Salem Lutheran Church
Salem Norwegian Lutheran Church, a member in the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, first met on September 22, 1890 in a private home at 24 Perry Avenue. In April 1891 the Temperance Hall (or Harts Hall) at 1682 Milwaukee Avenue was rented for one year. The congregation attempted to find land for a church building but was not successful. Discussions were held with Zion Lutheran on Dania Avenue, with whom they shared Pastor Nils Arveson, but Zion was against the merger. In July 1892, Salem rented Merricks Hall at Milwaukee and Hoffman (2600 N. Rockwell). They used this facility until deciding to merge with Bethel Lutheran Church. On Jan. 1, 1893 the two congregations officially merged and continued to use the Bethel name.
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Pastors |
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Nils Arveson |
1891-1892 |
Original records
Original records should be located at Bethel Lutheran Church, 2101 N. Humboldt Blvd., Chicago, IL 60647. Early record books for Bethel have been microfilmed and should also contain records from Salem. These are available at the ELCA Archives on ALC #402, which contains church minutes from 1889 to 1925, and ALC #404, which contains membership records from 1889 to 1963. The ELCA Archives also has congregational histories and other materials relating to Bethel and Salem.
Sources
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 Years of Mission and Ministry, 1992.