Again this year, we were blessed with beautiful weather for our music event at the church on September 9th. With over 60 people in attendance, the church was filled to capacity. The program began with the ringing of the church bell by my grandsons, Jonathan Kestol and Fox Bauer. This year the musicians were: The Reverend Larry Froemming who played the Estey Pump Organ and dulcimer, Dennis Brown, Abigail Brown, and Stephen Johansen who played gospel music on guitar, banjo, and cajon drum, and Lisa Bauer (my daughter) who sang and played the flute.

In his introduction, Dennis Brown mentioned that he had grown up on a farm close to the church, that a number of his family members are buried in this cemetery, and that he was happy to have the opportunity to participate in this program. All of the music was warmly appreciated by the audience.

At the end of the program there was a special surprise for me.The day of the event also happened to be Grandparents Day. My grandson, Jonathan – age 8, had memorized a poem to recite, and he wanted it to be a secret. It was a wonderful surprise, but just as he was beginning, the battery died in the camera, so it was not recorded on video. After the event, however, Jon “re-enacted” his recitation, and we used our phone to record the video. That is what you will see below.

After the program, people gathered outside to enjoy refreshments of Norwegian cookies, coffee, and apple cider. More lovely flute music was played by Lisa in the churchyard.

I am blessed to have the help of Beth Reidy, a talented artist, who is volunteering her time to work on this restoration. Her creativity and ideas have been an inspiration to me and she has contributed enormously to the beautification of the interior of the church. Throughout the summer we worked together finishing the floor, painting, and wallpapering. Beth matted and framed the portraits of the ministers and early church members. She also made souvenir plaques from the original ceiling boards imprinted with the words “Welcome” or “Velkommen,” and bookmarks which were cut from pieces of the church wallpaper. These items were sold at the event along with note cards featuring scenes of the church, Norway, and wildlife.

There are several others who I want to recognize for their service over the past year. Tony and Janet Brown spent most of the summer clearing and burning the brush from the back of the cemetery and church, and planting grass seed. Evie McIntyre has done an extensive amount of landscaping around the church and on the cemetery grounds. Tom Potrykus contributed his carpentry services inside the church. My family, Allison, Joe, Jon, and Fox painted the entire ceiling, posts, and other areas. My friend Charles Cottle made flyers for publicity and programs for the event. I thank all the people who have volunteered their time to help in the restoration. I also want to thank all the people who made donations to the restoration, The total amount received this year was $850.00.

Jon’s Grandparents Day Poem

Photo Gallery

There are two upcoming events at the Norwegian American Methodist-Episcopal Church.

First:

— Open House —

Saturday, September 8, 2018

1:00 – 4:00

(See below for the church location.)

Come see the newly restored church.

And Second:

I want to thank everyone who attended the music program at the Heart Prairie Norwegian American Methodist-Episcopal Church on October 1st. We had a large turn-out with more than sixty people in attendance. It was a standing room only event. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day, so even those who decided to listen while outside the church were comfortable on that warm sunny fall afternoon.

For those who were unable to attend, the two performing musicians were the Reverend Larry Froemming and Lisa Bauer, my daughter. Reverend Froemming, played our 19th century Estey pump organ which was donated by Duane Austin of Beloit. The organ is much like the one used originally in the church.

The program began with the ringing of the church bell by Jonathan Kestol and Fox Bauer.

Rev. Froemming began the music program with Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach and Faith of Our Fathers by Faber.

Reverend Froemming Plays the Estey Pump Organ

Then Lisa, playing solo flute, followed with Dance of the Blessed Spirits by Gluck.

Lisa Bauer Playing the Flute

Reverend Froemming finished the first part of the music program with several numbers on the dulcimer. He explained that in the 19th century many church congregations lacked the money to purchase an organ, so they sometimes chose to purchase a dulcimer which cost much less but still provided instrumentation for the church music.

Reverend Froemming with Dulcimer

The video below features Reverend Froemming playing the dulcimer.

Although it was not listed on the program, I next asked my daughter, Lisa Bauer, to play a quick tune on the saxophone that belonged to Joseph Kestol, my uncle, who was the custodian of the cemetery for over fifty years. Joey Kestol was a farmer by profession, but he was also a good musician. He played saxophone in a number of bands in the area for many years, and he was a long time member of the Whitewater City Band. Here is a short video.

