A Message From the Trustees

The trustees wish to thank you for your past support in attending the annual services and contributing toward the maintenance of the church and cemetery.  Old Salem Shrine provides the community with an introduction to the social dynamics of the 1860’s and 1870’s when neighbors came together to give of their treasure to build this church, worship God, and celebrate and share their faith. 

The inspiration they inspired has endured, and we hope that it will continue with individuals, such as you, to provide the interest, support, and resources to sustain its future.

As a church without a congregation, funding for routine maintenance has accrued from the services and events held at Old Salem Shrine during the year. The potential for funding of more costly operating expenses poses a significant challenge.

Research of the history of Old Salem Shrine revealed that it survived two years of grasshopper plague, plummeting land values, widespread debt, and the territory literally emptied of money. Those living on the frontier experienced severe poverty. Today, we are experiencing a similar situation to the founding fathers in 1939 – but in 2020 it is a pandemic.

We need your help in volunteering and providing monetary support.

History shows that the frontiers were able to sustain this church during the hard times and wars, so it is our hope that through your contributions and volunteering we can continue to support Old Salem Shrine during this period of pandemic.

At the present time, primarily by the work of volunteers, the trustees have been able to maintain the property. There is a need to build a fund large enough to keep the grass mowed, the weeds pulled, and make needed repairs to the cemetery and the church building’s interior and exterior.

In previous years, funding for routine maintenance has accrued from the Founder’s Day and Epiphany services, plus occasional weddings, and baptisms.  This year, however, because of the COVID-19 regulations, we canceled these events and services.  We must look to you and the community for resources if Old Salem Shrine’s future is to be sustained.  It would be a shame to have this historical church unavailable for weddings, baptisms, and our annual services and open houses, since these events provide important opportunities for the community to know, experience, and appreciate our history. The trustees are anxious to improve the church building and cemetery property to continue to offer these opportunities to the community.

“My hope for the church is that it remains a continuing legacy for future generations.” 

Jill Lewis, 2020

This article was published in the August 2020 issue of the newsletter.

Frederick Zehnder Family (circa 1903)

Frederick Zehnder family.jpg

Much of Old Salem’s preservation as a community treasure can be attributed to four generations of the Zehnder family.

At age 28, Frederick Zehnder left Germany and arrived in the United States in 1852. He settled on 160 acres of prime farmland overlooking Horseshoe Lake just south of Salem Church Road. He was one of the founding members of Salem Evangelical Church.

Frederick’s son, Christian, was born in 1871 in the family’s log cabin. Active in civic affairs and business, he assumed responsibility for maintaining Salem’s property and records.

Christian’s son, Cyrus, was born in 1900 and assumed the care-taking function when his father gradually retired. Cyrus continued the family trust until 1986 when his daughter, Laurie, and her husband Donald Dinger, assumed the watch, serving as Secretary and Treasurer for many years. Cy’s other daughter, Jill Lewis, also became involved around that time, serving as President for nearly 30 years.

Faith of the Founders: The Zehnder Family

“My hope for the church is that it remains a continuing legacy for future generations.”

An interview with Jill Zehnder Lewis, Past President of Old Salem Shrine Board of Directors, and granddaughter of C.J. Zehnder, one of the founding members of the church. Jill passed away on Sunday, June 7, which would have been Founders’ Day Sunday at Old Salem Shrine.

I remember my grandfather (C.J. Zehnder) talking about how the American Indians would use the grounds at Old Salem for their tents, etc. Occasionally Old Salem would hold a revival meeting over the weekend that would include those Indian families. After the uprising and the hanging of many Indians, families within the church adopted the orphan Indian children as their own.

For me, my earliest memory was that the Founders’ Day Service in June was a “big deal.”

This was the service held for the original families and their descendants to celebrate the heritage we had all been given. My Grandfather Christian J. Zehnder (nicknamed C.J.) spent a lot of time cutting grass, planting flowers, trimming, etc. to have everything in shape for that service. My father, Cyrus Zehnder, would work with the Conference to have a speaker available, the building in tip-top shape, and bulletins prepared. My mother, Edith Woods Zehnder, would provide the organ music for the service.

