Houghton County, Michigan

Early Norwegian Settlement

In 1865, a group of Norwegians led by Chr. Tostesen came to Calumet, Michigan. Most of them came from the Kåfjord Copper Works. Mining became the principal occupation of the Norwegian population in Houghton County.

Churches and Congregations

Quincy Norwegian Lutheran Congregation was established in 1866 by Pastor A. Fredriksen of the Augustana Synod and was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. The first Norwegian church was built in 1876 by Calumet Norwegian Lutheran Congregation, which belonged to the Conference. By 1905, Houghton County had five Norwegian congregations and five churches. Two congregations belonged to the Lutheran Free Church, two to the Methodist Church, and one to the United Church.

Temperance Movement

The first Norwegian Good Templar Lodge in America was established at Calumet in 1874. A Trønder named S. Wold served as B. Ø. T., while Haagen Jacobsen from Stjørdal served as B. B. T.

Norwegian Place Names

Houghton County had a post office named Oscar.

Sources:

[Ulvestad, Martin. Nordmændene i Amerika. Utg. History Book Company's Forlag. Minneapolis, Minn. 1907.]