Aslak Lie Norwegian House Restoration

The Aslak Olsen Lie (pronounced Lee) House was built in Southern Wisconsin in 1848. Aslak was a master craftsman, carpenter, cabinet maker and blacksmith -first in his native Norway and then in the United States. He is one of the few country immigrant craftsmen in the United States whose work has been traced on both sides of the Atlantic. His Wisconsin home is one of the oldest and most venerated Norwegian American structures in the state.

For decades the Lie House sat empty, untended and inaccessible to the public. This 34' X 17' two-story log and timber frame home was in desperate need of relocation and extensive repairs if it was to survive.  To preserve and honor this unique piece of Norwegian-American and early Wisconsin history its owners donated the structure to Folklore Village in 2003. 

The Aslak Olsen Lie House has since been painstakingly documented, labeled and dismantled.The house will be restored by expert craftsmen as soon as the necessary funds are raised. For now, this piece of history is sitting in storage.

A thoroughly researched Historical, Architectural Analysis, and Restoration Plan for the Lie House was completed in January 2009, thanks to a grant from the Jeffris Family Endowed Preservation Fund through the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the generous support of Phil Mayer.

The cost estimate for the reconstruction and restoration of the Aslak Lie House is $140,000. Folklore Village is currently preparing an application to the Jeffris Family Foundation for a matching grant that could provide one-third of that amount. When the grant is approved, Folklore Village will need to raise an additional $94,000 to match the Jeffris Grant and achieve our goal of saving and restoring the Aslak Olsen Lie House.

Our journey to save the Lie House began in 2003. Along the way, this journey has been supported, applauded and encouraged by State, Regional and National historians. They have been joined by their counterparts in Norway. All agree that this is a one of a kind building with a rich and multi-faceted story and that Lie's Wisconsin home deserves the effort and expense it will take to bring it back to life.

Folklore Village will need your help to raise $94,000 needed for this project to be eligible for matching funds. At this time we are asking for your pledge of support, since matching funds will not be available until after the grant is approved. Please send a brief letter stating the amount of your pledge to:

Aslak Olsen Lie House

Folklore Village

3210 County BB

Dodgeville, WI  53533

Thank you all for your interest and commitment to bringing this important building back to life. Please call me at 608.924.4000 with any questions you may have.

Doug Miller

Project Director

April 17, 2009