Moments in Our History

When the First Congregational United Church of Christ was being formed
125 years ago, Pierre was not yet even a town.
Fort Pierre was bustling, as the Fort Pierre-Deadwood Trail led to gold
in the Black Hills.
But in spring of 1880, Pierre consisted of a few shacks,
and a post office called Matoh.

When the Rev. Stewart Sheldon visited in May, 1880,
he sent home this description of Fort Pierre: 

“. . . a strange mixture of Americans, English, Irish, Swedes,
Norwegians, Russians, Poles, French, Canadians, Indians,
Protestants, Catholics, Spiritualists, Moralists, Liberals, Freelovers, Ingersolites, and Nothing-arins.
Freighters and cowboys and adventurers
from nearly all over the world
and there was one continued white heat of excitement
week days, Sabbath days, and all.  .   

The Hon. L. B. Albright remembers Pierre in September, 1880:  

“Pierre was full of hard characters
and the saloons and dance halls were the main attractions.
Three hotels were being built but were not yet completed. 
Allen’s restaurant on Coteau Street was the only place furnishing meals.
It was patronized by a large part of the citizens of Pierre.
Some of the parties were not the best of citizens
– although of the gentler sex.” 

The Rev. Stewart concludes,
“It was indeed first-class missionary ground without any mistake.”

Rev. Stephen Return Riggs
preached the first known Christian sermon in English in this area
on September 29, 1840,
near the trading post Fort Pierre Choteau.
This historic occasion is portrayed in the stained glass windows
above the altar in the First Congregational United Church of Christ.


Rev. Riggs helped create a Dakota alphabet,
and translated books of the Bible and hymns into Dakota,
also on display at the church.

In late winter of 1872,
Thomas Lawrence Riggs and his brother Henry
constructed the first log mission in this area,
along the Missouri River bottoms
amidst a small village of Lakota people.
It was called Hope Station.

Riggs spent the next 47 years of his life among the Lakotas,
working to help ease their transition to a new way of life
as Tribal lands disappeared in treaties,
and the buffalo all but vanished from the Great Plains.

          On August 19, 1880,
Rev. T. L. Riggs informed the American Home Missionary Society
of the need for services in Pierre and Fort Pierre.

Rev. William B. Williams arrived to preach
wherever he could find a place,
in warehouses and store buildings,
on either side of the river. 

A Sunday school was formed
which met in a dance hall,
and Rev. Williams and his wife lived in a tent. 

On November 28, 1880,
eight people assembled
and organized themselves into the
first Congregational Church of Pierre. 

Pierre was one month old. 

The small town of Pierre was growing rapidly,
as the railroad arrived in 1880. 
But that winter was bitterly cold.

L. B. Albright tells us:   

“ there was a grand rush to get ready for winter.
We worked every day, including Sunday.
On November 5^th the first regular train arrived.
It had been very cold, 10 degrees below zero for several days.
The river was frozen over, and it was snowing almost every day.
On the 20^th of December the last train left Pierre
and from that time until May 8^th, 1881,
the road was blocked from Winona, Minnesota west.
In a short time after trains quit running
the town was out of coal, meat of all kinds, butter and kerosene
-- but there was a supply of flour and canned goods
in the warehouses at Fort Pierre
so people did not really suffer for something to eat.

I did not attend any of the services of the new Congregational church
-- my wardrobe did not permit me to appear in public.

The great object of every one at that time
was to get a place to stay and to get something to eat . . .
It was so cold and almost impossible to get fuel . . .
Conditions were such that it was almost impossible
to get people interested in church matters.” 

The young Congregational church
was trying hard to find a place to hold services.

James A. Ward, one of the eight Charter members of the church, says:  

“The winter of 1880-81 was extremely cold, even for Dakota.
Finally a large tent was procured and located on Dakota Avenue
near the foot of Fort Street.
The tent was well banked up and made quite comfortable.
There all services, festivals, and other functions were held
during the winter of 1880-81
and all were well patronized by both saint and sinner.”   

The first Lord’s Supper
was administered by Rev. Williams on January 2, 1881.

Eugene Steere and his wife Lottie recalled
members of the new Congregational church
worshipped 14 places
before they had a building.

Mr. Steere said: 

Mrs. Steere and I used to go on Sunday morning
and find we had been ousted from our previous place
and have to carry the organ and books to some new found place.” 

The new church,
built on the southeast corner of Capitol Avenue & Pierre Street,
was dedicated on September 3, 1882.

Rev. Thomas L. Riggs of the Oahe Mission preached the sermon.

The following summer a bell was purchased,
with funds raised with a Basket Festival,
an Oyster Supper, and the Bell through the Broom Brigade.

The Congregational church was moved in 1907
to our current location at Highland and Prospect Avenues.

It was re-built during the Great Depression in 1932 and '33. 

More History

The First Congregational United Church of Christ of Pierre
celebrates our 125th year this August 4^th through 7^th.

We invite you to come hear teacher Gabe Fackre,
see Paul Daly the horse whisperer,
and join us for fun and worship at Fischers Lilly Park,
on the Capital City Queen,
and in church.

Truly everyone in the community is welcome.

Please join us.