Norwegian Village
In 1854, the first people of the Nordic race made their entrance into the town of Berlin, these were the families of John L. Oswald, Carl Oleson, and John Gilson. Altogether, there were about three thousand Scandinavians families in that came to live in Berlin. They settled here because of the logging industry, as so many others did. The Norwegian Village originally consisted of four streets called Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland and which are still around today. The names of 5th and 6th Streets recently changed to Iceland Street and Viking Street but was not part of the original Norwegian Village. It was very common to hear elderly Norwegian men and women speaking Norwegian in the village back in the day. A huge section of Norwegian history was played out In Berlin with the oldest ski club in North America, the Nansen Ski Club. Originally called the Skiklubben Nordamerikansk, or North American ski club, and was for Norwegian speaking people only to try to keep the Swedes away. Olaf Oleson is credited with making the first pair of skis in the
United States. He also perfected the first “iron rigging” for skis. Around the year 1900, Adolph Oleson became the first known person to somersault off a ski jump and also was the first person to jump through a fiery hoop. The first ski jump to be built was called Paine Hill Ski Jump. It was built for the first winter carnival in Berlin that was held during the winter of 1922. Previous jumps were made using the hill and a snow chute built into it. It was said that speeds of 60 miles per hour were attained on the chute. The section used for this area was called Paine’s Pasture, in the Norwegian Village. It sat at the end of Tenth Street and what would later become Eleventh Street. The jump was moved to a different position in 1927 and in 1938 the Nansen Ski Jump on the Milan Road was built. When Fridtjof Nansen, who in 1888 skied across Greenland, came to Berlin they change the name to the Nansen Ski Club, in honor of him. The Norwegians still live in Berlin but their ski jump is no longer used but the Nansen Ski Club is still here today.
The following is a list of all churchies in or around the Norwegian Village:
United States. He also perfected the first “iron rigging” for skis. Around the year 1900, Adolph Oleson became the first known person to somersault off a ski jump and also was the first person to jump through a fiery hoop. The first ski jump to be built was called Paine Hill Ski Jump. It was built for the first winter carnival in Berlin that was held during the winter of 1922. Previous jumps were made using the hill and a snow chute built into it. It was said that speeds of 60 miles per hour were attained on the chute. The section used for this area was called Paine’s Pasture, in the Norwegian Village. It sat at the end of Tenth Street and what would later become Eleventh Street. The jump was moved to a different position in 1927 and in 1938 the Nansen Ski Jump on the Milan Road was built. When Fridtjof Nansen, who in 1888 skied across Greenland, came to Berlin they change the name to the Nansen Ski Club, in honor of him. The Norwegians still live in Berlin but their ski jump is no longer used but the Nansen Ski Club is still here today.
The following is a list of all churchies in or around the Norwegian Village:
A group of children from the Norwegian Village (Image donated)
 The Mortensen family came from Skrøbelev, Denmark and first settled in Canada, then latter in a house at 1803 Hutchins Street. In this photo, Front Row: Robert Earl Mortensen, Tom Nadeau
Back Row: Alfred "Rasmus" Mortensen, Louis Mortensen, Anna Olesen-Mortensen, Charles Smith, Emma Petersen-Smith (with baby Helen Smith), Lillian Petersen-Nadeau and Emile Joseph Nadeau (Image from www.oldbluegenes.blogspot.com)  John L. Oswald was a shoemaker in Norway. He moved to Berlin and opened a shop on Exchange Street near the Grand Trunk Station but later worked in the mill.(Image from Poof Tardiff) 
Before a permanent ski jump was constructed, little jumps like these were made by piling wood and putting snow on top until they could reach a jumping height of about 80 feet.
|
The Norwegian Village with St Paul's Lutheran Church in the background (Image donated)
 Nelson Evans (Image donated)  The home on the left is either the home of Mr. Oswald or his son, both named John, in 1959. (Image from the Beyond Brown Paper archives)  Gus Halvorson was born in Sweden and moved to Norway when he was 12. He came to America when he was 26 and worked for the Berlin Mills Company and lived on Sixth Street. He died in 1926. 
Arvid Ek was born on September 11, 1861, in Hoganas Ryd, Sweden to Nils and Christina Ek. His family moved to this country when he was about ten years old, with the intention of settling in Berlin no doubt. This man died in Portland, Maine on June 29, 1928.
|
The Congregational Church
(Image from www.berlinnh.home.comcast.net)
In 1876, Reverend Gorham began to hold services in Berlin. In that year, he invited the citizens to meet with him at Berlin Mills hall to consider the organization of a Congregational Church. They were the first established organization in town, and it grew very rapidly. On Nov. 22, 1877, a council of Congregational churches of Lancaster, Gorham, N.H., Bethel, Gilead, Oxford, Rumford, Andover, South Paris, Lewiston and Portland, Me., voted, "There followers in Berlin should build a church upon the basis of the submitted articles of faith." This was the first regular, organized church of which there is any record in Berlin. On June 27, 1881, the Parish of the Church of Christ was organized with W. W. Brown, chairman; C. E. Olson, clerk; J. W. Parker, treasurer and collector; J. D. Duke, Franklin Wheeler and John Wilson, executive committee. In 1862, work of erecting the present Congregational Church of Christ was started and on July 22, 1883, the building was dedicated. The bell was installed in 1885. In 1904 the late W. W. Brown, who was a large and liberal benefactor form the beginning, donated a pipe organ to the church. Reverend Benedict resigned in 1882. His successors were: The Reverends Albert Donnell, 1883-85; S. L Bowler, 1885-90; Henry Wheaten and William Coburn, 1890-93; J. B. Caruthers, 1893-1901; R. C. Flagg, 1901-05; W. F. Slade, 1905-08; E. W. Moore, 1908-27; H. C Stallard, 1927. This church closed in 2012.
Late 1890s
The Norwegian Methodist Episcopal Church
 The Norwegian Methodist Episcopal Church got started by Rev. J. P. Anderson in 1889. This is a photo of how it looked when it was first built. (Image from Poof Tardiff) |
A steeple was added to the side of the building and a new entrance added. The old steeple came down and the old entrance covered up with a nice big window. The Norwegian Methodist Episcopal Church was renovated into a home by Sunny Couture. (image from Brown Bulletin, 1920s)
|
St Paul's Lutheran Church
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church got started in 1887 by Rev. George A.P. Rygg (image from www.oldbluegenes.blogspot.com)
The Christian Science Church
The Christian Science Church was founded in 1908 with early ceremonies being held in the building above on Main Street.
|
Christian Science Church on the corner of Tenth and Main Streets. This building was dedicated in 1928. This is now used as a house.
|
