Four Mile Lutheran Church - The Norwegian Society of Texas

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Four Mile Lutheran Church

FOUR MILE CEMETERY

BY BETTY ANN GUNDERSON VOWELL FREEMAN TREDNICK

5-25-10, PAGE 1 OF 3

FOUR MILE CEMETERY IS LOCATED IN VAN ZANDT CO., ELEVEN MILES NE OF MABANK, TX., ON VAN ZANDT CO. RD. 2607. WATCH FOR THE FOUR MILE SIGN. FROM MABANK, FOLLOW FM 90 NORTH TO PRAIRIEVILLE. TURN RIGHT AT PRAIRIEVILLE, STILL ON FM 90, AND GO THREE MILES TO FOUR MILE SIGN ON LEFT. TURN LEFT AT THE SIGN, AND GO APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE TO THE CEMETERY WHICH IS BEHIND FOUR MILE LUTHERAN CHURCH. FROM DALLAS, GO INTERSTATE 20 EAST TO HWY. 47, WHICH IS EXIT 516. GO SOUTH, [RIGHT], ON 47 FOR NINE MILES TO FM 90, WHICH IS AT THE OLD WISE STORE. TURN RIGHT AND GO WEST ON 90 ABOUT 3 1/2 MILES TO FOUR MILE SIGN. FROM KAUFMAN, TAKE 1836 TO PRAIRIEVILLE AND TURN LEFT ON FM90.

THE 1848 NORWEGIAN SETTLERS NAMED THE SETTLEMENT FOUR MILE PRAIRIE BECAUSE THEY FOUND THE PRAIRIE TO BE FOUR MILES LONG AND FOUR MILES WIDE. IT’S THE PRAIRIE THAT GAVE THE COMMUNITY, CEMETERY, AND CHURCH THEIR NAMES, PRAIRIEVILLE, FOUR MILE CEMETERY, AND FOUR MILE LUTHERAN CHURCH, RESPECTIVELY.

Four Mile Lutheran Church celebrated its 165th Anniversary

Posted on 6 June, 2013 by Mari-Anne Moore

Four Mile Lutheran Church celebrated its 165th Anniversary on May 5, 2013. Over 200 people attended, among them a large group from Bosque County and members from Midnattsolen, Troll Hjem and Viking Chapter. John, Nick, Jessica and I attended with the Ormen Lange II, which was well received. Other Viking members was Jim and Sherry Johnson and Susanne Juliussen.

The Church is located in Van Zandt County, not too far from Mabank. This is where the first Norwegian Settlers made their first home and first held Church Services. The land where the church and cemetery is located was donated by Elise Waerenskjold, known from the book Undaunted and Lady with the pen. Her husband and son are buried there. This is also where Cleng Peerson first visited before he went on to Bosque County to found the settlement in Norse.

The celebration started with a wonderful service officiated by the Bishop of North Texas and Louisiana, Bishop Kevin Kanouse and Pastor of Four Mile Lutheran Jan Castleberry. The Bishop had studied the history of the Church and gave an informative and entertaining message.

Following the service was a fantastic pot luck lunch. Most people tried to find a spot inside as this was an unusually cool day. Perfect Bunad weather. Along the wall on one side were tables filled with mementos from 165 years of history. Lunch was followed by speeches and proclamations from Van Zandt dignitaries and the Mayor of Dallas, Mike Rawlins. The Mayor has a special connection with the area as his wife’s family is from Four Mile Prairie.

NST members pose with Ormen Lange II. Picture: Faith’s Photography

We started the day watching the Bishop and pastors arrive in the beautiful horse drawn carriage. It shuttled between the main road and the church with guests all day long. We ended our day with a very peaceful ride with Council President, Barbara Metch-Holan, reflecting on the success of the celebration and promised to back for the next one.

The Bishop Kevin Kanouse and the Pastors arrive: Picture: Faith’s Photography

A thank you from the organizers to all members of NST who participated:

Hello. What a glorious day it was on Sunday. Thanks to you and to all who came, who are members of the Norwegian Society of Texas.

Thanks for the food and for bringing the ship. The ship was such a big hit!! This is it’s third time to be at Four Mile. We appreciate you bringing it so much.

We are so proud of our church, which is our members, and guidance that we get from our Shepherd, Pastor Jan Castleberry.

I so hope that all of you enjoyed the day. I was so busy that I did not get to visit with very many at all.

Again, thank you so much for coming and please come back to visit any time. Please pass our thanks to any other which you can. Mari-Anne if you could relay our thanks to the membership, I would appreciate it so much.

Blessings, Betty Ann Gunderson Trednick

John is greeting the Bosque bunch. Picture: Faith’s Photography