The Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairview is about to get a new lease on life. The original part of the building turned 70 this year and is about to be moved to its new home at the Fairview Pioneer Museum.
Museum Chairperson Randy Peterson says the church was donated to them by the owners to be added to the museum’s collection.
“The Lutheran church is down to about eight or 12 members right now and they do the upkeep on the church all year long. They’re trying to sell the lots but nobody wants to be the person that tears down the church so we asked them if they would be interested in donating the church and they agreed to that.”
It was built over the fall and winter of 1948-49 and an addition was added later. Only the original part of the building will be moving. Peterson hopes to move it on September 19th but says it isn’t going to be easy.
“We can’t take the shortest route to move this; we have to bypass town. We have to go a mile west of Fairview and then four miles north, then back another mile east, then about two miles south and into the Fairview Pioneer Museum site. It’s going to be an all-day process.”
All the costs associated with moving the building are being fully paid for by the museum through fundraising efforts. While a total for all the work is not currently known, Peterson says just moving the building will cost them around $13,000.
The last service in the church will be held on September 8th. After that, the congregation will move to Mall on Main for their services.