The Community Called Casino
In the 1880’s several families came to this area to log. In 1889 the Horn family settled just north of here. From there they could hear the trains whistle on the track that Pillsbury Mills put in to move logs to Gull Lake. By the late 1890’s, native timber was gone and families went to dairy farming.
The community received it’s post office, set up in the home of William Bryant (1 mile northwest of the church) in 1895, officially placing the town on the map. Originally the area was first known as Cass, then changed to Casino in 1897.
Every 4th of July in the 1880s a big celebration was held at the Woodman Hall located on the northeast corner directly adjacent to the present church property. This building was a lodge and gathering place for the community. It housed a local casino, which influenced the name of the community.
Woodman Hall, Sunrise School, a post office, and later a church made up the town of Casino. Woodman Hall disappeared in 1942 (Pleasant Hill church took it down and used the lumber to build their church), Sunrise School was consolidated with Pillager School in 1949, and the post office left Casino in the early 1900’s. This left a community of homes, farms and a church. The name Casino seemed to stick to the area where the church bears its name.
The community received it’s post office, set up in the home of William Bryant (1 mile northwest of the church) in 1895, officially placing the town on the map. Originally the area was first known as Cass, then changed to Casino in 1897.
Every 4th of July in the 1880s a big celebration was held at the Woodman Hall located on the northeast corner directly adjacent to the present church property. This building was a lodge and gathering place for the community. It housed a local casino, which influenced the name of the community.
Woodman Hall, Sunrise School, a post office, and later a church made up the town of Casino. Woodman Hall disappeared in 1942 (Pleasant Hill church took it down and used the lumber to build their church), Sunrise School was consolidated with Pillager School in 1949, and the post office left Casino in the early 1900’s. This left a community of homes, farms and a church. The name Casino seemed to stick to the area where the church bears its name.
Casino Needs A Church
The first meetings of the church were held in the fall of 1921 in the Sunrise School located one mile north of the present church. But God had a plan for the community of Casino and was working out the details before anyone even noticed.
In the spring of 1921, having had experienced ministry in Pennsylvania, Rev. James Menzie offered to go anywhere God wanted him. He asked Superintendent Ben Hardin, who had traveled extensively, where the most needy field was. Rev. Hardin replied that he felt it would be Minnesota so Menzie purchased a truck, folding chairs and ordered a tent. (They also bought tent poles not realizing they would be ministering in forest country.)
When he told Rev. Hardin he felt he should have someone go along with him, he was asked who he had in mind. He answered, “Frank Lindquist.” Brother Hardin responded, “Fine, Frank hasn’t a call to ministry but he could lead your song service. Rev. Lindquist later helped to establish the work in Brainerd and was pastor there and at the Minneapolis Gospel Tabernacle for over 30 hears. He also founded North Central Bible College. Rev. Menzie used to say, “Not bad for a song leader.”
After a stop over in Chicago and Staples, the two men pitched their tent in Brainerd and had services there until it was too cold. A small church was rented for the congregation who later purchased the building.
While in Brainerd the brothers also ministered in Crosby, Pillager, and again in Staples. It was suggested by Mrs. Bryant of Staples that the men hold services in the small community of Casino where she was concerned for her brother, George Horn, and his large family of ten sons and one daughter, Helen. Rev. Menzie consented and walked the 10 miles from the Pillager railroad to the Casino community.
Two weeks of meetings were held in the Sunrise School that fall of 1921 which began a revival in the area. The following summer (1922), Rev. Menzie pitched a revival tent for special meeting against some opposition. Signs were posted by someone stating, “Holy Rollers Camp Meeting” and “The Devil is Here”. Firecrackers were set off and acid was thrown on the tent. But that did not stop Rev. Menzie from preaching the gospel. The Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way. Many were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Menzie later stated that in forty years of ministry he had never witnessed such a visitation from God as on the night of June 25, 1922 in Casino, Minnesota. Rev. Bartlett Peterson, age fourteen was saved in that revival. He later became the Secretary-Treasurer of the USA Assemblies of God at Springfield, MO. Helen Horn and Ada Peterson because evangelists and ministers. The church continued and gained favor in the community.
The congregation built their church building under the ministry of Rev. James Menzie in 1922. It was located one-fourth mile east of the present location. The original church was 24’ x 40’ with a 24’ x 20’ storage and furnace room in the basement. Gas lights were used but in the early 40’s it was wired with electricity.
