Finnish Evangelical Church later renamed Bethany Lutheran Church
Reportedly, the first Finnish people to arrive in Republic were Alex and Anton Larstrom. More Finns began arriving in the 1880’s and many made homes in the west section of Park City, a short distance from town. They organized as a Finnish Evangelical congregation in 1866 and built their first house of worship in west Park City in 1887. The Finnish Temperance Society also met there.
As the congregation increased a new church was erected in the town site, south from the Methodist church. The 40 x 80 foot wood frame church was built and dedicated on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1908, a happy day for all. A large parsonage was constructed on the lot next to the church. Over the years it served pastors’ families well and was not replaced until 1972, when a new parsonage was bought in south Republic.
Tragedy struck on February 28, 1932, when the church burned to the ground. Church records stored in the parsonage were saved but little else. Pastor K. Mykkanen and the members immediately made plans to erect a new church, even in the depths of the depression. The Methodist Church kindly let the Finns use their church during the rebuilding of a new one. The brick church was financed and built by a herculean effort by everyone concerned, including making and selling pasties. The cornerstone Festival was held on June 24, 1932.
In 1969 an initial proposal was received from Cleveland Cliffs Mining Company to move or build a new church, due to mine damage. After weeks of careful thought and consideration, our members voted to move our building to South Republic and it now stands on a hill, welcoming all to this house of worship.