Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2023

During the 1920s, Ralph Gibson Schroeder was an only child, born and raised in Shakopee by his parents and aunts. Ralph was born on August 25, 1915, in Shakopee.

His grandparents were Herman Frederick Schroeder and Mary Reinke and were part of the Schroeder Brick and Lime Manufacturing Company in Shakopee, according to Minnesota Bricks.

Ralph’s parents were Henry C. Schroeder and Nellie Mae Gibson. His parents were well-known, proper, and dignified citizens of Shakopee.

His father was a leader in civic and business affairs and was mayor of Shakopee from 1928-1935. He helped develop Riverside Park’s athletic field and was instrumental in the erection of the grandstand there.

His mother was a former teacher and a member of many local organizations.

So, Ralph was intent to be just the opposite.

Ralph lived at 519 East First Avenue then, just across the street from the old Methodist Church at First and Fillmore, according to Don Wagner of the Shakopee Heritage Society.

Before it was the Methodist Church, it was the First Presbyterian Church from 1900 to 1967. The First Presbyterian Church (the second in the valley) was built in the fall of 1856. It was a frame building with hewed logs, built mostly by Rev. Samuel Pond, on Second Street and Market Street. It was used by 180 people, and they later added a fence and horse sheds between Main and Market Street.

“I find recollections of the first service in the old church, then a miracle of newness and beauty in my eyes,” said Rev. Samuel W. Pond in the Scott County Argus, March 25, 1905. “It is true that the seats were rough boards on carpenter’s horses, and the pulpit and gallery had not yet been supplied; but it was the NEW church and had a tower and bell.”

In 1899, they built a new church on First Street and Fillmore Street for $2560. The lot was donated by Henry Hinds. It was dedicated on February 25, 1900. The bell was from the 1856 church. Two stained glass windows were dedicated. One was of Samuel Pond, the other of Cordelia Eggleston Pond.

The First Presbyterian Church congregation stayed in this building from 1900 to 1967. The First Presbyterian Church then moved to 909 Marschall Road in Shakopee.

For thirty years, the church building on First Avenue was used as the old Methodist Church at First and Fillmore, a bus terminal and an office building.

In 1997, the church became Igelsia del Dios Vivo, Columna y Adoyo de la Verdad, La Luz Del Mundo, or The Light of the World Church, at 502 First Ave East in Shakopee.

Before The Light if the World Church, before the office building, before the bus terminal, this place was used for a short time as the Methodist Church.

From his bedroom window on the second story, Ralph had a good view of the bell tower and the bell on the church steeple of the church. He set up his 22-caliber rifle in that upstairs bedroom window. He knew that the 22 rifle was silent enough that his parents wouldn’t hear it.

Ralph waited until midnight. Then he would aim and fire a single well-aimed round at the bell.

The bell rang a single tone that could be heard for blocks. The minister and members of the church would go to the church at midnight to find out who was ringing the bell. They could not see anybody in the church or the bell tower, but they did hear the bell ringing.

Ralph continued to do this, every night, at midnight.

And at midnight, the minister and church members continued to try to figure out who was ringing the bell. Soon the people about the town of Shakopee believed that a ghost was ringing the bell at church.

After a few months, Ralph got bored, and he told a few friends what he was up to. That kept the local gossipers going for months afterwards. Good old Ralph!

Ralph Gibson Schroeder died on September 18, 1972, in Eugene, Oregon. He was buried at Valley Cemetery in Shakopee.

Bibliography

Minnesota Bricks. https://www.mnbricks.com/Schroeder-brick/.

Scott County Argus, March 25, 1905