History of Salem Lutheran Church Ironwood Michigan

The first pastor that ministered to the spiritual needs of the early Swedish settlers of Ironwood was the Rev. J.D. Nelsenius pastor of the Augusta Synod Church at Ashland Wisconsin.

Pastor Nelsenius had been sent to Ashland by the Mission Board of the Minnesota Conference in the fall of 1885.

Rev. Nelsenius preached his first sermon in Ironwood on Dec. 8, 1886.
His second visit to Ironwood was made January 2, 1887.

These visits were made regularly until the congregation was organized at a meeting held in the home of Abraham Anderson on Sunday, February 20, 1887 at 3 pm. Thirty four charter members attended.

As early as the summer of 1887, a Sunday School was started.
Mr. Sander & Mr. Johnson were the first superintendents.

At the first children's program, December 27, 1887, 34 children took part.

The first confirmation class had eight members...this service was held in Ironwood's only school building of that day.

IIt was agreed that a church building was needed...Pastor Nelsenius solicited funds, purchasing all the building materials, and attended to writing and recording the incorporation papers. These legal matters were attended to at Ontonagon.

The Salem congregation moved into it's own church building on November 20, 1887. That building was located on Marquette Street, directly accross the street from the present building.

Church records do not tell much of the first permanent Pastor's ministry. During the summer of 1888, the Illinois Conference sent a student Pastor, C Ristrom, to take charge of church activities.

During the Christmas season of that year, the Rev. Lindholm served. In the meantime, Rev Nelsenius acted as vice pastor, or general supervisor of the church...until it's first permanent pastor was secured in the beginning of 1889.

The next building project was a parsonage...A two-story building was erected on Mansfield St and was completed when the first permanent Pastor, the Rev. L.W. Gulstrom arrived in the beginning of 1889.

Toward the close of 1891 the parsonage was again vacant.

Dr. Emil Lund served the congregation from October 1891 until October 1893.

Then the typhoid fever epidemic swept the community and there were also financial difficulties.

On September 24, 1899 the congregation rejoiced in that it could declare itself free of debt!

The Rev. Nels Gibson preached his initial sermon on Sunday, October 1, 1899...During his service building improvements were made to the parsonage and cgurch. The report for the year 1904 shows the congregation consisted of 238 communicant members and a Sundy School of 350 children and a Sunday School at Montreal of 40 members...Pastor Gibson resigned in the spring of 1904.

The Rev. J.W. Johnson served from June 1904 to January 1912......Under Pastor Johnsonn's ministry the greatest building program in the history of that church was carried through.
uilding, installing electric lighting, a new altar, three paintings and other improvements.

In 1906 a modern hot water system was installed in the parsonage...A new ventilation system was arranged in the church and a new pipe organ was purchased.

It was with Rev. Johnson's energetic leadership that the present church was built. The conerstone of the present church was laid Octgober 26, 1909...The present church was dedicated April 10, 1910.

The Rev S.L. Wilson arrived in February 1912. During Pastor Wilson's leadership the present parsonage was constructed...also the decorating of the new church, installing of electric lights, a new altar and other improvements.On Christmas morning 1919, Pastor Wilson left to take up a new field of labor in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The Rev N. Oscar Montan served from July 1, 1920 to July 1930. This period followed the hectic years of World War I.

These years were progressive and prosperous...The fourtieth anniversary of Salem was served in May 1927....The interior of the church had been remodeled and painted and a new Moller organ was installed.

An ingathering of funds for this project and for the reduction of debt was also one of the great endeavors of 1927.

In the Spring of 1930, Pastor Montam resigned to accept a call from Dunnell, Minnesota.

Pator Brostrom preached his last sermon on May 24, 1942. preached his first sermon on All Saints Day, November 2, 1930. the following year brought the Great Depression and the church planned a most rigid ecomomy in it's business.

IN 1935 the interior of th parsonage was redecorated and the exterior painted. During the Depresson years all the current expenses and obligations of the church were paid in full.

The Rev. Theodore E. Johnstone became pastor of Salem June 15, 1942.

The church purchased adjoining property...consisting of two lots and two houses. One of the houses was razed and one was moved. The lots were leveled and enclosed by a fenced.

The altar of the church was replaced with one of white dstone, the sacristy and sanctuary were carpeted and furnished and a new basement floor was installed in the church. Also the chasirs in ther church parlor were replaced.

The Rev. Johnstone left Ironwood Sept 23, 1951 to take charge at Palo Alto, California.

The Rev. Ruben G. Berg served from February 10, 1952 until the summer of 1953 and resigned because of ill health.

The Rev. Earl G. Gustafson arrived in September 1953. Under his leadership the Christian Education Building was erected with ground breaking services held on June 13, 1954.

A cornerstone laying service was held November 7, 1955. Salem's sanctuary was redecorated in the spring of 1957 and new acoustic tile ceiling was installed in part of the church parlors.

Salem's morning worship services were broadcast over the radio statioin WJMS.

Pastor Gustafgson left in the fall of 1961.

Salem's pulpet was vacant this time until the summerof 1963 and was filled with the arrival of the Rev. Kenneth L. Nerenz

During this time two events of importance had occurred in the life of Salem:
The 75th Anniversary was celebrated on November 4, 1962.......and on January 1, 1963 Salem became, along with it's sister churches of the Augustana Synod, a part of the larger church body known as the Lutheran Church in America.

August 1965..................................................The Salem Seniors organized

1966..................................................................The Educational Building Debt was retired.

1967..................................................................Salem celebrated it's 80th Anniversary

1970..................................................................Present Narthax constructed and sanctuary redecorated.

1971..................................................................Pastor Nerenz left in October.

1972..................................................................Rev. Gary A. Park becomes Pastor of Salem.
                                                                                                 A loud speaker system was installed for the
                                                                                                  Fellowship Hall.

1973..................................................................The indebtedeness for the narthax was retired.
                                                                                                    An indoor stairway elevator was installed.

1975..................................................................Repair of the roof and tuck pointing of the steeple.
                                                                          Pastor Park left in January.

1976..................................................................Rev. Arvid Anderson arrives November 15th

1978.................................................................After the sudden death of his wife, Pastor Anderson leaves and
                                                                           returns to Philadelphia to work in church administration.

Dec 17, 1978, Rev. Dr. James W. Wiberg was called as Pastor of Salem


In 1983 a committee was formed to prepare a revised constitution for Salem. With the consent of the Synod, a revised constitutioin was presented o the church council and after some changes, it was presented to the congregation where it was accepted.

1985......................................The Lutheran Church councils of Zion, Salem, and St. Paul voted to organize a cluster group for coordinating cooperative work among the three congregations.