Events » D5 Norwegian-American Settlement History Course Class Reunion
D5 Norwegian-American Settlement History Course Class Reunion
August 14th - 17th, 2021
Details:
The D5 Norwegian-American settlement history course class reunion will be held on Saturday, August 14 through Tuesday, August 17, 2021.
Any interested Sons of Norway D5 member or friend of a member can attend. Masks are Preferred
Activities include:
Saturday, August 14 –
10 AM - Heg Park Museum at “Old Muskego” (Wind Lake, WI).
Old Muskego was one of the first Wisconsin Norwegian-American settlements, with settlers from Voss coming through Milwaukee. Heg Park, in honor of Colonel Hans Heg, one of the two highest ranking Norwegian-Americans killed in the Civil War, includes heirlooms donated by area families. There we will also tour preacher Elling Ellingson’s home, which was originally located in Koshkonong, the Old Muskego Lutheran Church and see the cemetery where hundreds of early Norwegian settlers were buried after dying from malaria, typhoid fever and cholera.
1:30 PM – Old World Wisconsin is a State of Wisconsin historic site near Eagle, where examples of different nationalities dwellings have been restored. Old World Wisconsin has interpreters working in the homes, farms and stores, to share living history with us. (Separate admission required)
Sunday, August 15 – We will experience “A Day on the Prairie” in conjunction with the annual Stoughton’s Mandt lodge and Koshkonong Prairie Historical Society.
At 9:00 AM, those who wish to worship can do so in the historic East Koshkonong Church, and after the service about 10:30 AM, we will attend a history lecture and see the other East Koshkonong Church and learn about the doctrine which split the two churches apart. They literally share the same cemetery and parking lot. Koshkonong was one of the first Norwegian-American settlements in Wisconsin and is known as the “mother of the most Norwegian-American settlements in America.” Thousands of pioneers stopped on their way from Norway, to rest and gather resources, before their trip to seek farmland elsewhere in the Midwest.
We will then go to Dana Kelly and her husband Gary’s farm, where we will see the original log cabin kitchen. In the afternoon, we will go to the McFarland Historical Society, where we will see the Albert Skare Norwegian Folk Art Collection and tour the Larsen house.
Monday, August 16 –
We will have half-day classes at the Norwegian-American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library hosted by Dana Kelly. Here we will learn what resources are available for further use. (Separate admission required) Mike Palecek will arrange another tour, which will be held simultaneously.
Tuesday, August 17 – Interested individuals can then go to Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa. We will have evening activities on Saturday and Sunday for reunion participants (any SofN D5 member is welcome). Make your own hotel reservations at The Windham Garden Madison Fitchburg, 2969 Cahill Main, Fitchburg WI 53711. Cutoff for “Sons of Norway” room rates of $89 plus 12.5% tax is July 23. 608-274-7200. Cancellation policy: 24 hours before day of arrival.
Any interested Sons of Norway D5 member or friend of a member can attend. Masks are Preferred
Activities include:
Saturday, August 14 –
10 AM - Heg Park Museum at “Old Muskego” (Wind Lake, WI).
Old Muskego was one of the first Wisconsin Norwegian-American settlements, with settlers from Voss coming through Milwaukee. Heg Park, in honor of Colonel Hans Heg, one of the two highest ranking Norwegian-Americans killed in the Civil War, includes heirlooms donated by area families. There we will also tour preacher Elling Ellingson’s home, which was originally located in Koshkonong, the Old Muskego Lutheran Church and see the cemetery where hundreds of early Norwegian settlers were buried after dying from malaria, typhoid fever and cholera.
1:30 PM – Old World Wisconsin is a State of Wisconsin historic site near Eagle, where examples of different nationalities dwellings have been restored. Old World Wisconsin has interpreters working in the homes, farms and stores, to share living history with us. (Separate admission required)
Sunday, August 15 – We will experience “A Day on the Prairie” in conjunction with the annual Stoughton’s Mandt lodge and Koshkonong Prairie Historical Society.
At 9:00 AM, those who wish to worship can do so in the historic East Koshkonong Church, and after the service about 10:30 AM, we will attend a history lecture and see the other East Koshkonong Church and learn about the doctrine which split the two churches apart. They literally share the same cemetery and parking lot. Koshkonong was one of the first Norwegian-American settlements in Wisconsin and is known as the “mother of the most Norwegian-American settlements in America.” Thousands of pioneers stopped on their way from Norway, to rest and gather resources, before their trip to seek farmland elsewhere in the Midwest.
We will then go to Dana Kelly and her husband Gary’s farm, where we will see the original log cabin kitchen. In the afternoon, we will go to the McFarland Historical Society, where we will see the Albert Skare Norwegian Folk Art Collection and tour the Larsen house.
Monday, August 16 –
We will have half-day classes at the Norwegian-American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library hosted by Dana Kelly. Here we will learn what resources are available for further use. (Separate admission required) Mike Palecek will arrange another tour, which will be held simultaneously.
Tuesday, August 17 – Interested individuals can then go to Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa. We will have evening activities on Saturday and Sunday for reunion participants (any SofN D5 member is welcome). Make your own hotel reservations at The Windham Garden Madison Fitchburg, 2969 Cahill Main, Fitchburg WI 53711. Cutoff for “Sons of Norway” room rates of $89 plus 12.5% tax is July 23. 608-274-7200. Cancellation policy: 24 hours before day of arrival.
