Our current exhibit features miniature stave churches and dwellings constructed by Jerry Sime, an avid historian, researcher and genealogist.
Jerry Sime created a number of scale models of Norwegian churches and dwellings. Jerry Sime died at age 81 on June 26, 2012. His father’s family came from Vik i Sogn. Jerry visited Norway several times and was fascinated with the stave churches. He went on to construct these models in his home workshop as part of his woodworking hobby. They were in the “back room” at the Nordic Center. We recently were able to hire Luke Moravic as our Arts & Cultural Events Coordinator and he created a display in our front windows and inside.
“The dragons atop stave churches were designed to keep away evil spirits of old pagan belief systems. The crosses indicate the advent of Christianity in Norway.”
Jerry Sime
“The outer covered areas of the stave churches provided a place where lepers could stand under cover and look through openings in the walls at the church service in session — without exposing the healthy church-goers to the dreaded disease of leprosy.”
