A VOYAGE BACK to the founding of

                     TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

                                 Traverse City, MI  

                                   March 26, 1983

INTRODUCTION

  This booklet is an attempt to "voyage back in time" to the founding of our beloved parish, Trinity Lutheran Church. This is not its official history, but an attempt to communicate the flavor and tenor of the times.  This booklet is historical fiction, that is, a story based on actual facts. 

  Much research has gone into the development of Trinity’s "Pre-History" in terms of the immigration materials, the weather statistics, and the commercial aspects of the Traverse City community. All of the information contained in the enclosed "Traverse City Herald" is factual in con­tent, but, unless otherwise noted, did not appear in the March 22, 1883, edition. Our "visit" to the first service of Trinity Lutheran Church is definitely historical fiction. Our records only indicate the location and number in attendance. Yet, it is fascinating to speculate on the anticipation and joy ex­perienced on Easter Sunday, 1883, when our parish had its birth. 

  Let your mind wander and travel back through the pages of history as we imagine Traverse City in the late l800’s, the courage demonstrated by the early settlers, and the adventure of joys and heartaches that the future would hold for these early Michiganians. 

              THE SETTLING OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN

  Michigan became a state in 1837, after originally being a part of the Northwest Territory of the late 1700's. Settlements were growing in the southern half of the state with the immigration of New Englanders who were "fed-up" with the ever-growing New England population and the loss of prime farm land (which was extremely scarce in New England). But, Michigan needed to grow. Quite simply, the state needed people. 

  The "New York Tribune", as quoted in the "Traverse City Herald" stated, "What shall we do with our penniless young men? If they have any capacity for work, better send them to northern Michigan, where they can make homes and a living for themselves." Many came, but it wasn't enough.

Conditions in Germany during the l8OO's were not good and continued to grow worse as the years progressed. In 1883 Reverend Frederick Schmid arrived In Washtenaw County (ANN ARBOR), Michigan, and began a settlement of German Luth­erans. He was instrumental in calling the Reverend August Craemer, who with a colony of 15 Bavarian Lutherans, founded the city of Frankenmuth in 1845. These Franconian Lutherans continued to establish other parishes and Lutheranism contin­ued to grow in the Saginaw Valley. Although we are synodically related to these fellow Lutherans, they did not play a part in our early history

  Michigan was desperate for settlers and actively recruited in Germany as indicated by the above diagram. The State of  Michigan also needed the revenue from land sales to the German immigrants. In 1815, the State of Michigan established a New York based office with the sole purpose of bringing the Germans to northern Michigan.

  The Germans were anxious to come to America, the Land of Freedom and Opportunities. In 1848, an unsuccessful German Revolution occurred which brought untold agony to most German households.  By 1860, vast numbers of German immigrants had left the German Provinces of Prussia, Wurtemberg, Bavaria, Baden, and Hesse. With Michigan's "slick" advertising campaign, these immigrants headed to the North Country. The Germans continued to come in great numbers reaching a peak of approximately 140,000 in 1890. Except for a brief period (1870-1871) during the Franco-Prussian War, there was no stopping the German migration north.

CENTENNIAL POLITICS

  In the year of our founding, Chester Alan Arthur was President of the United States. Arthur, a Vermonter by birth, assumed the Presidency after the death of President James Garfield (due to assassination) on September 20, 1881. Arthur's background represented the corrupt "machine" politics of New York City. It is interesting to note, however, that his presidential years are typified by historians as being extremely honest and efficient. After seeing the White House, Arthur indicated that it looked like "a badly kept barracks" and ordered it renovated.

Arthur is best remembered for his active participation in establishing the Pendleton Civil Service Act. Many government positions today are still awarded by the system established in 1883.

   Our founding year brought an interesting change to politics in Michigan. For the first time in 29 years, a non-Republican governor was running Michigan. Josiah W. Begole, a Flint farmer, was elected governor for 1883-84. Begole, a former Republican, had been a state senator (1871-72), a delegate to the National Republican Convention, and a member of the 43rd U.S. Congress.

