04Move

Move to a New Location in 1874

Early money raising events and other activities. 1874-1893

Early in the year 1874, Rev. George A. Keller secured lot 11 at the corner of Clark Ave. and First Street as a new location for the church. This location in the village would be much more convenient for the parishioners. In March of that year, the building was moved across the ice on the lake to its present location (see Plate). The following account is from the June 24,

Plate. Old Church moved to new location at First and Clark (click here or on image for higher resolution views)

1926 White Bear Press as told by Mrs. Charlotte Freeman-Benson, the daughter of Joseph and Sara Freeman. Charlotte was born 1847 in England. Her family came to America in 1853, arrived in Minnesota in 1855 and then built a cabin at Birch Lake in 1863. Charlotte and her brothers, Joseph and William, were very much involved with St. John’s in the Wilderness Church.

Charlotte’s recollections were as follows:

“During the winter ... the little church was moved across the lake on the ice to the foot of Clark Avenue, where it was jacked up to the street level and brought up to the corner of First Street and Clark Avenue...The lot on which the church was placed was purchased for the sum of $300 and paid for in cash. Mrs. Benson went to St. Paul to solicit funds but failed to receive a single contribution, except from one Chas. Morgan, a lawyer, who gave $100. To this was added $100 by Mrs. Keller of Philadelphia, Pa., grandmother of Mr. Harry Getty. A few scant contributions and earnings were also added to help pay for the lot. The church was moved by a Mr. Craig who charged $300, and this was paid mostly by the earnings of the few women – Mrs. Benson, Mrs. Leip, Mrs. Williams and others who gave suppers, and by various means raised amounts for that fund.”

“Services were held but once a month as funds were short, and it was a long way for the rector to drive from St. Paul. (by horse and buggy) Services could not be held in extremely cold weather as there was but a small stove in the center of the church, and it could not furnish sufficient heat. In the beginning Mrs. Charlotte Freeman-Benson had a Sunday School class of six, which increased to twelve after the church was moved to this side of the lake.”

After the church was moved to First and Clark, they added a new belfry with a tall steeple (see Plates). In 1877 the Thomas

Plate. Old Church at First and Clark Avenue. Front View (click here or on image for higher resolution views)

Plate. Old Church at First and Clark Avenue. Side View (click here or on image for higher resolution views)

Plate. Drawing of Old Church at First and Clark Avenue (click here or on image for higher resolution views)

C. Fulton family donated a bell to the church (see Plate). The bell was cast in the family foundry in Pittsburgh, Pa. The bell was inscribed:

“Presented to St. John’s Church in the Wilderness White Bear Lake Minn. By Thomas C. Fulton, Margaret Fulton...” ( and the names Thomas Jr., Jane, Plenny, James and Andrew) “I will sound and call thy people together.” “Cast by A. Fulton and Sons Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., 1877 A. D.”

This bell is still there today.

Plate. Bell donated to the Church by the Thomas C. Fulton Family in 1877 (click here or on image for higher resolution views)

From 1876 to 1879, the Rev. W. C. Pope (see Plates) served as minister for the church of St. John’s in the Wilderness. William

Plate. Rev. William Cox Pope, Rector, St. John’s, 1876 – 1879 (click here or on image for higher resolution views)

Cox Pope and his family came from Pennsylvania. He attended seminary in Milwaukee. During the Sioux Uprising, he traveled to Minnesota to help minister to the wounded. Later, Bishop Whipple (see Plate) asked him to return to Minnesota. Rev.

Plate. Right Rev. Henry Benjamin Whipple, First Bishop of the Diocese of Minnesota (click here or on image for higher resolution views)

Pope, with the aid of his family, built the Church of the Good Shepherd where he ministered to the Indians. Often, Indians, coming from some distance for the Sunday service, would erect tents on the church grounds to sleep overnight before leaving the next day. When Rev. Pope died in 1917, the doors to the Church of the Good Shepherd were closed and never used again. His grandson and current member of our parish, Ellis Pope, said that Rev. Pope was one of the first clergy in Minnesota to use altar linens and hangings with colors. Before then, they were plain white.

While serving as clergy for the church services at White Bear Lake, Rev. Pope had to borrow a horse, or a horse and buggy, to get here. Sometimes, he had to walk. In the winter he would borrow a horse and sleigh. His journal recalls one trip, where the sleigh overturned and he had a terrible time trying to right it, as the horse was still harnessed to the sleigh. The first confirmation service recorded here was on April 22, 1877, by Bishop Whipple and Rev. Pope.

