The Story of Laft Hus By Betty Wulff, November 2006

In 1969 a group of civic minded people formed the Red Deer International Folk Festival Societyhwith the prime objective of staging an international celebration annually on Canada's birthday, July 1st. Those who presented this idea to the CIty of Red Deer had returned from a festivve German Canadian Club event enthused with the idea that many cultures together would greatly multiply the fun and excitement they had just experienced. They were encouraged by the City to go ahead with their plan and quickly formed the "Red Deer International Folk Festival Society" with the following objectives (these objectives were in line with Canada's then emerging multi-cultural objectives):

To encourage pride of citizenship, national unity and loyalty to our country

To foster a greater awareness and mutual understanding of our heritage and our various founding cultures

To sponsor a celebration, as Canadians on Canada Day, our national holiday, July 1st, to be known as the "Red Deer International Folk Festival"

To provide entertainment and cultural activity for ourselves, our children and our neighbours

These were similar to Canada's then emerging multi-cultural policy which was encouraging the various ethnic groups across the land to learn and share the culture of their immigrant forefathers.

Volunteer participation was enthusiastic from the start as was the response from the general public who attended the two-day festival. The idea was to have local people share what they could of the beautiful cultures of their forefathers in a joyful celebration of being Canadian. Foods, arts and crafts, artifacts, costumes, dancing and music were organized for a wonderful fun theme called, "A World Within A World."

At the time there were very few organized "ethnic" clubs. The Scottish, German and Danish clubs already functioning were some of the first groups to participate in all the planning and work. There was no Norwegian Club. However, many individuals of Norwegian birth or heritage volunteered to build and set up displays and assist in the community to stage this and make it a first class festival.

By the seconde festival in 1970 those volunteers of the Norwegian birth or descent in the area had "caught the multi-cultural bug." They were informally recruited to participate by sharing what they could of their culture. They contributed by demonstrating the making of specialty Norwegian foods, adding entertainment, displaying items made or purchased in Norway, etc. "Ethnic" clubs began to form in order to contribute something of their culture to the festivities. Old and new Canadians made lifelong friends as they worked together all year in planning the big event.

After the 1972 Folk Festival the overall coordinator was so inspired by the synergy of the increasing band of volunteers that he proposed that the Society build an International Village of buildings from many different countries. He described it as a theme park of replicas of unique architecture or even landscaping features where this wonderful sharing and learning could take place all year long. He stressed the rich benefits of cultural interchanges between various ethnic groups resultingin an improved understanding of each other and particularly of the newest immigrants to our region. Lastly he mentioned the rich potential of such a village for summer youth educational employment.

Heavily involved with the festival planning and of Norwegian ancestry by early 1973, Betty Wulff decided it was time to formally form a Norwegian club. She met with representatives from Scandinavian clubs in Calgary and Edmonton for guidance and discussed some of the pros and cons of her idea of building a replica of a typical Norwegian log farm "stabbur". (Richly carved and decorated farm storage building.) The Edmonton representative advised that for such a project the proposed club should stay local with mainly a cultural aim of assisting this international theme. Shortly thereafter she arranged to borrow a meeting place, recruited a chairman and submitted a press release to the local newspaper inviting those interested in forming a Norwegian club.

Several interested people attended and over the following few weeks the Norwegian Club of Central Alberta was formed. Minutes were recorded of all decisions made, and the events and activities of this club over the next few years until 1980. During this period the goal of building a small "stabbur" changed into building a bigger, more useful "stue" (typical farm home from the late 17th century Norway). Logs were donated for such a building and an expert log joiner, originally from Norway, currently instructing this technique at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology was contacted for his guidance. Stan Wulff was appointed as Building Chairman and , with his wife, Betty, continued throughout the years until the current time to contribute their volunteer time to this project.

Many volunteers were recruited to work on removing the bark and smoothing the gift of logs with power and hand planes. All work was done in phases, the first phase being the preparation of logs for building. This was done at several combined work-party/family camp-out weekends which made otherwise arduous work seem like a lot of fun. Fundraising continued throughout the following six years along with ongoing research of the building and its interior furnishing details.

As the small band of second and third generation "Norwegians" learned more and more about their ancestral culture it continued to plan, organize and conduct events and activities to both raise funds and recruit others to join in the excitement. Many "firsts" occurred throughout those busy years. In 1976 and again in 1977 the first "lutefisk" suppers were staged by the club, advertised to the public, and attended by enthusiastic guests. Both events were oversold with several disappointed people wanting dinner tickets, waiting on a list in the event someone must cancel. One guest seriously insisted she be allowed to buy a meal ticket even though there was no chance of attending the meal for lack of space, "just for the privilege of standing in the entranceway of the dinner facility to smell the food as it was being served."

