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1851: Dakota
Indians sign two treaties with the U.S. government ceding most of
their remaining land in Minnesota Territory including the Norway
Lake area.
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1858:
Norwegian immigrants Anders and Even Railson are the first white
settlers in the Norway Lake area.
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1859-60:
Other settlers arrive, including Ole and Aase Knudson.
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1861: Nilje
Knudson, born August 26, is the first white child born at the
settlement. Later she is baptized by Pastor Jackson of New London.
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1862: The
Dakota War breaks out and the settlement is abandoned. The U.S. Army
establishes a fort near the shores of Norway Lake.
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1865-67:
Displaced settlers return to the community and new settlers pour in.
They build homes and farms.
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1868: The
Norway Lake settlers incorporate a congregation and build a log
church on land donated by Ole Knudson.
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1875: The
congregation outgrows the little log church. It is replaced with new
buildings at East and West Norway Lake. Four more churches arise
from the log church over the years.
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1876-1878:
Hordes of grasshoppers plague Minnesota and devastate farms in the
Norway Lake community.
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1877: The
congregations decide that the log church should be moved to the
parsonage farm and used as a hay barn or stable.
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1997: Under
the leadership of Pastor Joel Njus, the Norway Lake Lutheran
Historical Association is established to, “…gather, preserve and
disseminate information about the pioneers of the Norway Lake area
including…their cultural and religious heritage.”
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1998:
Construction begins on the restoration of the Log Church on land
donated by Ed and Becky Huseby.
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2000: A
perpetual care fund is created to collect gifts for the upkeep and
improvement of the Log Church project and site.
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2002: An
interpretive center is established at the Log Church site to display
historical materials. The building is a 19th century log building
donated by Dallen and Glennis Peterson.
Native prairie plants are restored in a garden at the Log Church
site.
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2004:
Restoration begins on the Ole Knudson log cabin, donated by Jane
Norman. The cabin is near the Log Church.
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2007: Restoration of the Knudsen cabin
was completed.
Old Log Church, 1868
