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.