From Logs to Steeples (VIDEO)

Difficult, gut-wrenching decisions for Norway Lake-area pioneers in the early 1870s paid off for generations who followed them as the original Norway Lake Lutheran log church was the forerunner of East and West Norway Lake Lutheran churches.

In the period of time in the 1870s when a mass exodus of Norway citizens flooded parts of the United States, including central and western Minnesota, the Lutheran faith community in Norway Lake experienced massive growth from 1865 to 1875.

On the heels of the Dakota conflict with Minnesota natives in 1862, central Minnesota began to repopulate in the latter 1860s. For Norway Lake area Lutherans, what were initially worship gathers in private homes soon gave way to the construction of their first church building: a log church in Arctander Township, built in 1868 roughly 2 miles from the southwest corner of West Norway Lake.

On Sunday, August 17, the Norway Lake Lutheran Historical Association hosted their annual summer celebration at First Lutheran Church. The event was moved indoors due to 80+ percent chances of rain throughout the afternoon. As it turned out, the area received no precipitation, meaning that the move of the event indoors perhaps caused it not to rain. (For which, farmers and many others in that area are grateful.)

Volunteers with the NLLHA participated in numerous skits that were written by Norman Hande, who was raised in the Norway Lake community right between the present-day churches located south of Norway Lake. Music was provided by both the Sunburg Community Players and also the East Norway Lake Lutheran church choir.

Special music was provided by Eric Rudningen and his daughter Quinn, plus Carole Welker and Lee Roisum. Welker and Roisum sang the song "Crying Day" that was written by Ed Huseby.

To read the full article, which surpassed 2,000 words, you'll need a copy of the August 28 issue of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper. Not a subscriber? You can subscribe for $30 or $37 depending on where you live! Call 320-346-2400 to add your address to the subscriber list.

The attached video features the first 53 minutes of the program held on August 17 at First Lutheran Church.