Other "firsts" included the first Norwegian group food production work parties where members learned how to produce food items such as "lefse" (thin potato bread), "krumkake" (crisp, curled cookie), "rosetter" (lacey, round cookies baked on a special iron in hot fat), "kjottkaker" (Norwegian meatballs), "skinkesteik" (special pork roast) and many more. Old cookbooks were brought out and studied, and folks dredged up the directions their Norwegian parents or grandparents had taught them. These things were joyfully shared with those interested. Many of those interested, though born into a "Norwegian" family, had never heard of them or tasted the foods before.

A very few people who joined this club had been raised by parents who had kept many of the Norwegian traditions alive.

Old and beautiful folk costumes were brought out of mothballs and the race was on amongst other interested members to try to produce one either like it or like the one from the district in Norway from whence their ancestors had emigrated. One young man, whose grandparents had emigrated to this area, started a Scandinavian folk dance group for young adults and by his own hand (and needle and thread) produced not one, but two ladies folk costumes after the Hardanger tradition. He did this to show the young women that it was certainly not impossible. He also traveled to Norway to do a study and take lessons in both Norwegian folk dancing and the making of his own man's folk costume.

People opened their homes for Norwegian language and painting classes and in January 1978 the first "rosemaling" classes were held in the region. A skilled rosemaler originally from Norway taught this first class. One club member who was one of his students then traveled to Decorah, Iowa to enroll in more study and practice in classes instructed by one of Norway's best rosemalers. She returned to instruct many other interested students in this beautiful Norwegian art in formal classes all over the region, and at the Laft Hus when it was finally finished and open.

In 1979 the Norwegian Club of Central Alberta decided it needed more membership support and over a period of several years and various changes to Club Membership and Society Structure, the building committee (Laft Hus Society) of the now Aspelund Laft Hus Society would move forward with the creation of the Laft Hus building that stands today.

The building of the Laft Hus started with the recruiting of enough enthusiastic members and volunteers to support the project and keep it moving ahead. The logs were moved from Caroline, Alberta to a temporary site on a member's land just north of the City of Red Deer. When the Norwegian log joiner finally viewed the actual plan and size of the bigger "stue" building the society had decided to build, he rejected the first set of logs as too small. They were sold and new larger logs purchased under his direction. Before commencing to debark and plane them however, the society volunteers took on a contract to prepare another set of 60 logs for the log builder in order to raise much needed funds. Finally the new logs for the Laft Hus were power-planed and hand-planed during the evenings and weekends as most of these volunteers worked at full-time jobs during hte weekdays. At the same time a few of these same volunteers were working to complete the renovations at the newly re-located Cronquist House and serving on the board of the Red Deer International Folk Festival Society. This resulted in the "Norwegians' being the first to completely finish one room in this old historic building. Most volunteers who worked on the preparation of three sets of logs also worked at full-time jobs during weekdays.

The final set of logs were then assembled and joined in the Norwegian tradition into a close copy of a 17th Century farm house which still stands in an outdoor folk museum in Norway. The same busy Norwegian log joiner who had guided the group thus far was contracted to engineer the actual log joining, assisted by student volunteers who wished to learn the techniques of "lafting" or log joining in the old Norwegian tradition from him.

The cost of this phase #2 was $13,000 which was $2,000 over the building committee's estimate. Several fundraising activities and personal loans from members kept the project from faltering financially. A grant from the Provincial Government Culture Department was obtained to research and conduct a sod roofing workshop for volunteers. Another was received to buy supplies to conduct courses in the beautiful art of rosemaling. Still another small grant was obtained with which to pay someone to build a small model of the proposed Laft Hus.

Other fkundraisers included raffles, concerts, bake, craft, wood and garage sales. Funds were also raised by food catering at private parties. Some of these parties were for members' children's weddings or their own weddings and anniversary parties. The most labour intensive catering contracts were for the first two annual Red Deer Air Shows at Penhold Airbase, the Lacombe Vintage Clubs' first "Tractor Pull" events and the annual Red Deer Folk Festivals. Little by little the small club stayed ahead of its financial obligations through constant fund-raising.

