Town
of Norway Heritage
Under the leadership of John Luraas, forty pioneers came to Muskego Lake from
Norway in 1839, to found one of the most important settlements in
Norwegian-American history. After temporary set-backs, the Settlement
flourished here through the leadership of Even Heg, Johannes Johanassen, Soren
Bache, Elling Eilsen, James Reymert and Claus Clausen, who sent glowing reports
to Norway and encouraged a large movement to this country.
This settlement gave rise to the first Norwegian Lutheran congregation organized
in America (1843) and published the first Norwegian-American newspaper. Old
Muskego became well known as a mother colony to other settlements, schools and
churches springing up on the new frontier. Countless wagonloads of newcomers
stopped here before continuing west.
Nearby Heg Park commemorates Colonel Hans C. Heg, one of Wisconsin’s Civil War
heroes.
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Town News
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