The first business meeting was held in the Sunrise School on October 28, 1922 with 23 voters present. On October 31, 1925 the church joined with the General Council of the Assemblies of God. On February 24, 1928 the church signed a “Declaration of Fellowship” with the North Central District Council of the Assemblies of God. Thirty members are listed as Charter members.
Ellen Ackerson, George Ackerson, Mary Ann Ackerson, Cora Cole, Lela Cole, Ethel Crocker, Mrs. Albert Ellgen, Albert Ellgen, Edith Fugate, Mabel Fugate, Molly Fugate, George Horn, Helen Horn, Raymond Horn, Martha Mannin, Alma Martin, Carrie Martin, Hulda Martin, Julius Martin, Mabel Martin, Mrs. J.Raymond Martin, August Peltzer, Henry Peltzer, Julia Peltzer, Ada Peterson, Ernest Swaim,
William Swaim, Carl Walblom, Josie Widman, William Widman
In the spring of 1921, having had experienced ministry in Pennsylvania, Rev. James Menzie offered to go anywhere God wanted him. He asked Superintendent Ben Hardin, who had traveled extensively, where the most needy field was. Rev. Hardin replied that he felt it would be Minnesota so Menzie purchased a truck, folding chairs and ordered a tent. (They also bought tent poles not realizing they would be ministering in forest country.)
When he told Rev. Hardin he felt he should have someone go along with him, he was asked who he had in mind. He answered, “Frank Lindquist.” Brother Hardin responded, “Fine, Frank hasn’t a call to ministry but he could lead your song service. Rev. Lindquist later helped to establish the work in Brainerd and was pastor there and at the Minneapolis Gospel Tabernacle for over 30 hears. He also founded North Central Bible College. Rev. Menzie used to say, “Not bad for a song leader.”
After a stop over in Chicago and Staples, the two men pitched their tent in Brainerd and had services there until it was too cold. A small church was rented for the congregation who later purchased the building.
While in Brainerd the brothers also ministered in Crosby, Pillager, and again in Staples. It was suggested by Mrs. Bryant of Staples that the men hold services in the small community of Casino where she was concerned for her brother, George Horn, and his large family of ten sons and one daughter, Helen. Rev. Menzie consented and walked the 10 miles from the Pillager railroad to the Casino community.
Two weeks of meetings were held in the Sunrise School that fall of 1921 which began a revival in the area. The following summer (1922), Rev. Menzie pitched a revival tent for special meeting against some opposition. Signs were posted by someone stating, “Holy Rollers Camp Meeting” and “The Devil is Here”. Firecrackers were set off and acid was thrown on the tent. But that did not stop Rev. Menzie from preaching the gospel. The Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way. Many were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Menzie later stated that in forty years of ministry he had never witnessed such a visitation from God as on the night of June 25, 1922 in Casino, Minnesota. Rev. Bartlett Peterson, age fourteen was saved in that revival. He later became the Secretary-Treasurer of the USA Assemblies of God at Springfield, MO. Helen Horn and Ada Peterson because evangelists and ministers. The church continued and gained favor in the community.
The congregation built their church building under the ministry of Rev. James Menzie in 1922. It was located one-fourth mile east of the present location. The original church was 24’ x 40’ with a 24’ x 20’ storage and furnace room in the basement. Gas lights were used but in the early 40’s it was wired with electricity.
The first business meeting was held in the Sunrise School on October 28, 1922 with 23 voters present. On October 31, 1925 the church joined with the General Council of the Assemblies of God. On February 24, 1928 the church signed a “Declaration of Fellowship” with the North Central District Council of the Assemblies of God. Thirty members are listed as Charter members.
Ellen Ackerson, George Ackerson, Mary Ann Ackerson, Cora Cole, Lela Cole, Ethel Crocker, Mrs. Albert Ellgen, Albert Ellgen, Edith Fugate, Mabel Fugate, Molly Fugate, George Horn, Helen Horn, Raymond Horn, Martha Mannin, Alma Martin, Carrie Martin, Hulda Martin, Julius Martin, Mabel Martin, Mrs. J.Raymond Martin, August Peltzer, Henry Peltzer, Julia Peltzer, Ada Peterson, Ernest Swaim,
William Swaim, Carl Walblom, Josie Widman, William Widman