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1885: First permanent house of worship opens in Beaver Creek

Subhead
Bits By Betty
Lead Summary
By
Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical Society

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village (continued from 10-15-20 edition of the Star Herald.)
 
Churches (continued)
         The first permanent house of worship was the school house erected in the Grout neighborhood during the spring of 1875. Services were later held in a newer school building closer to Beaver Creek village. The present church edifice was erected during the summer of 1886. It was dedicated free of debt by Rev. J. N. Liscomb, presiding elder of the Mankato districts, on Sunday, June 19, 1887.
         The Presbyterian church of Beaver Creek dates from May, 1878. During that month, at the solicitation of a number of followers of that denomination who had settled in the young village and vicinity, services were conducted in the old school house west of town by Elders D. C. Lyon and Edward Savage. Several weeks later Rev. Charles Thayer, who had been assigned as state synodical missionary for Rock county, made arrangements for services at Beaver Creek at stated intervals. It was through Rev. Thayer’s efforts that a deputation from the Mankato presbytery came to Beaver Creek and organized the Presbyterian church on June 5, 1880, with about a dozen members.
         In November of the same year it was decided to erect a church edifice. To this end of a board of trustees, consisting of James Marshall, J. H. Stearns and J. D. Campbell, with Harrison White as treasurer, was elected. Within a few months a sum sufficient to build and furnish a church costing in the neighborhood of $1400 was subscribed, and the railroad company donated a site of three blocks. Building operations were commenced early the next summer. The corner stone of the church — the first erected in Beaver Creek — was laid on June 27, 1881. The first service in the church was conducted by the pastor, Rev. J. J. Munro, on Sunday, October 9, and the formal dedication occurred December 14.
         The Baptist church of Beaver Creek was also established early. Rev. A. W. Hilton, the first pastor of the Luverne society, during the closing years of the seventies, organized a branch of that church. A formal organization was later perfected by Rev. Cyrus Thomas, and in 1886 the Beaver Creek Baptists erected a church edifice. The society was for many years in a flourishing condition, but in 1902, because of great loss in membership, principally by removals, it was deemed advisable to give up the organization. The church building was sold to a Valley Springs congregation and moved to that place. The proceeds of the sale were donated to the Luverne church, with whom most of the remaining members allied themselves, and were used for building purposes.
 
         The story of the village of Beaver Creek will continue in the Oct. 29 edition of the Star Herald.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

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