Norwegian immigrants settled in this area in 1853 and organized the Norwegian Evangelical Church of Roche-a-Cri in 1860. A log church was built one mile south of this site, but it was destroyed by fire in 1866. A frame church was then erected here in 1868 and was destroyed by a cyclone in 1872. In 1875, a larger church known as the West Church was built on this site and served as the congregation's spiritual home for 53 years, until lightning struck it and it burned to the ground on July 12, 1928. In 1919, the West Church joined with two other area Lutheran congregations to form a united parish called Trinity Lutheran Church. In 1921, one of the church buildings was donated to Norwegian Lutherans forming a church in Adams. After the West Church fire in 1928, parish members consolidated at the remaining church building in Arkdale.