On April 2, 1877, the balance in the treasury was sixteen cents, as reported by Joseph Freeman, secretary and treasurer. In 1878 the first Every Member Canvass was organized for the raising of financial support. On August 15, 1879, the Rev. W. C. Pope resigned because he disapproved of the way the parish was trying to raise money through balls, strawberry and raspberry festivals.

In 1881 the Ladies Sewing Society donated a pump organ, no.1222 by Vogel & Lincoln. At the June 27, 1882, vestry meeting, Cyrus B. Cobb, Thomas Fulton and William Clark were appointed to consult with Mrs. W. R. Merriam with regard to a donation for improving the seats in the church. At the March 29, 1883, vestry meeting, the secretary read a letter he had sent to Mrs. Merriam thanking her for the new pews and altar rail she gave to the church (Her husband, W. R. Merriam, became governor of Minnesota from 1889 to 1893.). There were a number of memorial gifts given to the church at this time, including a lectern given in 1883 by Mrs. Hoyt and Mrs. E. C. Williams in memory of their brother Captain Eugene Gibbs (see Plate). In 1887 a marble font of St. John the Baptist, engraved “E. C. W.” was given by Mrs. E. C. Williams in memory of her husband. (The Williams family operated a resort hotel on the lake.)

Plate. Interior of the Old Church (click here or on image for higher resolution views)

The minutes for the January 6, 1886 annual meeting gives the first account of an Epiphany cake with a hidden ring to designate an “Epiphany Queen.” During the summer of 1887, the ladies of the church held some fund raising events as reported in the Lake Breeze newspaper:

“June 18 -- The lawn festival to be given at Leip’s Hotel on Thursday evening next, by the Ladies of the Church of St. John in the Wilderness promises to be an occasion of more than usual excellence. Among the attractions will be a contest for a gold medal to be voted to the handsomest married lady at White Bear, two being selected from each church. There will be ample refreshments, music, dancing, etc.”

“June 25 -- The Ladies of St. John in the Wilderness made a grand success of the festival at Leip’s on Thursday evening, the receipts being about $110. .... The voting for gold medal was quite lively, won by Mrs. Elbertson, followed closely by Mrs. Williams, Mrs. J. A. Getty and Mrs. Wm. Leip.”

“August 27 -- “The Sunday School of the Episcopal church enjoyed an excursion and lunch on the steamer ‘Dispatch’ on Thursday chaperoned by Supt. C. B. Cobb and the teachers of the school. The Richard brothers formed a necessary adjunct to their enjoyment by discoursing sweet music.”

The Sunday School was begun in 1860 by Mrs. Aubrey in her home and then continued in various locations. When the church moved to its present site, Charlotte Freeman (Mrs. Benson) continued the Sunday School for many years. Cyrus B. Cobb succeeded Mrs. Benson. After the death of Mr. Cobb, the school was successively conducted by G. H. Staehe, Wm. H. Whitaker, Mrs. H. A. Freeman and then Wm. H. Fellows. Over the years, many organizations for church activities were established, names changed etc. The St. Agnes Guild, established in 1860, was active for many years.

The land for the cemetery had been donated in 1860 by John and Laura Aubrey. In the early years, the cemetery was under the control of the vestrymen. At the vestry meeting, Nov. 16, 1883, it was noted that a grave lot had been sold for five dollars. A resolution was passed to devise a means for enlarging the present burial grounds. A meeting on May 6, 1891 noted an addition to the cemetery purchased for $150. A motion passed to have the cemetery surveyed, fenced and platted.

Excerpts from the Dec. 15, 1966 issue of the White Bear Press, “Rene’s Monuments,” by Nancy L. Woolworth:

In 1892, the church decided to sell lots in their cemetery to citizens of White Bear for twenty to forty dollars, depending on location.... One of the early church members was Edward O. Rene from French Canada, who, during the American Civil War, brought his Prussian-born wife to White Bear Township.... They settled a mile or so south of Goose Lake, and later joined with their neighbors to petition for a school to be built on William Gall’s property.... Shortly before his death in 1893, Mr. Rene bought a cemetery lot that was at the original site of the first church in White Bear Lake.... The tall, slender, steeple shaped, stone monument is a landmark on this historical site.

(Note: This information will provide our current Gifts and Memorials Committee the location of the first church where a historical marker is to be placed. See Plate)

Plate. Episcopal Cemetery and the location of the first Church (click here or on image for higher resolution views)