However, 1873 brought major changes to Michigan and the Nation. The United States experienced a major depression and much re­sentment grew in the Nation towards the “moneyed class”. At the same time, inflation was a major issue. During the Civil War, $450 million worth of U.S. Treasury notes were issued without gold to back them up. Simply put, these paper dollars were worthless. Congress wanted these “greenbacks” withdrawn and gold-backed dollars to be issued. Unfortunately for the people, bills incurred dur­ing the cheap money would now have to be paid in the harder-to-earn "gold backed" dollars. Begole favored using the "Greenback" dollars, as did the Michigan Democrats. The "Greenback" Party fused with the Democratic Party to oust the former

Republican Governor, David H Jerome (1881-1882), a lumber baron from Saginaw, and place Begole in the State Capitol. Can you imagine the political chats around the pickle barrels in the general stores of Michigan at the time?

 CENTENNIAL COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

  Michigan, during the late 1800's, is best remembered for the logging of white pines. From 1860-1900, Michigan’s economy was totally dominated by this industry. With the arrival of Perry Hannah and A. Tracy Lay, Traverse City became the lumbering capital of the north. Hannah and Lay were originally from Chicago. Perry Hannah arrived in 1851 to organize and supervise the logging camps and mills in the area. His partner, A.T. Lay, remained in Chicago and ran the lumberyard from which most of the milled wood was sold. By i860, commercial lumbering was well underway on the Boardman River. Although logging originally began in the Bay City-Saginaw area, two major droughts and subsequent forest fires pretty well destroyed what was left of the virgin timber of the Saginaw Valley. With the down-state forest gone, the suppliers turned northward in search of timber.

   Agriculture was Michigan's second largest industry in northern Michigan. Wheat and fresh fruits were the biggest agricultural items from this area. Utilizing the Grand Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan, fresh produce and grains raised in the area were shipped to a ready market in Chicago and points west. Basic crops grown in the region during the l880's included: wheat, corn, oats, barley, buckwheat, hay, potatoes, beets, turnips, and carrots. (Prior to 1890, Michigan produced more peppermint than all of the other states combined.) Grand Traverse County attracted many would-be farmers for several reasons: the  moderating effect of the bay enhanced fruit orchards, the bay provided transportation for produce to market, and land was relatively inexpensive (In 1858, land in Grand Traverse County sold for $1.25 per acre!)

   By 1860, fishing appears as this region's third largest industry. The fish were caught in the Grand Traverse Bay, packed in ice, and shipped downstate to markets on various rail lines. Interestingly enough, hunting and fishing were promoted for tourist trade as early as the late l800’s.

   By 1900, the north country's growth was slowing and industry could not grow fast enough to absorb the immi­grants. "Michigan Fever" for the Germans had ended.

 THE TRAVERSE CITY HERALD      MARCH 22, l883           2 cents

    NEW HANNAH & LAY STORE

April 5 is the day that Mr. Perry Hannah plans to open his new three

story general mercantile store.  It is rumored that Mr. Hannah's

partner,  A. Tracy Lay, will travel from Chicago for the grand opening. The building is being constructed  out of bricks manufactured by the Markham Brick Yard located 7 miles south of Traverse City at Keystone.

They are using "slush brick" as used in the Traverse City State Bank and the asylum buildings. The store promises to carry all of the latest gadgets known. The millinery department promises to carry the latest fashions. Hannah and Lay also own and operate the flour mill and Traverse City State  Bank.

                                       DEUTSCH LUTHERANER

Pastor Feddersen predight nächsten (Oster) Sonntag wieder in der episcopal kirche hier. Beginnt um 2 uhr nachmitags.   (The above is the actual announcement carried in the paper.)

                   PRESIDENT ARTHUR SIGNS PENDLETON ACT

Although accused of some shady practices while Collector of the Port of New York, President Arthur signed the Pendleton Civil Service Act into law on January 16. This act provides for government jobs to be awarded on merit instead of partisanship. Further details will be covered when they become available. (As a widower, the President's youngest sister, Mrs. Mary A, McElroy continues to serve as the official White House Hostess.)

         THE TRAVERSE CITY HERALD  March 22, 1883   Page 2

 APACHES STILL ON WARPATH

The city of Tucson in the Arizona territory continues to be raided by bands of Apache Indians. Once assigned to the White Mt. Reservation, the Chiricahau Band moved to northern Mexico from whence the attacks are launched. The Apache leader called Geronimo (Mexican for Jerome) is determined to lead his people back to their original land or fight until his own death.

WITCH AFFECTS FAMILY

It is reported that the Jesse Miller family, farmers in Greenville Township of Somerset County, is afflicted with a witch. Strange happenings, blood-curdling yells, and other strange events have been noted by the family and the neighbors as well.