I next reported on the progress of the church restoration over the past year. The windows are now finished and special recognition goes to the families who donated the windows. They are the McIntyres, the Johnsons, the Browns, and the Fischers. One window, dedicated to the Steensons, was funded by community donations. The one original window is dedicated to the Kestols. Special thanks also go to Whitewater Glass Company for providing the glass for the window project.

The church now has several smaller items that should be mentioned. These include a prayer chair beautifully rebuilt and refinished by Jerry Kramer of Whitewater, a star built from the original church floorboards by Jim Holden of Elkhorn, rag rugs donated by Larry and Terri Yanke, a 19th century table/bench made by the grandfather of Flora Helling, and a new altar made from original boards of the church.

I also want to thank Evie McIntyre for all the landscaping she has done in front of the church, around the bell, and on the south side of the church. Tony and Janet Brown also deserve enormous thanks for clearing out the brush from behind the church. The plan is to make a wide path behind the church and cemetery so one can walk from one end of the cemetery to the other.

The following video includes most of my remarks for the church update.

After the church update, the music program continued with everyone singing the hymn, Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness accompanied by Reverend Froemming on the organ.

That was followed by a solo presentation of Lisa Bauer playing Massenet’s Meditation.

After a few closing remarks from me, the music program then concluded with Reverend Froemming’s wonderful performance of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Lisa Bauer continued to play outside as refreshments were served as people mingled. Several people took the self-guided tour of the cemetery. Refreshments included coffee, apple cider, fresh apples, and Norwegian cookies such as krumkake and sandbakkels. I want to give special thanks to Quednow’s Heirloom Apple Orchard for providing the apple cider for the event. There were numerous comments about how good it was.

Again, I want to thank all those who made this event possible, especially the musicians Lisa Bauer and Reverend Larry Froemming. Thanks go to Charles Cottle who printed the flyers and the programs. He also maintains the website. I am especially appreciative of everyone who has given donations to the church restoration. At this year’s program, you were kind enough to donate more than $1,200.00. That amount will be extremely helpful in the coming year as we plan to complete the interior painting in the church, build a railing for the altar, and build pews like those that existed originally. I hope you all can come next year to see the progress on these projects.

A Gallery of Photos from the Music Program

Please click on any photo to enlarge it.

Georgia Kestol Bauer Addresses the Group

Members of the Audience

Members of the Audience

Alexandra Kestol Lights the Candles

Lisa Bauer Playing the Flute

Reverend Froemming with the Dulcimer

People Leaving the Church after the Program

People Leaving the Church after the Program

Examining the Self-Guided Tour Info

Lisa Bauer Plays the Flute after the Program

The Bergers after the Program

Alexandra Kestol Selling Cards

Three Friends with Refreshments

People Mingle after the Program

Reverend Froemming, Arlene Fischer, and Jim Holden

People Mingle after the Program

I am pleased to announce that we will have a music program on October 1st, 2017 at the Heart Prairie Norwegian Methodist-Episcopal Church. Rev. Larry Froemming has agreed to play our Estey pump organ and the dulcimer. Also on the program will be Lisa Bauer playing flute. I encourage everyone to come out to the church to enjoy the program and to see the progress of the restoration of the church. The church is located at the East Richmond Cemetery. If you are unfamiliar with the area, here is a map to the church. Below is the flyer with all the details. I hope to see you there.

Georgia Kestol

Dear followers of this site, we have scheduled a Fall Social and photo exhibit for Sunday afternoon, October 9, 2016. Wildlife photographs (mostly birds) by Charles Cottle, retired UW-Whitewater professor, will be featured. Refreshments will include apple cider and Norwegian bakery. Lisa Bauer will play the flute, and as before, there is a self-guided tour of the the cemetery available. Here is the announcement. Please share it with all who might be interested. We hope to see you there.

As noted, framed and unframed photos will be available for sale. We will also have note cards available. Charles says he will gladly take orders for photo sizes not available at the event.

For those who may not know how to get to the East Richmond Cemetery on County Highway P, here are the maps.

Recent News

It has been a while since news has been posted here, but that does not mean the restoration of the Heart Prairie Methodist-Episcopal Church has stalled. In fact, much has happened over the summer.

