Jones County Texas Archives - History of Ericksdahl Community - 1930 *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 19 January 2020 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** The Stamford American Friday, April 18, 1930 Vol. 7, Number 1 Life of Ericksdahl Community Centers Around the Church by Mrs. Phillip Olson It was just about a quarter of a century ago that the community of Ericksdahl was founded and it was only a little later that the heart and center of the community was established, namely, the Swedish Lutheran Church. Back in 1905 the Ericksdahl Ranch of Jones County, what is now known as the Ericksdahl community, was comprised of about 50,000 acres of land and was owned by the Swenson brothers of New York. This ranch was divided into quarter section farms and under the management of A.J. Swenson, a cousin of the Swenson brothers and one of the first settlers here, most of these farms were sold during the years 1906 and 1907. About 300 Swedish and Danish families came here from Travis and Williamson counties to purchase these farms on easy terms and later to settle down and begin their new homes which many have made their permanent homes to this day. Others than A.J. Swenson among the first settlers were John Lunn, C.G. Seth, N.M. Segerstrom and S.P. Bengston. All but Mr. Bengston are still residents of this community. Most of the people have settled in Jones county close to the church which is situated about 12 miles south east of Stamford, although a good number are scattered about the towns of Lueders and Avoca and in the western part of Shackelford county. The Ericksdahl settlement, in reality covers a large area, including many small communities or school districts which are widely scattered, yet their religious and social center, which is their church, is their chief interest and this draws them together as nothing else would. This church, the Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, was founded January 25, 1906, by Dr. A.J. Stamline with the assistance of Rev. L.J. Sundquist. The congregation owns an 80-acre tract of land on which the church was built during the summer of 1907 and the parsonage which was built soon after. The cemetery is located on the church property not far from the church. Since the founding of the church the congregation has had only four pastors, one, the late Rev. Eric Swanson, having died during his work as pastor of the congregation. These are Rev. Theodore Seashore, who was the first to have this pastorate, Rev. Eric Swanson, who died a year or two after he had taken charge of this congregation. Rev. Carl Henderson and finally the present pastor, the Rev. Hugo B. Haterius, who has had the leadership of the church and the community for almost 11 years, almost half of the time since the founding of the congregation. The Lutheran church is very much alive with its social interests and maintains endless energy where the work of the church is concerned including: LadiesÕ Aid Society, WomenÕs Missionary Society, Luther League Society, Willing Works Society, also a choir and an orchestra. Then of course, there is the Sunday School and the Bible classes which are a credit to the pastor. It is the earnest hope of the pastor and his congregation to be able to erect a new modern church building in a few years as the present building for the gatherings of any kind and also a new pipe organ. Through the successful efforts of Rev. Hugo B. Haterius, a playground has been put up on the church premises especially for the benefit and the pleasure of the young people although it serves the same purpose for the older people as well. Here the people, both of old and young, gather every Thursday night during the spring and summer months to join in the various amusements such as tennis, volleyball, indoor baseball, horse shoe pitching, relay races and games of all kinds. This is the one thing that has kept the community together as a family. Within the bounds of the Swedish settlement are three or four school districts, the Swenson school which is in the heart of the Ericksdahl community and is located about one mile northeast of the church. Berryhill, Hastings and the Pleasant Valley school. A good number of the Swedish and Danish settlers live within the Avoca and Lueders school districts, therefore all patrons of those schools while attending church and all social activates in the Ericksdahl community. The first school house was built about two years after the community was founded and was situated about half a mile north of the church. Later, in 1924, a new, modern school building of brick was erected on the present location. Three or four years later a four room teacherage was built. The school is quite a large one and usually has the employment of three teachers. It carried two years of high school in addition to the seven grades. Both manual training and home economics are taught at this school which is something both girls and boys are taking advantage of. At all school entertainments the girls have been able to make clear profit on all refreshments sold as they have been preparing everything sold themselves through the achievement of the Home Economics class. Athletics play an important part in the school routine. Social activities in connection with the school are often given at the Swenson School and may political, business and agricultural meetings are held here by the Farmers. During recent years a cotton gin, one or two general stores, a blacksmith shop and a dam have been built in the community. The dam was built in 1924 by the farmers for the purpose of having water for the months of drought which are so common in this part of west Texas. The dam is situated on the California Creek about 2-1/2 miles northeast of the Lutheran church. This is a beautiful spot and a great many from Stamford and the surrounding territory enjoy fishing at this point of the creek. Carl Ekdahl of this community is the sole owner of the Ekdahl gin. He built it in 1924 and it has been in operation ever since to serve the farmers in this community. The blacksmith shop is owned and operated by Walter Segerstrom, also of the community. He has had the shop for many years. The latter years he has also had a filling station which has greatly helped the farmers and travelers that often pass by. The shop is scarcely half a mile south of the church. The general stores have changed hands several times during the past few years. Hiram Olson successfully managed two stores in the community for a considerable length of time. Last year he sold out and started up a grocery and feed store in Lueders which has been very successful. [John, Rev. Stamline died in 1928 in Travis County, Texas] Dorman