Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The Stavanger Church is now home to an extensive collection of wedding-related artifacts that date from 1879 to 1942. Three of the wedding dresses can be seen here. From left to right, these dresses were worn by Martha Simonson Veen in 1907, Fredricka Hahn Nuetzel in 1879 and Mrs. Karl Erickson in 1896. Courtesy photo.
This veil headpiece was worn by Anna Mahrula when she married Joe Gaffrey in 1942. The couple married in New Jersey, just before Joe was deployed for his service in WWII. The beads used in the headpiece mimic orange blossoms, which were originally made popular in Queen Victoria's wedding ensemble in 1840.
Of the three buildings that comprise The Eddy County Museum, the Stavanger Church is our most recent addition. Originally constructed in 1909, Stavanger Church served the rural population near Cathay for more than 70 years. After it closed in July of 1983, the church arrived at its new home on the Eddy County Museum grounds on Oct. 20, 1984.
Many folks who visit the museum share a connection to the church. Some say, "I was baptized in this church," or "This is where my grandparents were married." Board member Sandy Pfau O'Connor was tickled pink to learn that her great-grandfather John Holth had a hand in the construction of the very same church she was working to preserve.
In recent years, the Stavanger Church has been getting a lot of extra TLC. We began renovations in 2019 with the installation of a new roof and the removal of the damaged drop ceiling. When removing the ceiling tiles, we discovered the original dome ceiling, constructed with plaster and lathe underneath. Immediately the Historical Society began making plans and hired local contractor Dean Wallace to preserve the integrity of the dome ceiling by installing shiplap along its contours.
In the summer of 2021, the renovations were complete and we began unpacking artifacts and creating displays. Through the process, we learned we had an incredible collection of wedding dresses, suits, and accessories dating to the early 1900s. What better place to house a historic wedding collection than in a historic church!
The display is still under development. Thanks to a donation from the New Rockford Eagles we're now in the process of acquiring mannequins to properly display both dresses and suits. The New Rockford Lions also made a significant contribution toward the purchase of new display cases. It's going to be a sight when it's all done!
