Hauge Log Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hauge Log Church
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | County Road Z Daleyville, Wisconsin |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1852 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000071 |
| Added to NRHP | December 31, 1974 |
The Hauge Log Church is a historic church near the small community of Daleyville, Wisconsin. It was the very first Norwegian Lutheran Church built in western Wisconsin. The church is a special landmark and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This list includes important buildings and sites across the United States.
To protect the church and its peaceful surroundings, a park was created around it in 2001. This ensures the area will stay beautiful and undeveloped forever.
Contents
History of the Church
In the 1850s, two different groups of Norwegian Lutherans lived in the area. One group was loyal to the official state church of Norway. The other group followed the ideas of Hans Nielsen Hauge, a man who wanted to reform the church in Norway.
Even though they had different beliefs, neither group had a church building. So, they decided to work together to build one.
How the Church Was Built
The logs for the church were cut in 1851. Members of the congregations all helped build it. Each man was given a certain number of logs to cut and prepare. The church was finished in 1852.
The walls are made of strong oak logs. At first, you could see the logs from the outside. Later, they were covered with wooden siding called clapboard. Inside, the logs are covered with a thin layer of plaster. The church still has its original pews, pulpit, and altar rail.
Next to the church is a small cemetery. Many of the first church members are buried there.
A Split Between the Groups
The two groups shared the church for a while, but they soon began to disagree. Their arguments became so serious that one group locked the other out of the building.
By 1858, the group loyal to the state church built their own building nearby. This is now the Perry Lutheran Church. The followers of Hans Nielsen Hauge, called Haugeans, stayed in the log church for about 35 more years. In 1887, they also built a new, larger church.
Preserving a Historic Site
The old log church was restored in 1927. In 1964, the Wisconsin Historical Society recognized it as an important historic site and placed a marker there.
Since 1966, a group called the Perry Hauge Log Church Preservation Association has taken care of the building. The church is now part of the 30-acre Hauge Historic Park, which is open to the public all year. Today, the old church is used for concerts, weddings, and other special events.
