photo by Keith for Find a Grave
Swan Lake Lutheran Church was established around 1868 as the Swan Lake Menighed. In 1873, the name was changed to Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church at Swan Lake and finally changed to its current name. It has changed synods over the years and currently is part of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). According to the latter's records, they have 27 baptized and confirmed members.
Technically, this is a graveyard rather than a cemetery, as the latter is specifically designated as a burial ground.
At Stage 1, you will find the headstone for Milton F Larson. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1941 and served in the Army during World War II.
His birthdate is A (month as number) B 1910. His deathdate is E F 1997.
At Stage 2, you will find the headstone for Elroy J Gieseke, a Machinist's Mate Third Class sailor who also served in World War II.
His birthdate is C D 1926. His deathdate is G H 1987.
The cache is located at:
N 44 20.(800+(A+B+C+D+E+F+G)) w 094 18.(D+G+H)
Sources: Family Search, ELCA
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One of the oldest roads in the state, Fort Road was originally built by the federal government after Fort Ridgely was completed in 1853-54. Supplies were shipped from Fort Snelling to Traverse des Sioux, then transported by wagon to Fort Ridgely.
Nicollet County Road 5 runs more than 42 miles from its eastern terminus at its intersection with US Highway 169 in St Peter to the Renville County line. Old Fort Road presumably extended from Traverse des Sioux, although the portion running through the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College has been blocked off. Fort Road as an address runs from the western edge of St Peter to the end of CR-5.
In an ideal world, a paved trail would have been installed when the road was refurbished in the early 2010s. This planned geocache trail will have to suffice, but won’t alleviate my anxiety when biking here.