Trinity Lutheran Church Radio Club Celebrates 75 Years

KDHL Radio is celebrating 75 years of serving the Faribault, Mn. area with original local programming at the heart of the station.

One of the first things owners Palmer Dragsten, Herb Lee and Jack Hyde wanted to do was get a live church service on the air.

Todd Voge is one of the current coordinators of the Trinity Radio Club which is funded entirely by listener donations.

On today's KDHL AM Minnesota program Voge said the, "forward-thinking members" seized the opportunity to spread the good news throughout the vast KDHL listening area.  Voge has been with the radio club since 1992 and brought with him some interesting items from 75 years ago.

Below is the 1948 original contract between the radio station and the church.

Voge says they have heard from regular listeners to the radio broadcasts from St. Cloud to the north and Fort Atkinson, Iowa to the south.

Below is the first invoice from KDHL in 1948.

Below are listings of equipment needed for the broadcast from the church.  There are three different groupings to choose from.

Below is a view of the broadcast booth from inside the Trinity Lutheran Church Faribault booth.

Below is another view of the booth from inside the church sanctuary.

The photo below is from 1993 featuring Trinity Radio Council members Harold Boldt (sitting) and Bernard Wegner.

A special weekend of services will be held April 29 and 30, 2023 to observe the accomplishment.

Saturday, Reverend Dr. Brent Kline from Trinity Church in Northfield will speak at the 5:30 p.m. service.  Sunday, Pastor Bruce Stam will provide the message.

After the 8:00 a.m. service a short program will take place with refreshments served in the Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.

Voge says all are welcome to attend.

Here are a couple of photos I took of the altar area in the Faribault church.