Pilgrim Daughter History

Until the summer of 1926, the Somers Congregational Church had only one women's circle, The Ladies Aid.  By then, the membership of the Ladies Aid had grown considerably, and due to the size of the group and the fact that many of the young mothers, who found it necessary to bring along their babies and small children, it was decided to form two circles, the younger members to make up the new group.

Mrs. Winnefred Fenske was president of the Ladies Aid at that time and a very active church worker.  She called a meeting of the group in September of 1926.  A meeting was held at the parsonage with the Pastor and at this meeting the group was divided and officers were elected.  Mrs. Edith Christensen was the first president. One of the first projects was piecing a Friendship Quilt with the name of each member embroidered on a block.  This was presented in January 1927 to one of the members, Jessie Jensen, now deceased, who was very ill at that time.

Charter Members

Buechner, Dagmar

Bush, Gladys

Chermak, Mary

Christensen, Edith

Christensen, Johanna

Cogell, Lucille

Friedrich, Caroline

Gardinier, Evelyn

Haigh, Irene

Haigh, Mildred

Heide, Ida

Helding, Laverne

Jensen, Annie

Jensen, Jessie

Johnson, Clara

Lauer, Myrtle

Smith, Frances

Smith, Nell

Tabbert, Alice

Tabbert, Ethel

Tabbert, Katie

Wilcox, Bertha

Yule, Lillian

(Source:  Research by Myrtle Johnson)

Down through the years, the group has worked hard helping the church financially as well as spiritually, and will continue to do so as long as they are able.  We, the young mothers, who formed this Pilgrim Daughter circle, have now become the grandmothers. 

Somers Vintage Photos

Old Blacksmith Shop, Highway E, Somers, Wisconsin
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection

Jim Bullamore House (brother of Albert)
located directly behind the Bullamore Bros. store, Somers, Wisconsin
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection

Bullamore Bros. General Merchandise store in Somers, Wisconsin
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection

William Bullamore, father of Jim and Albert
Somers, Wisconsin
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection

Albert and Eunice Bullamore House
This house was located on the "back road"
Somers, Wisconsin
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection

1938 - Burr Oak School, Somers, Wisconsin

Seated:  Marge Aderman, Edward Cornwall, Don Aderman, Teddy Hart, Wayne Aderman, Charlie Clark, Bunky Tabbert, Carol Rhodes, Jean Bush, Betty Aderman, Janice Christensen, Barb Fenske

Standing:  Edith Tabbert, ?, Eleanor Struhart, Joan Yule, Vern Christensen, Don Tabbert, Lloyd Christensen, Miss Rose Stevens, Joseph Struhart, Don Bush, Floyd Bailey, Glenn Heide, ?, Bill Bush, Everett Cornwall, Wesley Tabbert, Gene Bailey, Pete Kristianseon, Herbie Kristianson, Audrey Christensen, Beverly Beechner, Glenn Bailey, Harold Kristianson

©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection

Somers Congregational Church (building on right)
Parsonage (house in center of photo)
Highway E, Somers, Wisconsin
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection



Somers Superette, Highway E, West of Railroad Tracks, Somers, Wisconsin
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection

Somers Superette, Highway E, West of Railroad Tracks, Somers, Wisconsin
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection

The "village" of Somers, Wisconsin looking west from the railroad tracks
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection



Somers Congregational Church, Somers, Wisconsin
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection

Somers Creamery (Fenske)
This building was located on "back street".  It was converted into a the Fenske Garage which serviced automobiles for many years.  In the 1970's Fenske's son-in-law purchased the garage and opened Mel's Auto Service, owned by Melvin Klapproth.
©2014 Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Photo Courtesy of the Ellen Klapproth Mortensen Collection

Somers Congregational Church

Somers Congregational Church, Somers, Wisconsin
Girls Sunday School Class - Circa 1952
Back Row Left to Right: ?, Janet Leet, Gail Jensen, Sharon Smith, ? Joan Foss
Front row Left to Right: ?, Patty Taft, ?, Judy Martin, Karen Fredricksen
(Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz submitted July 1, 2017)

Somers Congregational Church, Somers, Wisconsin
Boys Sunday Class - Circa 1952
Back Row, Left to Right:
Front Row, Left to Right:
(Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz submitted July 1, 2017)

Congregational Church, Somers, Wisconsin
Photographer and Contributor: C.E. Dewey
Date:  June 18, 1939
The main part of the Congregational Church was a part of the Presbyterian Church built in 1839.  It was moved a number of  times.
(Source:  Photo Courtesy of Kenosha County Historical Society, Inc.)

Dedication of Church

"On Sunday, August 21, 1921, the new Congregational Church in the village was dedicated with most appropriate services.  The spacious auditorium was filled to over-flowing with people from the surrounding neighborhood.  Many former residents of Somers came from a distance to attend these impressive services.  The dedicatory services were in charge of the Rev. Harding Hogan, of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Racine.  He delivered a most excellent address.  The Rev. Hargett, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Racine gave a splendid sermon at the afternoon meeting and the Young People’s Union, also of Racine, closed the day of dedication with a sacred concert in the evening.  The music for the morning and afternoon services was given by local talent.  The Congregational Church of Somers is the union of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches of the village and is built on the site of the former Presbyterian church.  This new organization is dedicated free of debt with a large membership and a splendid Sunday School enrollment.  The ladies of the society served luncheon at Woodmen Hall at noon. 

(Source: Racine Journal Times publication August 24, 1921)


"Work has begun on the remodeling of the church.  An addition is to be built on the east side of the building and considerable other improvements are to be made.  William Lauer and his force of men will do the work."
(Source:  Racine Journal Times publication February 24, 1921)

Formed in 1842 by a group of Bible students who were in the first caravan that settled Somers Township in Kenosha County, the Pike Grove American Bible Society will hold its 94th annual meeting in the Somers Congregational Church December 8 on the date of the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the translation of the Bible into English. The organization is only a remnant of the original group.
(Source:  Racine Journal Times publication Dec. 3, 1935)