Norwegian Texans - Institute of Texan Cultures

N orwegian Texans
Norwegian Texans highlights the Norwegians who settled in Bosque
County in central Texas. Tales of long ago as well as current practices
to preserve the Norwegian heritage are featured.
Measure Space for a One-Room Log Cabin (pg. 64)
Social Studies- skills: decision-making, problem-solving, constructing visuals,
drawing conclusions; Math; Fine Arts
Measure off a space in your classroom 12" x 14". Imagine how seven
people might have lived in that space. Draw a floor plan. Show where
the furniture would have been .
Food for Thought
Social Studies- geography, skills: problem-solving, discussing information,
drawing conclusions, organizing ideas, writing; Language Arts; Science
What furnishings would the cabin have had? A bed, a trun.l<, a spinning wheel, a table, a chair . What else? How would the bed have been
constructed? It might have been built into a corner. Where would the
children have slept? Perhaps in a loft. Why wasn't the cabin bigger?
Perhaps it was hard to find thick logs that were longer. What was the
floor made of? Either dirt or puncheons (split logs with the flat side
up). What side of the house do you think the door was on? Why? (Remember the blue northers .) What do you think the family used for heat
and light? Probably a fireplace and candles.
There is a cabin just this size on the grounds of the Bosque
Memorial Museum. It was built in 1859, and a family of seven people
lived in it.
Write about a day in the life of this family . You might call it "Life
in a Log Cabin Long Ago ."
Learn to Knit (pg. 65)
Social Studies- group influences, skills: constructing visuals (artifacts), locating
information; Physical Education; Fine Arts
Make a pair of knitting needles . What could you use that is readily
available? Wooden meat skewers . Ask someone to teach you to knit.
Long ago, families knitted their own sweaters, socks, mittens, caps,
and scarves.
Research Home Remedies (pg. 65)
Social Studies- social responsibilities, skills: locating, gathering, and analyzing
information; Language Arts; Science; Health
See also M exican Texans on page 37.
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Remember a Family Rhyme (pg. 67)
Social Studies-group influences, skills: locating, gathering, and analyzing
information; Language Arts
The Norwegian rhyme "Ride, Ride, Ranke" was known to many
Norwegians who came to America. In this version, Mr. Homerstad's
grandmother added a new part about the dolls and the dogs. Families
often make up their own versions of old rhymes or make up new ones
when they play games or sing songs. (See pg. 25 in Texans.)
Look and Learn (pg. 69)
Social Studies-history, skills: interpreting and discussing visuals, drawing
conclusions; Language Arts; Fine Arts
Look at the picture of the trunk in the museum at Clifton. This
trunk was brought from Norway to Bosque County. How big do you
think it is? It's 49" x 25" x 24" tall (at the highest point). Do you think
it looked like this after the trip? No, it has been restored. What do you
think was brought to Texas in this trunk? Probably whatever the family
needed the most. Clothing, tools, bedding, and a spinning wheel. What
else? A Bible? (See pg. 67 in Texans.) Seeds? A small toy? A pan? A
sentimental keepsake?
How did they fit the spinning wheel in the trunk? By taking it apart.
Was it that important? Yes, Norwegian Texans in Bosque County spun
yarn and wove cloth for their clothing long ago. What does the date
refer to? These trunks were often made as dowry chests in Norway.
The date of the wedding was written on them. Why do you think the
top was rounded? Some say it was so that the sea water would roll
off. Others say it was tradition. What do you think about the design?
Norwegians painted designs like this, called rosemaling (rose painting),
on wooden trays, boxes, and furniture. Was rosemaling continued in
Bosque County? No, people were busy getting settled in a new country.
Pack a Trunk
Social Studies- skills: predicting outcomes, decision-making; Math; Science
Imagine that you are going to move to a place far away (perhaps
into Space). You can take only what will fit in a trunk that measures
49" x 25" x 24''. What will you take? Find a cardboard box that has
about the same volume and pack it with what you want to take. Does
everything fit in? What will you have to leave behind?
Make a Museum (pg. 69)
Social Studies- history, skills: classifying information, locating and analyzing
information, interpreting visuals (artifacts); Language Arts; Science; Fine Arts
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FOR FUN
Try Rosemaling
Social Studies- group influences, skills: modeling cultural behavior, constructing
visuals; Fine Arts
Paint a floral design like the one on the trunk. Notice the patterns .
There are many curves and shapes that look somewhat like C 'sand
elongated 5 's . Some parts of the design look like large commas, and
others look like tear drops.
Make Flat Br¢d (pg. 67)
Social Studies- group influences, skills: modeling cultural behavior; Math;
Science; Health
1 1/z cups flour
1/ z cup whole wheat flour
1
/ z cup corn meal
lfz teaspoon salt
about 1% cups water
Mix dry ingredients together and just add water until the mixture
forms a firm dough. Do not let it get sticky. Pinch off a piece about
the size of an egg . Roll it on a well-floured cloth or board until it is
paper thin. Roll the dough onto a long, smooth, thin wooden stick or
a rolling pin, then unroll it on heavy foil. Bake at 350 degrees until
it is a light golden brown and crisp (15-20 minutes). When cool, it will
be very crunchy and nutty in flavor. Keep in a dry place. If it becomes
tough, reheat just before eating.
Flat brf)d has been a staple of the Norwegians and other Scandinavians for hundreds of years. It's dry and will keep for a long time. This
recipe is from Bosque County.
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