In October of 1983 the society received a grant from Alberta Cultural Heritage Foundation for $10,650 and by the society's annual meeting on January 16th, 1984 the society's net worth was calculated at $23,500. By June, 1985 several seniors of the society were approved for a federal government New Horizon's grant of $17,115 for capital costs and materials for furnishings. These seniors immediately began making these furnishings in their home workshops; bed, tables, chairs, cupboards, window draperies and bed linens.

A.S. Platon of Notodden, a factory in Norway, donated enough sod-roof plastic underlay for two buildings the size of the Laft Hus, worth at that time approximately $2,000. This gift was solicited by friends of the Laft Hus who lived in Norway. The same friends donated countless gifts to be used at the Laft Hus over the years, from a Hardanger-dressed doll, to wall hangings and books about many aspects of Norwegian culture. People brought out their Hardanger violins to show and play them for other members. $2,500 worth of lumber and more logs were purchased for floor joists, roofing and flooring.

At the same time, negotiations were underway with the City of Red Deer for a more permanent site for the Laft hus, hopefully where there would be space for many other countries' buildings. To complete these negotiations, serious discussions took place within the society about how to avail the Laft Hus to the community. Some comments were as follows:'

- It would be a functional "living museum," with people inside and out doing things the old way

- One day per week would be devoted to welcoming visitors from the public, with special occasional festivals/fairs featuring "Norway Days"

- Demonstrations and sales of traditional food during production

- The public could experience cooking, baking, sewing, rosemaling, etc.

- The community and tourists would be interested in visiting.

- Society could offer regular activities and courses to the public.

- A unique place where visitors could see and try things for themselves.

- It should be as authentic as possible to be interesting

- Modern heating and electric power and lights would be a must for displays as candle lighting is too dangerous

At the same time members reviewed what they had learned or are learning by being involved in the project. These are some of their comments:

- I am mostly enjoying the actual building of this Laft Hus.

- The uniqueness and warmth of the design interests me the most.

- I can't get too enthusiastic until it is all done as am more interested in doing things inside it - especially food demonstrations and food services.

- I am interested in researching and learning how this log building is being made and the assembly of it all; also look forward to the cooking, music, carpentry, wood carving, and "rosemaling" which will take place inside when it is done.

- We are learning by studying, drawing and doing and will be well pleased to see it finished as a product we can proudly show to others.

- I too enjoy learning about its construction and how we manage to do it all.

- Our society's second goal means many small buildings to me, just like the farm buildings of long ago Norway. Each building had a specialized activity happening within it, such as the "alehus" (cook house), the "stabbur" (storage building), the buildings for each of the animal groups, etc., creating a whole atmosphere of farm life. I want others to be inspired by this Laft Hus to learn about our Norwegian ancestors and how they lived.

- What keeps me going is that I am interested in the overall dream of an international village of replicas of buildings from all over the world. This would be a terrific tourist draw, plus have good potential for student summer employment opportunities during high tourist seasons.

At the September 17th weekly City Council meeting in 1984, a site in Heritage Square, Recreation Park on which to locate and finish the Laft Hus was approved by council members on the recommendation of a special committee. An agreement between the City of Red Deer and the Laft Hus Society was drawn up by the city's administration and signed by representatives of both parties. Amongst other things, this agreement forbade the society from using the building exclusively for its own clubhouse and included permission to operate a gift shop within the Laft Hus. At the City's directive the society contracted site engineers to test the site soil and recommend foundation requirements which led to unexpected costs. A basement under the building for storage as well as access to running water for the building was priced at nearly $25,000. These two projects were discarded as "not in the budget" and costly elements to leave behind if the Laft Hus ever located to a proposed international village. The Laft Hus which had been partially built on the temporary site, was dismantled and moved to Heritage Square in the fall 1985 to be re-erected and finished there. A small heated workshop building was temporarily erected on the site for the volunteer workmen to warm up, have their meals and store their tools.

Volunteers, guided by Building Coordinator, Stan Wulff, worked at the site every day throughout that fall and winter, throughout 1986 and the spring of 1987. Many of the tasks were those which volunteers had never done before, but through resourcefulness, past building experience and research they found the best way to complete the building in time for the grand opening.

A huge 8' x12' wool Norwegian flag was donated to the society by the same friends in Norway who had secured the 'platon" donation, and a similar sized Canadian flag donated by the society's insurance agent at the time. Norwegian style flag poles were built for these flags by a senior volunteer in the region.

In March 1986, another provincial grant of almost $8,000 was received to assist financially in the completion of the building.

