First Estonian church in the USA was built in 1914

Attending church has long played an important role in an Estonian's life. Especially among the disapora who want a connection to home. As more Estonians immigrated to America, congregations formed and services were often conducted in homes by local or travelling ministers. In 1907 in Gleason, Wisconsin, the desire amongst Estonians to have a church of their own soon became a reality. Reverend Hans Rebane was the local minister and had a congregation of 29 members. Three of those members, Johan Wiltein, George Tutt and Albert Sommi each paid $25 to purchase the land on which the first Estonian church was built.

  

The Estonian Evangelical Martin Luther Church 

Four acres of land was purchased and the church officially opened in 1914. The Estonian Evangelical Martin Luther Church was built to serve the local Baltic community, namely Estonians and Latvians.  In addition to church services, picnics and gatherings of Estonians took place on the land. One of the original founders of the church, Albert Sommi, stated his last wish was that the church always serve as a landmark and reminder of Estonian roots in America.

During the 1930s the church had a congregation of around 135 members but numbers began to decline after this as people started moving away from the area. By the late 1950s the church was barely used, fell into disrepair and was vandalised. Today, efforts are being made to restore this historic landmark.