Both my father and grandfather were dedicated to the caretaking of the property. Both Grandpa and Dad would spend countless hours there planting and watering flowers, cutting grass, cleaning up brush and freshening up the church building. I remember that every summer my father would dedicate a week to paint the fence along the street. Occasionally he would find helpers, but he felt that wrought iron fence needed an annual paint job!

I was not very involved at Old Salem until the late 80s as Dad declined with Alzheimer’s. My role in the church grew over the years from attending services, to playing the organ for the services, and then to becoming an active participant on the committee.

I believe that Old Salem is a beacon for the community to show the historical significance as well as a continuing place of quiet rest for neighbors to reflect, meditate, and appreciate the surroundings.

“Old Salem is a signal to the modern generation of a ‘grounding’ to the past—so much that our ancestors gave up to have a place of worship and a church family.”
— Jill Zehnder Lewis, June 2020

Neighbors, I am told, say “we love our church” and several take an active role in keeping an eye on it.

The original name of Upper 55th St. was Salem Church Road – a great reference to the fact that there are two “Salem” churches on the road. Years ago, the neighborhood was primarily farms and has grown with development, both commercial and residential. The appreciation shown by the neighborhood when help is needed for Old Salem is very heartwarming.

I remember when both the fence and the aluminum siding were installed to assist in the ongoing maintenance. The original wood siding, as well as the fence, needed to be painted every year or two and the volunteers that had done it for many years had died. So, with contributions and volunteers, the aluminum siding was installed. In hindsight, that has proven to be a mistake in applying for historic status and associated grants.

One of my fondest memories is of my son, Mark, who was working at Old Salem when his wife went into labor with my first grandchild. She had been “pushing” the lawn mower while Mark was trimming in preparation for the Founders’ Day Service. It felt like a blessing connecting the generations.

Growing up, there were two services held at Old Salem each year: Founders’ Day on the first Sunday in June, and the Father/Son service on Father’s Day. My best memories would be watching the care my grandfather and father had for the church. Going to a service when I was a kid was somewhat mandatory but always heartwarming watching my mother playing the organ and my father greeting everyone who entered there.

Our challenges always seem to have been financial with continuous expenses to maintain the property, yet we have little connection to descendants of most of the families buried there.

My greatest joy has been watching as new visitors are in awe of the way which the building has been preserved in its original state.

I believe that my greatest contribution has been in involving more community members. Historically, the President of the Old Salem Committee of Trustees was the District Superintendent of the Evangelical United Brethren Church, and after the merger in 1968, the United Methodist Church.

The District Superintendents, though great leaders, were not familiar with the neighborhood and those who showed an interest in Old Salem.

This article appeared in the June 2020 issue of the Old Salem Shrine newsletter.

Excerpts from Congregational Meetings 1857 - 1900


October 30, 1857 at 2:00 pm - The men members of the Salem’s Congregation of the Evangelical Association met at an Assembly Hall to discuss congregational matters. This was likely the first annual meeting of the men members of the congregation. Women and adolescents were not invited to this meeting, which established a trend for subsequent meetings. Those in attendance were Brother August Hulster, Brother Fred Zehnder and Andrew Tarnutzer, the first minister of Salem EV.

January 22, 1867 - The first trustee selection was held, and the church was named “Salem’s Kirche.” The first trustees included Michael Gackstetter, Georg Glassing and Heinrich Schafer. Andrew Strohmeier was the first preacher.

July 6, 1867 - The Trustee Book was presented by Andrew Strohmeier to Brother Michael Gackstetter, the first Trustee of Church Property, described as “Salem’s Kirche of the Evangelical Association, Dakota County, Minnesota State, North America.” The first nine pages include trustee meeting data from 1867-1870.

The Church Building

The first church building was erected on land donated by the Blasé family in 1867 and by 1869, the congregation was eager to build another church to accommodate future growth.