Church Restoration
Much of the activity this summer has focused on the construction and installation of new windows for the church and the painting of the walls as shown in the photos below. Because everything in the church is being restored to its original condition and appearance in the 1850’s, the window restoration was painstaking and tedious. Fortunately, volunteers helped the project along.

Georgia Kestol-Bauer Cleaning One of the Original Church Windows

The follow photo is of Evie McIntyre painting a church window dedicated to the memory of her parents.

Evie McIntyre Paints a Window Dedicated to the Memory of Her Parents

In the photo below, Rhonda Thompson, the great-great-great granddaughter of Christopher Steenson is painting one of the new windows. Christopher Steenson was one of the original founders of the church. It was he who gave the land to the community for the cemetery.

Rhonda Thompson, Descendant of Christopher Steenson, Paints Her Family Window

Below is a photo of Alexandra Kestol, great-great-great granddaughter of Peter Kestol, one of the church founders, painting trim at church.

Alexandra Kestol Painting Trim

And here is a snapshot taken sometime in the middle of getting the walls ready for  priming. As shown, the cracks in the plaster have just been repaired.

The Walls Ready for Primer

New Organ Donated
Another major event in the church restoration this summer was the acquisition of a new organ for the church. Donated by Duane Austin from Beloit, Wisconsin, the organ was delivered on Tuesday, September 27th, by the Reverend Larry Froemming. The organ is in great shape and sounds wonderful. Look for a video in this space soon.

The Church Founders’ Descendants Get Together
During the past year, the descendants of the early church founders got together for the first time. In May, Georgia Kestol-Bauer traveled to Eau Claire, Wisconsin to meet with the Stensen family. And later in the summer, Rhonda Thompson and her husband, visited the church. While there, they painted one of the windows.

In the photo below, Georgia Kestol-Bauer visits in Eau Claire with Iner Stensen Jr., the great-great grandson of Christopher Steenson.

Georgia Kestol-Bauer Visits with Iner Stensen Jr.

The photo below pictures Georgia Kestol-Bauer with the Stensen’s in Eau Claire.

Georgia Kestol-Bauer, Iner Stensen Jr., Rhonda Thompson, and the Stensen Family

The Reverend Kimberly Brumm Conducts the “Bless the Church” Service

On September 27, 2015, a warm Sunday afternoon, Reverend Kimberly Brumm of the Richmond United Methodist Church officiated at a “Bless the Church” service at the Heart Prairie Methodist-Episcopal Church at East Richmond Cemetery. Approximately fifty people were in attendance. In addition to Reverend Brumm, others participating in the service were Lisa Bauer (flautist), Alexandra Kestol (Lighting of the Candles), Fox Bauer and Jonathan Kestol (Ringing of the Bells), and Solveig Quinney (a Norwegian Reading). Georgia Kestol-Bauer, the leader and coordinator of the Heart Prairie Methodist-Episcopal Church restoration welcomed those in attendance. She spoke briefly about the history of the church and she thanked those who have helped with their generous contributions of time and money to advance the restoration project.

After the service, refreshments were served outside and a number of attendees followed the self-guided tour of the cemetery. The tour map is included in the program reproduced below.

A few photos of the event follow. Click on any of the photos for a larger version.

Georgia Kestol-Bauer Addresses the Group

Attendees Begin Arriving for the Service

Reverend Kimberly Brumm Conducts the “Bless the Church” Service

Alexandra Kestol – Lighting of the Candles

Fox Bauer (right) and Jonathan Kestol – Ringing of the Bells

Lisa Bauer Accompanies the Singing of a Hymn

Solveig Quinney Reads a Letter in Norwegian to the Group

Bless the Church Program

Program – Cover

Program – Order of the Service

Program – Order of the Service cont’d

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

For the Beauty of the Earth

Doxology and the Lord’s Prayer

Self-Guided E. Richmond Cemetery Tour

Program – Back Piece

The Norwegian American (Heart Prairie) Methodist Episcopal Church and East Richmond Cemetery.
Photo credit: Chris Welch, Daily Jefferson County Union

Please join us for a “Bless the Church” service on Sunday, September 27th at 4:00 p.m. Flute music, refreshments, and a self-guided tour of the cemetery will be included in the event.

The address is:

Heart Prairie Methodist Episcopal Church
at East Richmond Cemetery
N7372 County Highway P
Delavan, Wisconsin

For driving instructions and maps please follow this link.

We hope to see you there!