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On the Porch

The Lyon County Museum will host the traveling exhibit New Land, New Life: Norwegian Immigrants in Minnesota, 1825-1925 this summer. The exhibit opens on July 1 and will close on Sept. 30. The exhibit explores the first 100 years of Norwegian immigration in Minnesota and is a collaboration of the Ramsey County Historical Society and St. Paul Sons of Norway Synnove-Nordkap lodge. The 20 exhibit panels interpret primary materials and secondary research of Professors Carlton Qualey and John Gjerde on one of the earliest and larger ethnic groups to settle the Minnesota frontier. One in five Minnesotans claim Norwegian ancestry.

Since the traveling exhibit consists of only panels, we would like to incorporate photographs, objects, and stories of Norwegian immigrants who settled in Lyon County or in Minnesota. We are looking for objects they would have brought to the United States. Examples include: a trunk, personal item, household item, or a document/bible in Norwegian. We are also looking for stories and photographs of their life in Lyon County or in Minnesota. For example, the biography below is of one Norwegian immigrant who first settled in Fillmore County before moving to Lyon County in 1872. Objects/photos may be on loan for the duration of the traveling exhibit. Please contact me at 537-6580 at the museum if you have something for this exhibit or for more information.

Hans P. Sanden was born in Opdahl, Trondhjem, Norway on Oct. 30, 1852. He received his early education in Norway, where he resided until 18 years of age. In 1871, he came to the United States and went to Fountain in Fillmore County. He worked on the railroad then being built between St. James and Le Mars, Iowa, and later the railroad near Mankato.

In 1872, Mr. Sanden moved to Lyon County and established a homestead on the northwest quarter of section 20 in Shelburne Township. In 1888, the Great Northern Railroad was built and he sold the north half of his homestead to the railroad company for a town site, which became Florence. Later, Mr. Sanden purchased a homestead on the northeast quarter of section 20 and the south half of the northwest quarter of section 21, which made him the owner of 320 acres in Shelburne Township. The photograph featured this week is the Sanden homestead.

Mr. Sanden married Mary Lein in Shelburne Township on Aug. 18, 1883. They had the following children: Petra, Hannah, Carl and Burt. After Mrs. Sanden passed away on Oct. 30, 1907, the family moved to a home in Florence.

The Lyon County Historical Society is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. For more information on membership, research, volunteering, or the museum’s collection, please contact us at 537-6580 or director@lyoncomuseum.org. Like our page and follow us on Facebook.

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