AHEPA #190

History of the AHEPA Properties and

the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church Building

AHEPA National was established in Atlanta, GA in 1922
AHEPA Chapter #190 in Sioux Falls, SD was established in 1928

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The history of the 2 lots on which the 2 AHEPA buildings now stand and of the Transfiguration Church building
are as follows:

The land itself (160 acres) was granted by President Abraham Lincoln on July 1, 1864 to Pierre Hastibease.
On Jan.1, 1870 Francis Brosseau purchased the property for $500 (Unclear if it included all or part of the 160
acres).

On December 27, 1870, Louis Gale Purchased the property for $280. (Unclear as to how many acres he
purchased but eventually it became the “Gale Addition” of Sioux Falls, SD).

After 1870, the property was sold and repossessed several times because of mortgage defaults.

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On February 26, 1896, Julius Pankow purchased the property for $2,500. (Unclear as to how many acres were
involved). Again, through the years, the Pankow Family sold and repossessed the property several times.

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On June 29, 1937, Walter Pankow sold some of the property to Sam Pappas and Steven Cusulos, two AHEPA
members, for $1 etc. This sale included the 2 properties at 508 and 510 South 1 st Ave. as well as the corner
property at 500 South 1st Ave., where the New Life Church building now stands.

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On January 14, 1938, Sam Pappas and Steven Cusulos “conveyed title” to the property to the Sunshine State
Chapter, No. 190, Order of AHEPA for $1 etc. It is unclear if the property was “donated” or “sold to AHEPA.

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In 1938 the “AHEPA” building was built on 510 So. 1 st Ave. Dan Coris acted as the Architect.

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On November 27, 1939, AHEPA secured a mortgage from First National Bank for $4,000.
The lower level of the AHEPA building served as a “Social Hall” for AHEPA, while the upper level served as a
Church. Church services were held there once a month by Fr. Hallick, a visiting priest from Sioux City, IA, until

1958 when the current Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church building on 28th and Summit was purchased.

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On June 5th , 1944, the $4,000 mortgage to the First National Bank was satisfied by AHEPA.

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On March 30th , 1946, AHEPA sold part of the land to Susie Warner for $1 etc. It is unclear how much land was
included in the sale, but most likely, it involved the corner lot to the north of the two current properties.

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On June 26th , 1947, Susie Warner sold her land to Joseph Wolf for $1 etc.

 

On October 31, 1947, Joseph Wolf obtained a $5,000 mortgage, presumably to build the structure on the
corner lot which was used as a Bowling Alley before it became the New Life Church.
In the years to follow, many other land transactions took place involving the Pankow properties, but none of
them involved the AHEPA or the AHEPA properties.

The building that is now known as Top Hat was built in 1958.

Also in 1958, the current Church building on 28th and Summit was purchased from Our Savior Lutheran Church
for $27,500. The building was originally located in the Airbase, today’s Joe Foss Field, and served as a church
during the war. Later, it was sold by the Government to Our Savior Lutheran Church who had it moved to its
present location.

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From 1958 to 1960, AHEPA raised $68,974 which was most likely used to pay for the original Church building
and to upgrade it to the Greek Orthodox Church standards. Amongst other improvements, the Dome and the office were added on the east side of the building, new pews were installed (the first 4 rows came from the
AHEPA building on First Ave.), the iconostasis was built/installed (Mr. Angelos Politis contributed heavily in the
design, sculpting and the installation of it), tile floors were installed, icons were ordered/installed and
windows were replaced with stained glass ones.

 

The large chandelier was donated by a family in Mitchell, SD (no record of the family’s name is available).
The painting of the Madona and Child in the Dome of the Church was painted by Dick Nohlgren, free of
charge.