November 18, 1869 - The congregation of approximately eleven families was roughly split between choosing a new site or one near the existing site.

April 9, 1870 - Michael Gackstetter presented a bill for approximately $45, which is believed to be the purchase price of the new church site on his farmstead. Each family was to be assessed $4.50 so that Michael could be paid by November 1, 1970. This transaction was not successful since the congregation would later choose a site near the existing site.

February 1, 1875 - A three-man committee was selected to secure a site to build the church. The church building was to be 20’x32’ and was largely completed that year. The shutters, the final finishing touch, were paid for in August 1876. Member pledges ranged from $1 - $10 with a total of $740.32 raised, of which $670 covered the cost of church, with $70.38 left over for a window shutter.

October 27, 1879 – Fire insurance should be secured on the church valued at $600.

October 1, 1880 - The old church should be sold, and Rev. Herman Bunse bought it for $5 in cash.

Rules of the Church

April 8, 1871 - The Rules were established for the Salem Congregation. Everyone shall take a seat and keep it from the beginning until the end of the meeting. No one is allowed to withdraw without permission from the chairman. Anyone wishing to speak shall stand and honorably address the chair and speak no longer than five minutes at a time and not more than three times over one objection. No one shall be interrupted in his speech until he has finished.

Old Salem Cemetery – “God’s Acre”

December 11, 1876 - George Glassing should write a card of the place of the burials and owners of lots on the cemetery and numbers of lots not yet sold.

October 28, 1878 - Trustees to “see to it that God’s Acre (cemetery) be used to plant tomatoes.”

October 27, 1879 - Each plot on the cemetery should cost $7 and a single grave should sell for $1.

October 25, 1881 - Trustees to plot the cemetery and quarterly collections should be taken during the year for the upkeep of the church.

October 6, 1883 -Trustees have the right to get the church painted and members build a fence around the cemetery. Each one shall bring six fence posts for the fence.

September 7, 1887 - God’s Acre should be surveyed, the north end should be laid out in family lots, the hill on God’s Acre be cut down, single graves be sold until family lots were laid out, and family lots be raised in price from $5 to $10.

February 26, 1888 – Single graves should be raised in price from $1 to $2, wire fencing should be used for the fence along the swamp.

September 7, 1889 - Lawyer advised the trustees that they should have a regular deed for cemetery lots and should have one hundred handbills printed at $7.50. Each lot owner should get regular deed for it. Decided that “whoever wants a lot in our cemetery or a burial place in our cemetery shall pay for it in full before he can bury his dead.”

January 8, 1910 - Last entry in the chronicle. “It was suggested that the work of serving the church should be done the same way as the former year. It was accepted.”

Faith of the Founders: Jacob Albright – 1759-1808

The Old Salem Shrine story began with Jacob Albright, whose parents left Germany in 1732 to escape their homeland’s continuous political and religious conflicts. In America, they farmed near Pottstown, Pennsylvania and joined a growing community of Germans known as the Pennsylvania Dutch. On May 1, 1759, Jacob was born. At age 26 he married Catherine Cope and they raised six children on a 45-acre farm near Hangstown, but a dysentery epidemic claimed all six of their children.

Overcome with grief, Jacob searched for a new meaning in his life and believed he could help others who had suffered adversities. At first, he traveled through nearby towns as an unpaid lay-preacher and established an Evangelical church in a nearby town. With a growing interest in his message he organized three evangelistic classes which became the seed of the evangelical movement and the formation of the Evangelical Association of North America.

When he died in 1808 the Association had thousands of members and a core of preachers traveling throughout the United States and Canada serving German families in pioneer communities. The German families in northern Dakota County would be one of those communities.

John Frederick Hielscher

Note: In an April 7, 1956 letter to Clifford Ruona, Virginia Irene Zehnder-Janecek recalled memories of her Uncle John and Aunt Leah Hielscher and their visits from California. “John would hold us spell-bound with stories of the Alaskan frontier and his many narrow escapes.” This is Virginia’s story.