The official opening was on June 20 & 21, 1987. This two day event was the first public Norwegian festival ever held in the region and featured the City of Red Deer Royal's band playing first the Canadian and then the Norwegian anthem. Commemorative speeches followed a ceremony of Stan Wulff and Mayor McGhee together opening the Laft Hus front door and inviting the guests to view the house. Another band/orchestra called "The Scandiband" from Rimbey/Bentley area played "oldi goldie" and Norwegian melodies thrgoughout the two days. A program of speeches on the first day and non-denominational church service was held on the Sunday, followed by more performances of singers and musicians throughout the day. Notable visitors were from the west coast of Norway who brought many small gifts which still adorn the Laft Hus today. Other artifact items were brought out of storage and/or donated by generous donors from the area. A tent was set up with Laft Hus Butikk items for sale and thousands of visitors toured the Laft Hus. A speech was given by the then Community Services Manager, Mr. Don Moore, City of Red Deer, at the Official Opening of the Laft Hus on June 30, 1987:

"I am honoured to have been asked to attend this special luncheon on the day of the Official Opening of the Norwegian Laft Hus, and especially honoured to have been asked to address you! We all recognize that Canada is a multicultural country, but it has only been in recent years that there has been a special emphasis on multiculturalism. I am proud to live in a community that has taken a leadership role in the development of this concept. It is some years ago now, that a group of concerned and interested citizens came to City Council and the community seeking support for the International FOlk Festival Concept. The response was mixed, and in some cases, somewhat cool. In spite of this thsoe invovled, representing people of a full range of ethnic origins, persisted, and although their visions of Folk Festival Village has not materialized, their initiatives have encouraged various ethno-cultural organizations to continue to pursue their goals and their activities, and the interpretation of them to others in the community. The Federal and Provincial Government are increasingly supportive of multi-culturalism, as is evidenced through the initiatives they have taken by creating Cultural Heritage Foundation, and by encouraging communities to utilize at least part of the Community Recreational/Cultural Grant Program for support of the many worthwhile endeavours of the ethno-cultural groups throughtout the province. The City of Red Deer Recreation, Parks and Culture Board and City Council have been very responsive to proposals put to them by various organizations, and since the inception of the Community Recreational/Cultural Grant Program, a considerable sum of money has been allocated to the organizations for their various projects, including, of course, the Laft Hus. Throughout the evolutionary period in our City, your organization has been one that has stood out. In the early going, you were a willing participant in the collaborative venture and had some limited success. It appeared to me that you were always prepared to subordinate your own objectives in order for the collaborative ventures to succeed. You had been an active participant and supporter of the Folk Festival and in the meantime have done much to provide opportunities for the Norwegian community. You waited patiently, and finally, decided to proceed on your own to establish this Norwegian Cultural Centre. You exhibited supreme confidence in commencing the project, not knowing where it was to be located, nor whether sufficient funds could be found to complete it. It was this confidence and your enthusiasm that made City Officials much more receptive when approached to attempt to find a home for the facility. From the City of Red Deer perspective, there were some risks involved. Elected and appointed City Officials are constantly in fear of setting precedents that lead to a proliferation of requests for similar treatments by groups and organizations, but in this case, we felt that our position was quite defensible because, contrary to what some people believe, the Laft Hus is not a meeting place provided for the Norwegian community, on city property at city expense. Rather, it is a cultural resource, provided by the hard-working Norwegian citizens of the community, for the benefit of the community. It will, of course, enhance your ability to preserve the Norwegian culture, but of equal importance and what I truly believe motivated you, was the opportunity to provide a unique and appealing centre for the interpretation of Norwegian culture, which you intend to share with the community in an unselfish manner. Although there have been some Provincial and City funds provided in support of the project, the main source of capital funds and the tremendous commitment of volunteer support for the development of the project has been contributed by your selves. Further, the ongoing operational costs will be assumed by yourselves. You are to be commended for the initiative you have shown, and the determination and dedication that has brought this project to fruition. Yes, it will be difficult for City and Provincial Officials to say "no" to an organization presenting a similar project. But this need not necessarily be bad, because as we have discussed in the past, should the concept of an International Folk Festival Village emerge once more, the Laft Hus, hopefully, can be pointed to as a model, that can be emulated by other ethno-cultural organizations, and assuming that a suitable site could be found, such a village could indeed become a reality, in which case, much of the credit would be due to your people, who have waited patiently, cooperated appropriately, and taken strong initiative when necessary to prove your point. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you every success in the operation of this exciting project, and to commend those who have worked so hard to put it in place."