find was the Stagecoach Stop near Troy, also in northeastern South Dakota. You can check out the photos and information from my 2013 blog post.

More Flowers

Traveling home from Chicago earlier this month, we stopped at an interstate rest stop on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border. The interesting flower blooms caught my attention. I went back to the car and grabbed the camera. I have no idea of the names of this flora; they were too colorful and different to not take notice.

many lavender star-shaped flowers

a big bloom on a spindly stem

roses

yes, I do know this one

a white star-shaped, delicate flower

more roses

about to leave WI

I think this is a close-up of the first flower

Java in June Celebration

Last weekend we journeyed to Java for the June celebration. Friday afternoon was set aside for class meetings. Bob and the Beachcombers were the Friday night entertainment. Saturday morning's highlight was the parade (unless you participated in the 5K Fun Walk/Run). The afternoon shows were interrupted with an ambulance ride (over-heated/fainting) and later, a severe storm that sent most of us to basements for an hour or so. Another severe storm moved over town Saturday evening causing the large tent poles to dance while sheets of rain ran off the sides of the tent roof. The entertainment played through the storm, but most in the audience were paying more attention to the tall tent poles tugging at the ropes. That storm passed without any damage and certainly did not dampen the spirits of those wanting to party late into the night. That is the condensed version of the weekend.

The Class of '68 has a reunion every 5 to 10 years. We meet often and rarely have everyone attending.  Some classes have never met for a reunion. Java in June was intended to be a gathering of people having a connection to Java, not an all-school reunion. Over 600 people pre-registered for the weekend's events. (Population of Java is listed at 130.)

A wife-carrying contest?

The kuchen walk?

17 of us graduated in 1968

3 of our members (guys) have passed away

1 more was expected at the celebration

(she came on Saturday)

3 did not plan to attend

Friday night under the big tent

Bob and the Beachcombers played 4 sets

and did not repeat a song all night

Good dancing and singing-along music

Lining up for the parade on Saturday morning

Class of '67

"Our bodies may have some dents and nicks

But it's nothing a few drinks won't fix!"

Some members of the Class of '69

Two race cars in the parade

Some new, modern tractors in the parade

My view from the back of the '68 ??? convertible

Some of the little kids collecting candy along the route

Parade viewers at the north end of Main Street

Watching from the shade on the side street

The church is the one Hubby and I

were married in 44 years ago

It is not in use, currently

PeeWee passed away on Friday morning

He planned on attending the celebration

Old tractors in the parade

 Class of '61 & '65 spraying the crowd

with water guns and water balloons

OLD cars in the parade

A calf in the parade

Stubborn horse & buggy

Horses and their riders

One of our rides

I was in this car

The other convertible

Both are owned by members of '68

Kathy wore her letter jacket and had a 

pony tail to complete the look

Some in this class could fit into their

cheerleading uniforms and band uniform

They chanted, "We've got vodka; how about you?"

They were willing to share their yummy concoction.

The sheriff followed the pontoon float and watched

them share their beverage. 

Only in a small town...

He asked if I got his good side

I told him I was posting it as Java's only stop light

My family enjoying the parade and the shade

Afternoon clouds after one storm

and before the second

The water tower was aglow after the 

tent shaking storm

The rainbow in the east

It was a FUN weekend. We visited with people we rarely see. Hubby got to see kids (now adults) from his very first class and the guys he coached and those he played against in high school. I talked to my high school boy friends, both of whom are still married to their first wives. That warms my heart. Visiting with my classmates was revealing as we reminisced about our years together. Some mysteries were solved. There was lots of hugging and laughing. We made plans for our 50th class reunion. 

Many people put in some long hours and hard work to pull it all together. If you are one of those reading this...THANK YOU!