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Crossroad
grocery in Norse
Photo Courtesy Lou Ann Herda |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Cleng Peerson, the man who is known as the "Father of Norwegian
Immigration" is buried in the churchyard at Norse. The church,
Our Savior 's Lutheran Church (dedicated in 1878), is the last remaining
public building.
At one time Norse was the largest and most successful Norwegian settlement
in Texas.
An elaborate marker at the Norse Cemetery has images of the
first Norwegian families. |
The
Marker commemorating the first settlers
On the grounds of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, an historic site
Photo Courtesy Lou Ann Herda, July 2001 |
A timeline
of significant historical events in Norse
1845: The
first Norwegian immigrants arrive in (East) Texas
1853: Driven out of East Texas by malaria, they headed west
looking for not greener - but dryer pastures., The settlers found
a landscape more reminiscent of Norway, although it was noticeably
short on Fijords. The isolated families soon centered their social
life upon a scattered group of buildings, including a rock school
and a few stores, which they named Norse.
1878: Our Savior's Lutheran Church was constructed. |
Our
Savior's Lutheran Church and Cemetery
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, October 2003 |
1880:
The community is granted a post office.
1880s: The Norse Mutual Fire Insurance Company was formed.
1929: The post office closed.
1949: A Smorgasbord tradition is set in place that has continued
each Novemeber since.
1982: King Olav V of Norway visited Our Savior's Lutheran Church
to honor Cleng Peerson.
1980s: Population is a dispersed 100 people. |
Seventh
Day Adventist Church about 1.4 miles NE of Norse
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, January 2004 |
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