Our Norwegian Heritage

Ephraim's Founding Father

The modern-day village of Ephraim was founded in 1853 by the Moravian minister Reverend Andreas Iverson (pictured at right), and his band of loyal followers. Born in Norway, Iverson felt called to ministry as a young adult and he was trained and ordained as a Lutheran minister at the Norwegian Mission Society. It was here that he learned about the Moravian faith, to which he eventually gravitated and served as a minister for many years. Interestingly, the Norwegian Mission Society served several religious groups, but as Lutheranism was Norway's official religion, only the Lutheran church was approved to ordain students.

Iverson's first view of the area that would become Ephraim came from Eagle Island, now known as Horseshoe Island. The visit to the island, owned by fellow Norwegian immigrant Ole Larsen, was the culmination of a series of events and personal connections coupled with a strong desire to create a home for his budding congregation. On a cold February day in 1853, Iverson, accompanied by congregation members Gabriel Wathne, Abraham Oneson, and Melchior Jacobs, crossed the ice to the mainland and excitedly realized that this was the place for their new home. Iverson nurtured his flock in Ephraim for 11 years, when a disagreement and the loss of support of several leaders of the congregation forced him to leave the area for good.

Buildings

The Norwegian influence is still strong in Ephraim, as seen in the sturdy stone architecture of the gabled old Village Hall, the Iverson House, and the Svalhus.

The old Village Hall was designed by William Bernhard in the early 1920s. He was approached by village officials to design a building that would honor both the area as well as the Norwegian heritage of the community. Bernhard's original design was more elaborate than they had expected, and the plans were subsequently turned over to Fred Crandall from Sturgeon Bay. Crandall modified the plans, incorporating many of the Norwegian-style features but a bit more subdued. The building today retains that Norwegian feel and inside are a number of panel-murals depicting Scandinavian life. The painted panels are the result of a collaboration between the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa and the Ephraim Historical Foundation.

Reverend Iverson's home (1853) was constructed in the traditional Norwegian style with a barn for the animals on the lowest level. The house has been carefully restored by the Ephraim Historical Foundation and is open for tours through the summer and fall season. (See Our Buildings page. )

The Svalhus (1890s) is noted for the extended second story overhanging the front porch. This kept the house cool during the warmer months by sheltering the windows from the heat of the high summer sun. The house is appropriately named as the Norwegian word svalhus means "cooling house". The Svalhus is owned by the Ephraim Historical Foundation and is used by community groups and for Foundation programs and meetings. It's also available for rent for private events.

Events

The main summer event in Ephraim is Fyr-Bal, held each year in mid-June. The Fyr-Bal Fest is a recreation of the Norwegian tradition of celebrating Midsummer's Eve. The weekend is filled with many fun happenings including an arts and craft fair, fish boil, and Norwegian dancers. The highlight of the weekend is the lighting of bonfires along the shores of Eagle Harbor to burn the "Winter Witch" and usher in the long, sunny days of summer. In addition, each year one resident is elected to serve as honorary Fyr-Bal Chieftain.