Perry Lutheran Church
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Perry Township
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1057 WI Hwy 78, Mt. Horeb WI 53572
1890
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Operated: 1854 to present
Pastors: Peter M. Brodahl 1856-1868; Abraham Jacobson 1868-1878; Adolph Bredeson 1878-1881; Peter Isberg 1882-1888; Henrick Voldal 1888-1903; Helge Hoverstad 1904-1909; Joseph Green 1910-1923; J. R Lavik 1923-1926; J. H. Myrwang 1926-1931; I. A. Lavik 1932-1950; J. O. Jorgenson 1950-1957; Paul F. Andersen 1958-1964; H. Leonard Andersen 1964-1970; Richard Halom 1970-1974; Fred Hofer 1974-1980; Richard Rem 1980-1989; T. M. Marks 1990-1997; Jon Kosec 1998-2003; Ted Kalkwarf (interim) 2003-2004; Hans Floan 2004-2012; Sara Gillespie (interim) 2012-
Notes: After the November 5, 1854 decision by many members of the first church in Perry to form a separate congregation that followed the worship of the State Church of Norway, the new congregation had to organize. Because until 1852 only the men of the congregation could vote on matters, they elected three trustees. Services were held at the school house. In February of 1855 a site was selected for a new church building. The congregation made plans to erect a 46’x65’ stone building and its foundation was laid in 1856. The first service was held on Christmas Day in 1858. This building was hit by a tornado* in May of 1878 and had to be extensively repaired, and a wooden steeple was added.
In August of 1888 lightening struck the wooden steeple of the Perry Church. When it was struck again in August of 1903, the congregation rebuilt the steeple in limestone and copper. Just prior to 1915 and the church’s 60th anniversary, the building was enlarged, remodeled and refurbished. During a fierce thunderstorm in July 1935, the church was again struck by lightning and burned to its four walls. The building was reconstructed and was dedicated in 1937, this time minus its soaring steeple. The lower tower on the present church was completed in 1954.
*note: Though the word “cyclone” may have been used in reports at the time, what happened in Dane County on May 23, 1878 was actually a tornado, as described →here. (This account uses the word “cyclone” in quotes, further suggesting that it was a misnomer at the time. That said, the account includes the phrase “the eye of the storm” but this too is not accurate — cyclones, hurricanes & typhoons, which are all tropical storms, all have an “eye”, but a tornado does not. So the writer of the account obviously meant the “vortex of the storm”.) Since the establishment of the Meteorological Agency, there have only been 3 or 4 cyclones (or hurricanes) that have made it from the Gulf of Mexico to Wisconsin, but these rare events were more rain than wind, having traveled overland so far from the ocean, and probably not strong enough to destroy buildings.
In August of 1888 lightening struck the wooden steeple of the Perry Church. When it was struck again in August of 1903, the congregation rebuilt the steeple in limestone and copper. Just prior to 1915 and the church’s 60th anniversary, the building was enlarged, remodeled and refurbished. During a fierce thunderstorm in July 1935, the church was again struck by lightning and burned to its four walls. The building was reconstructed and was dedicated in 1937, this time minus its soaring steeple. The lower tower on the present church was completed in 1954.
*note: Though the word “cyclone” may have been used in reports at the time, what happened in Dane County on May 23, 1878 was actually a tornado, as described →
back view
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Postcard of interior 125th anniversary 1854-1979
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1914. Erick Erickson chief mason. Stone from Erickson's farm.
"lightening hit it"
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Sewing quilts 1986 by Jeff Peters
postcard of pastors
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postcard of church and pasto
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