 GERMAN RULERS TO VISIT

Emperor William and the crown prince of Prussia will both attend the celebration of the fourth centenary of Luther's birth at Eisleben, Nov. 10, when the statue of the Reformer will be unveil­ed by the Emperor in person. (This is an actual verbatim excerpt from the "Traverse City Herald on March 22, 1883.)

  FAMILY FUNNIES

Undoubtedly the cow that died recently in Comstock from eating too many apples had trouble in cider.

       POSTAGE RISES

Effective October 1, 1883, stamps will rise to 2$ each.

OSTER SONNTAG                                                  25 MäRZ   1883

Worship services were held in homes prior to 1880, under the direction of

circuit-riding Pastors Bruss and Karrer. Pastor M.H. Fedderson, missionary-at-large, headquartered in Petoskey, had Traverse City as one of his preaching stations in 1882. On Easter Sunday, March 25, 1883, services were held in the old Grace Episcopal Church located on West State Street.  The Michigan Bell Office presently occupies the spot. On that special Easter Sunday, Pastor

Feddersen organized Trinity Lutheran Congregation (Trinitatis Gemeinde). Let us travel back to that day when it all began.

               **********************

Im Namen des Vaters, des Sohnes und des Heiligen Geistes. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

  After Pastor opened the Easter Service with the invocation, the congregation of ten men and their families joyfully sang the Easter hymn, "Christ the Lord is Risen Again".

Christus ist erstanden        Christ the Lord is risen again!

Von des Todes Banden;        Christ has broken death's strong chain!
Des freuet sichder Engel        Hark, the angels shout for joy

   Schar,                            

Singend im Himmel immerdar: Singing evermore on high:

Halleluja!                                  Hallelujah!

After reading the Old Testament Lesson and the Epistle, Pastor Feddersen announced "Die Heilige Evangelium aus Markus 16....”Und da der Sabbat vergangen war, kauften Maria Magdalena und Maria, des Jakobus Mutter, und Salome Sprezerei, auf dasz sie kämen und salbten ihn."...The Holy Gospel is from Mark 16... "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.”

Declaring their faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed (Der Apostolische Glaube)...”Ich glaube an Gott den Vater, allmächtigen Schöpfer Himmels und der Erden, Und an Jesum Christum...Ich glaube an den Heiligen Geist...Amen.
Our founding fathers declared their faith in the Risen Lord.

 Following Pastor Feddersen sermon entitled, "Erstanden" ("He is Arisen" based on Mark 16:6, the congregation pre­pared to celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. During the distribution, the congregation joyously sang the famil­iar 17th century communion hymn, “I Come, 0 Savior, to Thy Table”

Ich komm’ zu deinem Abendmahle,  I come,0 Savior, to Thy Table,

Weil meine Seele hungrig ist,        For weak and weary is my  soul

Der du Wohnst in dem Freuden     Thou, Bread of Life,
       saale                                    alone art able

Und meiner Seele Speise bist;    To satisfy and make me whole:

Mein Jesu, lass dein Fleisch           Lord,  may Thy body and
und Blut                                    Thy blood

Sein meiner Seele hochstes Gut     Be for my soul the highest good!

With the Sacrament completed, Pastor Feddersen led the congregation in prayer and closed the service with the Benediction.

   With the women and children excused to the narthex, the actual organization of the congregation and the signing of the charter took place imploring the blessings of Almighty God (Allmächtigen Gott) on the Trinitatis Gemeinde (Trinity Congregation).

   The evening of March 24, 1883, saw a low of 19 degrees and the falling of two inches of snow. Easter Sunday, 1883, brought the warm rays of sunshine and a high temperature of 40.  As the sun rose that March morning, the first parishioners were reminded of the Son's rising some 1800 years previously.

   As the founding fathers left the church, puffing on their hand-carved pipes, the women were admiring each others outfits. Women’s fashions of the day consisted of pleated skirts made of light grey wool and trimmed with multi­colored velvet ribbons. To be fashionable, the ladies tied their bonnet strings in a pretty bow under the left ear.

   Although the above is a fictional account of our founding day (and may the original participants forgive the historical inaccuracy), it is hoped that the spirit and dedication begun that March 25, 1883, may continue to pervade Trinity Congregation, and with the blessings of the Holy Spirit, may Trinity's next 100 years be blessed in as rich a manner.