nelson/bailey log house
In 2024, Friends of Saxonia House received a $50,000 grant to build a Welcome Center building on our grounds. The grant was received from Washington County Tourism Council and is being used to put together an authentic Norwegian Log Cabin which was moved from western Wisconsin.
This building dates to the same period as the Saxonia House and will be used as an exhibit hall that tells the story of Norwegian emigrants to the area and the friendship between Romantic painters Casper David Friedrich, of Germany, and Norwegian painter Johan Christian Dahl when they lived and painted in Dresden, Germany..
Our new booklet
During a 2018 trip to Norway, Alan and Marilyn Pape from the Friends of the Saxonia House, visited the Bale log house in Balestrand. There they discovered that a near twin of the Bale House coincidentally might still be standing back home in Wisconsin! When they returned hime, Alan and restoration architect, Greg Zahn located the twin building still standing in a grove of brush 8 miles north of Madison. The owners of the log house were happy to donate it for educational purposes to Friends of the Saxonia House. Back in Balestrand, the Bale house is locally known as "the most painted and photographed log house on its original site in Norway.
Follow Dr. Michael Besch's research discoveries of these two log houses and the efforts to save one of Tham as an important example of Old World pioneer past.
Retail price $7.50 plus shipping
PURCHASE SOMETHING WORTH SAVING
OUR MISSION
- To create the Saxonia Heritage Conservancy, a self-supporting, not-for-profit organization focused on the preservation of the Saxonia House and its accompanying buildings and property.
- To provide cultural, arts, culinary and historic programming at the Saxonia House, which will be professionally restored and furnished to the year 1855. The reconstruction of its Beer Hall will provide a welcoming space for modern multi-use events and functions.