MONROE CHURCH HISTORY
Late 1870’s-Early 1880’s
 Settlers influenced by John G. Nordgren and Pastor E.A. Skogsberg came west from
Chicago/Princeton, Ill; directly from Sweden; from eastern Nebraska to settle northwest of
Aurora
Summer of 1884
 Sunday School held at the Andrew Nelson home (where Dan & Danae Yockey live today) led by
S.N. Peterson and Oscar Berggren.
1885
 Group organized in the Monroe Center school house (1/2/85)





1894

1897

Constitution adopted and board (Chairman-Carl Skogsberg; Deacon-John Frisk; Treasurer-Swan
Peterson; Secretary-Oscar Berggren ) elected (1/2/85)
Two acre tract donated by Swan Anderson for a church building
Church built and completed for approx. $1300 (architects John & Swan Peterson paid $2.25$2.50/day)
“Mission Meeting”/Dedication and Thanksgiving Festival held the last Sun. in June
Trustees (A.G. Gustafson, C.J. Anderson, and John Peterson) elected (9/85)
20 x 24 parsonage completed
“Singing Society” organized and music at Monroe has been important ever since
1899


1903


1905

1907

1909


1910

1911


1912

1918



1922


Sewing Society bought one acre of land east of the church for $50 and the parsonage was
moved to this lot.
New stove purchased for the church for $27
Telephone installed in the parsonage
Windmill purchased for $50
Two rooms added to the parsonage
New and larger church built for $4,076.61 (dedicated September 13-15, 1907)
First Bible Instruction Class consisting of four boys and twelve girls was led by Pastor J.A.
Lundmark
Eighty new hymnals were purchased for $33.15
Jubilee meeting held for the 25th anniversary (May 10, 1910)
Basement floor was cemented
Nebraska Young People’s Conference held in August
Sunday evening services were conducted in English rather than Swedish
Ushers elected, opera chairs ordered for the back room and hen house built for the pastor
Individual communion cups ordered and communion offered the first Sunday of each quarter
English language used the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month for a.m. services
English songbooks ordered
Bible Conferences held each year
1924

1928

1930

Young People’s Conference held in August (tents pitched on church yard with meals prepared in
the church basement from Wed.-Sun.) Polk Bible Camp used the next year.
Church basement enlarged for Sunday School rooms (all classes in English except older adult
class)
Start of Cradle Roll and Vacation Bible School, both indicating continued church growth.
Cradle Roll 1930
From left to right – Mrs. Peter Olson and Enoch, Mrs. Ben Gustafson, Donald Olson, Mrs. Joe
Olson and Wayne, Shirley Berggren, Mrs. John Berggren, Warren Berggren and Joan
Standing –Deloris Gustafson and Vernon Olson
Mrs. Milton Peterson and Marilyn, Ruth Gustafson, Mrs. Ivor Anderson, Dorothy and Rojean.
1936

1940


1944


1946



Decided to use English language rather than Swedish for the business meetings so constitution
was then translated and revised
REA (Electricity) came to the church and parsonage
Bulletins used in church services (implemented/printed by Rev. W. Westlund)
Midwest Conference held at Monroe with meals prepared by church ladies (dinner $.20 and
supper $.15)
Name changed from “Church of God” to “Monroe Evangelical Free Church”
Homecoming service held for returned servicemen
Wes and Lenore Gustafson went to China as missionaries
Decision made to build a new parsonage with the building committee consisting of: LaVern
Peterson, John Berggren and Ben Gustafson (parsonage dedicated 1/1/50)
1947

Picture purchased for the front of the church platform (it now hangs in the lobby of the
educational wing)
First nominating committee appointed
First annual report printed (initiated by Pastor O.A. Johnson)
Sunday School departmentalized



1951
 Remodeled the sanctuary, kitchen and restrooms
1953
 Midwest Conference held here
1957
 Barn torn down by the parsonage and replaced with a double garage

Church west annex, choir room, pastor’s study and two Sunday School rooms were added. New
platform furniture and communion table built by Don Yonker.
1960-1965
 75th Anniversary celebrated with week long activities
 Archway to cemetery built
 Christian Education Board was organized
 Music and Library committees formed
 Plans for a new church ($54,800) were vetoed
 Warren and Gretchen Berggren commissioned (10/63) as doctors for the Congo
 Enlarged entrances and added Sunday School room built ($8,750)
1967
 Pews and carpet added to sanctuary
 Cabin built at Polk Bible Camp
1970’s
 Parsonage remodeled with carpeting, insulation and new appliances
 New furnace with air conditioner installed
 New P.A. system
 90th Anniversary Celebration (1975)
Gustafson Trio sings for the group
Left to Right: DeLoris, Leone and Marian
Lucille Nyblom, Mildred Sands & Effie Evans
look over the Swedish foods prepared for
the Smorgasbord.
Men’s chorus directed by Ivan Forsman performs.






Allen organ purchased for $7200
Stacked nursery cribs, office equipment, and hanging projector screen were purchased
Home Bible Studies started
Job descriptions written and implemented
Facility study committee (Gene Gustafson, Mark Gustafson and Pat Holmberg) formed and
decision to build a new structure approved 1/77
New structure study committee (Gerald Anderson, Kenneth Nyblom and Steve Gustafson)
formed.
1980
 Commissioning service for Linda Gustafson, Medical Missionary to Zaire, Africa. (8/10)
1983
 Ground breaking for Phase 1 of building project.
1984
 Sunday School 100th Anniversary celebrated.
1985
 Monroe turned 100 Centennial Theme-“Gud’s Forsamling”(God’s Congregation) Building for
Eternity.



1987

Countdown to completion of Phase 1
Start of the Awana program in September (average of 66 clubbers and 30 staff member)
Decommissioning of the old building and dedication of the new facility on Dec. 3
Last remains of the old church were hauled away and West Annex donated to Timberlake Ranch
Camp.
1988


1995

1999


2000

2001

2002

2006


2010

Building Committee appointed to discuss plans for the sanctuary
Installation of automatic lawn sprinkler system
Present sanctuary was completed.
In early March land north of the church was purchased.
In December we completely paid off the building loan as well as our “short term” land loan.
Began having two Sunday Morning Worship Services
Installation of parking lot pavement at south and northwest entrance.
Building Committee was formed to determine our exact needs for the Education Wing.
Completion of the New Educational Wing and gym
April-Dedication of the new facility.
125th Anniversary Celebration – Memorial Weekend May 29-30. Theme: “Find Us Faithful”