“I think Norwegians around the world would be appalled if they knew about this.”
Dee Grimsrud, Member of the Hauge Preservation Association
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| Photo from Hauge Log Church website |
Small towns are proud of their heritage—the bits of history that form their foundation. So it’s understandable when a town wants to protect that heritage, but at what cost? In Perry, Wisconsin (population 732), the answer could be over $1 million.
Perry is the home of the Hauge Log Church, built by Norwegian settlers in 1852. Today, it’s open to visitors seven days a week and can be rented out for weddings and baptisms and such. In 2000, David Gehl made plans to build a home and barn on property adjacent to the church. The town not only blocked construction, but it also used eminent domain to acquire 13 acres of Mr. Gehl’s land to protect the views surrounding the church. This set off a barrage of lawsuits—14 so far. Mr. Gehl has won two of the suits and was awarded over $730,000, which comes out to more than $1 million after interest. But what Mr. Gehl did not win is the right to reclaim his 13 acres.
The town is appealing the decisions. But if it loses, how will it pay Mr. Gehl? Town officials have come up with about 65-70 fundraising ideas, according to the town chairman. He says his favorite is to ask wealthy Norwegians around the world to help pay the princely sum. First on the list? King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway.
Read more:
■ Rob Schultz, Court battle over view from historic Norwegian church could cost small town more than $1 million, Wisconsin State Journal, February 8, 2012.
■ Hauge Log Church website
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