Hauge Log Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Hauge Log Church
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | County Road Z Daleyville, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1852 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000071 |
| Added to NRHP | December 31, 1974 |
The Hauge Log Church is a very old and special building. It is located near the community of Daleyville in the town of Perry, Wisconsin. This church was the first Norwegian Lutheran Church built in western Wisconsin. You can find the Hauge Log Church on County Highway Z, just off State Highway 78.
This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it is recognized as an important place in history. In 2001, the people of the Town of Perry created a Historic District Park around the church. This park helps protect the beautiful views and peaceful setting of the church forever. You can learn more about the park at and http://www.haugehistoricdistrictpark.com these websites.
Contents
Building a Community Church
By 1851, two different groups of Norwegian Lutherans had settled near where the Hauge Church would be built. One group was loyal to the official Church of Norway. The other group preferred the ideas of Hans Nielsen Hauge. He was a reformer in Norway who had been jailed by the state church for his beliefs.
Neither group had a church building of their own. So, even though they had different ideas, they agreed to build one together. This was a big step for the community.
How the Church Was Built
The logs for the church were cut and brought to the site in 1851. The church members themselves donated all the labor. Each man was given a certain number of logs to cut and prepare. This shows how much effort the community put into building their church. Construction of the church was finished in 1852.
What the Church Looks Like
The walls of the church are made from strong oak logs. At first, you could see the logs on the outside of the church. Later, they were covered with clapboard, which are overlapping wooden boards. Inside, the logs are covered with a thin layer of plaster.
The church still has its original furniture. This includes the pews where people sat, the pulpit where the minister spoke, the altar rail, and a small balcony.
The First Norwegian Lutheran Church
The Hauge Log Church was the first Norwegian Lutheran Church in this area. Next to the church is a small cemetery. Many of the first members of the congregation are buried there.
Sharing and Separating
The two groups, the state-church Lutherans and the Haugeans, shared the building for a while. However, disagreements soon started. The conflict became so strong that one group actually locked the other out of the building!
In December 1858, the state-church congregation finished building their own church. This new church is now called the Perry Lutheran Church. It is located in nearby Daleyville, Wisconsin.
The Haugean Congregation's Journey
The Haugean (haugianere) congregation continued to use the original log church. They stayed there for about 35 years, until 1887. In that year, they built a new, larger church about two miles to the east.
The original Hauge Log Church building was restored in 1927. This helped keep the historic building in good condition. The Dane County Wisconsin Historical Society recognized the church's importance. They placed a Historic Marker there in 1964.
Protecting the Historic Site
Since 1966, the Perry Hauge Log Church Preservation Association, Inc. has been taking care of the Hauge Log Church. In 2001, the Town of Perry created the 30-acre Hauge Historic Park. The main goal of this park is to protect the Hauge Log Church historic site.
The park is open to everyone all year round, seven days a week. You can visit from sunrise until half an hour after sunset. This old pioneer church has also been used for many special events. These include concerts, weddings, family gatherings, and other celebrations.
