Ebenezer Lutheran Church

From humble beginnings in the 1908 home of Andrew Jorgensen, who lived four miles northwest of Poskin to the church built under the leadership of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Congregation's head carpenter, Andrew Peterson, to a centerpiece of the Pioneer Village Museum and still-functioning church, the Ebenezer Lutheran Church is a must-see stop for visitors to the Barron County Historical Society. A carefully maintained building and preserved artifacts provide historical context and a rich background for anyone wanting to learn more about this aspect of Northwestern Wisconsin history or have it as the backdrop for a contemporary church event.

The Ebenezer Lutheran Church was established and built between Poskin and Almena on the Rabbit Trail Road in 1908 as the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Congregation of Poskin. The congregation built the frame building, including the altar, altar rail, pulpit, and pews. Andrew Peterson was the head carpenter. Two pews in the back of the church are the original pews, but backs have been added. The original communion service's chalice, flagon, and host box remain on the altar.

When the church closed in the 1960s, the congregation donated it to the Barron County Historical Society. Moving the building was no small feat, and the entire process took almost a year. Betty Christianson organized a fund drive to begin raising money for the move. Donations came from private individuals, Jaycees, Lions, Kiwanis, American Legion, VFW, Lodges, and other organizations, including banks, businesses, churches and church organizations, and dance proceeds throughout the county. This monumental effort raised $5000 (~$33,040 in 2020 dollars) for the church move.

In the fall of 1971, the concrete footing was poured at the Barron County Historical Society’s museum for the Ebenezer Church. Mel Jensen and Art Knutson of Barron, Alfred Koser of Almena, Bob Adkins and Roy Brusen of Chetek, Jess Everson of Cameron, and Orville Eliason of Ridgeland did the work.

The church was moved to the museum on March 10th, 1972. Barron County saw an abundance of snow that winter, and the county plows were called to the museum to clear the area of snow. Telephone, telegraph, and electrical wires had to be cut to allow the building to pass from its founding site to its new home at the museum. When it arrived, it was temporarily shored up on wooden cribbing until early summer, when Ray Arnevik and Arnevik Moving Services of Rice Lake arrived and were able to move it over the footing area. Ray Feidt was hired to lay the cement block foundation; his volunteer assistants were Alfred Koser of Almena, Bob Adkins and Roy Brusen of Chetek, and Mel Jensen of Barron.

During the building's placement, workers discovered a red squirrel had gotten into the church and damaged the ceiling. Some tile and new paint were necessary. The building was fumigated in May to dispose of the squirrel.

There were outdoor toilets at the Ebenezer site north of Poskin, which were also donated to the society. Two pews, a hymn board, communion service pieces, and two velveteen collection pouches on long poles from the original church’s furnishings remain in the church; a hole in the floor by the altar of unknown origin has developed a folk tale that of being where the church mouse lives. Today, only Ebenezer Cemetery remains at the original site of the church.

The first museum wedding performed in Ebenezer Lutheran Church was Diane Benson and Steve Williams's 1975 wedding, and it has been used consistently since then for weddings, renewal of vows, and memorial services. Several local churches hold Sunday services annually at Ebenezer Church, which has also hosted Sunday church services during Heritage Days, Rendezvous, and Bluegrass Festival events.

Jensen, Clarice. Kettner, Carol. Barron County Historical Society and Pioneer Museum History. Edition 2. Volume 1. Cameron, WI. Unpublished - Binder Bound in Museum Archives, 2018.