Near Arkdale in Adams County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Site of the First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Roche-a-Cri

Photographed by Keith L, April 19, 2008

1. Site of the First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Roche-a-Cri Marker

Inscription. In 1850, a group of Norwegian settlers from Koshkonong, the foremost Norwegian settlement colony in the United States at the time, left their southern Wisconsin home and migrated north, settling here in "Roch-a-Cree" or Roche-a-Cri. Imbued with pioneer spirit and a firm faith in Lutheranism, these settlers homesteaded and became successful farmers, growing potatoes as the their staple crop. In 1853, the Rev. H. A. Preus, a university-trained minister of the Norwegian state church, visited Roche-a-Cri and organized "The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Roche-a-Cri" with a membership of about thirty individuals who held services in their homes. By 1859, the community and congregation had outgrown these meeting places and built a log church at this site. This structure was destroyed by fire and in 1868 a frame church was erected one mile north of this location. The old church cemetery remains here, however, and is known as the South Arkdale Cemetery.

Erected 1998 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 390.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Immigration • Religion & Religious Structures

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• Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Norwegian-Americans, and the Wisconsin Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 44° 0.609′ N, 89° 55.132′ W. Marker is near Arkdale, Wisconsin, in Adams County. It is on Cypress Avenue west of 18th Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Marker is at the South Arkdale Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Arkdale WI 54613, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: West Church (approx. one mile away); Lutheran Church of the Norwegian Synod (approx. 1.3 miles away); East Arkdale Cemetery (approx. 2.3 miles away); Roche-A-Cri State Park (approx. 5 miles away); Veterans Memorial / Cpl. Red Cloud Tribute (approx. 5.8 miles away); Monroe Cemetery (approx. 7.7 miles away); Soldiers Monument (approx. 8 miles away); Mrs. Salter Killed Here (approx. 9½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arkdale.

South Arkdale Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, April 19, 2008

2. South Arkdale Cemetery

The Site of the Old Log Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, April 19, 2008

3. The Site of the Old Log Church

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 3,745 times since then and 114 times this year. Last updated on September 24, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 26, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.