John Frederick Hielscher was born on June 15, 1866 in Le Seuer, MN. On June 15, 1891, he married Leah Zehnder and they made their home in San Francisco. Leah died on August 27, 1954 and John on November 27, 1955.

John was the son of the Rev. Ernest Julius Hielscher (1826-1914) and ran the first grocery and feed store on Concord Street, where the Drover’s Bank now stands in South St. Paul.

His story, however, chronicles the adventures of a butcher, gold miner, world traveler and very proud owner of a 1921 Model-T Ford.

With the coming of the Alaskan Gold Rush John and Leah moved to Seattle. “He took with him 138 live hogs and established the first butcher shop in Alaska. Each hog was sewed into a gunny sack and sent across the Chilkoot Pass by cable and then to Fairbanks, where he sold the hogs at 150 per pound live weight.”

During the next 17 years he made 29 trips to Alaska from Seattle, each time taking with him cattle, sheep, horses and hogs. He ran a butcher shop in Valdez and became publisher of the Valdez News while keeping up his mine interests. He was also known as a trader with the Eskimos.

When John retired they went home to Seattle and he purchased a 1921 Model-T Ford, second-hand, in 1923. He painted the wheels red and polished the motor like new and set out to enjoy a “second honeymoon,” travelling through the U.S five times, visiting all 48 states, Canada and Mexico. In fact, at the time of their 60th wedding anniversary in 1951, he had over 153,000 miles on the car and famously refused to accept Henry Ford’s tempting offer to trade his Model-T for the newest model. In 1949, his brother, Dr. Adolph Hielscher, left him an inheritance of several thousand dollars.

He used the money to travel to St. Paul and from there they travelled to Chile and Argentina and from there they went by plane, train and thousands of miles up the rivers by boat to see South America first-hand but said it did not compare with the old Model-T travels.

Virginia recalled that on each one of his visits he would hold them spell-bound with stories of the Alaskan frontier and his many narrow escapes. “He always was so interesting! Both Uncle and Aunt enjoyed life like few people can in their later years. . .they just traveled about and were interested in the history of the places they visited. He is known as my ‘Rich Uncle’ as money never was an obstacle for to him - he made plenty in Alaska – during those early years that he could afford to take life easy later. Pioneering days however were hard and rugged but the history of Alaska will never be written without his name.”

Leah died on August 26, 1954 and “somehow the honeymoon was over for him.” John continued living in the apartment “living with memories which made him very, very lonely – but somehow he picked up the loose ends again and made plans for the future. . . much like a young man setting out – with a great future ahead – but little did he realize that the time ahead would be short” In the midst of packing things to a visit with Virginia and Joseph he died of a heart attack and was buried December 3rd, 1955. Virginia received a long letter he’d sent before his death and wrote in her letter “it makes you weep what plans were left unfinished.”

He was having a special granite tombstone made in St. Cloud for Leah, telling their Alaskan story, but the sculptor was left with an unfinished model after John’s death.

“Just before his death he sent me a small box and when I opened it here he sent me the first gold nugget he panned in his Alaskan Gold Mine - back in 1898- he wanted me to have it – so he took it out of the safety box at the bank and mailed it to me. Why? Because I was kind to him – I sent him a sympathy card when Aunt Leah died with a few words which touched his heart. Then I kept sending him letters of cheer until his dying day and somehow he appreciated it much.”

“Well poor Uncle John is over on the other shore enjoying another “honeymoon with Leah” now and I’m sure he is happy wherever he is. We shall always cherish those memories of the stories that came out of his Alaskan experience. Both were 89 years of age.”

Virginia Irene (Zehnder) Janecek
Virginia Zehnder, born December 26, 1898, was the daughter of Christian J. Frederick and Martha Zehnder. On June 7, 1922 she married Oscar Ingwald, who died in 1934. On August 31, 1939, she married Joseph J. Janecek. Virginia died on October 20, 1977.

This story was published in the Old Salem Shrine newsletter, vol. 5, 2018.