The 2008 Sju Lag Stevne which met from July 15-19 at the Ramada Inn in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is now history but the memories linger on.
The seven lags of Sigdalslag, Landingslag, Ringerike-Drammen District Lag, Hadeland Lag, Toten Lag and Telelag joined together once again for their annual gathering of members.
Landingslag, led by President Sandy Hendrickson, did a wonderful job of organizing the Stevne. Wednesday and Thursday tours by air-conditioned motor coach included some Norwegian settlements and churches in Portage and nearby Waupaca counties.
Thursday morning opening session entertainment featured comedians “Aslak og Engebret” and a program on logging in Wisconsin presented by Sterling Strathe of the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education. He showed slides of early day logging operations and demonstrated some of the jobs and practices in the logging camps using real live audience members.
Extensive materials were available from the seven areas in the genealogy room for those interested in family research, and a variety of classes were offered ranging from Norwegian folk dancing and Hardanger embroidery to a study of Knute Rockne, how to use Norwegian records and the Scottish invasion of Norway. Vendors plied their wares such as books, crafts, jewelry and clothing of Norwegian persuasion.
Following the Wednesday and Thursday tours, movies were shown including the award winning 2005 film “Sweet Land” and the 1945 classic, “Our Vines Have Tender Grapes.”
The banquet on Friday evening began with the annual Bunad Parade by those members who wore their Norwegian costumes. Entertainment was from the children’s dance group “Landingsleiken” from Land, Norway, and the “Twin Cities Hardingfelelag,” a fiddle group from Minneapolis. Numedalslag was celebrating its 100th anniversary and was given special Centennial Recognition.
The Sigdalslag annual business meeting was held Saturday morning at the hotel and following the meeting some Sigdalslag members attended a picnic in nearby Plover with two other lags.
Next year’s Sju Lag Stevne has been scheduled for the University of Wisconsin campus in River Falls, Wisconsin from June 25-28.
by Dianne Snell
Click thumbnail images below to view photos.
The location of the 2008 7-Lag Stevne
Vendors provide shopping opportunities
Vendors provide shopping opportunities
Class about Knute Rockne, pro football coach & Norwegian emigrant
Class about Knute Rockne, pro football coach & Norwegian emigrant
Class about Knute Rockne, pro football coach & Norwegian emigrant
Earl Knutson at the Sigdalslag registration table
Vendors provide shopping opportunities
Vendors provide shopping opportunities
Jerry Paulson leads a session on organizing genealogy documentation
Jerry Paulson leads a session on organizing genealogy documentation
Sigdalslag executive board meeting
Sigdalslag executive board meeting
Rod Pletan
Judy Sosted, Scott Brunner, Ed Espe
Hardanger fiddlers lead the Bunad Parade
Bunad Parade – Earl Knutson
Bunad Parade – dancers from Norway
Bunad Parade – dancers from Norway
Bunad Parade – Rosella Goettelman
Bunad Parade – Marilyn Somdahl (right)
Landingsleiken, a dance group from Norway – banquet entertainment
Landingsleiken, a dance group from Norway – banquet entertainment
Landingsleiken, a dance group from Norway – banquet entertainment
Members of the Twin Cities Hardingfelalag – banquet entertainment
Members of the Twin Cities Hardingfelalag – banquet entertainment
Members of the Twin Cities Hardingfelalag – banquet entertainment
Sigdalslag annual business meeting
Sigdalslag annual business meeting
Sigdalslag annual business meeting
Sigdalslag executive board members in attendance
Scott Brunner – new editor of the Sigdalslag Saga
Ruth and Dan Manning
Shirley Augustine and Birgitta Meade
Rosella Goettelman and Carol Meade
Dianne Snell and Shirley Augustine
Lynn and Don Skadeland
Earl and Betty Knutson
Dale Hovland and Paul Larson
Ed and Char Espe
Don Rorvig and Judy Sosted
Rod and Audrey Pletan
David and Lee Rokke
Donna Kuhlenkamp and Mary Bonneboen
Stevne tours included The Rising Star Mill at Nelsonville, WI
The Rising Star Mill operated from 1855-1984
The Rising Starr Mill at Nelsonville is now an artists studio, gallery and museum
At The Rising Star Mill at Nelsonville, WI
At The Rising Star Mill at Nelsonville, WI
At The Rising Star Mill at Nelsonville, WI
At The Rising Star Mill at Nelsonville, WI
An antique store in Nelsonville, WI
Reflections Antiques in the former Waller’s Market, Nelsonville, WI
This Century Farm has been owned by the Romundson family for more than 100 years
This Century Farm has been owned by the Romundson family for more than 100 years
Sigdalslag’s banner stands proudly with other lag banners
“Aslak og Engebret” (aka Dave Olson and Dave Fischer) entertained
“Lumberjack Louie” portrayed by Sterling Strathe
Betty Knutson and Judy Sosted danced
Waupaca County Tour – Hutchinson House Museum, built in 1854
At the Hutchinson House Museum
At the Hutchinson House Museum
At the Hutchinson House Museum
An early log cabin awaits restoration at Scandinavia, Wisconsin
Jole’s Barber Shop in Scandinavia, WI, built in 1902
Thomas Knoph’s cabin, the first store in Scandinavia, WI, built in 1852
Martin Bergan bequeathed $10,000 to the Scandinavian Academy
Scandinavia Academy – later became Central Wisconsin College
1913 horse-drawn Waterous pumper at Iola (WI) Historical Society
Sigdoler Dan Manning (foreground) helped demonstrate a Rockne football play
Dancers from Landingsleiken dance group in Norway
Betty Knutson displays her award-winning Hardanger
Betty Knutson displays her award-winning Hardanger
South New Hope Lutheran Church – organized in 1889
Built in 1925, it broke from the North Church over religious disagreements
The WI Historical Society is working on making this church an historical landmark
The church altar was patterned after those in Norway
