Cordelia Lutheran Church

This Cordelia Lutheran Church was built in 1883, seven years before Idaho became a state.  The church was built on one acre donated by Andrew S. Olson, an original member of the congregation.  The church bought an additional acre adjacent to the church for use as a cemetery, for which they paid the sum of $25.  This church was built by the Swedish Lutheran Augustana Synod and holds the reputation as the smallest Lutheran church in Idaho at only 18 x 24 feet. 

Cordelia Lutheran Church, c. 1940, Courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 25-06-48.

The Augustana Synod, founded in Wisconsin, sent Peter J. Carlson to establish Swedish Lutheran churches throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Trained as a carpenter in Sweden, Carlson personally designed and helped build 13 frontier churches, he also initiated the construction of many more.  The Greek Revival design of this church is similar to the first church Carlson constructed in the western territories at Astoria, Oregon.
 

Cordelia's first pastor, Peter J. Carlson, Courtesy of www.cordeliachurch.org .

The Cordelia congregation quickly shrunk to only one committed family by 1903 and services ceased between 1913 and 1920.  The daughter of Andrew Olson donated funds in May of 1948 to restore the church which had fallen into disrepair.  The church has faced possible sales, moving and demolition but remains intact at its original location.  The Cordelia Lutheran Church is currently owned by the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Moscow and preserved by the Friends of Cordelia organization.  The church hosts summer concerts, weddings and festivals.

Cordelia Lutheran Church, c. 1980, Courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 25-07-02.

References:

Houser, Michael. Friends of Cordelia Newsletter, Oct. 1994, Volume 1 Number 2 “Cordelia Church is Built,” Private Collection.

Otness, Lillian W. A Great Good Country: A guide to Historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho. (Moscow: Latah County Historic Society, 1983), 165.

Rognas, Liza R. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Cordelia Lutheran Church, February 24, 1995.