it was a bit more than 100 in 1911, rose at one point to 300, and was back to 100 again on the 50th anniversary of the church.

Another denomination got its start here in the 1920s: Congregational ministers first visited here in 1924 and and 1925, while students from the Union Theological Seminary in Chicago made occasional appearances to preach. When Pastor Alex Muhonen served the new parishes set up in Duluth, Eveleth and Hibbing, he agreed to extend his activities into Palo as well. As a result, formal organization was effected in 1926. Salomon Niemi was elected chairman, William Olson, secretary, and John Perämäki, treasurer. A former Palo schoolhouse was purchased and used for a church until a new one was built near the shore of Loon Lake and dedicated in 1928. Membership in 1947 was 76. Auxiliaries have included a Pilgrim Fellowship, with about 30 members, a Dorcas Society, a Sunday school. In 1957, Pastor Victor Holopainen was in charge.

The Palo temperance society, Riento (Endeavor), was started in 1907. Twenty-four persons joined in the first meeting, which also decided on affiliation with the Brotherhood. That same year a hall was built on the shore of Loon Lake, and this encouraged a growth in membership, to 74 at the high point.. Behind the hall, furthermore, a stable was built, to put up the horses of those who came to the hall from greater distances. Although the society has had its ups and downs, periods of relative inactivity, a new spurt of life in the 1940s, the society is to a great degree responsible for the fact that Palo has always been a `dry' town.

The local workers' society, on the other hand, remained weak compared to the temperance society. Membership here, in a group which later became IWW, was about 20 throughout its history. Even in 1911, there were only 16 local subscribers to the Työmies. However, it must also be admitted that even from

Congregational Church in Palo.

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